Rant about newer transceivers

[wb3cez]

Ok, I will admit that I am an old fart and have a hard time accepting a lot of change. Having said that, I really despise {don't like to say "hate" } so many of these new transceivers that are so difficult {for me} to program! For me these new vhf/uhf mobile rigs and HTs are an absolute nightmare to program. Why must they make things so difficult? Some of these radios are so bad that without a computer to program it, you are lost! And then, what ever happened to a real microphone plug and squelch knob? The longevity of many of these rigs is a joke....use them for a year and throw them away! I know I am not alone in feeling like this since I have heard plenty of other hams voice the same concerns. It seems like 90% of the bells and whistles are useless to the average user, yet we have to deal with all of this nonsense. The major manufacturers need to understand that we need an entry level bare bones RELIABLE transceiver and not something that goes south in a year or less. Yeah, I know.....a good ham operator should keep up with the current technology and not complain about it. Maybe, but when YOU are an old fart, we will see what you think then!

[k9yli]

well I'm 77 and I dont have a problem with programming..
My several kenwood tm 2xx's i can usually reprogram from memory.
A good way to learn programming is remove lthe back up battery...
I have an 8 year old yeasu 2720.
most of my radios are over 10 years old I just keep fixing them..
I will say that approaching middle age is starting to wear on me.

[wb3cez]

Try programming a Baofeng Chinese HT by hand and let me know how you make out!

[k9yli]

since they are not yet ten years old, I would not likley have one.
And I would not buy chinese anyhoo.

[ac8er]

THE BAOFENGS ARE A COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY! YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND FOLLOW: "AN IDIOT'S GUIDE TO PROGRAMMING THE BAOFENG"-THIS IS AN ARTICLE THAT WILL LET YOU PROGRAM OR, MORE ACCURATELY PUT, CONFIGURE A BAOFENG WITH ONE REPEATER-TRY TO GO ON FROM THERE THOUGH-HA!-THE TECHNICAL OFFICER IN OUR RADIO CLUB, A GENIUS AT&T TECHIE-TRIED 3 TIMES TO PROGRAM ONE OF MY BAOFENG UV-5R HT'S USING A PROGRAM CABLE AND THE 'CHIRP' DOWNLOAD ON THE COMPUTER-ON THE 3RD. TRY HE FINALLY SUCCEEDED BUT WITH THE 2ND. BAOFENG UV-5R HE HAD NO SUCCESS-I THREW BOTH OF THEM IN THE TRASH BIN-I WOULDN'T WISH ONE OF THESE CHINESE POS ON MY WORST ENEMY!!-GET RID OF THAT BAOFENG AND GET A DECENT RADIO AND SAVE YOURSELF A LOT OF AGGRAVATION!-VRY 73-MIKE-AC8ER.

[ku3x]

I have to agree. Trying to program these radios with just your fingers and the manual in front of you is a real pain. Hence the reason I ONLY buy uhf/vhf radios that can be programmed via computer.
That's not to say I can't program one without a computer, but life is so much easier doing it with a computer. Just fill in the needed information per memory and then send it to the radio.
As for HF, once I set the radio up I save the settings to a file. If I screw up the radio I just reset it with the computer.

I have a TS 480SAT in the shack and also run one for mobile. I sit in the shack, program the 480 and then save the settings on the computer. Next I take the laptop to the car, connect the radio to the laptop and send the file to the radio. It is sure a lot easier to experiment with changes to the 480 in the shack than it is the car.

New hams want tons of bells and whistles on their uhf/vhf radios. Us older hams are just happy to turn on the radio and hit the local repeater.

Barry, KU3X
www.ku3x.net

[n5wrx]

Talk about disposable radios ... Ten-Tec sure made some with their latest offerings.
Had no parts for repair even before they closed their doors.
I feel bad for anyone that purchased an Orion 1 or 2 as it is truly a disposable radio.

Kenwood seems to have done well supporting their line of radios for a long time.
Think TS-2000, TS-480 and such.
Still ... selling a new radio then releasing a newer version a year later is rotten to those that bought into their new stuff.
Always wait a year or so before buying any new radio.

And the others seem to come out with a new model every other month ... cant even keep up with what they offer now as it changes so frequently.

[W3ATT]

Baofeng radios are not very good at all.. Just read the review in QST magazine (Nov. 2015) and you will see why. I bought a few of them and they actually do ok, but in weak signal areas, they purely suck compared to other hand helds like kenwood or yaesu.

I travel the same road every day and every night and was amazed at how much better the yaesu and kenwood (and alinco) do in a particular area compared to the Baofeng. With the Baofeng, I would completely lose the repeater (using exact same rooftop antenna by the way.)

You surely get what you pay for with these things.

Programming was not much of an issue with Chirp I must say, however.

Also, don't be fooled by baofeng's so called 8 watt version. I bought one and get 5 watts max, and watched video tests of others getting the same result.

[KC6NEN]

I take Exception:

" THE BAOFENGS ARE A COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY! YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND FOLLOW: "AN IDIOT'S GUIDE TO PROGRAMMING THE BAOFENG"-THIS IS AN ARTICLE THAT WILL LET YOU PROGRAM OR, MORE ACCURATELY PUT, CONFIGURE A BAOFENG WITH ONE REPEATER-TRY TO GO ON FROM THERE THOUGH-HA!-THE TECHNICAL OFFICER IN OUR RADIO CLUB, A GENIUS AT&T TECHIE-TRIED 3 TIMES TO PROGRAM ONE OF MY BAOFENG UV-5R HT'S USING A PROGRAM CABLE AND THE 'CHIRP' DOWNLOAD ON THE COMPUTER-ON THE 3RD. TRY HE FINALLY SUCCEEDED BUT WITH THE 2ND. BAOFENG UV-5R HE HAD NO SUCCESS-I THREW BOTH OF THEM IN THE TRASH BIN-I WOULDN'T WISH ONE OF THESE CHINESE POS ON MY WORST ENEMY!!-GET RID OF THAT BAOFENG AND GET A DECENT RADIO AND SAVE YOURSELF A LOT OF AGGRAVATION!-VRY 73-MIKE-AC8ER. "

No, I don't buy Chinese tools, either; they usually break or round off nuts. But--my UV5r, although not the greatest sow in the sty, Works. Yes, I had to buy their cable, but only $3. Throw that disc away!

Just download, free, latest version of Chirp. Takes a bit of doin', to be sure, but, I'm not all that PC savvy. If you are good at Windows and Word, you'll get in 3 minutes. I took 10.

Biggest problem is my new F8+ not on list. If you go to B's website, you'll see what models are compatible with what. UV-5R same software as the F8+. So, try it on UV-5R until it works. A poor workman blames his tools.

Also ditch that short antenna. Invest in a Diamond or their 16" long one ($6). Big Difference! You may not need hi power with a good antenna. But these make it real top-heavy. Get a holster ($3)

True, not real good in noisey areas, But, it is Rugged. My UV-5R Finally gave out after a fall. It had been knocked over several times by pets, etc. But, cheaper than the parts for my Radio Shack. Transistor alone was $28. Then, I'd Still have a noisey R/S. I did invest inn my Yaesu, But, it is Still a hand-programmable, 10 channel per band, model. Not automatic to band scan nor 100 channel capability.
And weighs a Ton. I eventually went to Lithiums but it is still as big as a brick.

Possibly $ better invested in a newer Yaesu or Kenwood, but even a used one is 2x as much, or more.

Kudos to a radio that works as well as it does, as convenient (when downloaded--!) as cheap as it is for those new to Amateur Radio , want to get on air quickly, or on a fixed income below minimum wage. (Mr. Trump-?!)

[tate]

I am yet to understand why most hams have such a problem programming their Baofeng radio. I have one that works great and I just program it through the keypad on the front. If I can do it anyone should be able to do it. I don't know if it is just cause most hams like to bash the Baofeng cause it is cheap and Chinese or if people are honestly unable to program it. I would like to understand what is so hard about programming it.
John, WB0MPB

[W4KVW]

I don't have programming issues but I do have an issue with all of the new radios having touch screens.I am always wiping the screens on my radios now & have no desire too have to touch the screen just so it will perform a function that i need.It appears the morons designing them thinks they are cell phones & not transceivers? I hate touch screens & before anyone ask about my cell phone,I do NOT & never have owned a cell phone.I do my talking on the radio & would not own a cell phone if everything including the phone were FREE.At the rate things are going my next HF base radio will be a USED radio because I will NOT be buying a touch screen radio of any brand & I don't want any of them for FREE either if I'm required too keep & use them.

Clayton
W4KVW

[N9LCD]

Touch screens aren't bad --- PROVIDED that they are large enough; the icons aren't crowded; and you have the requisite manual dexterity. One of these days, while hammering away on a touch screen, I just might put my whole hand through the screen.

IMO what's worst that plain touch screens are touch screens with a "drag & drop" function. My fingers are so slick from the use of cleaning agents without gloves, I usually can't answer my Crackberry in time. I leave the call go into "missed calls" and call 'em back IF I recognize the number.

Jerry
N9LCD

[Jayven66]

Ok, I will admit that I am an old fart and have a hard time accepting a lot of change. Having said that, I really despise {don't like to say "hate" } so many of these new transceivers that are so difficult {for me} to program! For me these new vhf/uhf mobile rigs and HTs are an absolute nightmare to program. Why must they make things so difficult? Some of these radios are so bad that without a computer to program it, you are lost! And then, what ever happened to a real microphone plug and squelch knob? The longevity of many of these rigs is a joke....use them for a year and throw them away! I know I am not alone in feeling like this since I have heard plenty of other hams voice the same concerns. It seems like 90% of the bells and whistles are useless to the average user, yet we have to deal with all of this nonsense. The major manufacturers need to understand that we need an entry level bare bones RELIABLE transceiver and not something that goes south in a year or less. Yeah, I know.....a good ham operator should keep up with the current technology and not complain about it. Maybe, but when YOU are an old fart, we will see what you think then!

Agree. They just don't make em like they used to.. mind you i'm in my '70s now so..

[KC6NEN]

Wow--I thouht I had troubles programming!

I needed a USB cable for my Baefeng and just put in local repeaters. Then I slowly eliminated those that seemed inactive. Now, xmit does not work.Will get an Icom or something.


Bs are cheap but a crap shoot . Some have great luck. I had a Lot of fun with it, but, after 1 1/2 years, mine is now Receive Only.


anyone have any experience with a Yaesu ft 2700 RH mobile?

[wa8mea]

[quote=wb3cez post_id=31354 time=1416443001 user_id=958]
Try programming a Baofeng Chinese HT by hand and let me know how you make out!
[/quote]

Amen to that!

[N0WYO]

I had a wouxun a couple years ago. The radio didn't last through the first year. And that's all I needed to know about Chinese radios.

[W5acc]

go old school.... light them up in the winter and keep the shack warm..

[KI7ZXL]

Anybody who would buy one of these Baofeng’s and then have a kiniption fit over it because it’s “difficult to program” or “doesn’t last very long” is not only a cheapskate whiner but as far as I’m concerned a traitor to the American and Japanese manufactures that hams have relied on for decades. $35 for a dual band handheld radio? And then whine about it? You get exactly what you pay for and, in this case, you get exactly what you deserve.

[n5wrx]

I dont know about all this flack about Bofeng ... I have several and they all work great.
My American made multi-thousand dollar Ten-Tec Orion 2 cant even be repaired but my $500 Yaesu 101 is still going strong.
At least Bofeng dont come out with a new model every other month.
If you are one of those extra class hams that can not even solder a coax connector then I dont have much faith in your ability to program a radio.
Perhaps you should consider a less technical hobby like golf.

[W3ATT]

I don't know why you guys think Orions are throw away. There are always a few on the market at any given time. Once my lcd screen started giving random lines across it so I simply bought another one on the used market. Now I have boards galore for spare parts. Already swapped the lcd, mother board (for a nagging audio issue) and the synthesizer board. . And... the second orion came with the auto tuner and all filter slots full! Rig is running great. And I never had to throw it away. I'll just keep swapping boards and keep er running till I can finally convince myself that there's something better out there.

[robert47]

Baofeng radios can be had for as little as $22 dollars. Yes they are difficult to program. You get what you pay for.
Stop whining and spend another $8 to $10 dollars and buy the Baofeng programming software and cable.

[ac9xh]

I agree with the baofong bashing. dont like them,seems like junk to me. Just my own personal opinion.And yes, partially because they come from China. If our country made our chip manufacturers come back or be barred from selling here from China, we would have loads of USA MAde rigs like in the 80s.

As for the newer rigs, Im not buying any of them. i owned an icom 746 and have used probably 1/8 of the stuff crammed into it.Im selling it this year to get rid of rigs that will cost more to repair than purchase. Im buying up chips and fets and ferrite cores and wire,etc to start building and repairing my own again. 80% of my station equipment is homebuilt anyway. Always been poor and will die poor. But I enjoy the hobby . use alot of older low power equipment and simple antennas. I have more fun with these than if i were operating a $5000 rig. Skills of the ham operator is slowly fading away with these fantasy rigs. try doing WAS all bands qrp with direct conversion transceivers, or transmitter and receiver setup qrp. Or use a good fet regenerative receiver with transmitter. I operate from 160 meters thru 6 meters. I have several homebrewed transverters to get on 6 meters.completed WAS in late 70s with crystal control on 80 and 40 meters this was in the first year i was licensed using a johnson viking transmitter with a s38b hallicrafters receiver with home brew tuner. 20 turns of #12 house wiring coiled around a mayonaise jar for form, and a 150 pf variable capacitor . worked great with my antennas. used a light bulb to indicate power out.

been doing qrp this way for most of my ham career.try fixing your own rig that you paid over $800 to 5000 for Without sending it out.

mine, half hour most for troubleshooting. I even run qrp vaccum tube rx/tx with a 12vdc tube receiver and a 12 vdc tube transmitter.No emp worries for me.
as for the idiot screens? get rid of them and make everyone rediscover their listening skills. get rid of all the bells and whistles in that special radio. seriously,a very well built direct conversion receiver can outperform alot of those $1000 radios.Ive seen it happen.And if i want a computer to use i will turn one on . I dont need it in my radio. I actually feel sorry for the ham who spends thousands on a rig ,and it breaks down within a year or so and doesnt have a station up and running since they invested all that money into 1 big super station

just my take on it all
73
David
ac9xh

[k1pml]

Yes it is not fun to need a computer to program, but i can program my baofeng easily by hand. Yup its tedious but i am not pc savvy so its not impossible.