PRODUCT REVIEWS
This will be the page that provides my personal opinions and reviews of various items as I am able to do so. Remember that this is my personal opinion, and as a family man with limited income, I may not have the chance to review the biggest or the best of any given product line.
My first ham radio related device was the Baofeng (pronounced Pow-fung) UV-5R, and since that first purchase, I now have 10 HTs, 9 mobile radios for various bands, and a Kenwood TS-820S.
I have also created a few antennas, first was the rigid copper pipe J-pole for 2m and is currently 35ft above the ground, and is used with the Yaesu FT-2900R or my BTECH UV-50X2. I have seen random propagation get my signal out 300+ miles, but mostly participate in local nets. Also have a Windom across my back yard which is used for 10-40m with my TS-820S.
Most recent reviews:
- New Baofeng corporate release - UV-5R EX (Sept 2018)
- How to setup Chirp on a Raspberry Pi (Nov 2017)
- TYT MD-2017 info and review (June 2017)
- Leixen UV-52 review (June 2017)
- BTECH releases 3 new mobile radios. (Mar 2017)
- 30 days with the UV-5X3 (Sept 2016)
- New and updated HT antenna test results
- Old antenna test results - Will no longer be updated after 27 Sept 2016
- Separate Mobile/other antenna test results
- Day 1 with the BTECH UV-5X3 (Aug 2016)
- Pryme AL800 standalone review (April 2016)
- 2501+220 audio quality comparison video (Apr 2016)
- One month with the UV2501+220 (Apr 2016)
- Day 1 with the UV2501+220 (Feb 2016)
- One month with the UV-82HP (Jul 2015)
- One month with the OBLTR-8R (May 2015)
- Baofeng Radios initial review
- RadoShack RG-8/X coax
- List of other reviews
Antenna Calculator
Dec 2015: I have recently added an antenna calculator to my website, click here to use it.
Review Plans
Equipment I have now and plan to review in the near future:
- Baofeng radios and their accessories
- Echolink
- Homebrew projects like my Jpole and SO-239 ground plane antennas (2m 1/4 wave, 1.25m 1/4 wave and 70cm 1/2 wave)
- Cheap SDR that came in a while back, as well as software related to this SDR
- Future reviews depend on if I get products bought, donated, or lent to me (willing to sign contract to return after review or within specified timeframe).
- Whatever other random items I happen to decide to post