Review on 📻 BAOFENG BF-F8HP Dual Band Two-Way Radio: 8-Watt Power, VHF 136-174MHz & UHF 400-520MHz, Full Kit with Large Battery by Brock Chisholm

This radio has 8 watts no matter what. Buy UV-5X3 instead. I have both the BF-F8HP and UV-5X3 and run them at the same time every day. I also have a Yeasu VX-6R. The firmware on the BF-F8HP is buggy and doesn't allow you to change some settings from the keyboard (they just aren't saved even if "confirm" is written). UV-5X3 has almost the same interface. but it really works. I use the chirp programming software for BF-F8HP, UV-5X3 and VX-6R, all 3 program without problems. I will not compare the VX-6R here. it's $180 more expensive (and IP67), let's just say I use the UV-5X3 for daily intermittent broadcast monitoring of various local repeaters. Why buy UV-5X3 instead of BF-F8HP?:1. You can block channel scanning on UV-5X3 with keyboard, on BF-F8HP you need to reprogram it with software to skip channel during scanning.2. On the UV-5X3 you can lock the display to view Freq and Alpha.3 text. UV-5X3 is tri-band. (However, if you want to transmit on the 220 band, you will need to switch to a different tuned antenna, which is included. The 144/440 antenna that comes with the UV-5X3 is the same V85 antenna that comes with the BF-F8HP) 4. I had strange reception problems with the BF-F8HP, while the UV-5X3 had no problems when sat side by side with the same V85.5 antenna. Do your research and you will find that tests show UV-5X3 side emissions match even Yeasu radios. (unlike almost all other BeoFeng). UV-5X3 is really a new denser radio station.6. 3 watts more does not harm an identical setup. do you want to go out? Get a real tuned antenna. Any experienced radio amateur will confirm this.7. UV-5X3 has stronger audio output.8. Finally. UV-5X3 is about $5 cheaper. But it has lower battery capacity. So buy a 3800mAh battery (which you need for any radio). Buy an external BTECH QHM22 microphone/speaker if you don't want the audio to sound like you're using a Fisher Price radio. And this mic/speaker is IP54 rated, so you can place the radio under the raincoat and the mic/speaker outside (another must-have for any radio). The optional battery and microphone/speaker are the same for the BF-F8HP and UV-5X3. - Mike