Discover why two-way radios such as the Baofeng are so popular in Europe.
Part 1 - Baofeng BF-88E on Amazon* ➜ geni.us/pG6MX
Part 2 - Unboxing ➜ (2:49min)
Part 3 - Range Test ➜ (8:54min)
Part 4 - Summary & Conclusion ➜ (12:20min)
*If you are located in the United States please make sure to use an FRS radio instead:
For example - Baofeng BF-88A ➜ geni.us/hJliypF
In this product review, we will have a closer look at two license-free PMR446 radios from Baofeng.
While we find a maximum range of 3 km (1,9 miles) listed on the package, in my opinion, such distances are only reached under optimal conditions (e.g. open line of sight).
More realistic is to assume a shorter range, because houses, trees, and other obstacles can reduce the signal quality significantly.
According to government regulation, PMR446 radios are not allowed to have a replaceable antenna, and can only transmit at a low output power of 0.5 watts.
Because of this, it is perfectly normal that these radios perform best in close range communication.
At first, a short range may seem like a disadvantage, but if you think about it, it also has advantages.
In a city with many users, simultaneous transmissions on the same channel, are less likely if the radios only have a short range.
The benefit, users are not constantly bothering each other on one of the 8-16 available PMR frequencies.
In addition, the low output power extends battery life, and you can use the radios longer while consuming less power.
Also, if your radio would transmit over longer distances, more people could listen in, which is also avoided by the weak transmission power. Because a potential eavesdropper would always have to be close enough to receive the signal.
In my test, the communication quality was ok, personally, I think the Baofeng BF-88e is an entry-level radio, at an affordable price point.
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// This video does not include product placement. I got the product myself. //