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Baofeng K5 Plus Ham Radio ReviewI recently purchased the Baofeng K5 Plus, and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed. As a budget-friendly option, it offers outstanding performance that punches well above its price point.Packaging and Contents of the BoxWhen the Baofeng K5 Plus arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the thoughtful packaging. It’s clear that Baofeng has paid attention to the unboxing experience, even for a budget model like this one.The box itself is sturdy, ensuring that the radio and its accessories are well-protected during shipping. Inside, everything is neatly organized, with each item individually wrapped in plastic to avoid any potential damage from friction or moisture.Contents of the Box:Baofeng K5 Plus Radio – The main unit itself, which has a solid build and feels nice in hand. It's compact but not too small, striking a good balance for ease of use.Battery Pack – The included battery is of good quality and fits securely into the radio. It’s a 2000mAh lithium-ion battery, which provides solid performance, giving you several hours of operation, depending on usage.Antenna – A well-made flexible antenna is included. It’s not overly long but works well on both the 2m and 440 MHz bands. It’s easy to install and remove, with a tight connection that doesn’t feel like it will wear down with use.Charger Dock – A desktop charger is included for easy recharging of the battery. The charger is compact, lightweight, and works quickly, allowing you to top off the battery in a reasonable amount of time. It also features LED indicators to show the charging status.Belt Clip – A useful belt clip is provided, which allows you to carry the radio conveniently while keeping it easily accessible for communication.User Manual – The manual is well-written and offers clear instructions on how to set up the radio, program frequencies, and troubleshoot basic issues. It’s a handy reference for both beginners and more experienced users who want to get up to speed with the features quickly.Antenna Extension – An optional antenna extension is also included, which can help improve signal reception and transmission range in certain situations.Overall Thoughts on Packaging:The packaging is straightforward but professional. It’s not overly flashy, but it’s functional and ensures that all parts are safely stored and easily accessible. The contents are complete, meaning you won’t need to buy any additional accessories to get started right away.For the price, the inclusion of a charger dock, a solid battery, and the belt clip is a nice touch, making it clear that Baofeng has designed this radio with user convenience in mind. It’s a great package that gives you everything you need to start using the radio immediately, without feeling like you're missing out on essential components.In short, the Baofeng K5 Plus comes well-packaged with all the necessary accessories for a smooth, hassle-free experience.SWR PerformanceThe SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) on the Baofeng K5 Plus is exceptional. After calibrating my antenna and conducting several tests, I found that the SWR was consistently low, which is crucial for efficient transmission and avoiding damage to the radio. I’ve had no issues with signal quality, and it seems to be well-tuned straight out of the box, providing reliable communication without any issues related to signal reflection or poor transmission.2m and 440 MHz CompatibilityThe Baofeng K5 Plus performs admirably in both the 2-meter and 440 MHz bands, which are critical for both local and regional communication. I tested it on both frequencies, and I found the reception to be clear and reliable, even in areas where many other radios might struggle. Whether you’re transmitting on 144-148 MHz (2m) or 430-450 MHz (440 MHz), this radio ensures that you’re always on the right frequency and transmitting with crystal clarity.Power Levels and Advertised WattageOne of my concerns when purchasing a budget ham radio was whether the actual power levels would match the advertised specs. I was happy to find that the Baofeng K5 Plus does indeed deliver its advertised wattage. On low power, it offers around 1-5 watts, and on high power, it pushes a solid 8 watts. This is more than sufficient for most local communications and ensures that the radio performs as expected under different conditions.Price vs. QualityThe Baofeng K5 Plus is notably affordable, yet its build quality is surprisingly sturdy for such a budget model. While it may not have the high-end finish of some premium radios, the construction feels durable and well-made. The buttons are responsive, and the display is bright and easy to read, even in direct sunlight.Where this radio really shines in terms of quality is in its reliability and consistency. For a lower-cost radio, it holds up exceptionally well in terms of performance and signal clarity. The audio quality, both incoming and outgoing, is crisp, and the radio has a solid range without excessive interference. It’s clear that Baofeng has put a lot of effort into optimizing the design for both affordability and performance.ConclusionOverall, the Baofeng K5 Plus is an excellent purchase for anyone looking for a budget-friendly ham radio that doesn't compromise on performance. It handles the 2m and 440 MHz bands with ease, delivers on advertised wattage, and offers reliable SWR readings. While its price might make it seem like an entry-level option, it’s superior in quality, making it a great choice for both beginners and more experienced ham radio operators who want an affordable, dependable radio for everyday use.

The Baofeng K5 Plus is indeed a popular choice among ham radio enthusiasts. With its 10W output, it offers very impressive power for a handheld, making it suitable for both casual communication and more serious operations. Its compact design, user-friendly interface, and range of features such as dual-band frequencies and programmable channels makes it awesome. Love its performance in various conditions, making it a solid investment for both beginners and experienced operators in the amateur radio world.

I bought 2 of these radios for an event our club was having.Pros:Includes a drop-in charger and a USB-C charging cable.Battery can be charged directly via USB-C.The radio is larger and feels more durable.The screen looks nice when you can see it.Cons:The screen turns off within 5 secondsThe screen is impossible to read in sunlight.The included Abbree antennas are of terrible quality.With the original antennas, any movement caused the radio to cut out on receive. After switching to a Nagoya NA701 and a Diamond SRJ77CA antenna, which I already had, the reception improved significantly, and the radio no longer cuts out with slight movement.I recommend disabling the radio button using CHIRP software. This allows you to quickly turn the screen back on by pressing the button after it automatically turns off. Overall, these radios are typical Baofengs with a few enhancements. For $30 and a good antenna, you get a descent radio.

I brought this radio to Oshkosh so I could listen to the tower talk to the planes flying in. The reception and quality of sound was perfect. Very easy radio to use. Great reception with the included antennas. I love using it.

Radio seems solid and durable. I performed an unsophisticated test on the SWR and power output using the following:-An analog SWR/Power meter-Since I did not have the necessary adapters or a dummy load, I could not test with the supplied antennas, so I had my Diamond X50A (or maybe X52A?) base station antenna hooked to it (this is a dual-band 2M/70CM antenna-not designed for 1.25 meters). All tests were done on high power. The results were as follows:2 meters: Power output of 10 watts, SWR about 1.3:1 (tested on the 146.520 simplex frequency)70cm: Power output of 10 watts, SWR about 1.1:1 (tested on 440.000 MHz)1.25 meters: Power output of about 4.5-4.8 watts, SWR of about 1.1:1 (a big surprise that the SWR was this good). This test was done on 222.000 MHz.Since I did not test with either of the two included antennas, I cannot speak for their SWR. I did not have the adapters to connect it to the two included antennas and my meter.NOTE: If you are going to use this radio for FM broadcast reception, here is how you do it (the manual has an error):You MUST select channel (memory) mode in the top display. You then press the top orange sidekey on the upper left-hand side of the radio. The user manual says that you can do this from either frequency mode or channel mode, but it only works if the top display is in channel (memory) mode. If you are in VFO mode, the orange sidekey will not turn on the FM radio and you cannot even enter FM broadcast frequencies with the numerical keypad. For my first 2 days with the radio, I thought that the FM broadcast radio was not working.I made my first 2 meter contacts today on a nearby repeater using the included long antenna and received great signal reports. I purchased the programming cable and was able to program the radio using the free CHIRP NEXT software, and this specific radio is now shown in the dropdown menu for the Baofeng K5 Plus. There are some excellent YouTube videos showing how to use the software. It is easier than you might think, especially if you watch the YouTube tutorials. The software even includes the ability to auto-populate from the electronic repeater book.So far the battery status bar has not dropped down at all from maximum even though I have been experimenting with the radio for several hours.I am very impressed with the radio, even if it had been at a much higher price point. At less than $25 it is a stellar value!