Product was as described. EXACTLY as described. DO NOT BUY THIS RADIO EXPECTING TO UNLOCK IT.It appears to be a firmware level lock, or maybe even straight up that the hardware is incapable of tuning the transmitter out of the advertised range. Adding frequencies in CHIRP or whatever won't let you transmit like it did on older UV-5Rs. The radio is very good at what little it does, but its use cases are limited.Otherwise, it's as described and pretty good.It receives very well. I can hear harbour traffic on marine bands crystal clear even a few blocks into town, and even got signals from stuff like water meters. It was clearer on marine VHF than some military radios I've used.There are some data channels in the band it receives, but I haven't tried to copy traffic to a PC for decoding. It's programmable through that audio jack though so it's probably possible with either a good enough sound card or a UART type interface (like the typical programming cable)No one will ever know how well it transmits because no one uses HAM bands anymore, but I was able to activate a local repeater.It's small and light but feels robust enough. It's explicitly not waterproof but the only real panel gaps are at the keypad and mic/speaker assembly. Throw it in any random pouch you have lying around and it should be fine in rain/splash.It's easy to program with CHIRP. I never got the proprietary Baofeng software working, but CHIRP has been updated so don't listen to naysayers going on about how it doesn't work. (programming cable not included with this set but can be had for like 12$ CAD from any seller)The stock battery is a little low capacity, but you can buy spares that are larger or just pick up some USB battery banks thanks to the USB-C charging. You can use the radio while it is charging.The flashlight works and is placed at the bottom so it's pretty convenient I guess.It comes with two antennae but they are identical in spec. They only have slightly different styling.The commercial FM tuner seems like a gimmick but is actually really cool in practice. It will automatically cut to whatever work frequencies you were monitoring before. So for the thing's actual use case of listening to random traffic, you won't get (as) bored waiting for nothing to happen to hear about. It basically works like it's in Triple Watch.For an entry level receiver to giggle about harbour traffic or try and fail to scan police frequencies, just get one of those USB SDR dongles or something. If you have an active HAM scene near you that uses the frequencies this CAN transmit on, or have a use case where a USB SDR receiver is inappropriate, this thing is fine. If you're a railfan scanning for trains not just using cellphones or wanna LARP as a hacker in airsoft games by listening to the enemy's cheap Dollarama walkie talkies, it'd be great.PS: If you try to unlock it with the old factory reset trick, it won't work. The radio will not turn on, but the flashlight will illuminate and the PTT button will toggle it. Do not go crying to reddit if this happens. Your radio is not broken. Just turn it off for a second, and turn it back on and it'll be fine. If you turn it on while depressing the Monitor button, it won't boot but will turn on the flashlight in that toggle mode. I do not know why it does this but it appears to be intentional. I noticed no performance drop or blue smoke coming out after doing it a few times. I guess it's a hidden feature to just activate the flashlight really quickly.

Couldn't use with walkie talkies as it only receives won't transmit. So now I'm stuck with a handheld radio.

I recently purchased the BAOFENG UV-17M Ham Radio, and I’m thoroughly impressed with its performance and features! This handheld two-way radio is compact yet powerful, with a 5W output that ensures clear communication over long distances. The 771 antenna enhances the signal quality, and I’ve been able to reach others even in areas with less coverage. The vibrant orange color not only looks great but also makes it easy to spot in my gear bag.One of the standout features is the 999 channel capacity, which allows me to store a variety of frequencies for different uses. The NOAA weather channel is a fantastic addition, providing real-time updates, which is especially useful for outdoor adventures. I also appreciate the VOX functionality that allows for hands-free operation—great for when I need to keep my hands free while hiking or working. The included USB-C cable makes charging convenient, ensuring that I’m always ready to go.Overall, I highly recommend the BAOFENG UV-17M for anyone in need of a reliable and feature-rich ham radio. Whether you're an experienced operator or a beginner, this radio offers excellent value for the price. It’s versatile enough for casual use, emergencies, or outdoor activities. I’m very satisfied with my purchase and look forward to using it on my next adventure!

This is a well built and designed unit. A lot of functionality has been built into this radio. It's rated for 5 watts. There's a hi/lo setting, but I couldn't find any power rating for the lo setting.You can select channel or frequency mode. Channel mode uses the common ham frequencies - useful on the highway to converse with truckers or other ham operators.In frequency mode, you can dial in a number of ranges covering police/fire/aircraft, etc., and as long as those communications aren't encrypted, you can hear them.There is an encryption setting for your own communications with another person that can be switched on/off at will.The large lithium battery will power the unit for a full day without issue. It charges easily in the dock, or it can be removed and charged separately. If need be, you can swap batteries and keep going.I found the manual to be very detailed and helpful. It reads like it was written by someone who is familiar with ham radios and was clear about the features and limitations of this unit. The best I've ever read.Some people may wonder why not just use a cell phone, but in a factory setting, or at the quarry here, all of the vehicles are equipped with radios allowing us to communicate with everyone at once if necessary or to ask for the location of equipment or personnel without resorting to cell phones.This lightweight unit is great for our workmen on the ground who need to guide drivers of our bigger machinery.On the highway, especially in areas where cell service is spotty, this will reach a few miles in open country and could be useful in an emergency situation to get help or warn others behind you about accidents/tie-ups ahead.It has the ability to connect to NOAA weather radio broadcasts - showing the available channels in your area. It also has AM/FM band available but I found it really needed to be pointed horizontally in the direction of the station to get anything useful, and as soon as I took my hand off the unit - the signals became buried in noise. This feature only seems useful if you are in a city close to the transmitting stations.An excellent price for this well featured handheld radio.

Great radio