Baofeng Radio Ham Radio UV-9R Pro 8W Long Range VHF UHF Dual Band Tri- Power Rechargeable Handheld Two-Way Radio Walkie Talkies with Type-C Charging Cable for Camping Hunting Survival Gear

Baofeng makes great products for the price. I am shocked they can sell these as cheap as they do. The radio is a bit heavier and thicker than the typical UV-5R. But I guess that is the cost of making it waterproof. One thing to note is that it uses a different CHIRP connector cable than the UV-5R. UV-5R uses a cable with 2 male prongs that plug into the radio. The UV-9R (this model) uses a flat connector with a screw to attach it to the radio. So, I had to buy another cable ($10 on Amazon). The cable worked perfect. I haven't tested the waterproof capability yet and probably won't TRY to test it. But I plan to have this on my kayak. So, it will definitely get splashed. I will update the review once I have better info

Plenty of features to get you an introduction to amateur radio (even more features in Factory Mode). It is a great value for the price. The sound quality is good enough, the range is fine. It is small and easy to carry, yet still easy enough to use the keypad. Being able to charge the battery via USB C is convenient. And it's easy to afford a few of them to play around with.

Great inexpensive waterproof radio easy to program with chirp

I bought this radio as an entry level into the world of ham radio. I have found it to be fairly easy to use and works as I intended.It is small, lightweight, but doesn't feel super cheap. It came with the charger, antenna, and battery needed to use it right away. The battery was already charged.1) The built in "flashlight" is really not that useful in my opinion, but I suppose it could come in handy in an emergency for Morse Code or other signaling.2) The FM radio is a nice bonus and it receives very well for me. I can pick up more stations that I can with my vehicle. Be aware that not all these radios have that feature. Make sure to read the fine print.3) Buyer beware that there is a STRONG bias against Chinese ham radios, especially BAOFENG. There are technical reasons for this, but it is basically that they bleed over into other frequencies when transmitting. I have not had any hams complain about this in my experience. Just something to be aware of.4) The charger works well enough, but out of everything in the package this is the one item that feels cheaply made. I have several of these radios at this point and all the chargers are the same. So far they all work fine, but sometimes it is a struggle to get the radio seated properly in the cradle. And they seem to fit rather loosely. Again, they work and I have had no failures, but this is the one area I am concerned with.The antenna seems to be well made and works well. There are a LOT of third party antennas for these radios. Some might "fit", but will not be waterproof, and some just do not work even if they fit. If you get one, make sure they are the right connector and pay attention to the reviews!It took me a bit to figure out the programming and channel selection using the provided instructions. I would highly recommend YouTube Videos. This radio did not come with the software or cable to program it. Something to consider.Overall, this is a great beginner's ham radio. (make sure you have your license before transmitting!) It has been waterproof for me, so I have no issues with that claim.

The BAOFENG UV-9R Pro is not just a radio—it’s a lifestyle. Need to contact your camping buddy on the other side of a mountain? Done. Want to feel like a secret agent during a neighborhood scavenger hunt? Absolutely. Planning to start a Mad Max-style survival gang? This is your golden ticket.With 8W of power, this bad boy screams, “I mean business!” It’s like yelling into the void and having the void yell back. The long-range reach and dual-band magic are so good, you might end up making accidental friends with someone on another continent. (Or maybe aliens. No guarantees.)Waterproof? Check. Whether you're caught in a monsoon or you accidentally drop it in your soup, this thing keeps going. The Type-C charging is a modern touch for an otherwise rugged piece of gear, making it perfect for camping, hunting, or pretending you’re in an action movie.Let’s not forget the cool-factor of having something so hardcore it could probably survive being hit by a meteor. Seriously, even if the grid goes down, you’ll be the one saying, “Over and out.”

If you're used to the usual connectivity that you'll find in Baofeng you won't find it here.This radio is a weird contradiction. It lacks bluetooth, it lacks the ability to connect to Odmaster using bluetooth, and you have to use a special individual cable to program this thing on a desktop.Worse yet, there are features in this radio that you can only unlock using a desktop and Chirp. If you try to use Odmaster on a desktop, you have to make sure your version of Chrome Works otherwise that won't work either. Chirp works, but you have to jump through the hoops that you have to when you use a Windows program. Bluetooth connectors like the TIDRADIO Bluetooth receiver won't work because of the non-standard mic connector.Candidly, given that today you never know where you're going to have to program one of these things, it's important that there be some kind of Bluetooth connectivity for the field. Jumping on your phone connecting with Bluetooth and using Odmaster in a pinch is very very important. This radio doesn't have that ability. I'm going to keep it, but I can't recommend it.RECOMMENDATION: Stick with your UV-5R or the newer UV-8R. They STILL get the job done!