Ham Radio Handhelds: Baofeng UV-5R vs Quansheng UV-K5 vs TIDRADIO TD-H3

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There are many really budget friendly VHF UHF handheld transceivers on the market these days - but which is the best one for your needs.

There radios have hit the headlines in recent years: The first id s the long established Baofeng UV-5R and then there is the Quansheng UV-K5 and finally the TIDRADIO TD-H3.

All of †hese radios are widely available, but which one is best, or do they meet different needs?

This comparison review will look at these three radios in turn and discover their different pros and cons to see which is these best choice for different users.

Each of these handheld transceivers or HTs represents a different philosophy of what a $25–$40 radio should be. Whether you are a newly licensed ham, a prepper, or just a tech enthusiast, here is the breakdown of how they stack up.

1. Baofeng UV-5R

The Baofeng UV-5R is the radio that started the Chinese amateur radio equipment revolution. Despite being over a decade old, it remains the baseline against which all others are measured.

It has many who would not touch it with a barge-pole, but others have used it as a low cost entry point into the hobby, and others use them as radios they are prepared to sacrifice in harsh environments,etc.

For me, it's basic and programming the channels manually is not really an option, but it works and does provide a very low cost V/UHF handportable for me.

The Good

• Price:   Still the undisputed king of the "disposable" radio. You can often find them for under $20.

• Ecosystem:   Because it has been around so long, every accessory imaginable: extended batteries, tactical antennas, etc, all designed first for the UV-5R.

• Durability:   While not ruggedized, the UV-5R has a "survivor" reputation. It’s simple, and it works.

The Bad

• The Squelch Issue:   A notorious flaw in the UV-5R is its squelch logic. Often, settings 1 through 9 are identical, meaning the radio pops open for static far too easily unless you jump into CHIRP to manually edit the service menu.

• Rx Filtering:   Its front end is "wide open." If you are near a cell tower or a broadcast station, the UV-5R’s receiver can easily become overloaded (de-sensing), making it go deaf to actual signals.

• Tx Filtering:   One of the concerns of many people is that the transmitter filtering is also not particularly good resulting in out of band spurious products being transmitted.

• Dated Tech:   It lacks USB-C charging (unless you buy a specific third-party battery) and has a limited 128-channel capacity.

Baofeng UV-5R Dual Band Ham Amateur Radio Handheld

The BaoFeng-UV-5R is a compact, budget friendly portable transceiver offering a frequency range of 136-174 MHz and 400-520 MHz. Note additional taxes may be added in certain regions - check at the final checkout stage.

REVIEW: Baofeng UV-5R

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2. The Tinkerer’s Choice: Quansheng UV-K8

The Quansheng UV-K8 (and its siblings the K5 and K6) has effectively dethroned the Baofeng in the hearts of the "hacking" community.

While the hardware is similar to the Baofeng, the software architecture changed everything, and this makes for a significantly different handheld which appeals to a different set of people.

The UV-K8's claim to fame isn't its stock performance — it's the firmware. Because Quansheng left the microprocessor relatively unprotected, developers created custom firmware (like Egzumer or IJV). These mods add features usually found in $500 radios.

• Spectrum Analyzer:   A real-time visual of signal peaks across a frequency range.

• Expanded Receive:   The ability to listen to everything from long-wave to 1GHz (with varying hardware limitations).

• RSSIs Meters:   Much more accurate signal strength bars than the Baofeng.

The Trade-off

Out of the box, the Quansheng’s build quality feels slightly more "plastic" than the Baofeng. Furthermore, its internal filtering is arguably worse; it is prone to spurious emissions, meaning it can radiate onto other frequencies when in transmit.

It is a radio for people who like to play with the settings as much as they like to talk.

Quansheng UV K5 8 Walkie Talkie

Dual band V/UHF handheld transceiver, 200 channels, output 3 - 5 watts, 1600mAh battery.

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3. The Modern Powerhouse: TIDRadio TD-H3

If the Baofeng is the "Old Guard" and the Quansheng is the "Hacker," the TIDRadio TD-H3 is the "Professional." Released as a compact version of the TD-H8, the H3 has quickly become the favorite for users who want modern features without needing a computer.

For me the attraction was that I could easily programme the radio from my mobile phone without the need for a computer. Also as I use a MacBook, CHIRP (the most common programme) requires additional drivers to be added tot he system and it is not an Apple approved app so it is more difficult to install. The use of the mobile app Odmaster overcomes this.

The Modern Edge

• Bluetooth Programming:   This is the killer feature. You can program the TD-H3 via the Odmaster app on your phone. No more "fighting with COM ports" or specialized cables.

• Superior Receiver:   Testing shows the TD-H3 has significantly better filtering and sensitivity than both the Baofeng and the Quansheng. It picks up weak signals that the UV-5R completely misses.

• Battery Power:   It sports a genuine 2500mAh battery that charges via a native USB-C port on the radio body.

Performance

The TD-H3 feels dense and well-built. It features a color screen that is much easier to read in sunlight compared to the inverted LCDs of its rivals. It also supports "Air Band" (AM) for listening to aircraft, and it does so with much cleaner audio than the Quansheng.

TIDRADIO TD H3 Dual Band Handheld

With an impressive specification including dual band operation, Bluetooth channel programming, CTCSS / DCS, USB-C charging, and much more, this is becoming the go-to low cost handheld amateur radio VHF/UHF dual bander.

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Which Should You Buy?

• Buy the Baofeng UV-5R if...   You need a "truck radio" or something to give to a friend who might drop it in a creek. It’s the cheapest way to get on the air, and its shortcomings are well-documented with easy-to-find fixes.

• Buy the Quansheng UV-K8 if...   You are a "Radio Geek." If the idea of flashing custom firmware and having a spectrum analyzer in your pocket excites you, there is no better value on the market. It is a lab tool disguised as a walkie-talkie.

• Buy the TIDRadio TD-H3 if...   You actually want to use the radio frequently. Between the Bluetooth programming, the superior battery life, and the significantly better receiver, the TD-H3 is objectively the best "actual radio" of the three. It's worth the extra $10–$15.

Please note: ElectronicsNotes makes a small commission on any sales that are made from links on this article.

  Written by Ian Poole .
  Experienced electronics engineer and author.

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