Well of course it's not 15 watts. Nor should it be. We don't want to be steaming our eyeball fluids. And while we can easily surmise that the radios made of 'chinesium' are not as selective as the similar Japanese made radios, nor as durable, one must admit that for $40 w/ a box full of accessories included at that price, they are quite capable. And that ability, coupled w/ the price, has probably done more to increase the number of Ham Radio Operators than any other single factor over the last 25 years. So let us not be so harsh on them. They are what they are, but they get new hams on the air. As for durability, generally the Baofeng, etc radios need to be handled w/ kid gloves or they will die, but I had one experience where I dropped a UV5R from about the 35' level of my tower all the way to the ground. It scuffed up the front face a little but it still works as it should. A friend and I purchased two 10 packs, kept out 6 radios for our use, and promised a radio to the next 14 newly licensed hams in our ZOOM class. Our first 4 graduates passed their test on 12-22-2020 and we have graduated eight more since. Of those 12, five have already upgraded to General, and three others are working toward that goal. Our oldest grads are bumping up against 70, and last week I just delivered a radio and antenna to our youngest so far... a 17 year old YL. We only have two radios left and expect they'll be gone shortly.
Hi Dan... I see your headset so I think you might enjoy my QRZ page... look me up... K4KID. Happy landings.
