Review Baofeng FF-12P (UV-5X)

Probably because Baofeng is running out of letters (although I didn’t see the Baofeng UV-5Y or Z yet), there’s a new numbers game in order. The FF-12P is essentially a UV-5X and my sample came in…. silver.

The radio houses the latest chip set and firmware. Pressing various keys confirm this: pressing ‘0’ for a bit more than a second shows the battery voltage, pressing PTT + Band generates 2100 Hz, PTT + A/B generates 1750 Hz, and PTT + VFO/MR generates 1450 Hz.

The display is of the inverse type, the antenna the short one we all learned to hate, “FF-12P” is printed on both the left and right side of the radio. Batteries / accessories aren’t compatible with the standard UV-5R. While I could find enough suppliers of the FF-12P and UV-5X, not a single one appears to sell spare batteries or any other accessory.

Charger / battery combination
I wasn’t able to charge the battery at first, because the battery and charger don’t match: the two indentations of the battery prevented it from being inserted in the charger. After scraping away enough plastic in the charger I got it to fit.

CHIRP
CHIRP recognized the radio as being a UV-5R and squelch thresholds could be modified without a problem.

Scanning
A clip on YouTube suggested that the UV-5X / FF12P scans faster. This proves to be true: the FF-12P outperforms all other Baofeng radios I own, including the GT-3 Mark II. Scan speed is about 5-6 channels/sec.

Transmitter

Frequency accuracy of the sample: +2 Hz on VHF, -11 Hz on UHF.

Power output VHF: (@ 145 MHz): 4.1 Watts (high), 1.7 Watts (low)
Power output UHF: (@ 435 MHz): 3.6 Watts (high), 1.8 Watts (low)

TX Audio: Bright and loud. Very nice.

Harmonics: the usual peaks on VHF and UHF. Still not very impressive.

Receiver

RX Audio: good.

Front-end: surprisingly good, just like the GT-3 Mark II. Nice.

Sensitivity: -127 dBm (VHF), -125 dBm (UHF). These are good numbers.

Conclusion
The FF-12P aka UV-5X is the typical Baofeng: value for money, but not without its flaws. Harmonic suppression is a mixed bag and the lack of accessories is a potential problem.

The fact that I had to modify the charger to make the battery fit is a dumb factory mistake. The short stock antenna just doesn’t want to die — put a few bucks aside to buy a better one.

The positive side of the radio is the good receiver, good TX audio and faster scan speed. And, if you care about such things, it comes in shiny SILVER!

So you want a waterproof Baofeng?

Chances are that there isn’t one. The word ‘waterproof’ itself doesn’t mean anything. It could mean that it will survive a few drops of rain up to being hit with a high pressure water jet. Fortunately there are standards, found under International Protection Marking, a.k.a. IEC standard 60529. We know it better as IPX codes.

IP Code	Meaning & Test Standard
IPX0	No special protection.
IPX1	Protected against falling water. Equivalent to 3-5mm rainfall per minute for a duration of 10 minutes. Unit is placed in its normal operating position.
IPX2	Protected against falling water when tilted up to 15 degrees – Same as IPX1 but unit is tested in 4 fixed positions – tilted 15 degrees in each direction from normal operating position.
IPX3	Protected against spraying water – Water spraying up to 60 degrees from vertical at 10 liters/min at a pressure of 80–100 kN/m2 for 5 min.
IPX4	Protected against splashing water – Same as IPX3 but water is sprayed at all angles.
IPX5	Protected against water jets – Water projected at all angles through a 6.3 mm nozzle at a flow rate of 12.5 liters/min at a pressure of 30 kN/m2 for 3 minutes from a distance of 3 meters.
IPX6	Protected against heavy seas – Water projected at all angles through a 12.5 mm nozzle at a flow rate of 100 liters/min at a pressure of 100 kN/m2 for 3 minutes from a distance of 3 meters.
IPX7	Protected against water immersion – Immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter.
IPX8	Protected against water submersion – The equipment is suitable for continual submersion in water under conditions which are identified by the manufacturer.

So where does a radio like the Baofeng UV-5X fit in? Nobody knows. Baofeng didn’t specify to what extent a UV-5X can survive moisture. If they want to convince us, they should give the radio one of the IPX codes mentioned above. Bottom line: if you buy one, do not expect more than IPX1, or IPX2 if you’re really lucky.

BTW, my Yaesu VX-170 and VX-177 are protected against water ingress to IPX7 specifications (immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes). An unfortunate accident years ago (radio dropped into a canal) proved that Yaesu didn’t lie to me. You get what you pay for.