Broken battery clip Baofeng GT-3TP

[RenoHuskerDu]

Almost all of the Baofengs (GT-3TP) we use here on the ranch have suffered a broken battery clip. The heavier big battery really breaks that little clip quickly. Then we have to tape the battery in place, which only last a few months depending on Texas heat.

The clip in question is at the top of the battery slot, normally hidden. You only see it when the battery is removed.

Has anyone settled on a Baofeng HT for licensed GMRS use that has a stronger battery clip, but still does an honest 8 watts if needed?

[Lscott]

29 minutes ago, RenoHuskerDu said:

but still does an honest 8 watts if needed?

Do you honestly really need 8 watts out of an HT?

[WRWE456]

Here is a much better solution than relying on a belt clip. I have not found a better pouch. They make them for many radios.

https://www.spectergear.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SG-1205

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

1 hour ago, WRWE456 said:

Here is a much better solution than relying on a belt clip. I have not found a better pouch. They make them for many radios.

https://www.spectergear.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SG-1205

 

It's the battery clip, not the belt clip. We break belt clips all the time and buy spares by the dozen.

 

But thanks for the link.

[RenoHuskerDu]

1 hour ago, Lscott said:

Do you honestly really need 8 watts out of an HT?

Rarely. Usually we're only a few hundred yards or so and stay on 1 watt 99% of the time. You probably have your ham lic too?  Always use the minimum power required to make the trip.

[WRWE456]

Oh Sorry about that.

[SteveShannon]

16 minutes ago, RenoHuskerDu said:

It's the battery clip, not the belt clip. We break belt clips all the time and buy spares by the dozen.

 

But thanks for the link.

Still, a belt pouch might reduce the stress on the battery clip by supporting the battery. 

[Lscott]

4 hours ago, RenoHuskerDu said:

Rarely. Usually we're only a few hundred yards or so and stay on 1 watt 99% of the time. You probably have your ham lic too?  Always use the minimum power required to make the trip.

They are better radios out there if you really don’t need the high power. You could be better off buying some simple commercial grade radios. Many of those are designed to take a beating from hard use and also survive in poor weather. Of course they will cost a wee bit more than a $25 to $50 Baofeng.

[RenoHuskerDu]

11 minutes ago, Lscott said:

They are better radios out there if you really don’t need the high power. You could be better off buying some simple commercial grade radios. Many of those are designed to take a beating from hard use and also survive in poor weather. Of course they will cost a wee bit more than a $25 to $50 Baofeng.

What we like about the GT-3TP is its ruggedness (except the battery clip). We have only one failed after 4 years of hard ranch use. Several 1/4 wave whips have failed though.

 

A friend scored a dozen ICOM GMRs radios for a song, but they won't do narrow band or go off freq. The Baofeng offers narrow banding in Frequency Mode which lets us run at 6.25khz wide FM, so we don't hear as much interference from business users (probably non-licensed FRS) when we go to town. 

[Lscott]

4 minutes ago, RenoHuskerDu said:

What we like about the GT-6TP is its ruggedness (except the battery). We have only one failed after 4 years. Also its narrow banding in Frequency Mode lets us run at 6.25khz, so we don't hear interference from business users (probably non-licensed FRS) when we go to town. 

Since you’re using the radios for ranch operations, a business use, you would likely qualify for one or more business “Common Itinerant and Business” frequencies which doesn’t require frequency coordination. You can also run digital voice with encryption legally for private communications. This would be an alternative to using GMRS.

National Business and Itinerant Frequencies.pdf Common Itinerant and Business.pdf