Hardware Chat

Hi Nick,

I think we were on the 2011 course together - welcome back after your break!

Got the same radio here, and when turning the torch on with the side button, the torch performs perfectly - no flicker. Mine's certainly not doing what your video shows. I've not heard of the problem before, so my gut feel is there might be a problem with the torch on your radio.

Pete M0PSX (Was 2E0PSL)

Hi Pete,

Ah yes I remember, thanks!

Hmm, good to hear it's not a common fault in a way, makes the decision to return it easier. Not that I'd planned to use the torch, but it might indicate a deeper problem.

I guess the advantage to the price of these radios is I've ordered another (for £30) and submitted a return — will mix and match the two sets and return the faulty bits. Overall it looks like a pretty capable radio, so look forward to the next one.

If people were wondering, mine was via Amazon seller "ELEPHAS TRADE", it did come with the earpiece, but no UK adapter. It has an EU plug, so needs a shaver adapter to charge.

Something I noticed was that Baofeng seem to have purposefully used odd connectors, presumably so you buy their accessories. As mentioned here, the antenna has the reverse of what you'd normally find, but I also found the headset was "backwards" with the earphone on a 2.5mm stereo connector and the mic on 3.5 stereo.

I found the following site very helpful: http://www.miklor.com/COM/UV_Technical.php

If the radio I have holds up, hope to join the Monday night net :-)

- Nick

To follow up, new radio arrived and made a couple of overs into DA during the last Monday Night Net — well recommended :)

Nice little rig for the price... And good to make contact on the net!