I've said it before and I'll say it again. The whole concept of programmable devices that can be programmed to destruction by interfering with the 'wrong' memory is flawed from the start and I don't understand why people buy them. The whole concept of programmable devices that require the use of non-standard cables which in turn require the use of out-of-date drivers on the programming device is ridiculous. Why these radios have gained such a following is beyond me. Why most of them have not been returned for refunds the minute they exhibit the faults that I have read about on here time and time again is also beyond me. Whatever happened to Plug And Play?

As an example, even the cheapest printer has more complex user-selectable parameters available than most of the programmable radios. Printers come with drivers that work, with user-friendly user-interfaces that only allow the programming of whatever is sensibly programmable, and with hardware interfaces that are connected to the programming device via standard cables available from the average supermarket down the road. When I bought my UV5R it came with a programming cable that didn't work, and an incomprehensible CD full of software that is mostly useless. When I finally got something to work the user-interface to the spread-sheet lookalike was at best clunky - I would describe it as awful. There were no instructions to speak of and no support from the suppliers.

When I add up the hours I have spent and apply a reasonable hourly rate it becomes obvious that these radios are not cheap at all.

I recently read somewhere that recent handhelds from at least one of the big three suffers from the same problems. That's it then - the end of amateur radio is nigh. My one regret is that me and my UV5R have contributed to that because I did not return it for a refund.

(The UV5R is not a particularly good radio anyway. The colour display uses far too much power and cannot cope with bright sunlight. Mono displays are generally far better in both respects, and who really needs colour?)

73, Chris, an Amateur Radio operator since 1973.



From: chirp_users-bounces@intrepid.danplanet.com <chirp_users-bounces@intrepid.danplanet.com> on behalf of chirp_users-request@intrepid.danplanet.com <chirp_users-request@intrepid.danplanet.com>
Sent: 21 March 2018 19:00
To: chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com
Subject: chirp_users Digest, Vol 111, Issue 13
 
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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: This just kills me (ortingwing@aol.com)
   2. Re: This just kills me (Tycen Stafford)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2018 20:27:29 -0400
From: ortingwing@aol.com
Subject: Re: [chirp_users] This just kills me
To: chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com
Message-ID: <16245f41b90-c89-6623@webjas-vab028.srv.aolmail.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

It's not that the accessories are so much, just that the radio is so inexpensive. Since most of the radios used to cost way more than the UV5, a $50 headset was relatively cheap. The Bluetooth adapter I use is almost $200 by the time I buy the radio cable, and that doesn't include the actual headset.
?
https://www.amazon.com/Sena-SR10-10-Bluetooth-Adapter-Two-Way/dp/B008R0LIHO/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1521591455&sr=8-21&keywords=sena+bluetooth
?
This is not an inexpensive hobby, but adapting the radios to motorcycle use is even more expensive.
?
In a message dated 3/20/2018 11:34:29 AM Pacific Standard Time, dwage@dwage.com writes:

?
This:
?
https://www.amazon.com/2-Channel-Remote-Control-Transmitter-Highest/dp/B07817XYXC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1521570742&sr=8-2&keywords=nice+flor-s
?
costs $15 more than a UV-5R
?
Give me a break.
?
Dennis M. Wage
?
245 Corum Hill Road
Castalian Springs, TN 37031
(615) 310-4242?Cell
(615) 562-5128?Home
http://hammondb3organ.net

http://overdubs.net
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2018 09:39:27 -0700
From: Tycen Stafford <tycen@tycen.com>
Subject: Re: [chirp_users] This just kills me
To: Discussion of CHIRP <chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com>
Message-ID:
        <CAKquWEaV0jA410XHx9AvLazp4sgG66i=_NNM3Qgy=6KfoY0VuA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

If you're not adverse to a 3 week shipping time and taking a risk on
Chinese manufacturing, I have found that there are some super cheap
accessories on banggood.com <https://www.banggood.com/search/baofeng.html>
for Baofengs. Antennas, adapters, headsets, batteries, etc. I've ordered
from them dozens of times (for all kinds of electronics, but at least a
dozen Baofeng accessories) and everything has always arrived and works.
Some stuff even ships for the States and arrives in a few days (but you
might pay a little more). Their $5 magmount dual-band antenna
<https://www.banggood.com/UT106-SMA-Female-Dual-Band-Auto-10W-Antenne-for-BAOFENG-UV5RUV5RAUV5RE-HIYG-p-1114869.html>
is great for a quick mobile deployment (you think the magnet isn't going to
be strong enough but so far it's held up at 70mph for me).

On Tue, Mar 20, 2018 at 5:27 PM, Ron via chirp_users <
chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com> wrote:

> It's not that the accessories are so much, just that the radio is so
> inexpensive. Since most of the radios used to cost way more than the UV5, a
> $50 headset was relatively cheap. The Bluetooth adapter I use is almost
> $200 by the time I buy the radio cable, and that doesn't include the actual
> headset.
>
> https://www.amazon.com/Sena-SR10-10-Bluetooth-Adapter-Two-
> Way/dp/B008R0LIHO/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1521591455&sr=8-
> 21&keywords=sena+bluetooth
>
> This is not an inexpensive hobby, but adapting the radios to motorcycle
> use is even more expensive.
>
> In a message dated 3/20/2018 11:34:29 AM Pacific Standard Time,
> dwage@dwage.com writes:
>
> This:
>
> https://www.amazon.com/2-Channel-Remote-Control-Transmitter-Highest/dp/
> B07817XYXC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1521570742&sr=8-2&keywords=nice+flor-s
>
> costs $15 more than a UV-5R
>
> Give me a break.
>
> Dennis M. Wage
>
> 245 Corum Hill Road
> Castalian Springs, TN 37031
> (615) 310-4242 Cell
> (615) 562-5128 Home
> http://hammondb3organ.net
> http://overdubs.net
> _______________________________________________
> chirp_users mailing list
> chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com
> http://intrepid.danplanet.com/mailman/listinfo/chirp_users
> This message was sent to Ron at ortingwing@aol.com
> To unsubscribe, send an email to chirp_users-unsubscribe@
> intrepid.danplanet.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> chirp_users mailing list
> chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com
> http://intrepid.danplanet.com/mailman/listinfo/chirp_users
> This message was sent to Tycen at tycen@tycen.com
> To unsubscribe, send an email to chirp_users-unsubscribe@
> intrepid.danplanet.com
>
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End of chirp_users Digest, Vol 111, Issue 13
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