Baofeng BF-888s Review

Licence free two-way radio services that now includes both FM and digital channels. Discuss models, modifications and other similar worldwide standards such as FRS and GMRS.
User avatar
Bogget
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1199
Joined: 27 Jul 2011, 23:33
Location: North East lincolnshire

Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by Bogget »

they are amazing, they just need to bring a cheap dmr one out now.

Bogget
Amateur does not have a CH its pronounced "am-a-tore" NOT am-a-chure !
User avatar
Cymro
Regular
Regular
Posts: 45
Joined: 13 Apr 2012, 16:42
Location: Cardiff

Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by Cymro »

Yes, that would be awesome!
User avatar
Werthers
Radio Addict
Radio Addict
Posts: 839
Joined: 01 Sep 2019, 20:19
Location: Essex

Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by Werthers »

Bogget wrote: 05 Apr 2021, 12:19 they are amazing, they just need to bring a cheap dmr one out now.

Bogget
There are a whole range of Baofeng DMR radios that are upwards of 70 pounds, cheap for a DMR radio but still pricey for something that probably isn't worth it. I'd rather pay a bit more for something better. As for the cheap analog baofeng stuff for a sub 20 pounds you can't go wrong.
User avatar
Werthers
Radio Addict
Radio Addict
Posts: 839
Joined: 01 Sep 2019, 20:19
Location: Essex

Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by Werthers »

Bogget wrote: 05 Apr 2021, 10:11 I still have my 888,s 9 years after buying,.......the battries are still ok and radios still work perfectly.

what a great buy it was.

Bogget
Same here. None of mine have failed and I've used them a lot over the years. I wish they would do a VHF only version.
Kraigo
New User
New User
Posts: 3
Joined: 23 May 2021, 14:59

Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by Kraigo »

I've got the uv5rplus and 5rtp. Great wee radios.
User avatar
Bogget
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1199
Joined: 27 Jul 2011, 23:33
Location: North East lincolnshire

Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by Bogget »

Network radios are the next thing i will have a review up soon as they give me a new heading.

Bogget
Amateur does not have a CH its pronounced "am-a-tore" NOT am-a-chure !
User avatar
Werthers
Radio Addict
Radio Addict
Posts: 839
Joined: 01 Sep 2019, 20:19
Location: Essex

Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by Werthers »

Bogget wrote: 25 Aug 2021, 17:53 Network radios are the next thing i will have a review up soon as they give me a new heading.

Bogget
Not network radios...
User avatar
Bogget
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1199
Joined: 27 Jul 2011, 23:33
Location: North East lincolnshire

Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by Bogget »

Yes thats just what i thought till i tried one for a week.......amazing

Would not be without one now, its like when CB started here in the 70s

Bogget
Amateur does not have a CH its pronounced "am-a-tore" NOT am-a-chure !
friendly1uk
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1147
Joined: 17 Jan 2011, 16:42
Location: Nottingham

Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by friendly1uk »

It's a mobile phone app that reduces features.


I got some early 888s then later tinny ones, with the smaller battery. Oddly the battery lasted longer in a side by side RX test.
User avatar
Bogget
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1199
Joined: 27 Jul 2011, 23:33
Location: North East lincolnshire

Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by Bogget »

friendly1uk wrote: 30 Aug 2021, 06:15 It's a mobile phone app that reduces features.
actually not true i use a walkie talkie not a phone very much like the UK police use.
you can use a mobile like you can for echo link and dmr and dstar but if you use a mobile it is not the same as using a real radio.

Bogget
Amateur does not have a CH its pronounced "am-a-tore" NOT am-a-chure !
friendly1uk
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1147
Joined: 17 Jan 2011, 16:42
Location: Nottingham

Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by friendly1uk »

Bogget wrote: 07 Sep 2021, 18:22
friendly1uk wrote: 30 Aug 2021, 06:15 It's a mobile phone app that reduces features.
actually not true i use a walkie talkie not a phone very much like the UK police use.
you can use a mobile like you can for echo link and dmr and dstar but if you use a mobile it is not the same as using a real radio.

Bogget
They have Samsung smart phones on EE, with a PTT that requires no dialing.
User avatar
Bogget
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1199
Joined: 27 Jul 2011, 23:33
Location: North East lincolnshire

Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by Bogget »

who does?

Bogget
Amateur does not have a CH its pronounced "am-a-tore" NOT am-a-chure !
friendly1uk
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1147
Joined: 17 Jan 2011, 16:42
Location: Nottingham

Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by friendly1uk »

Nott's police, though I presumed all forces. Google search seems to agree



Anyone had there 888 saying 'power on' all the time. Both my earlier sets started doing it at the same time. Disturbing the power switch seems to do nothing. Charge level also makes no difference. They were in storage so I can't be 100% sure when it happened, but both did it, while both newer ones didn't. You can see both models are quite different. Early ones have better plastics and red lines on the rotary knobs. It's the audio quality that really sets them apart though. The sounders in the newer sets are tiny I'm guessing. I'm not going to use the term speaker. The old ones may have speakers, but the new ones may as well be piezo
friendly1uk
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1147
Joined: 17 Jan 2011, 16:42
Location: Nottingham

Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by friendly1uk »

They turn off for a short while. 6 or 7 seconds typically. Then power back up. Having the torch on highlights this. I had not thought of it before.
I think the only aging chemistry is the batteries. There is no low battery life issue though, and tx or rx, no difference.

Sometime they say power on power on in quick succession.

I didn't think the batteries would swap between the models, but they just needed a push. So I have a new avenue of testing now
friendly1uk
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1147
Joined: 17 Jan 2011, 16:42
Location: Nottingham

Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by friendly1uk »

Sussed it. Simplest thing look ages... battery contacts on the radio. Symptoms barely related, until you really made some effort to twist it about.
Post Reply