Baofeng UV-5R Harmonics Test with TinySA 

I love this stuff. I never really understood it as much until you started doing these videos. Thanks for the great content.

After watching 'The Swiss with the funny accent' test BF and REtevis, I went with a Retevis. I have my TinySA, now I need that attentuator. Thanks for all the content you provide!

One thing you should do (after adding the initial attenuator) is to take a measurement, then add another 10dB of attenuation. If the delta (fundamental vs. 2nd harmonic) between the original measurement and the new measurement is the same, then you can be sure you didn't overload the SA frontend. If the delta is different, then the SA is overload and what you're seeing is the SA generated harmonics and not your transceiver harmonics. Old school trick...

Excellent video! Now that I have a Tiny SA I need to test my Baofeng collection to see which ones are a no go.

Thanks, Just purchased my Tiny SA, and was a bit hesitant about blasting the front end. I have a nice 40DB attenuator like yours, now I'm comfortable about hitting the TinySA with the output of my old baofeng's, and my uSDRs...that are about a bit less than 5watts out. keep 'em coming.

my 5e plus was within fcc rules when I tested it when I first got it also, it is the only feng I own. Nice that you tested several of them.

Very good video.

So, sketchy serial numbers AND spurious emissions on the first one. Somebody is doing something shady.

Very good scooter! Feng class

I really like that you explained this. Fantastic video my man. I'm still fuzzy on power out of the radio in watts vs Db? Thanks for the upload

I just tested two new UV-5R radios (one was labeled as a plus model) and they both had the nearly identical resposnes. Both had only a peaks at the second harmonic. I tested at the bottom, middle and top of 2m and 70cm bands (433 was the lowest in 70cm) and the worst case was 53dB below the findamental. So, all in all, I was pleasantly surprised. A uv-17 was similar. Tested on a Rigol analyzer with 30kHz RBW up to 1.5GHz. These were all purchased in the last month, so maybe Baofeng is starting to get their stuff together.

Hi, Tks for the great video. Now you have a Tinysa Ultra, time to test the 2nd 3rd and 4th harmonics (where most of the troubles will lie). :)

Yes! Thanks Ape for doing this video! I really appreciate it. I'm not convinced the latest UV-5R's are much better. I'll test mine which was bought about a month ago and see how I go.

Hey Ape ! ........Even some Newest UV-5R radios have Major Harmonic issues.....My fairly New UV-5R iii on Low power on 2 Meters puts out Over 1 watt on 2nd Harmonic in the 296 Mhz Business Band !! ......On Hi power the Same Harmonic is slightly Less than 1 watt.....The FCC getting a Spurious Emissions Complaint from a Business Band operator could be unexpected Bad news for a 2 Meter ham operator !! .....Big Thx for showing how to Measure this !!

I'd like to test my UV-5R. Is it that simple the way you have it set up with the attenuator and meter?

I'm curious what your cable loss is because your getting -21.7 dBm from the first one with a 40dB pad. thats only 18.7 dBm or 74 Milliwatts

Science!♡ 👍

I have a GT5R that claims to meet spectral purity. Have you tested that model by chance?

I have question if 30dB@10W attenuator is OK for 5W or should I get 40db one

My recent B "Fang" experience is they can generate Stonger Harmonics output at Low Power setting !! .....That was Totally unexpected but Does Happen !! You might want to Include that on Future Chinesium radio Harmonic testing.....

Have you ever checked out the Baofeng DM-1701? I'm just curious. I have one, and had a friend of mine at a 2way radio shop check mine out. After loading the OpenGD77 software on it. My DM-1701 tested at -43 db at high power, which was < 5w, and hardly any deviation. Needed no alignment.

what's the fcc rules on harmonics and spurious transmissions. I've been trying to look it up but it's not easy to find.

"We can enjoy this moment together" 😆

Just put together a filter to screw into the antenna connector to kill that harmonic. It can probably be built small enough so you hardly notice it. FT-50 toroid size would probably work fine. It would be a bit awkward, but functional. Or insert a T connector in your antenna jack and add a (slightly over) 1/4 wave stub of RG-174 (at the frequency of the harmonic,) to the side connector. Then plug your radio into your attenuator and your TinySA and snip down the RG-174 (while unkeyed,) then hit it again and watch that harmonic signal as it drops. Cheap, easy, and it will drop the harmonic down substantially. Not sure if it will attenuate it sufficiently using such small coax for the stub, (I haven't used any coax that small for a stub, the Q will be lower,) but it will be significant. Plus, the shield on the RG-174 will probably work as a counterpoise and improve the receive range on the Baofeng, because the Baofeng HT antenna system design sucks.

I bought Retevis RT85 HTs and no disappointments.

I have the 8W version, and in the city, I don't get 1Km of range. It's because of the city, or I am doing something wrong???

Now we just need that HF Feng so we can TX on 7/14/21/28 all at once and see which one is open for DX!

Would have liked just for giggles, to see what the UHF band would show. Also if it would make much difference to test on another freq in the VHF band, to see if some of that noise is the DDS or what ever they use to synth the osc freq. I had some tested years ago at the ARRL table in Dayton (at Hara) and even then one would pass and another would not. Also I had a couple that came out of a short custom run that were 2M/220Mhz. They were not clean. One other gotcha on these radios is that a number of them will not transmit all the DTMF tones, as one tone is the same for 2 buttons (I think the ones somewhere in the right hand column).

Hello, I don't understand how you can have a signal of only -21dBm with a 40dB attenuator and a TX output of about 5W (36dBm). You should be measuring a fundamental of about -4dBm. Where are the missing 17dBm? Regards, David F4HTQ.

My UV-5R only has two peeks -7dbm (fundamental) and -35.9db down. The auto attenuation was 18db but I believe that's accounted for in the measurement. I'm a bit confused -7dbm is different from yours. I did the level Calibration. -7dbm is .2mw so allowing for 40db attenuation is 2W...

i have 2 and they are UV-5RA are they same as the UV-5R? UV-5R5?

Have you ever put those baofeng antennas on a VNA? uv82 here is 4.2:1 on ham bands, vhf it gets under 1.5:1 at 128 mhz, I thought I was going crazy, checked my yaesu antenna on 2mtrs its perfect, at 145 Mhz was 1:01:1 nothing wrong with my VNA cal, its the junk baofeng supply, thankfully they also dont reach 8 watts LOL on 2m its 4.9 and 70cm 3.5, on low pwr both are about 2.2w, so I guess using it on low power wont throw too much back into the PA stages (ant checked directly at VNA, not using leads etc)

Please check the A36.

How about Model GT-5R? 73 DE W8LV BILL

The more important question is why did RU-vid recommended this video to e. And why am I watching it at 3 AM? 🤔

Should have tested a yaesu to see how much "better" they are to the fengs.

Sure, double serial numbers is normal!😆👍

Just try the Japan-made.

“allegedly 5 Watts” 😂 yeah, my BaoFeng says, maybe in the manual, “has 2 modes: high-power is 4 Watts, low-power is 1 Watt” 😮 some shady marketting guy calls that “5 Watts” 🤣

I guess it IS true... Not ALL Baofengs are "dirty".

Love my UV-5R's and do not care about their spectral purity.

Inadequate loudness in your voice.. very difficult to hear without external audio setup..