Baofeng BF-F8HP Portable HAM Radio Overview - The Urban Prepper 

Canadian Prepper Excellent comment as always! I totally agree regarding your comments on kindergarten. I strive to present this kind of information as simple as I can, which can be challenging on such topics as amateur radios. Not sure if I actually achieved that, but I was definitely trying. I’ve always been motivated by this Albert Einstein quote: "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."

Ah look it's Canadian agent. 🎭

I have the bf8hp and we believe that the audio doesn't come out but my brother and I may able to fix it. The problem could be the speaker itself and the external microphone jack. I have thr btech 6x2 pro DMR Radio and have been using it for work/side hobby. The bf8hp is under warranty at this time.

PM101 collaborated with TUP and TUP gave you a shout out in his Baofeng video so maybe some of the PM101 subscribers will trickle down to you as well!

SurvivalTech Nord Thanks for watching, STN! When are you and I going to do a collab video???

I've got the best channel buddies in the world :)

TheUrbanPrepper Apparently pretty soon :D I'm always open to it.

SurvivalTech Nord Let's talk via private message or email!

BudgetBugout Haha... I'm by no means an expert. Guys like SurvivalTech Nord, commsprepepr and USNERDOC are far more versed than I am. I just strive to present complicated topics simply. I'm not sure I achieved that in this particular video, but it's something I also attempt to do. I'm looking forward to collaborating with you soon!

TheUrbanPrepper Well you're a very knowledgeable and thorough so you'll remain an expert in my book! :) I'm also looking forward to our collab. I'm about to fly to my training -- in at the airport now. Next time I'm on a plane will be to Seattle!

Devon Patton Thanks a bunch, Devon! I've been a fan on Chris for a long time. It's great to make a cameo appearance on his channel.

rippon77 Sorry for the rapid fire talking. I try to squeeze in a good amount of information in a video without it becoming way too long. Unfortunately, I've resorted to a fast pace video dialogue to help achieve this, which some people don't really enjoy. One of these days I'll figure out the best balance between dialogue pacing and content delivered. I'm still trying to refine my audio content. Thanks for commenting!

rippon77 Not to mention the fact we have to deal with him plunking the radio down in rush hour traffic.

orbits2 Unfortunately, the only time I had available to record this particular video was during my lunch break at work in downtown Seattle. I too would have preferred for less traffic noise in the background. Definitely not as peaceful as the outdoor sounds Chris captures in his videos while filming in the woods.

To be fair, he offered to voice over it, but it didn't sound too bad to me.

TheUrbanPrepper It's not like we can't go back and play it again ... and again ... and again ... and again ... Good info. My head hurts, but this is a great overview. I gotta get me one. I know, don't push the button without getting a valid driver's license ....

Dude, I'm right there with you. Hence the guest review.

Nutinwrkz Haha... too funny. I can totally relate, not with this subject but all subjects. “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.” [Einstein] If you have an interest in this subject, I would recommend picking up a book called the "No-Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide". It's a good read and will prepare you to take the HAM exam. However, only real life practicing with other HAM's will make you comfortable and with the proper etiquette.

TheUrbanPrepper I do have an interest and will drop the book hint for my upcoming birthday. Thanks for the info. Chris made a good choice bringing you in.

Yeah. This is more HAM oriented. These radios would be best suited for licensed HAMs wishing to transmit on FRS or GFMRS in addition to their licensing.

So far so good? I'm considering purchasing 2 of these, then a pair of the compatible 3800 milli amp batteries making for a larger, easier to handle radio. Also, I understand there is an upgraded antenna that's very popular, can't recall the name but they all say it improves the transmitting and receiving a great deal. I'm interested too - in a specialized antenna to use mostly indoors...since I live now in a small apartment...I'll probably have to go with the wire type that clips to a curtain rod, etc Any suggestions you might share with me would be appreciated. I'm completely new to these, and it can be confusing. Thanks ..

He said you gotta take the course and get a license to transmit. You can't expect a college course in HAM radio in a 20 minute youtube video. Just curious, but did you watch the video? Because what you're describing really doesn't reflect his review. They are just as great for monitoring. But he did say if you want to transmit you have to take steps.

I am not saying that the video needs to be a video format of what someone would see in a course. What I am saying is that it would benefit MANY people to have more information beyond "make sure you get your license before you transmit." I think it would be a great video to show people how to find a ham radio club, how to get a study guide, where to take your test, etc.

He does state in the video that it requires a license to operate, but let's address an elephant in the room here... if the SHTF locally, regionally or globally the last thing a person will be concerned about is having a license, which isn't to promote not having one or to discount your expertise, but in that instance the end justifies the means!

***** I totally agree with what you are saying. However, I feel that visitors to most emergency preparedness channels such as PM101 or my own have high level interests in multiple areas of prepping, ranging from emergency first aid, shelter building, weapons training, water filtration methods and emergency communications using non-cellular methods like with HAM radios. During my time on RU-vid, I find that most viewers simply want an aid for their shopping purposes to help them make educated purchases. IMO, it is more of my responsibility as a content provider to provide them with the basic overview to help their purchase decision of a product first, and anything extended second. If I didn't do that, then every review video I did on say a first aid kit would need to deep dive into the "rats nest of problems" that can occur during a trauma situation. Every flashlight review would need to go into the specifics of calculating lumens with proper equipment like an integrating sphere. Every water filtration pump would need to provide lab results of the actual filtration effectiveness to "understand all of the basic rules", etc. What I worry about it is creating a multi hour video series on the intricacies of the genre of a product, when over 90% of viewers just want a basic rundown in order to help their purchase decision. You know? I hope that my videos will help motivate new people into wanting to take measures into improving their emergency preparedness. Hopefully some of them will want to study to get their HAM license. Some may want to become a regular attendee of their local Ham Radio Club. Some may want to become more efficient at trauma treatment, massive blood loss and CPR. Others may decide to become effective at aquaponics. If watching one of my videos helps provide a spark into any one of these preparedness subjects, I am thrilled and honored. I find that the details of HAM radio warrants a dedicated channel, since there are SO many details to cover. There are a few RU-vidrs like SurvivalTech Nord, commsprepper and USNERDOC who dedicate a lot of their videos to this subject. The majority of preppers that I know are VERY private people. Most don't even like providing their full name to the internet, let alone their call sign, which could be looked up and provide the world with their home address and more. I find that the best HAM resources are in books, dedicated HAM channels and most importantly local clubs (as you mentioned). Preparedness channels like PM101 and my own will most often provide a basic overview for the 90% of viewers, which the dedicated channels will cater more to the other 10%. I am sorry if you feel that I did not stress the importance of obtaining an amateur radio license enough in this video. I thought that I talked about it multiple times, but in the future I will attempt to emphasize this more. Thanks for commenting and providing your valuable feedback. Hope to see you around, possibly on the airwaves. :) ~Cliff

TheUrbanPrepper Hey Cliff, I appreciate the hard work that goes into the process of making content like product reviews. I also definitely agree with your statements on prepping can lead to other interests and motivations for different types of people. Coming at this from someone who has been involved with ametuer radio for several years; I have some worries. When I started the cost of the equipment tended to be a sort of gatekeeper and only those highly motivated and interested individuals sought licenses and further training. However, today with just a $35 Amazon order anyone can have one of these BaoFengs at their front door ready to make a big mess if they have no clue what they are doing. Which is great because it provides access to an often misunderstood hobby but a potential nightmare because many won't take the time to find out what they are doing. As a wet behind the ears Ham, I remember really pissing off people on a few of the Skywarn weather spotting nets in my local area. I also remember reporting useless information in an ARES net a time or two. This was when I had my license, had taken courses and had friends and mentors who had been in the hobby a long time. There are all kinds of great ham radio resources here on youtube and for those who have interest, they will look for them.

Mooky Mann Thanks for watching, Mooky! Getting your HAM license is like taking a CPR class; a great skill to have in your preparedness repertoire. I feel that this is a topic in which money and time is very well spent, especially if you have interests in emergency preparedness. So many people in today's world will be caught with their pants down if the cellular grid were ever compromised. I am glad that we have this resource on RU-vid to collaborate and refine our personal skills. Take care and all the best.

TheUrbanPrepper I sent you a suggestion PM for a follow up video idea so look in your youtube mailbox to read it. This video here is without a doubt a Must See and the Clift Notes guideline for radio novices.

+TheUrbanPrepper You can take all 3 tests for the same fee, so study up man! I missed the extra class by a few questions, but I was ready for it within 3 more weeks. I had business on the day of the next test, & the day of the one after that, so I hit a bi-monthly & have my extra class now. The repeaters are full of preppers now. HF is pretty devoid of them, and I can't recall EVER hearing preppers on the extra bands doing CW. CW, PSK or FSK will cut through when phone won't. I have worked Maine, & Labrador from Arizona with 5 watts & FSK. That was down on 40 meters, though.

Free men do not ask permission

SouthWestIron no, they dont, the stock is best. Ive tried all of them.

Get your license, talk all over the world, learn a ton. Don’t get your license, leave your radio in the closet, learn nothing, never communicate. Do whichever you prefer.

Thinking the same...

About a mile if your lucky

Joseph Framo no, it just waits for the squelch tail id assume and if it does not get it then it probably shifts thru common offsets til it does.

1) No you cannot use it as a walkie talkie without having an amateur radio license. You can listen you CANNOT transmit without a license, its an amateur radio. 2. The A/B button switches between the 2 channels on the screen to transmit. You can transmit over one or the other, but not both at the same time so you can switch between them.

IX Mendoza it would be an issue with anything its bad for them.

Turn on the radio guy...

LoneStarPrepps the original is best.

No I won't, wait, they're adding FM to CB radios. Yeah, you're probably right.

Tim Lipinski -200 miles and your spot on.

No!

Yes, and no. This is a hand held Amateur Radio, you CANNOT transmit with it unless you have an Amateur Radio License. You can program frequencies into it and monitor your local police, fire, and rescue for example, but you CANNOT transmit on it without the license.