Baofeng UV5 or 888 ?

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Spy
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Baofeng UV5 or 888 ?

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I am looking at purchasing a few PMR446 compatible radios for use on road trips in the UK and Europe.

I have been looking at the both the Baofeng UV-5R and 888S but not sure which would be better.

I would like the radios to work with each other on the PMR446 frequencies. I assume I can do this by configuring the first in Chirp and then copying the config to the other radios.

BUT, in certain circumstances I would also like the radios to be compatible with the Cobra MT975. I am assuming that although the Cobra will be on the same 446 frequencies but their CTCSS codes will be different.

Does this mean I need the handset to be capable of 16 settings e.g. 8 at 446 frequencies with DCS (for less intereference) when only using Baofengs and 8 at 446 frequencies with CTCSS for compatibility with the Cobra ?

Also, there are 8 analogue 446 frequencies but this may be increased to 16 imminently. Is this correct and would the UV-5R be a better future proof purchase than the 888S ?

Thanks for your help.
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Re: Baofeng UV5 or 888 ?

Post by Admiral »

Both sets can be configured for all 446 channels and CTCSS and DCS codes, so will be compatible with each other and the Cobras with proper programming.

I would be more concerned about taking and using non-CEPT radios over the water, their gestapo may not be as friendly as ours to illegal radio operation.
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Re: Baofeng UV5 or 888 ?

Post by Spy »

Thanks Admiral. I am a bit of a noob so forgive my ignorance.

What is CEPT ?

Also, I was under the impression that the PMR 446 frequencies are unlicensed in the EU as well as the UK ?
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Re: Baofeng UV5 or 888 ?

Post by Admiral »

They are licence free, but you can't be using 5w dual band sets on there, there is set of protocols to make sets complaint, as I said, OFCOM may turn a blind eye to such practices over here, but them European authorities may not be so friendly.
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Re: Baofeng UV5 or 888 ?

Post by Metradio »

Admiral wrote:.... OFCOM may turn a blind eye to such practices over here, but them European authorities may not be so friendly.
Especially now we are giving them the bird.. :wave:
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Re: Baofeng UV5 or 888 ?

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We were in France last week and the police pulled up a couple of us for being slightly over the speed limit. They issued a small fine but said after Brexit (yes, they used the word Brexit) the fine will be a lot more !!
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Re: Baofeng UV5 or 888 ?

Post by Spy »

Just to confirm, the 888S has 8 or 16 programmable channels ?
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Re: Baofeng UV5 or 888 ?

Post by Admiral »

16
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Re: Baofeng UV5 or 888 ?

Post by Spy »

Thank you.

Given 16 is enough for me, are there any other benefits to the UV-5R over the 888S ?
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Re: Baofeng UV5 or 888 ?

Post by Admiral »

If you have a group of many, then if you contact someone like 409 with an order of say 20 or 30 888 units then you should get a good discount and get them for maybe six quid a unit, el mucho programming for someone, but an excellent price and the lack of buttons for non-radio people to fiddle with and mess up.
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Re: Baofeng UV5 or 888 ?

Post by Spy »

Funny you mention the lack of buttons, that is exactly what I was thinking.

I am happy to clone them all using Chirp but was thinking that all it takes is someone to play around with the buttons and hey presto...."my radio is broken !"
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Re: Baofeng UV5 or 888 ?

Post by thedeerhunter270 »

Spy wrote:We were in France last week and the police pulled up a couple of us for being slightly over the speed limit. They issued a small fine but said after Brexit (yes, they used the word Brexit) the fine will be a lot more !!
Oh course they will. But as tourism has fallen dramatically in France - can't see it being the best plan.
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