This Explorer QRZ-1 is an interesting radio as it is based on the TYT TH-UV88. In fact, I can’t find any substantial difference between the two at all, and I am currently using the battery off the TYT on the Explorer. You may also know that the same radio is also sold under the MyEmergencyRadio.com brand as My-EMR1 and I have an article on that radio.
I have always liked the way radios like the Wouxun KG-UV3D look. Something about them just look and feel better to me than a lot of the Baofengs and their clones. But looks aren’t everything.
The Baofeng 5RH Pro is one of a new platform of radios. That is, a set of radios that share a lot of common things like basic key layout, size, battery type, etc. The older platform was the UV-5R and its many variants. This new platform is definitely a step-up in just about every way, with a few caveats.
I thought I would pick up the Quansheng UV-K5 because I really don’t hear much about Quanshen. They have been selling ham gear in the United States for over a decade with models like the TG-UV8D and TG-UV2, however it is not a name you see mentioned that often, which is a shame.
The Baofeng UV-K5 Plus is one of a new series of radios that appear to be based on the same chassis which include the RH5, UV-5RM and BF-F8HP Pro among others. Like the UV-5R that spawned a whole series of radios based on that platform, each model has some unique characteristics.
Like you, I have seen a lot of advertisements for the My-EMR1 radio. "TIMES ARE UNPREDICTABLE… PROTECT YOUR FAMILY WITH OFF-GRID COMMUNICATION!" they exclaim. They go on to talk about how you can communicate locally and globally. I had to get one and see what it really was.
The HamGeek APX-8000 caught my interest for several reasons, including I had never heard of HamGeek in discussions of handheld radios before. Sure, I knew about the HackRF, but I honestly never heard anything else of them.
The Baofeng UV-5R is a classic, this UV-5RM Plus builds on that legacy and improves on it for a very minor price bump. Let’s take a look.
The TidRadio TD-H3 is a dual-band transceiver, being able to transmit and receive on 2m and 70cm like the majority of dual-band handheld radios these days. They call it multi-band because (even though technically two is multi) it can also receive on AM at 108-136MHz as well as FM on 50-76MHz, 76-108MHz, 174-350MHz, 350-400MHz, and 470-600MHz. Tidradio has it listed here:
This BF-F8HP Pro is billed as a better F8HP than the original, but is it? Let’s start with it being from Btech, which has a pretty good reputation for selling upscaled Baofeng radios at a premium. These radios are generally better built, have better accessories, and a better manual. They do, however, cost a little more.