Baofeng radios

At a glance

What are Baofeng radios?

Baofeng is a Chinese radio maker from Nan'an, Fujian, that says it started in 2001. It now claims more than 1,000 employees and a production base of over 30,000 square meters. Its range covers amateur radio, GMRS, FRS and PMR radios, and accessories.1

The UV-3R and UV-5R received CE certification in March 2011, and the UV-5R received FCC certification in May 2012. Baofeng says it exports to the United States, Europe, Japan, South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa.1

What is the Baofeng UV-5R?

The UV-5R is a dual-band handheld for the 2 m (VHF) and 70 cm (UHF) bands. Baofeng's store lists transmit ranges of 136–174 and 400–480 MHz, 128 channels, a 1,800 mAh battery and a price of $17.19 in October 2026. The title says 5 W, the specification 4 W high and 1 W low.2

Digital models use DMR, the same standard used on ham networks (see ham radio DMR). Baofeng's store lists these prices in October 2026:

The DM-32UV transmits on 136–174 and 400–470 MHz.4 For the difference between VHF and UHF, see UHF vs VHF, and for analog against digital, see digital vs analog radio. Channel plans for the services these radios touch are in the frequency charts.

Baofeng's Ola app programs several models over Bluetooth: the UV-5R Mini, UV-5G Mini, UV-32, UV-28 Plus and UV-7B directly, and older models such as the UV-5R through the BT-A1D adapter.5

Do you need a license to use a Baofeng radio?

Yes, to transmit. Baofeng's own UV-5R page says no license is needed to buy the radio or to listen, but an FCC license is required to transmit on amateur frequencies in the USA. Other bands have their own rules, set out below for the United States.2

A radio that transmits on 144–148 MHz, as the UV-5R does, can be neither FRS nor GMRS equipment under those rules. If you want a license-free radio in the US, buy one sold as FRS; the FRS vs GMRS comparison explains the two services. The ham route is in ham radio license.

In Europe the same split applies by country. PMR446 radios in Latvia, for example, use 446.0–446.2 MHz at up to 0.5 W, their factory channels must not be changed, and radios that need a permit must not be reprogrammed to work as PMR446.12 A general handheld that covers 136–174 and 400–480 MHz is not that kind of radio. Amateur privileges depend on the national license. Check your country in the license checker and read the two-way radio licensing guide.

Has the FCC banned Baofeng radios?

No. On 1 August 2018 the FCC's Enforcement Bureau issued a citation and order to Amcrest Industries, a Houston distributor trading as Baofengradio.us, for marketing an unauthorized RF device, the UV-5R V2+. It did not ban the radios or their owners.13

The FCC said the UV-5R and UV-5R V2+ had been authorized in 2012, and that the V2+ could operate on restricted frequencies outside what Part 90 authorizes. Under section 2.803 of the FCC rules a device that can operate outside its authorization may not be marketed. The distributor was told to stop and to come into compliance, with fines of up to $19,639 per day for further violations.13 The order is addressed to the company, and ARRL's report notes that it does not mention amateur radio.14

The practical point is the same as in the table above: the transmit range of these radios is wider than any single service they can legally use, so the operator chooses the band and holds the license.

Does Baofeng make 4G or PoC radios?

Yes, two models in our catalogue: the AT1, built under the Alervites name and sold in Baofeng's store, and the POC-12, which appears only on Baofeng's business catalog. The AT1 is a small LTE handheld that is sold in pairs with SIM cards and works through the Ola Radio app.1516

The AT1 store page says the US version works only in the US, Canada and Mexico and the EU version only in Europe, and that cross-regional use causes activation failure. It gives 66 groups of up to 1,000 members, USB-C charging and an FAQ answer that no radio license is needed because the radio uses public LTE networks.15 The POC-12 listing offers GPS, an SOS button and USB-C.16

For the SIM side, see PoC radio SIM card and cost, and for how 4G handhelds work, the 4G LTE walkie-talkie guide.

What should you check before buying a Baofeng radio?

Check what you will transmit on, which version ships to your country, and whether the model is certified for it. For a UV-5R or DMR model, the answer is an amateur license. For an AT1, it is the regional version and its LTE bands.215

• License. Decide the service first: ham, FRS, GMRS or business. See the table above and the licensing guide.
• Region. The AT1 comes as separate US and EU versions that the seller says cannot be swapped.15 Compare bands with your operator in the LTE band checker.
• Power. The UV-5R page lists 5 W in the title and 4 W high power in the specification; trust the specification.2
• Plan length. Ask the seller how long the included data plan of the AT1 lasts and what renewal costs.15
• POC-12. Price is by inquiry; ask the seller for the LTE bands and battery before ordering.16

Baofeng radios in our catalogue

Questions

Sources

1. About us · Baofeng
2. UV-5R 5W Dual Band Radio · Baofeng
3. Digital radios · Baofeng
4. DM-32UV 10W Multi-Band DMR Radio · Baofeng
5. Program your Baofeng radio with the Ola app · Baofeng
6. 47 CFR 97.5, Station license required · eCFR
7. 47 CFR 97.301, Authorized frequency bands · eCFR
8. 47 CFR 95.1705, Individual licenses required · eCFR
9. 47 CFR 95.1761, GMRS transmitter certification · eCFR
10. 47 CFR 95.587, FRS additional requirements · eCFR