Considering a Baofeng GT3-TP Mark III - Opinions?

[jr_tech]

Originally Posted by Jeffhs

why it would or should be possible to transmit with the UX-82L on anything other than amateur frequencies; after all, most HTs are set up so they absolutely cannot transmit outside the amateur bands (VHF and UHF in the case of the UX-82 series).

That you almost transmitted on a military frequency with your UX-82L HT seems incredible. The microprocessor which controls the VFO in all modern HTs, as I said, is programmed to disable the transmit function on any frequency above or below the U. S. 2-meter and UHF amateur bands. Was your particular version of the UX-82L originally designed as an export model? This is the only way I can see this radio being able to transmit anywhere outside the U. S. ham bands.

From a review of a cheaper model (UV5) on Amazon:

This radio has international settings, meaning that the entire frequency range from 130-174mhz and from 400-480mhz is open to both TX and RX. This means you do need to be careful as a Ham license only allows you to TX on 2m from 144-148mhz and on 440 from 420-450mhz. The radio is not FCC certified to transmit on any of the Marine VHF, MURS, FRS/GMRS, or business radio or emergency services radio frequencies that lie in these frequency ranges and operating in those frequency ranges with this HT will expose you to FCC action.

There are over 1000 reviews of this radio on Amazon... I suspect that many of these HTs are not being used legally. One reviewer mentions buying a "six pack" (under 100$ for 6!) of these HTs for his 3 kids and 3 of their friends to use for play.
Another reviewer mentions buying several for his family so they could keep in touch aboard a large cruse ship, and also while several were onshore in various foreign countries.
Apparently the latest models sold here are programmed to transmit only on the VHF/UHF "Ham" bands, but these are easily "unlocked" opening up the possibility of illegal/nefarious uses.

jr