Dave, Gayle and all, It really depends on what you want your radio to
do, and what you want to do with your radio.
I have, use, and like, two of the Baofeng UV5R dual band HTS.  These
sell on Amazon and through other platforms for around 30US$s shipped.
For that price can they be any good?
Well, in my experience they certainly are!
With more useable speech than _any other HT I know of, they can be
programmed by a blind person (_without computer help or interference,)
simply from the radios' keypad.
If one is computer savvy, these radios can probably be programmed
faster and easier using a Beofeng or aftermarket cable with one's
favorite PC or Mac, and either Chirp or other software.
So how good, bad, or indifferent is the HT's performance?
Well, using either software and guides from Miklor.com or from our own
Buddy Brannon, who authored the eyes free guide for the uv5r, although
like all rigs they have their own querkiness, the reception and
transmitted signals with mine, are as good as, if not better than
other HTs I've worked with.  Receiver wise, for example, Where I live,
we get WX signals on 162.400, 425, 450,  525, and 550. All of which
are audible with the stock antenna, whereas my ic-t90A would only get
sigs on 425, 450, and 550.
There's good receiver sensitivity and already open xmit capability on
Ham, PSB, FRS, MURS, and other freqs.
You have to talk close to the ht, and across the mic, rather than
directly into it, for best clarity, Also, the ctcss tones can be set
very easily, for example, in that tone field, the required xmit tone
of 71.8 is set as 718, rather than having to remember some other code.

The SMA antenna connection is different, with the center pin appearing
in the radio rather than in the antenna.
And the Commercial FM reception isn't bad either.  In short, the radio
isn't perfect in every way for everybody's needs, but for the price,
it works pretty well, and if it goes down, it can be replaced pretty
inexpensively.
I like Kenwood, Icom, Yaesu and others, but for blind accessibility
and affordability, I'm pretty pleased with mine.  HTH, Danny

On 7/14/15, Dave Allen <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi Gale!
>
> I have previous owned the Zarez units for 2 meter and 70 cm.
>
> Recently acquired a Baofeng UV5R. All of these hts are examples of the
> Chinese HT ilk.
>
> I could use the Zarez quite effectively, there is no speech feedback with
> those units. The Baofeng UV5R is a dual band 2 m/70 cm transceiver that
> also
> includes the FM broadcast band for monitoring purposes. Overall, the
> Baofeng
> is better all the way around, and I'm very glad I snagged it when I did.
>
> I can't praise it highly enough.
>
> I've gotten other stuff from China that hasn't performed so well, but the
> Baofeng HT is definitely high quality despite a peculiar keyboard design.
> For example, the zero keypad is misplaced, but as long as you remember
> oddities like that, it won't steer you off course.
>
> 73,
> Dave
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Gale Conard
> Sent: Tuesday, 14 July 2015 10:41 p.m.
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Chinese handheld
>
> Hello, all:
>
> I am,finally, considering buying one of the inexpensive handheld =
> tranceivers made in China.  I know this has been discussed at length on =
> this list, but I was not interested at the time.
>
> Please, let me know which is the most accessible of those 2-meter and =
> 70-centimeter units.
>
> Thank you.
>
>
>
> 73,
> Gale
> [log in to unmask]
>