Unlocked UV-5G?

[BoxCar]

14 hours ago, UncleYoda said:

I'm tired of seeing this "you won't get caught" type advice all over this site.  Go outlaw mode at your own risk just like CBers (but at least have enough sense to not post about it).

I will guarantee the FCC knows about all the issues with ham/GMRS radios on the GMRS/FRS channels. Are they going to do anything about it? It's extremely unlikely because the issues are 1) low power, 2) local to a small area, and 3) it's not worth the effort to enforce the rules for something this trivial to the majority of the users.

[SteveShannon]

1 minute ago, BoxCar said:

I will guarantee the FCC knows about all the issues with ham/GMRS radios on the GMRS/FRS channels. Are they going to do anything about it? It's extremely unlikely because the issues are 1) low power, 2) local to a small area, and 3) it's not worth the effort to enforce the rules for something this trivial to the majority of the users.

Exactly.  The only time a person might be cited is if they do something really egregious (like monkeying around with public safety communications) and these violations are tacked on.

[WRUE951]

Just now, SteveShannon said:

Exactly.  The only time a person might be cited is if they do something really egregious (like monkeying around with public safety communications) and these violations are tacked on.

Three years ago some clown in our city programed an HT to local Police frequency and started to clown around on their frequency.  It got a lot of local attention by our HAM groups and on day three of this nonsense the HAM group isolated the location and along with the police were knocking on the clowns door.  Never heard what happend to the guy, but problem went away..  

[WRTC928]

15 hours ago, UncleYoda said:

I'm tired of seeing this "you won't get caught" type advice all over this site.  Go outlaw mode at your own risk just like CBers (but at least have enough sense to not post about it).

It's not "advice" -- it's just a statement of fact. I care if people are exceeding the bandwidth and power restrictions because that has the potential to interfere with other users' enjoyment of the airwaves, but I don't care at all what type of radio someone is using. The evidence suggests the FCC doesn't care either.

[WRTC928]

52 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

Three years ago some clown in our city programed an HT to local Police frequency and started to clown around on their frequency.  It got a lot of local attention by our HAM groups and on day three of this nonsense the HAM group isolated the location and along with the police were knocking on the clowns door.  Never heard what happend to the guy, but problem went away..  

I'm pretty sure most states have laws pertaining to interference with emergency services operations. The local police can slap that stuff down pretty quickly. A hefty fine and a realistic threat of jail time can serve to modify one's behavior.

[OffRoaderX]

1 hour ago, GreggInFL said:

Since the FCC's enforcement operation responds to complaints

Except that they dont.

[OffRoaderX]

1 hour ago, WRUE951 said:

Three years ago some clown in our city programed an HT to local Police frequency and started to clown around on their frequency.  

Interfering with police/emergency communications violates criminal law and is a police matter, very unlike violating FCC Rules.

[WRUE951]

2 hours ago, OffRoaderX said:

Interfering with police/emergency communications violates criminal law and is a police matter, very unlike violating FCC Rules.

 

2 hours ago, OffRoaderX said:

Interfering with police/emergency communications violates criminal law and is a police matter, very unlike violating FCC Rules.

Yup,,   much different breaking a law, vs. a 'rule'

[GreggInFL]

6 hours ago, OffRoaderX said:

Except that they dont.

LOL, yeah, there is that.

[WRUE951]

On 7/16/2025 at 1:46 PM, OffRoaderX said:

A den of thieves and liars with iniquity run amok..

Well, i got the so called unlocked UV5R today..  It's not a UV5R but rather a BFH6..   I contacted the seller and he said i requested a unlocked radio to 520 and that is the model he can ship   for my request.   $29 bucks..   I aint gonna complain.  it is unlocked and i think it's a tri band..  No manual either.  I never heard of this model but it looks decent..   

[WRYS709]

On 7/19/2025 at 6:38 PM, WRUE951 said:

Well, i got the so called unlocked UV5R today..  It's not a UV5R but rather a BFH6..   I contacted the seller and he said i requested a unlocked radio to 520 and that is the model he can ship   for my request.   $29 bucks..   I aint gonna complain.  it is unlocked and i think it's a tri band..  No manual either.  I never heard of this model but it looks decent..   

Does it use UV-5R batteries?

[WRUE951]

19 hours ago, WRYS709 said:

Does it use UV-5R batteries?

yes...    Apparently a UV21 is an upgrade to the UV5 and this seller is saying that radio XTMTS out to 520...  He is selling for $34. 

[UncleYoda]

That's wrong.  Below is one picture of a UV-21R and it's definitely not a UV-5R type battery.  But the question was about a BFH6 anyway.  (Also, be careful with model numbers; some that sound the same are different and vice-versa.)

 

The new UV-28 Plus looks like it may be the same hardware as the UV-21R.

[WRYS709]

That doesn’t surprise me that an “upgraded” model uses a different battery. 

More money to be made from selling more batteries. 

I may have said this before, but my favorite “open” radios are the Baofeng DM-5R a/k/a Radioddity RD-5R which are also DMR and use UV-5R batteries!

Now I just need a couple of USB-C chargable batteries to compliment my collection. 

[UncleYoda]

I don't know of any USB-C chargeable batteries of the UV-5R type.  At least some extended (3800mAh) batteries for UV-5R are chargeable with a cable rather than using the charging stand.  The cable has a small round plug that fits the side of the battery.  But other than having another cable to keep up with, it is (IMO) just as good as USB-C.

[WRUE951]

9 hours ago, UncleYoda said:

That's wrong.  Below is one picture of a UV-21R and it's definitely not a UV-5R type battery.  But the question was about a BFH6 anyway.  (Also, be careful with model numbers; some that sound the same are different and vice-versa.)

 

The new UV-28 Plus looks like it may be the same hardware as the UV-21R.

the UV 21 uses the USB charge option so its not the same battery as UV5.  The BFH6 looks like a Uv5 and not sure what the difference is between them.    It's not a bad radio, been playing around with it for a few days and i like it.  

[WRTC928]

17 hours ago, UncleYoda said:

I don't know of any USB-C chargeable batteries of the UV-5R type.  At least some extended (3800mAh) batteries for UV-5R are chargeable with a cable rather than using the charging stand.  The cable has a small round plug that fits the side of the battery.  But other than having another cable to keep up with, it is (IMO) just as good as USB-C.

I have several UV-5r/BF-f8hp batteries that are rechargeable by USB-C, both standard and extended-capacity. Here

[WRYS709]

1 hour ago, WRTC928 said:

I have several UV-5r/BF-f8hp batteries that are rechargeable by USB-C, both standard and extended-capacity. Here

Thanks but when I purchase more UV-5R batteries for my DMR HT, I am really looking for High Capacity (3800 MAh) that can also charge by USB-C like these [here](https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-BL-5L-Battery-Capacity-BL-5/dp/B07QXT5Z2R)

[WRTC928]

5 hours ago, WRYS709 said:

Thanks but when I purchase more UV-5R batteries for my DMR HT, I am really looking for High Capacity (3800 MAh) that can also charge by USB-C like these [here](https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-BL-5L-Battery-Capacity-BL-5/dp/B07QXT5Z2R)

I was responding to the comment that there were no USB-C charging UV-5r batteries. Clearly there are and I provided an example. I bought some of these 3800 mAh batteries. They aren't as long as the ones you linked, which I like because it makes it easier to carry the radio in a pocket.

[WRYS709]

14 hours ago, WRTC928 said:

I was responding to the comment that there were no USB-C charging UV-5r batteries. Clearly there are and I provided an example. I bought some of these 3800 mAh batteries. They aren't as long as the ones you linked, which I like because it makes it easier to carry the radio in a pocket.

Exavtly what I am looking for: thanks for the link!

I have ordered one to try it out. 

[UncleYoda]

15 hours ago, WRTC928 said:

I was responding to the comment that there were no USB-C charging UV-5r batteries. Clearly there are and I provided an example. I bought some of these 3800 mAh batteries. They aren't as long as the ones you linked, which I like because it makes it easier to carry the radio in a pocket.

I did not say there were none; try reading it again.  I never specifically searched for USB-C type because it's nothing special to me (any plug that works is just as good).  Why can't 709 do his own searches anyway (rhetorical)?

If those short/fat ones suit you, that's fine.  I don't want batteries that have to be screwed/unscrewed (I swap batteries and disconnect to charge) and not clear if it still allows belt clip.  I liked the longer ones; they fit/feel better in my hands and give me a place to hold onto that isn't covering a button.  But I started going back to standard capacity because several of the extended ones split apart and more of the small ones suits me better than fewer big ones.

[WRTC928]

14 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

I did not say there were none; try reading it again.  I never specifically searched for USB-C type because it's nothing special to me (any plug that works is just as good).  Why can't 709 do his own searches anyway (rhetorical)?

If those short/fat ones suit you, that's fine.  I don't want batteries that have to be screwed/unscrewed (I swap batteries and disconnect to charge) and not clear if it still allows belt clip.  I liked the longer ones; they fit/feel better in my hands and give me a place to hold onto that isn't covering a button.  But I started going back to standard capacity because several of the extended ones split apart and more of the small ones suits me better than fewer big ones.

Do you mean where you said this?

On 7/22/2025 at 7:06 PM, UncleYoda said:

I don't know of any USB-C chargeable batteries of the UV-5R type. 

I linked to a standard-capacity battery for the UV-5r which is USB-C chargeable. If we're being semantically pedantic, you didn't specifically say there were none; you said you didn't know of any, so I provided a link to one. The one I linked to doesn't need to be attached/detached via screws.

Use whatever battery works best for you. Fortunately, there are plenty of options.

[WRYS709]

2 hours ago, UncleYoda said:

Why can't 709 do his own searches anyway (rhetorical)?

I see these statements often on forums (rhetoric or not) and am always curious what motivates the speaker to leave the confines of his (rarely a her) otherwise busy day to NOT answer the question, but yet criticize its asking!

I always answer:

1) Some people like or need to be spoon-fed information and concurrently some people get gratification and are well heeled at researching and reporting the information.

2) Technical topics tend to get out-dated with time, so reviewing them with a new question (and response) gets an up-to-date answer; and

3) Posting on forums helps answer the question for others, too.  One person's looking up his own answer, helps no one else!

But at the end of the day, there is always someone like @UncleYoda who has a need to raise that inquiry and I am happy to fulfill that need with MY answer!

[WRUE951]

On 6/14/2025 at 6:26 AM, OffRoaderX said:

Yes - All the newly manufactured ones destined for the U.S. are locked and cannot be unlocked. 

FYI - one of my friends just purchased a UV5R off the Baofeng web site and out of the box it was programable to 520..    And he got the radio in 5 days delivered to my town    https://www.baofengradio.com/collections/online-store/products/uv-5r.     I ordered a UV-28Plus from them last night, they show delivery for Monday.  

[WRUE951]

On 7/22/2025 at 7:59 AM, UncleYoda said:

That's wrong.  Below is one picture of a UV-21R and it's definitely not a UV-5R type battery.  But the question was about a BFH6 anyway.  (Also, be careful with model numbers; some that sound the same are different and vice-versa.)

 

The new UV-28 Plus looks like it may be the same hardware as the UV-21R.

i ordered one last night off Baofeng.com   Also ordered the new DM32.