The Baofeng BF-888S belongs to the group of the proven walkie talkies, which already many amateur radio operators or also outdoor friends will know. I took a closer look at the radio during my test.
What I found out about the Baofeng BF-888S and what you should know about it, you will find in the following review.
Specs
- Brand: Baofeng
- Range: 4 km
- Power output: 3-5 Watt
- Frequency ranges: 400-470 MHz
- Battery: 1,500 mAh Li-ion Battery
- Size: 8.4 x 2.4 x 1.3 inches
- Weight: 0.44 lb
- Waterproof: yes
- License needed: yes (amateur license)
Scope of Delivery
The BF-888S comes with many useful accessories. Usually the radio could only be bought in a set of 2. Each set contained an antenna, a wrist strap, a 1.500 mAh Li-Ion battery, a charger, a belt clip and an english manual. In the meantime, the walkie talkie is also available in larger sets, such as packs of 6, 10 or 20 radios.
Setup
The setup of the Baofeng BF-888S is in principle very simple. You only have to charge the battery and insert it into the device to make it ready for use.
However, you should first program the walkie talkie. The pre-programmed channels can interfere with local law enforcement channels or similar. Therefore you need to find and set the GMR channels.
Waterproof
According to information on Amazon, the waterproofness meets the IP54 standard. Such a level in the International Protection Code corresponds to complete protection against dust and water spray from any direction. This means that the walkie-talkie can also be used for hiking etc. without any problems.
Power Source
The power supply is ensured by the 1,500 mAh battery supplied. This allows you to use the walkie-talkie for about 8 hours at a time. If one includes breaks, the BF-888S can be used for a whole day. For recharging it is sufficient to plug it into the battery charger.
Range
According to the manufacturer, the range of the Baofeng BF-888S is about 2 km to 4 km. Up to what distance you can really radio with the device in the city or under optimal conditions, I can not judge. I can’t make any statement about the call quality either.
Frequencies
On the walkie talkie 16 channels can be set in the range of 400-470 MHz. Each channel contains 100 subchannels. This diversity in the choice of channels guarantees that the Baofeng BF-888S will function without interference even in an environment where many other radios are used. To select the desired channel, use one of the rotary knobs at the top of the unit.
Features
The functional range of the device is very large. Among other things, it has a hands-free function, a noise reduction and the possibility to search for channels. The volume can be easily adjusted with a turnable knob.
The Baofeng BF-888S can also be programmed. The required software is freely available on the internet and can be downloaded free of charge. To program the device, you have to buy a special cable, which is no problem.
Price
When I wrote this review, the Baofeng BF-888S cost about $52 in a set of 6 units and $109 in a set of 10 units, which makes a price of just about $9 to $11 per walkie talkie. This is a really good price, making the walkie talkie more of a cheaper device. In combination with the other criteria, this results in a very good price-performance ratio.
Pros
- very low price
- easy to use
- you can program it
- waterproof
Cons
- not the biggest range
- needs a license
Conclusion – Baofeng BF-888S Review
The Baofeng BF-888S convinced me. Besides the high quality workmanship, the BF-888S shines with its simple and intuitive handling. Beyond that the device offers a large range of functions, which is appropriate for the (former) price range.
In addition, the walkie-talkie could convince with a long battery life (approx. one day). Also the range of up to 4 km in combination speaks for this radio. Thus I can give a clear recommendation to buy.
View on Amazon*Best Lists with this Walkie Talkie
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