BTECH UV-PRO
Radios · Active in station — daily carry
Dual-band UHF/VHF handheld from BaoFeng Tech, new to the kit in August 2026 and now my everyday carry radio.
The draw over the UV-5R-class handhelds already in the bag is programming and position: app-based programming over Bluetooth instead of a cable and a laptop, plus onboard GPS.
Features
- GPS
- App programming, multiple Bluetooth connection methods
- Multiple emergency functions
- Broadcast FM receiver, 87–108 MHz
- 30×6 channel groups
- NOAA weather alert
- Dual watch / dual reception
- USB direct charging
In the box: radio body, battery, antenna, belt clip, power cable.
The online listing also claims IP67, APRS, text messaging and an aviation band scanner — none of which appear on the box. Worth checking on the air before I trust them.
Programming
This is the video I used to learn how to program it quickly:
APRS Setup
This is the video I used to refine the APRS setup:
Paired With
A BTECH BS-50 Bluetooth speaker mic is paired with it — 1.44" colour display, six buttons, GPS and compass, IP54. In practice the audio garbles intermittently, badly enough that it’s not reliable for daily use, so I’m running the UV-PRO without it for now. Amazon shipped a free replacement on 2026-08-16 after I flagged the issue; I haven’t tested the replacement yet, so I don’t know if this is a bad unit or something else.
Replacing the ICOM ID-52 PLUS
This is stepping in for my ICOM ID-52 PLUS, now up for sale. Not a straight upgrade — the GPS and Bluetooth programming above are the draw, and the real cost is D-STAR digital voice, which the UV-PRO doesn’t do at all. Whether that trade is worth it long-term is still being tested.
Where I Bought It
BTECH UV-PRO — see it on my Ham Radio Stuff storefront, bought at full price, no discount. The BS-50 mic isn’t listed there yet — given the reliability issue above, buy that one after the replacement’s actually proven, not before.
Used In
2026-08-09 — First QSO, KN4DND Tom, 18 miles
Worked through the external Comet GP-9 at 12 feet, so that distance says more about the antenna and the path than about the handheld — worth being clear about.
Reference: BaoFeng Tech