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The Arcshell AR-6 is an upgraded version of their AR-5, itself a close of the Baofeng BF-888s. It is also my favorite ultra-cheap two-way radio. Read below to find out why!
Before we discuss the pros and cons of the Arcshell AR-6 we first have to understand that this is a radio that costs $16 or less per radio. This is an important point as we can’t compare this radio to others that cost substantially more and expect it to be the same, but you might be surprised to see how close it comes.
What you get for your $16 in this Arcshell AR-6 is a 16 channel, lightweight, detachable antenna, detachable battery, radio that feels good in the hand. The Arcshell AR-6 range is also remarkably good.
The Arcshell AR-6 is basically a Baofeng BF-888S with different plastic bit and pieces. This is great because while I think a lot of the 888S for what it is, I think the plastics could be a little less boring and a little more streamlined.
Feeling a little lighter (even though it isn’t), and being a little thinner means the Arcshell AR-6 fits in pockets easier, including a breast pocket which is really nice. I often carry the radio in my breast pocket with the clip facing out. This also has the effect of letting me feel the audio more than hearing it since the speaker is pointed back at my chest.
The Arcshell AR-6 charger is a perfectly serviceable drop-in charger. I need to find a way to add weight to it because trying to lift the radio out with one hand results in walking away with both the radio and the charger. Yeah, I am being picky here, if I used the radios all the time I would just glue or velcro them to a shelf and not worry about it.
One thing I do not like is that the Arcshell AR-6 seems to have a problem I suspect is a clearance issue on the power/volume knob which causes it to be a little tight in spots. It does not seem to be a defect in a single unit as I have seen it on every one of these radios I have played with to differing degrees.
The other big difference between the 888S and this Arcshell AR-6 is that this radio comes in two colors; red and blue. This may seem insignificant but it helps me differentiate this radio from my others, helps me get my wife to carry it, and seems to raise fewer eyebrows for whatever reason.
Since the Arcshell AR-6 is a screenless channel based radio means you can not program it without a computer and cable. The frequencies that come in it are the same as those that come pre-programmed into the Baofeng BF-888S and contain a mix of frequencies. So is the Arcshell AR-6 legal? Virtually all of the channels are illegal for everyone including licensed amateur radio operators. Since Arcshell AR-6 programming uses the same cable and free CHIRP programming software to program as the 888S it should be easy enough for anyone to reprogram it and make it legal.
That’s right, the Arcshell AR-6 programming cable is the same cable I used for my Baofeng BF-888S and uses the same free ham radio programming software.
Just like most radios in this class, the Arcshell AR-6 comes with a cheap little earphone which has a built-in microphone that I can honestly say is functional, that is about all the positive things I will say about it. It is not comfortable, sounds horrible and I constantly have people tell me they can’t hear me when I use the mic unless it is almost in my mouth. Not exactly great, but like I said, functional and no better or worse than most others.
Photos
Arcshell AR-6 Test Results:
| Screen readability | N/A |
| In-hand feel | Good |
| Included antenna | Good |
| Construction quality | Good |
| Belt clip | Good |
| Programmability | Good |
| Transmit audio | CLICK TO LISTEN |
| Maximum power output (2m/70cm) | N/A /1 watts |
| Size | 240 * 57 * 42 mm |
| Actual weight | 5.8 oz |
| Arcshell AR-6 manual | NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE |
| Programming software | CLICK TO DOWNLOAD |
| Arcshell AR-6 Overall score |  |
| FEATURES: | |
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Conclusions
GET THE BOOK!
I hope you enjoyed my Arcshell AR-6 review!
I Personally don’t care abut the Legality of the Frequencies or the Color. I got this radio for a Bug out or when going camping, or shopping. my wife is the kind of woman who walks away while I am looking at a product, and many times out cell phones do not work in store.
I named my Radio CHAINS ):-) I Love these Radios. They work great.
You should care about the legality of the frequency, regardless of where and how you use it. If you are using it for your bug out bag, this is especially true. What good is a radio if you don’t know the right frequencies to use and avoid in a crisis? That’s like buying a car and never learning how to start it or drive, you bought it just in case you needed to get to the hospital, lol.
I have seen these radios programmed from the factory to the same frequencies that emergency services use in some areas. That is not only highly risky from a legal point of view (jail doesn’t sound fun at all), but also I would not want to be the one causing interference on a frequency used by an ambulance trying to save someone’s life. Your cheap radio may not even be able to hear them, but they might be unable to communicate because of you.
I do the same with my wife, but I programmed them to a legal frequency that we both have licenses to use.