Communication is the most overlooked aspect of survival. When the cell towers fall (or get overloaded), how do you talk to your family? How do you listen to emergency broadcasts?

Enter the Baofeng UV-5R. Ideally, you buy a $200 Yaesu. Realistically, you buy ten Baofengs and hand them out like candy.

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Baofeng UV-5R Ham Radio

(4.2)

Dual Band Two Way Radio. The most popular entry-level Ham radio in history.

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The "Illegal" Elephant in the Room

Let's get this out of the way.

Listening: It is 100% legal to buy this and listen to any frequency (Police, Fire, Ham, GMRS).
Transmitting: You technically need a Ham Radio License (Technician Class) to press the PTT (Push to Talk) button legally.
The Loophole: In a true life-or-death emergency where no other means of communication is available, FCC rules allow you to use any means necessary.

Legal Warning

Do not transmit on this radio without a license during peacetime. The fines are massive. Use it as a scanner until you get licensed (which is easy to do!).

Why It's Great for Urban Survival

Scanner: You can program local police, fire, and EMS frequencies to know where the riots or fires are moving.
NOAA Weather: It picks up standard weather broadcasts.
FM Radio: It has a built-in commercial FM radio chip. You can listen to music/news while monitoring emergency channels in the background.

Essential Upgrades

The "Rubber Duck" antenna that comes in the box is terrible.

Upgrade: Buy a Nagoya NA-771 Whip Antenna ($15). It doubles your range.
Battery: Buy the "Extended Battery" (3800mAh). It lasts for days.

Verdict

It's cheap plastic. The menu is a nightmare. But for the price of a pizza, it gives you "ears" on the world when the internet goes dark. Every survival kit needs one.

Rating: 4.2/5 Stars Recommended for: Intel Gathering, Neighborhood Watch, Emergency Comms.

Baofeng UV-5R Review: The $25 Radio That Changed Prepping

The Good

The Bad