Baofeng AR-5RM

[WRXB215]

22 hours ago, OscarWillow76 said:

Is the  ABBREE 771-GMRS good enough to start with?

It's working fine for me. AAMOF, the Abbree 771 UV is working fine on my ham radios as well.

[OscarWillow76]

Which outdoor antennas is this compatible with?  I feel like getting a nice big antenna and have it sit outside the house.  Pick up ISS, aliens, Klingons etc. 

[SteveShannon]

5 minutes ago, OscarWillow76 said:

Which outdoor antennas is this compatible with?  I feel like getting a nice big antenna and have it sit outside the house.  Pick up ISS, aliens, Klingons etc. 

Klingons are aliens.

It would be compatible with any outdoor antenna tuned to the frequency you’re transmitting on, provided you use the right SMA to either UHF or N connector, whichever the antenna has. 

[OscarWillow76]

2 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

Klingons are aliens.

It would be compatible with any outdoor antenna tuned to the frequency you’re transmitting on, provided you use the right SMA to either UHF or N connector, whichever the antenna has. 

Forgive my stupidity, but i need to be looking at UHF/VHF antennas rated for HAM radios at 108 to 509 mHz, yes?

[dosw]

1 hour ago, OscarWillow76 said:

Forgive my stupidity, but i need to be looking at UHF/VHF antennas rated for HAM radios at 108 to 509 mHz, yes?

What are you trying to accomplish?

Ham radio in the US, for the bands this radio is compatible with, is going to be 144-148MHz, 222-225MHz, and 420-450MHz. If you are transmitting because you have your amateur license, you would probably want a dual-band 2m/70cm antenna. If you are just listening, it's not as important to have a perfectly matched antenna. But typically an antenna like a discone antenna will cover a broad enough range to be useful from 108-509, for listening. If you are using the radio for GMRS the antenna should cover 462-468MHz. Again, a discone could be a pretty good antenna for 2m, 1.25m, 70cm, and GMRS. Or the Comet CA2X4SR. Both a discone or the comet will be external antennas. For built-in antennas a Nagoya or even abbree would be fine so long as it's listed as working for the bands you intend to transmit on.

 

There are a lot of other ham bands that are outside of this radio's capacity. But it covers the most common ones used with a Tech license.

[OscarWillow76]

My objective is to be able to hear as many signals as I possibly can.  I assume a more powerful antenna will help accomplish that. 

 

Now can anyone explain the difference between the AR-5RM and the UV-5RM+?

[SteveShannon]

2 hours ago, OscarWillow76 said:

My objective is to be able to hear as many signals as I possibly can.  I assume a more powerful antenna will help accomplish that. 

 

Now can anyone explain the difference between the AR-5RM and the UV-5RM+?

Although it’s possible to get a single radio that can tune almost everything from DC to daylight (cellular frequencies are blocked on receivers sold in the U.S.) and that functions well as a handheld radio for some of those frequencies, a scanner with a large discone would do a much better job as a home-rolled NSA listening post. It will scan the frequencies much faster.

Even better would bet would be a bank of scanners, each covering a section of the spectrum.  Understand that the RF spectrum is immense and there are many different types of modulation.  My Yaesu FT5DR does a great job for a handheld that can still serve well as a 2 meter and 70 cm transceiver and listen to FM and AM from 1 MHz to 999 MHz (minus cellular). But there are several gigahertz of frequencies above that.

But understand that antennas (or antennae for those who care) that are “more powerful” do so by focusing upon a smaller and smaller direction.  And antennas are most efficient around a single frequency.  It’s nice to have an antenna that can receive additional frequencies, but they do so at some cost: you have to include loading coils or traps or multiple elements that are tuned for different frequencies.

I’m sorry, but I don’t know the difference between the AR5RM and the UV5RM, but here’s what an AI said:

Quote

 

The main difference between an "AR5RM" and a "UV5RM" is that the AR5RM is essentially an unlocked version of the UV5RM, meaning it can access a wider range of frequencies, including potentially restricted bands, while the UV5RM is typically more limited in its frequency range due to regulatory restrictions;both are essentially the same radio with different branding and potential frequency access levels. 

Key points about the difference:

Frequency Access:

The AR5RM is considered "unlocked" and can transmit and receive on a wider range of frequencies, often including airband frequencies, while the UV5RM is usually more restricted in its frequency range. 

Intended Use:

The "AR" in AR5RM could be interpreted as "Assault Radio," suggesting it's meant for users who need access to a wider range of frequencies, potentially for monitoring purposes. 

Manufacturer:

Both radios are usually manufactured by the same company (like Baofeng) but marketed with different model names. 

 

 

[dosw]

On 12/20/2024 at 5:43 AM, OscarWillow76 said:

My objective is to be able to hear as many signals as I possibly can.  I assume a more powerful antenna will help accomplish that. 

 

Now can anyone explain the difference between the AR-5RM and the UV-5RM+?

For portability get a Uniden scanner. It will scan 25-50 channels per second. The Baofeng will scan 3 per second. And the Uniden will cover from 10m (maybe even 11m) to 33cm.

 

For "as many frequencies as possible", an SDR. Even the lowly RTL-SDRV4 will pick up from 300kHz to 1.72GHz, with some antenna swapping necessary to get all that.

[WRTC928]

Dual- or triple-band ham antennas usually top out at about 440 MHz. In my experience, that's close enough to provide decent performance on the GMRS frequencies, provided you get a quality antenna. With a mobile antenna, I do usually get a little higher SWR on the frequencies that are "out of band", but it's typically in the range of 2.1 or 2.2:1 which is not enough to concern me. I do get a little better distance and clarity with a 771G (GMRS-specific) antenna on my 5RM than with a VHF/UHF 771, but it's not all that dramatic. 

[WRTC928]

I've commented this to people before, but IMO the 5RM is a better radio than you realistically have a right to expect for $30. I participated in a Ham net this morning on a repeater 22 miles away. I was in my living room with the AR-5RM and a Nagoya 771 dual-band antenna. When I told the host I was on a HT, he said, "You must be using an external antenna. You're really coming in like gangbusters." That's pretty impressive for a $30 radio, IMO. Humorously, when Hams know I'm using a Baofeng, I always have a poor signal.  (I'm not specifically bagging on Hams; I'm just saying we're not different from everyone else. You should see how gun guys pile on anyone who owns a Palmetto State Armory rifle for home defense.) I've had a pair of BF-f8hps for several years and a pair of AR-5RMs for several months and I've never had an issue with any of them. I've dropped them occasionally, but it didn't seem to damage them. They probably aren't weatherproof enough for prepper-style "tactical comms", but for ordinary usage, the value for the dollar is outstanding. 

[UncleYoda]

I have a different version of the 5RM and it does perform well.  I wish they had made the screen more visible outdoors and channel names were full size.  I left my first one out in a heavy rain and the speaker seemed to be damaged but later came back to normal.

[WRTC928]

20 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

I have a different version of the 5RM and it does perform well.  I wish they had made the screen more visible outdoors and channel names were full size.  I left my first one out in a heavy rain and the speaker seemed to be damaged but later came back to normal.

I agree with you about those points, but TBH, they're minor nitpicks overall. It's interesting that the speaker recovered after getting wet. I wouldn't have expected that. Even so, I'm going to try to keep mine out of the rain. 

[WRTC928]

I've said this before, but the AR/UV-5RM is a better radio than you have a right to expect for the price. I was just now talking to someone using a Ham repeater 30 air miles away from me and he said I was loud and clear. I was sitting in my living room using the 5RM and a Nagoya 771 antenna. I routinely participate in Ham nets on a repeater 22 miles away and always get through clearly. My $30 radio is performing just as well as radios people spent a lot more money on. I do admit, however, that QC on inexpensive Chinese radios can be spotty and sometimes you may not get one this good. It's also likely that it won't last as long as a $300 top-tier HT...but it was $30. 

[dosw]

24 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

I've said this before, but the AR/UV-5RM is a better radio than you have a right to expect for the price. I was just now talking to someone using a Ham repeater 30 air miles away from me and he said I was loud and clear. I was sitting in my living room using the 5RM and a Nagoya 771 antenna. I routinely participate in Ham nets on a repeater 22 miles away and always get through clearly. My $30 radio is performing just as well as radios people spent a lot more money on. I do admit, however, that QC on inexpensive Chinese radios can be spotty and sometimes you may not get one this good. It's also likely that it won't last as long as a $300 top-tier HT...but it was $30. 

This has been my experience, as well. There are better radios out there for a lot more. And there are worse radios for a lot more. There are not many better radios for less. I use mine with the stock antenna or a 771 depending on the situation.

The UV5G Plus is the GMRS-correct, type approved version, of course.

[WRTC928]

I've used it mostly with my Amateur license recently. I don't tell anyone what radio I'm using and they always report a good signal. Not true of everyone, of course, but some Hams can be pretty snooty about "cheap Chinese junk". The way I see it, the purpose of a radio is to enable conversation at a distance, and if it does that, it's "good enough" for most purposes. Sure, I'd like to have a top-tier radio, and maybe someday I will, but for now, the state of my bank account dictates that I must use "cheap Chinese junk". In that category, this radio is probably the best bang for the buck. TBH, this radio is working so well that I probably will keep using it until it quits working, since right now it's performing as well as radios costing 10x as much.

[HHD1]

On 12/1/2024 at 8:11 PM, WRKY933 said:

I made a mistake getting the AR5RM. I screwed up and got the AR5RM-PLUS. That radio is locked and can't transmit on FRS/GMRS/MURS frequencies. I just sucked it up and threw it in a box and got an AR5RM that comes unlocked. It's a great little radio and I'm still learning stuff about it. I had to get a GMRS antenna for it. I bought a couple of GMRS antennas for additional Baofengs. I was using a NAGOYA 771-G and the reception was very weak and scratchy. I was talking on a repeater to someone who was about 25 miles away. She could barely hear me and I could barely hear her. So I switched antennas to an ABBREE 771-GMRS and it sounded like we were talking next door to each other. The ABBREE antenna is only $8 bucks on Amazon and the NAGOYA is $22 bucks. That's $22 bucks wasted IMO. That's just my personal unscientific test of GMRS antennas.

I had the exact opposite experience between the abbree 771 and the Nagoya 771G.  Unless you are talking about the 771n by abbree...?

[Socalgmrs]

On 12/1/2024 at 6:11 PM, WRKY933 said:

I made a mistake getting the AR5RM. I screwed up and got the AR5RM-PLUS. That radio is locked and can't transmit on FRS/GMRS/MURS frequencies. I just sucked it up and threw it in a box and got an AR5RM that comes unlocked. It's a great little radio and I'm still learning stuff about it. I had to get a GMRS antenna for it. I bought a couple of GMRS antennas for additional Baofengs. I was using a NAGOYA 771-G and the reception was very weak and scratchy. I was talking on a repeater to someone who was about 25 miles away. She could barely hear me and I could barely hear her. So I switched antennas to an ABBREE 771-GMRS and it sounded like we were talking next door to each other. The ABBREE antenna is only $8 bucks on Amazon and the NAGOYA is $22 bucks. That's $22 bucks wasted IMO. That's just my personal unscientific test of GMRS antennas.

I’ve never noticed any difference in brand of 771 antenna.  I would like to say your stated your talking to some one 25miles away through a repeater.  You’re gonna have to learn it doesn’t matter how far away the other peeps on is. Your joy actually talking to them. Your talking and listening to the repeater so it only matters where the repeater is not the other person. 

[HHD1]

I love my AR-5RM.  But I have two tiny gripes about it.  

1.  The hair trigger PTT.  I swear you could blow on it to key up.

2. 999 programable channels, but no banks.  Although I group my channels by the hundreds, example: 100 - 199 is one bank. 200-299 another bank.   It would be nice to have separate banks that I could choose to scan.

[dosw]

On 12/19/2024 at 3:43 PM, OscarWillow76 said:

Forgive my stupidity, but i need to be looking at UHF/VHF antennas rated for HAM radios at 108 to 509 mHz, yes?

It's a ham radio, and your technician's amateur license would allow you to transmit with that radio in the 2m (144-148MHz), 1.25m (222-225MHz), and the 70cm (420-450MHz) bands. Dual-band antennas are pretty common. Tri-band are less common but still available. Unless you specifically need it to work on some other band, a common dual-band 2m/70cm, or 144/430MHz, or VHF/UHF antenna is probably what you want. I thought that radio comes with an Abbree dual-band antenna. If you're looking for an external dual-band antenna, there are many options out there.

 

[WRTC928]

3 hours ago, HHD1 said:

I love my AR-5RM.  But I have two tiny gripes about it.  

1.  The hair trigger PTT.  I swear you could blow on it to key up.

2. 999 programable channels, but no banks.  Although I group my channels by the hundreds, example: 100 - 199 is one bank. 200-299 another bank.   It would be nice to have separate banks that I could choose to scan.

Exactly my observations. I also group them by 100s to make them easier to remember, but I wish it had banks. 

[WRNU354]

2 hours ago, HHD1 said:

I love my AR-5RM.  But I have two tiny gripes about it.  

1.  The hair trigger PTT.  I swear you could blow on it to key up.

 

I have a Baofeng UV-5R that has a PTT/mon/call button assembly that looks a lot like your AR_5RM. Maybe its the same?

Like your AR_5RM,  I can accidently key my UV-5R by just picking it up.

I thought I would take the chance to see if I could increase its PTT pull weight hoping it is a fix to our shared problem.

Good news, maybe?  I was able to increase the PTT pull weight from 14oz to 1 lb 6oz without taking the radio apart.

All I needed was a small thin flat screw driver and a 5/16 x 7/16 x 1/16 nitrile O-ring (available a Harbor Freight assortment box).

Can't say its a super solid fix, but I tried it a bunch of times and banged the UV-5R around as hard as a dare, with no ill-effect. Providing your AR-5RM has the UV-5R's construction its a simple modification that is quick and easily reversible.

How is works: Underneath the plastic PTT button you remove there is a thin sheet of silicone and under that is the REAL PTT, a membrane button on a PCB. The internal diameter of the O-ring you are adding is larger in diameter than the membrane button. With the O-ring in place, the plastic PTT button will have to overcome the additional resistance of the O-Ring before it comes in contact with the membrane switch. What I'm hoping that will make this fix reliable are the legs on the plastic PTT button that holds it in place will also prevent the O-ring from moving.

Step 0: Verify your AR-5RM  looks like it shares the same PTT button as my UV-5R.

Step 1: Gently and carefully use a small blade or flat-screwdriver to pry out the plastic PTT button. This is just a piece of plastic that when pushed, in turn, presses on the real PTT button, a membrane button covered by a silicone sheet.

 

Step 2 - Put the 5/16 x 7/16 x 1/16 nitrile O-ring in place centered vertically.

Next gently and carefully re-install the plastic PTT button, PTT label down, being especially careful not to displace the O-ring. It is helpful to use the small screw driver to assist in the installation.

Done! Give it a try and let me know what you think.