HamRadioReviews: Baofeng UV-82 8W Power Test [Video]

In this week's video I am doing a Baofeng UV-82 8W power test.



This Baofeng is not the UV-82HPhttps://*************************/e/ir?source=bk&t=hrrcontent-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=03c831ac1b79e88dee4abf6294557a65&_cb=1479474992408 tri-power model. In fact, there is nothing that states it is a new model, apart from the sticker on the back of the radio stating its power is 8 watts. Does it hold up to its claim?

Here is the video, enjoy: https://wp.me/p800qu-8v

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I have also tested 7 or 8 of these, well, a mix between uv82 and f8-f9 units..none have made 8 watts, all make about 5.5..one actually made 6...wonder what is up. (the rating is for input power maybe?)
73
Jim

 

For me it's a very good radio, I use it for satellite, I have 900 contas with it,
73 PS8ET

 

I have a UV-82 (5/1 W 2 power level version) that is about 3 years old.
There is a power adjustment pot (also one for the reference oscillator freq) on the front of the PCB between the keypad and LCD. I remember messing with it but don't remember how high I could set it. I do remember that the lowest setting was 5/1 W. I don't know if turning the pot all the way up is safe to do or if it will put out more spurs and burn up the PA.

I don't know if the 8 W 3 power level versions have the same PA and power control IC.
It could be that they are all the same except for adding an extra power level in firmware, setting the power control pot all the way up and increasing the retail price.

 

Thanks for the info, I will check it!

 

Yes, it is a very good radio for me too. Newer Baofengs have improved significantly.

 

I'm curious as to the accuracy of your watt meter compared to something like a Bird meter. A friend bought one of the 8w Baofeng ht's recently. The final blew pretty quickly......within probably 1 hour of use. I wonder about the reliability of such high power handhelds.

 

I don't think that the inline $40 meter can be compared to a Bird. However, the meter is quite accurate. I think I will do a comparison video of the meter VS a "better" one.

As for the reliability, not sure. We will know in the long term. My other high-power handheld is a 10W TYT UV8000E, which outputs ~8W on 2m and ~9.5W on 70cm. It is my main handheld for more than 2 months now and I've had no issues. Let's see how it holds up for the next couple of years.

Thanks, 73!

 

I don't mean to dismiss your meter, I apologize if it came across that way. I once had one that I think had Radio Shack's name on it. Worked well and was convenient because of it's small size. It just seems the Chinese add some dubious features on their ht's I suppose to gain market share. An 8 or 10 watt output translates to a lot of heat on such a small radio, not to mention the current draw on it's battery.

 

This 8W power calculated like 5W 2m band +3W 70cm band. This is marketing...
73! RM7KT/UU2JK VLADIMIR

 

You were using the battery from a UV-82L, like mine. Thing is... are these batteries the same as the stock battery, in output? That could affect your wattage, right there...

 

The batteries are the same. 8 watts would kill them quick.

 

It didn't came across like that, all is good. Yes, however, note that there actually are true 8-10W handheld radios. And yes, they do heat up but they don't seem to have issues. An example is the TYT UV8000E:

 

Heh, yes, probably.

 

Without knowing anything more than the average Baofeng customer (like you and me most likely), I think the batteries are identical.