TLDR Review: Baofeng UV-21R Ham Radio
Pros
- •Exceptional lonange performance with reliable communication up to approximately two miles in city conditions and even better with line-of-sight.
- •Clear, loud audio quality on both transmit and receive, making conversations easy to understand.
- •Lonasting battery life, with users reporting around 18 hours of use with FM radio on initial charge.
- •US charging adds modern convenience and compatibility with many chargers.
- •Supports a wide frequency range including trand (including 220 MHz), MURS, and GMRS bands with consistent 5-6W power output.
- •Large, bright screen displays frequency mode numbers clearly, which is helpful especially in various lighting conditions.
- •NOAA weather radio is included, offering useful weather updates.
- •Weluilt with smooth operation of all functions and a properly designed two-pin microphone plug.
- •Programming via Chirp software using U7 Pro settings works well for customizing channels.
- •Lightweight and manageable size, suitable for use in various weather conditions, making it a solid choice for beginners and emergency communication.
Cons
- •Screen visibility can be poor in bright sunlight, especially in NAME mode where the text is small and hard to read.
- •Belt clip lacks a sturdy hook on the bottom, making it less reliable for securing the radio on a belt.
- •No channel locut feature, requiring manual deletion or reprogramming to avoid unwanted fire or police channels.
- •Scan mode keyboard lock only functions when no channel bank is scanning, limiting ease of use during scans.
- •Programming cable is not included, which is necessary for using Chirp software to program the device.
- •Antenna quality varies; the included short antenna is poor while the A71 high-gain antenna performs moderately but is not perfect.
- •Not waterproof, so it needs to be kept dry during use.
- •The center button between the arrow keys is unused and could be better utilized for menu navigation or as a programmable function.
- •Weather radio lacks alert notifications, which would improve utility in severe weather scenarios.
- •Earphone audio clarity can be poor, and volume may become uncomfortably loud.
Bottom Line
The Baofeng UV-21R K5Plus is a powerful, feature-rich ham radio ideal for beginners and emergency preparedness enthusiasts. It offers excellent long-range communication, solid battery life, and handy NOAA weather reception, all packed in a lightweight, easy-to-use handheld device. However, if you need a brighter, more readable display in direct sun or require waterproofing and better channel lock-out capabilities, you might want to consider exploring other models or accessories that enhance these areas. Still, for a solid, versatile starter ham radio, the UV-21R is hard to beat on value and functionality.
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