A 10W Baofeng? Reviewing the UV-S9 Plus + REAL POWER Test

The Baofeng UV-S9 Plus is a 10W (also 8W depending on what website you read) handheld dual band radio that transmits on the 2m and 70cm ham radio bands as well as FM receive functionality.

In this video I do a review and show what you get for your money plus a REAL power output test to see if the claimed 10W is true, or more Baofeng seller hype!

What do you think of these radios? Do you own one (or more)?

 

They claim "10 Watts", Not 10 Watts Output.

10 Watt battery drain sounds about right.

 

As @KF5FEI would most likely say, "Those would be 10 Chinese watts." But, you're probably correct...

"Hey! Why is the radio getting so hot?"

 

I had to expect at least one of these lol

 

Yes. I suspect they are quoting the "input power" i.e. Specs are 7.4V at <1.4A (Transmit) current draw is around 10W... it outputs 5W so it's around 50% efficient

 

Even at 5 watts 'to the antenna' you still are far from RF exposure compliance (Part 97 hams) for a hand held situation. Check it out yourself.

 

5w on 2m. 5w on 440. total 10w. Chinese math.

 

I'd rather be entertained by more political rhetoric than more dribble about the latest and greatest scam from Baofeng.

 

What do you want for 25 bucks?

This is the kind of HT I buy as I am known to leave one out on the deck overnight, followed by a thunderstorm.

I bought one of these a few months ago in a moment of pandemic boredom. Of course I never expected ten watts (or eight as mine says) but attaching a Nagoya antenna and a speaker wire counterpoise, I got some very impressive results.

In recent "breakout" mode, where we traveled by air from Ohio to Arizona, this was the radio to put in the carryon.

It worked as well there as it did in Ohio- maybe better, as the repeater network out there is just made for this radio. And very simple to load up your new repeaters via Chirp. And of course it tunes FM radio, and Weather Radio wherever you might be in the US.

Probably worth the 25 bucks just for that.

 

Small world. My family is from MT Vernon and Loudonville. Spent A lot of summers there. These radios are great for people just getting into the hobby. With ham radio exploding in China, we will see what they can produce to the international market. Competition is always a good thing.

 

Just next door. And good neighbors on two meters.

Thanks, and 73, Mike

 

I think 2 cans and a string work better than any thing made in china!! 73

 

Have not purchased any Beofeng's in a while, but I have 8 or 9 of them for the heck of it. Really like the UV 82c more than any of them, clean audio, solid, reliable. Beofeng HTs, Just another fun, but cheaper than normal aspect of the hobby.

 

Cool! I like mine, they work well for what they are for sure!