the earpiece mic is ok but has very limited high end   it is  usable although i wouldn't purchase it. get a good speaker mic instead. a ken wood speaker mic is compatible and they are often very good. also no matter the antenna for my radio, being mobile with a weaker repeater is useless. I can get into the repeater fine, but I have trouble hearing it as any dropouts last  over a second because the receiver is very slow to come back once squelched. other handhelds are just fine on receive, but even with a mag mount on the roof the uv5r I have is pretty pathetic as a mobile.  my old vx7r blows it away with receive capability as does any mobile. Iprobably would no tbuy another and would instead get the woxum or however ryou spell it. it is a much more capable radio in my opinion.

On Jun 15, 2013, at 10:54 AM, "Ronald E. Milliman" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Those of you who actually have one of the BAOFENG UV5-R handhelds, which
> accessories do you recommend? For instance, I have heard people say that
> the earphone/mic is not worth the money if you have to purchase it
> separately. Also, I have heard some people say that the USB cable and
> software are extremely desireable; however, I have heard other people say
> it cannot be used with newer computers with the newer operating systems,
> and that you need an older computer with Com ports to make it work. 
> 
> So, I keep putting off purchasing one of these little handhelds because I
> don't want to buy the wrong combination. It seems as if it is desirable to
> purchase one of the better antennas, but there appears to be considerable
> disagreement as to which after-market antenna is best. It also seems as if
> there is some agreement that the extra High Capacity 3800MAh Li-Ion Battery
> is highly desireable. So, those of you who have purchased the BAOFENG
> UV5-R, what package do you recommend? 
> 
> Ron, K8HSY
> 
> Dr. Ronald E. Milliman, retired Professor Western Kentucky University
> Ph: 270-782-9325 
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> 
> Chair, American Council of the Blind Public Relations Committee
> 
> Chair, American Council of the Blind's Monthly Monetary Support Program
> (MMS) Committee
> 
> President: South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind (SCKCB)