The need for an upgrade on the Baofeng UV-5R series birthed the UV-82HP radio manufacturing, which is the second generation of the famous UV-82 series. This upgrade means that the radio is not just a more aesthetically pleasing piece with its predecessors’ basic features, but also an advanced device with an upgrade on functionality and features.
While you may get radios of higher sophistication in the market, it is one stylized radio. It is suitable for amateurs and even veteran walkie-talkie users who definitely wouldn’t mind having this device as part of their gear for two-way communications. This device is one of the easiest radios to operate for beginners, but its simplicity is not for lack of features.
Here is a review that will help you see the features, specifications, and programming process of the two-way hand-held portable radio.
Table of Contents
Specifications
Weight: 14.4 oz
Power output: Three selectable 1W/5W/8W for Low/Mid/High Power settings respectively
Battery: 1800mAh
Speaker Output: 1W
Channels: 128
Antenna Connector: SMA-Female
Frequency Range: 65-108 MHz for FM Radio reception, VHF: 136-174 MHz (RX/TX), UHF: 400-520.99 MHz (RX/TX)
PTT: Dual
Channel Spacing: 25KHz (Wideband) or 12.5kHz (Narrowband).
Significant upgrades made with this radio are evident in its design, expanded usability and functionality. They include the:
- Selectable power options that allow you to have power output as high as 8 Watts, which plays an important role in improving transmission range
- Ability to lock the VFO/MR frequency modes through software to prevent accidental programming.
- Dual Push to talk switch that greatly simplifies operation and handling of the radio, which can be synchronized by the software.
- Upgraded 80-page user guide manual in English
- Super quality high gain V-85 antenna for improved transmission range and reception quality.
- R-tone (repeater tone) for 100,1450,1750 or 2000 Hz audible tone for access requirement. Older models provided an audible tone for 1750 Hz only.
The radio comes in a kit pack comprising the UV-82HP radio, V85 dual-band Antenna, 1800 mAh battery, CH-8 charger, and a 110V adapter, earpiece kit, belt clip, wrist strap, and user guide.
Considerations for Choosing the Baofeng UV 82HP
Size
Portability is an important consideration in choosing this device. It might interest you to know that the HP in the radio’s name stands for Hand-held Portable. The radio weighs about 14.4 oz, a weight that makes it comfortable to carry around.
This device is a much thinner and smaller solid radio compared to earlier produced radios in the series. Attention was given to detail in its design to ensure that the small size does not impair functionality or operation ease.
The keypads are adequately spaced, so much that most users consider it suitable for the visually impaired. Special buttons are strategically placed to balance portability and functionality.
Frequency and Transmission Range
The effectiveness of communication, particularly from a significant distance, is one of the major headaches of regular users of two-way radios. It is easy to get a radio with excellent performance at a close range; the problem starts when you have to pick signals at a distant range.
Reports by several users have affirmed that this Baofeng radio can conveniently cover a 50mile radius, delivering quality sound and signal pick-up, which is not a common feature of two-way radios. This coverage is made possible by using about 8 Watts’s maximum power, and it gets better on a weather-friendly day.
This radio does not share the common issue of noise or static when picking signals from a distance. It conveniently communicates with other radios at a considerable distance(s) with almost negligible background noise on the worst of days.
The power output in use also plays an important role in audio quality. With the 1-watt power output, you will make a 25-mile radius with little background noise and zero background noise on 8-watt power output.
The factory packed antenna might limit transmission range, but the detachable design offers a solution to this constraint. You can easily swap this antenna for a high-quality antenna, which will offer efficient signal radiation and reception.
Accessories Compatibility
Your choice of any radio should be greatly influenced by the availability of compatible accessories in the market. Lack of accessories can render your radio useless, and it sure is frustrating trying hard to get a compatible antenna or battery for one’s radio.
One major advantage of this radio is the convenience that comes with its compatibility with all UV-82 accessories. This feature is an obvious upgrade in the 82- series. You need not worry about the ease of replacing accessories as you have a variety to choose from.
Audio Quality
Comparing this radio with other models, particularly its predecessors, you will notice a remarkable improvement in sound quality. The 82-HP transmits an audio signal into the repeater at a very high pitch making communication clear at both ends. This audio quality might be due to its high-power output, battery capacity (which has been reported by radio experts to contribute to clearer signals) or improved antenna quality; whatever it is, it sure makes communication better.
This device shows its strength when you have to get a distant repeater. It is amazing how bad weather and physical obstructions can still get a good connection and sound quality.
Versatility
This device has an in-built receiver, but you can watch two channels or frequencies as it is a semi-duplex radio. It monitors both channels but gives priority to the station that gets the first incoming call.
The radio allows CTSS, DCS, and DTMF calling modes. It also supports the latest standard of tone calling for private lines. It can send DTMF tones, allowing the sending of caller ID or other remote commands that require these tones.
The radio also allows transmission on both narrow and wide bands.
Ease of Use and Programming
While you may still need a level of expertise to program this device manually, the programming comes with noticeable relative ease. The manufacturer’s user guide makes the process all the better with the step by step guide on how to use and program your radio.
Features
The Transmitter/ Receiver
The speaker quality draws more power (one of the reasons you are grateful for the maximum power output option), making it strong, loud, and clear. With this, you need not stress about the windy days or times with quite unfavorable weather conditions as you can rest assured of standard communication where you will make outspoken words distinctly.
One of the other factors that might affect your transmission quality is the position of your antenna. If you have a bothering audio quality, you may have to re-position your antenna for better reception. You will get a better reception by experience if your antenna is placed vertically upright rather than horizontally.
The decent power put out by the speaker makes it easy to judge the optimality of the receiver. The quality of the signal transmitted is significantly superior to that of preceding models. This transmission quality is one of the noticeable upgrades in the UV-82HP radio. The bigger battery used might be a contributing factor.
Push to Talk Button
You can locate the Push to talk button at the left top area of the radio. This location makes pushing the button easier than being at either side, as is the common practice of most two-way radios.
It is a dual-band Push to Talk button with an in-built toggle that allows a switch between two frequency modes; Band-A and Band-B. Push the button to transmit on Band A and push the bottom of the toggle if you wish to transmit on Band B, and you do not need to jump extra hoops to toggle between both bands.
You may like to note that you cannot use both bands simultaneously because the radio is semi-duplex. However, this feature will work fine to save the day you have to communicate urgently on two different channels.
More often than not, you may not require this feature. You can set the PTT button to activate a single Push to talk switch. This exclusive feature takes away the complexity of the dual-mode, especially when it is not needed.
LED Flashlights
A nifty LED flashlight is built into the casing of this radio with an integrated lens enclosed and a reflector to help focus the light. In layman terms, this radio can double as a torch.
Status LED
The status LED comes in basic design. Its green light signifies that you have received a signal, and you get a red-light notification when you transmit a signal.
FM Radio
You can receive signals from Fm radios at lower frequencies with this device. The F radio is gentle on energy consumption as a full battery charge can last you 24 hours of uninterrupted FM radio play.
Removable V-85 Antenna
The high-quality antenna that comes with this radio plays a crucial part in a user’s satisfaction. The antenna connector requires SMA Female.
This antenna gives good reception and radiation at both the VHF and UHF frequency ranges. With this, you have an option of frequencies that may come in handy when you are at a location with physical obstructions. UHF frequencies handle obstruction better and are better for indoor use while switching to VHF frequency when outdoor in good terrain.
The V-85 antenna is detachable. This ability means that a faulty or malfunctioning antenna does not render the whole radio useless as it can be easily changed. Good thing that the radio is compatible with any 82-series antenna.
Other exciting features of this radio include; Dual-band hand-held transceiver, Belt Clip for attachment to the waist, and Desktop Charger’s easy transportation. The device has a Squelch Control for optimizing sound quality and eliminating static or background noise. It possesses an emergency alarm function, function beep on the keyboard, battery saving function, scan mode. Built-in DCSS and DCS tones, cross-band reception, DTMF encoder, Voice-activated transmit, display illumination that is programmable using the keypad, programmable repeater offset, keypad, and busy channel lock are all features that stand the device out.
FAQs
How to Program Baofeng UV-82HP
You can manually program this device or with the software; however, manual programming might require some level of expertise and experience with radio handling to load and set up memories. It would be best if you got a PC03 FTDI programming cable that uses CHIRP software and works with Windows Operating System for easy programming.
The CHIRP software is open-source programming software for radios. It is quite popular and one of the easiest to use. It requires you to plug your radio into a computer with the aid of a standard cable and boot your installed CHIRP from the computer to program the device following a set of simple instructions.
There are 128 available programmable channels on this radio. You may add or remove channels from the scanning list through the program software. You can also tag the channels with alphanumeric texts for identification using your personal computer at the point of programming. Programming also allows you to select what power output you’d like to go of the three power levels available.
Using the Baofeng UV-82hp manual would help to program your device as it provides a thorough guide through the process. The manual is also written in clear English, which is amazing for a Chinese origin product. It eliminates all kinds of grammatical errors and incoherence that are common with guides translated from another language.
Radio Assembly
Take out your antenna and battery from the box pack. You have to fit both accessories into the radio before it is ready for use. The transceiver has a male SMA connector, to which you will attach your female SMA connector (the antenna in this case). Align both connectors and tighten by turning clockwise until it fits properly. Try to tighten the connectors carefully so you will not damage your antenna or connectors. You have to use your antenna for transmission at all times.
Always turn off your radio before fixing the battery. To do this, turn the power or volume button in a counter-clockwise direction. Align your battery with the radio at the lower edge and slide upwards to insert the battery. Slide your battery in the reverse direction to remove the battery.
Amateur Radio Set-up
This radio being nan amateur radio, may require specific settings to set-up. This setting does not have specific requirements and implementations like commercial radios. An amateur radio operator will need a broad spectrum of settings to allow compatibility with as many systems as can be available. You may need to turn off all the specific and advanced settings you would normally set up for commercial use.
You need to set-up the following settings to use your device as amateur radio.
- Select menu 5 to set the bandwidth to wide
- Turn off your DCS code and CTCSS tones
- Use menus 15, 17, 19, and 20 to turn off your ANI, DTMFST, S-Code, and PTT-ID, respectively. Set your PTT-LT to 0ms.
- Use Menu 35 and 37 to turn off squelch tail elimination.
- Use Menu 39 to turn off the roger beep.
Note that all these specific settings have to be on to use as commercial radio.
Commercial Radio Set-up
To use as commercial radio, you have to narrowband according to United states regulation for PLMR users. Follow the following steps to set appropriately.
- First, turn off your radio and press the menu button while powering on to set to VFO mode, then press the menu button to select the menu.
- Enter five on the numeric keypad to select the fifth menu and press menu again to select.
- Use the upward and down navigation keys to select the narrow (Narr) option and enter the menu to confirm and save to narrowband.
- Press exit to return home.
How to Scan on a Baofeng UV-82HP
This device has two modes of operation; the Channel memory (MR0 mode and the frequency (VFO) mode. The frequency mode is mainly for programming channels into memory. Once you have saved these channels in the device’s memory, you can switch to the memory mode for everyday use.
You have to be in the frequency (VFO) mode to save frequencies from channeling memory. You can switch on your VFO mode by first turning off your radio, then pressing and holding the menu button while powering on the device.
Either you are operating in the frequency or memory mode. You can scan channels on your device. You can also scan tones (CTCSS or DCS) on this device.
Channel Scanning
There is a built-in scanner for both VHF and UHF bands in the device. When in frequency mode, scanning is done in step according to your set-frequency. It scans about three frequencies in a second. While scanning, the dual watch feature is disabled temporarily.
To scan channels, press and hold down the scan button, then press any key to enter scan mode. To set your scanning mode:
- Press the menu key to pick the menu option.
- Enter 1 and then 8 on your keypad to select scanner mode and press the menu key to select.
- Use the upward and downward navigation keys to select through scanning modes and press the enter key to select and key.
- Use the exit key to return home after setting up your scanning mode.
Tone Scanning
Tone scanning mode is accessible even in the absence of a signal; however, scanning itself can be done when there is a signal. Not all repeaters transmit a CTCSS tone or a DCS code, even when they require one. The implication of this is that the transmitter of a station that has access to a repeater requires scanning.
CTCSS Tone Scanning
To scan a CTCSS tone, press the menu key, press 1 and 1 again on your numeric keypad. This command brings you to the eleventh menu, and you press the enter key to select this menu. Now press the scan key to start scanning for CTCSS tones. Ensure that your tone is activated and not off at the point of scanning.
To indicate that your device is in CTCSS scanning mode, you will see a flashing “CT” at the left status display. When in this mode, the display will cycle through the CTCSS tones while tested when there is an incoming RF signal, either in the frequency (VFO) mode or the channel Memory (MR) operation mode. The “CT” scanning indicator goes off once the CTCSS tone is determined after the successful receipt of frequency.
Set VFO menu 11 back off to undo CTCSS scanning when the tone is no longer needed.
DCS Tone Scanning
To scan for a DCS tone, you should make sure your device is not in the CTCSS scanning mode.
Use the menu key to activate the menu option and press 1 and 0 on your keypad to select the tenth menu option, the R-DCS. Press the menu key to select this menu option. Now press scan to begin scanning DCS tones. Just like it is with CTCSS scanning, you should make sure that you have activated your tone.
As an indication that your device is in DCS scanning mode, a flashing “DCS” will come up on display at the left status. Whenever the device is in the “DCS” mode, it will run through the DCS tones while testing once there is an incoming frequency, either in the frequency or memory mode. Once the signal is received and the DCS tone is determined, the “DCS” display goes off.
Ensure you return your menu to default mode when not scanning DCS tones.
Conclusion
The upgrade on Boafeng 82- Series in the UV-82HP radio is a big step up and an impressive effort to deliver a more sophisticated two-way radio with advanced features as compared to its predecessors.
With enough transmission power, the radio delivers quality audio and transmission range in good weather conditions. While the maximum power output is recommended for optimum functionality, you can decide what power output level to stick with. Energy consumption at the maximum power output should not be a challenge with the factory packed 1800mAh rechargeable battery and charger that is more than enough to cater to your energy needs.
The ease of programming makes this radio endearing to users. With standard programming cable, you are almost assured of fast and hitch-free programming of your radio.
Overall, the Baofeng UV-82 High Power dual-band radio offers high-class performance, refined design, and an excellent price, making it a wise choice for any two-way radio user.
