while this may have been your experience, technically speaking, out of the 
15 or so uv5R's that i've been around during testing on, their sensativity 
is typically significantly better than an average amateur handheld, and a 
whole lot better than your average commercial handheld.
In the order of 0.12 to 0.14UV on average which is several points better 
than most kenwood or yaesu type dual or tri-band handhelds which usually 
clock in at around 0.16 to 0.21UV..
So, technically, the UV5R has a better receiver than most.
On a recent bunny  hunt, I was using my TH F6A and my friend was using his 
UV5R.  Without a word of a ly, he was able to pic up the cw beacon on VHF a 
good 500 yards before I was able to pic up the same beacon on the TH F6A.
it was a localize ham fest style bunny hunt with a very low powered 
transmitter about half a mile away from the starting point.
I was using the stock kenwood antenna, and he was using a 2 dollar chinese 
after market shorty style flexible duck antenna.
Perhaps this is simply a random thing, but I've got enough handhelds and 
different antennas around here to have a pretty good idea of how well the 
uv5R performs, and it out performs most of what I've got on simple receiver 
sensativity.

that, on top of the very low cost, make it an extremely good value for the 
dollar.

73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "zvonimir" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2013 2:36 PM
Subject: Re: Baofeng uv5r service manu?


> Hi, i use kenwood th-79 E (european version)
> it's better than this new baofeng... i had baofeng in my hands and i
> tested the whole functionality...
> the rig on receive has the bad .... sensitivity...
> really
>
>
> Dana 9.7.2013 г. 22:34 Ñ?., Zach Shifflett je napisao:
>> I noticed that band conditions have a lot to do with it. I don't think 
>> it's t=
>> otally useless. It's just a quirky little radio and that's the way it is.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Jul 9, 2013, at 4:30 PM, Michael Thurman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>> very sad and not at all a good sign if some are good and some are =3D
>>> totally unusable mobile. i am sorry I bought the better  antenna for $30 
>>> =3D=
>>> at the last hamfest and wish I had instead just bought a new battery for 
>>> =3D=
>>> my vx7r, but it is incredibly good for  stationary public service use 
>>> =3D
>>> and the battery lasts forever and a day. too bad it is out of warranty
>>> I love it in every othe way except the receive on vhf. I will probably 
>>> =3D=
>>> go back to the stock rubber duck and use it to talk to my crosbander =3D
>>> when I get it in the car someday
>>> =20
>>> On Jul 9, 2013, at 4:24 PM, Zach Shifflett <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>> =20
>>>> My radio has a lot of mobile flutter as well.  Stationary it works
>>>> like a dream, but while I'm in a vehicle, working with a magmount, I
>>>> get a lot of flutter on repeaters.
>>>> =3D20
>>>> On 7/9/13, Colin McDonald <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>>> no, there is no service menu.
>>>>> everything is set in the single chip that makes up most of the radio.
>>>>> the only access you have to settings is through the menus or through 
>>>>> =3D=
>>> the
>>>>> programming software, which is the same menus and not very =3D
>>> accessible.
>>>>> So, there is nothing you can do as a user or even as a technician to 
>>>>> =3D=
>>> change
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> what's happening beyond the basic menu settings.
>>>>> Everything is set in firmware except one basic frequency offset =3D
>>> adjustment
>>>>> pot inside the radio.
>>>>> This radio is a single chip that does everything, and all functions 
>>>>> =3D
>>> are
>>>>> controlled by firmware...beyond that there is a power amplifier and a 
>>>>> =3D=
>>> basic
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> user interface system and that's it.
>>>>> Your RX frequency could be slightly off kilter and that's why when =3D
>>> you get
>>>>> flutter it drops stuff out...but again, no way to set that as the =3D
>>> internal
>>>>> pot is for tx frequency adjustment only.
>>>>> Maybe this is a bug with your unit as I haven't heard of anyone else 
>>>>> =3D=
>>> having
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> this specific issue.  Mine works great on a squelch setting of 3 on 
>>>>> =3D
>>> both vhf
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> and UHF both mobile and stationary.
>>>>> 73
>>>>> Colin, V A6BKX
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Michael Thurman" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2013 1:52 PM
>>>>> Subject: Baofeng uv5r service manu?
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> I there a service menu for the uv5r? If you know who to get into it 
>>>>>> =3D=
>>> even =3D3D
>>>>>> if it is not the slightest bit blind friendly that is ok. I  need to 
>>>>>> =3D=
>>> =3D3D
>>>>>> adjust the squelch hysteresis if possible. on uhf it works great =3D
>>> even =3D3D
>>>>>> mobile, but on vhf  any mobile flutter weather on my end or the =3D
>>> other =3D3D
>>>>>> station's end of the contact drops out my squelch and then it takes 
>>>>>> =3D=
>>> =3D3D
>>>>>> forever to reopen it.  I can copy a signal perfectly if I  open the 
>>>>>> =3D=
>>> =3D3D
>>>>>> squelch but even with it set to it's most sensitive, which I presume 
>>>>>> =3D=
>>> is =3D3D
>>>>>> 1, it is usable on most of the vhf repeaters even with a good =3D
>>> antenna =3D3D
>>>>>> not he car, or  simplex even with my station's antenna. any other =3D
>>> radio =3D3D
>>>>>> is perfect under the same conditions and antennas, so it is =3D
>>> definitely =3D3D
>>>>>> the radio.  when it is stationary it is very sensitive.   and works 
>>>>>> =3D=
>>> =3D3D
>>>>>> great for public service events through a repeater as long as I am 
>>>>>> =3D3=
>> D=3D
>>> =20
>>>>>> stationary
>>>>> =3D20