Baofeng 5rm ar-5rm difference?

[LeeBo]

15 hours ago, WSEK643 said:

which chirp cable are you using for the ar-5rm? can't find much info it.

Amazon.com: BTECH PC03 FTDI Universal Plug & Play USB Programming Cable, Baofeng, Kenwood Radios - Compatible with UV-5R, BF-F8HP, GMRS-V2, UV-82HP & More - Easy Setup, No Driver Needed : Electronics

[WSEK643]

Thanks I appreciate the info.

[LeeBo]

10 hours ago, WSEK643 said:

Thanks I appreciate the info.

I'm using that same cable on Baofeng (2 models), TID Radio (2 models) and an Explorer QRZ-1.  Works just fine.

[Guest Jim]

On 7/31/2024 at 10:34 AM, Guest UV-5RM question said:

Question about the UV-5RM radio, does it allow for GMRS transmition?

I have been looking and can't figure out if it is GMRS and HAM?  Need help    I am trying to decide which would be the best choice for my first GMRS/HAM radio

 

I appreciate each and every recommendation.

The GMRS locked versions usually hav a little round sticker in the battery compartment that says GMRS on it.  That's the easy visual way to tell them apart.

 

If you want to only transmit on GMRS channels & be legal, get the locked GMRS radio.  If you want to transmit on other channels, get a ham radio & a ham license.

[Crabby]

The AR-5RM is a mean black radio that no one needs for hunting or self-defense.  The founding fathers could not foresee this dangerous radio being developed when they spoke of the right to bear AR-5RMs.  You may be a law-abiding citizen with outstanding morals, but these items should be controlled so only criminals can have one.  

Crap, I was wearing the wrong hat when I read and posted. (Takes off NRA hat and puts on radio nerd hat).

I like my AR-5RM.  I just got one (well two) and I have been sitting around learning how to program it with Chirp and listening to local amateur repeaters.  Sitting for my tech licenses on the 9th.  Can't wait to hit the transmit button.

My only complaint would be that Boofwang needs to change the color of the menu letters.  It is fine to read indoors, but not outside in sunlight.  They need white letters. 

[Guest Newly licensed for GMRS]

So the original question was about 5RM vs AR-5RM.  Here is my experience. Only the AR-5RM is fully unlocked.

I’ve bought two batches of AR-5RM over a couple of months, and they were fully unlocked.

That said, if you are reading this years later, that may change.  Like the UV-5R and several other Baofeng radios, the FCC has required the newer versions to be locked. I’m not sure why the AR-5RM is out of the box unlocked, but I consider it a blessing to have found it.

My suggestion is to buy from Amazon, because you get a 30-day no matter what return option.

I would also suggest that you buy (or find a friend with one) one of those $40 power SWR meters you can find also on Amazon. 

The one I bought was a SW-33 Plus.  This way you can test forward power and reverse power (SWR) on each frequency.  It is the best way to verify that your radio is unlocked. It is also a good tool for finding bad antennas. 

Since we are on myGMRS, I wonder if the main reason you want an HT is for GMRS, then you may want a locked GMRS radio from Baofeng.  I don’t know all the models, but they do have a “G” in the model number. The reason I suggest this is that these radios don’t require complex programming.  

If you want to use an AR-5RM on GMRS, you will need to program it, and not all the programming software is user friendly.

If you are able (or have a friend who is able) to manage all the programming (cables and software) issues, then I recommend the AR-5RM.  

 

[OscarWillow76]

I bought the AR-5RM cuz I want access to as MANY channels as possible and GMSR, for less than $35.

 

I originally got the UV-5R as it can be unlocked, but the AR is automatically unlocked and had bigger/better screen and other cool bells n whistles, so I get the AR instead.   USB charging is very handy, auto channel copy is nice, cool images on screen another nice plus.  However if there is another radio that can get MORE channels Ill switch to that one.  Basically I want to be able to hear NORAD, Santa, the Klingons, ISS, everything!

[jwilkers]

The uv5r is not fcc certified for gmrs use and is therefore illegal on GMRS.

Sent from my SM-S911U1 using Tapatalk

[OffRoaderX]

12 minutes ago, jwilkers said:

The uv5r is not fcc certified for gmrs use and is therefore illegal on GMRS.

[WRYZ926]

Actually there is a version of the UV-5r that is Part 95 certified. 

BAOFENG UV-5R GMRS Handheld Radio

[Guest yannisfk]

Hello. I got a baofeng uv-5Rm.how can unlock Airbands freq 118- 136mhz. 
It can RX but not tx . Thank you 

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, Guest yannisfk said:

Hello. I got a baofeng uv-5Rm.how can unlock Airbands freq 118- 136mhz. 
It can RX but not tx . Thank you 

That’s right, but not only that it’s not AM, which the air bands are.  If I knew how to unlock it to transmit on the Airbands I wouldn’t tell you.

[dosw]

2 hours ago, Guest yannisfk said:

Hello. I got a baofeng uv-5Rm.how can unlock Airbands freq 118- 136mhz. 
It can RX but not tx . Thank you 

That radio is not made for transmitting on airbands, and it is, in fact, illegal to use it for transmitting within the airband. There are a lot of areas where you may get away with dumbassery, but transmitting on an aviation frequency with a UV5R is likely to be one of those areas where you won't get away with it very long.

https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/94091/what-licenses-do-i-need-to-transmit-on-airband-frequencies

 

[AdmiralCochrane]

Or Marine Band channel 16 inland.  All Coast Guard stations are set up with direction finding for emergencies which are also used to locate illegal inland use.

[dosw]

17 hours ago, AdmiralCochrane said:

Or Marine Band channel 16 inland.  All Coast Guard stations are set up with direction finding for emergencies which are also used to locate illegal inland use.

Yeah, nobody's really watching GMRS that closely. Even amateur. But I'm guessing if you looked at the enforcement database for hits on marine VHF and aviation there would be some stories. Marine VHF has become less strict in the past decade; it used to be that you weren't allowed to talk ship-to-shore except to licensed shore stations. But a web search says that "In 2016 the FCC relaxed its rules and now allows portable VHF radios to be used “in areas adjacent to the water” when this use relates to the “needs of the associated vessel."

[OffRoaderX]

18 hours ago, AdmiralCochrane said:

All Coast Guard stations are set up with direction finding for emergencies which are also used to locate illegal inland use.

Weird because the Coast Guard does not enforce radio regulations.. That is the FCCs job.

1 hour ago, dosw said:

I'm guessing if you looked at the enforcement database for hits on marine VHF and aviation there would be some stories.

Nope...

[AdmiralCochrane]

Coast Guard considers 16 and 22a part of their infrastructure.

[OffRoaderX]

9 minutes ago, AdmiralCochrane said:

Coast Guard considers 16 and 22a part of their infrastructure.

No way I would doubt an Admiral but do you have any links that i can read up on that?  It would help me in my day-job as i've never heard of this.

[AdmiralCochrane]

My search turns up only a small handful of prosecutions, mostly hunters that didn't know about RDF and the fact that the Coast Guard has authority on all navigable waters, even far inland, so there isn't much inhabited land where they aren't within VHF range.  It appears that in general, outside of prosecution for false distress calls their verbal threats on air are sufficient enforcement.  Probably fear of uniformed guys with guns.  FCC doesn't have that advantage.

[OffRoaderX]

54 minutes ago, AdmiralCochrane said:

My search turns up only a small handful of prosecutions

 Can you give me a link to one/some/all?  This could make for interesting video fodder.

[WRUE951]

On 1/17/2025 at 6:53 PM, AdmiralCochrane said:

Coast Guard considers 16 and 22a part of their infrastructure.

yup,,  

[GreggInFL]

On 1/17/2025 at 10:46 AM, dosw said:

Marine VHF has become less strict in the past decade; it used to be that you weren't allowed to talk ship-to-shore except to licensed shore stations. But a web search says that "In 2016 the FCC relaxed its rules and now allows portable VHF radios to be used “in areas adjacent to the water” when this use relates to the “needs of the associated vessel."

It's about time.  What's the harm in standing on the end of the dock with a marine HT discussing with the vessel's captain how they want the dock lines rigged?

[GreggInFL]

On 1/17/2025 at 9:53 PM, AdmiralCochrane said:

Coast Guard considers 16 and 22a part of their infrastructure.

Yeah, 16 is the hailing frequency.  If you linger there a grumpy person wearing a uniform will bark at you.  22a is the USCG channel for announcements.  Never TX on 22a.

I've noticed channel 9 is being used for hailing.  Must be a policy change because when I took the CG Auxiliary class (centuries ago) it was reserved for emergencies.