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AnotherBaofeng?BooooringThatswhatcrossedmymindwhenIopeneduptheboxwiththeGT3
MarkIIinside.Letsbehonest:apartfromfancylookingcabinetstherehasntbeenmuchprogression.
So,istheGT3MarkIIasboringastherestoftheBaofengpack?Surprisingly,itsnot.

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(https://hamgear.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/mark1mark21.jpg)
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Oldvsnew.TheMarkIIantennamighthaveNagoyaroots(NA666).
Look&Feel
Asfaraslook&feelgo,theGT3MarkIIisstilleasilyrecognizableasaBaofengvariety.Theorange
accentsmaketheradiolookmoremodern,bettereven,althoughtastesdier.Whencomparedtothe
firstGT3version(https://hamgear.wordpress.com/2014/01/24/reviewbaofenggt3/)therearentmany
dierencestospot,buttheonesyoudoseeareimportant.
Beltclipismoldeddierently,andclampsslightlybetter.
TheUV5RstockantennahasbeenreplacedwithaSainsonicantennaspecificallytunedtothe
amateurbands.
ItsnosecretthatIdespisetheshortUV5Rstockantenna.Itsdeaf,andbetterinconvertingRFinto
heat(https://hamgear.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/baofenggt3antennahothothot/)thanintoradiated
energy.Ifyoulookatthepicturebelow,youllseethattheMarkIIsgreenLEDison,showingthatits
receivingthePI2NOSrepeaterinHilversum.TheoldGT3stayssilent.Thathasnothingtodowith
receiversensitivity,buteverythingwiththeeciencyoftheantenna.

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(https://hamgear.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/mark1mark22.jpg)
Oldantenna:noindoorreception.Newantenna:goodindoorreception.
Receiver
Nowheresamystery.ThechipsusedinboththeoldanthenewGT3areexactlythesame.Both
radiosareequallysensitive.PerformancehoweverisnottheMarkIIcancopemuchbetterwith
unwanted(strongoutofband)signalsthanthefirstversion.Mytheoryisthatthefirmwarehas
somethingtosowithit,butIcantproveit.Whateverthereason,theGT3MarkIIsurpassesthe
BaofengUVB5,althoughnotbyawidemargin.
RXaudio
TypicallyBaofengUV5Rnothingspecial,butgoodanddistortionfree.
Squelchlevels
Noimprovementshere,andIdidntexpectthatanyway.Becausethesquelchdesignisbasedonnoise
levels,therejustisntenoughroomtoplaywiththresholds.Theslightestwhisperofarouter,modem
orswitchwillopenupthesquelch,evenwhenthesquelchissettothemaximumlevel.
Ifthesquelchwouldhavebeenbasedonsignalstrength,likeaYaesuFT60forexample,youwouldbe
abletosetanythresholdyouwant.Nosuchluckwiththisdesign.
TXaudio
Heresthegoodnews:theGT3MarkIIwasnotrecognizableasthetypicalBaofeng.Moststandard
UV5Rslackenoughpunchand,moreoftenthannot,soundmued.Allthisradioreceivedfrom
otherhamswerecompliments,andbelieveme,theresquiteabunchofnitpickersoutthere.
Harmonicsuppression
QuiteimpressiveonVHF,disappointingonUHF.

(https://hamgear.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/gt3markiivhf1.jpg)
GT3MarkIIVHF:excellent.

(https://hamgear.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/gt3markiiuhf.jpg)
GT3MarkIIUHF:disappointing.
Bugs&Flaws
Ididntranintofirmwarebugs.Someoldflawswerefixed,suchastheroundingdownbug.Whenset
to12.5KHzsteps,theradionowcorrectlypredictsthefrequencyyouwanttoenterinsteadof
roundingitdown.Nolistentothebeep(https://hamgear.wordpress.com/2014/10/09/uv5rslatest
buglistentothebeep/)bugeither.
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Programmingcable
Oneannoyingflawisactuallynottheradiosfault.Mostprogrammingcableshaveaconnector
mountedundera90degreeangle,whichisnotthebestwaytodothings.Assoonasthebodyofthe
radioisslightlywiderthan,letssay,astandardUV5R,the3.5mmand2.5mmplugswontgoinall
theway.
TheGT3MarkIIsbodyiswider.Asaresultthecomputerneverseestheradio.Thesolutionistotrim
someplasticfromtheconnector,asdescribedatMiklor.com(http://www.miklor.com
/COM/UV_ErrorMess.php).

Batterylife
Impressive,reallyimpressive,justlikethestandardUV5R.Daysgobywithouttheneedfor
recharging,andImaheavydutyuser.Maximumbatterycapacityisreachedafterthreeconsecutive
cyclesofbeingdrainedcompletelyandchargedcompletely,whichistypicalforLiIonbatteries.
Chargingtimeisabout5hours.
Conclusion
TheGT3MarkIIdoesawaywithsometypicalUV5Rweaknesses,whileavoidingintroducingnew
bugsorflaws.Thereceiverworkedverynice;thefrontendclearlyimproved(althoughitsunclear
why),andTXaudioisgreat.HarmonicsuppressionwithBaofengradiosalwaysseemstobeamatter
ofhit&miss.
Thenewantennaperformsway,waybetterthanthepreviousone.Itishoweveraratherdelicate
design,pronetobendatthebase.Allinallthisradiogetsathumbsup,andeasilytakesthe#1spotin
theBaofengproductline.
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ByHansPostedinAmateurRadio,HAMGear,HAMRadio,ReviewTaggedBaofeng,GT3Mark
II,Sainsonic

DECEMBER15,2014@3:28AM
HiHans,
Whenyousayunwantedsignals,doyoumeansignalsoutsideoftheamateurbandsorjustafew
channelsaway?
ThecomparisonbetweenthetwoGT3s,asfarastheunwantedsignalsisconcerned,hasbeendone
withtheirantennasattachedtoorbydrivingthetwoGT3sviatheirantennaconnector?Incase
thatthetesthasbeendonewiththeantennasattachedtotheradiosandtheunwantedsignalswere
outsideoftheamateurbands,thenperhapstheSainsonicantenna,thatisspecificallytunedtothe
amateurbands,hasworkedasabandpassfilterandsothebetterobandperfomance.
Thankyouinadvanceforyouranswer.
73desv1Anonymous
REPLY
Hans
DECEMBER15,2014@7:07AM
Imeanstrongoutofbandsignals,whichcausepoorreceiverstomute.ForclarityImighthave
toeditthat.Theantennawasmyfirstthoughttoo,buttomakeameaningfulcomparisonIfitted
bothradioswithidenticalantennas(thelongonessuppliedwiththeUV82andUVB5).The
secondtestwasononeofmyoutdoorantennas;asituationinwhichmyoldUV5Rgivesup.
REPLY
Astrogoth
DECEMBER15,2014@4:16AM
IfitdoesnotoerabigbatterypackoranAApackontheaftermarketitsnexttouselessfor
disastercommunications.IjustdonotunderstandwhyAsianradiodesignersdontcreatea
standardbatterymountingsystem.IwasgoingtobuyoneofthenewEmodellittleradiosthat
getsAMaircraftandHFtoofor$186butnotifitonlyhasasmallpackavailableforit.
REPLY
Hans
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DECEMBER15,2014 @7:23AM
Initiallackofaccessoriesisadrawbackofanewdesign.ImprettysureAsianmanufacturers
dontwantauniversalbatterysystem,justlikeYaesu,IcomandKenwoodneveragreedon
something.Accessories=money.Youdontwantcompetition.
REPLY
roadhoguk
DECEMBER15,2014@8:54AM
Well,itsbeenoutayearandhasntreallymadeanywaves.
REPLY
TheodoreRoberts
DECEMBER15,2014@9:56PM
ClearlyyouunderstandBaofengbetterthanI.Iboughtuv5r,asusual,notmuchinstruction
included,andImnewtoham!Alostballinhighweeds,butIcanlearn.IknowitsnotanIC2GAT
(myfirstradio).Thesensitivityisdefinitelymissing!KD8OCU.
REPLY
Hans
DECEMBER16,2014@7:36AM
Actually,aBaofengis*very*sensitive,muchmoresensitivethananyoldradioIeverowned.
However,ifreceiverfilteringismissingorinferior,highsensitivityistotallymeaningless.The
radiowillquicklybeoverwhelmedbystrongsignalsaroundyou,mostofwhichwillbe
outofband.Thiscanleadtoamutedreceiver,whichcanbemistakenforalackofsensitivity.
TheoriginalUV5Rmanualismostlyuseless.Downloadthisoneinstead:
http://www.miklor.com/uv5r/pdf/uv5r_v1.0annotated_by_KC9HI.pdf
REPLY
KarlErik
DECEMBER17,2014@4:58AM
Ibought4BaofengGT3MarkIIoeBay,fromdierentsellers.
All4radiosdonotsupplycorrect1750Hztoneforrepeaters,buttheyallsupplya2100Hztone.
Verydissapointingthatyoudidnottestsuchanimportantmusthave.
REPLY
Hans
DECEMBER17,2014@8:31AM
Ifyoutrustthemanualtotheletter(somethingyoushouldnotdowithaBaofeng)youwillget
confused.PTT+Band=2100Hz.PTT+A/Bis1750Hz.Ittookmejust60secondstofigurethat
out.
P.S.1750Hzbursttonesasawaytoopenuprepeaterswasabandonedyearsago,infavorof
CTCSS.Notinyourcountry?
REPLY
KarlErik
DECEMBER17,2014@11:18AM
Whatacleverguy )
Didyoujustpressanybuttoninblind?
Thanksforyouradviceitworks.
Hans
DECEMBER17,2014@11:27AM
Thishobbyassumesonetoexperiment,withChinesestuyoumustexperiment.Ihitthe
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rightbuttonimmediately.Afterall,therearentmanybuttonsleftafteryoudiscardtheones
generatingDTMF :)
Vernon
DECEMBER17,2014@5:52AM
ItseasyenoughtofitaAAbatterypack..
Justneedtodosomemods..
http://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php/topic,98691.0.html
IsthistheonlyGT3MK2withaAAbatterypack?
REPLY
Rizki
DECEMBER17,2014@12:13PM
MyUV5risdeafwithoutdoorantenna(HygainV2R)andmobileantenna(larsen)andwont
receiveanyincomingsignalbuttransmittingisexcellentisthisbecauseofthestrongoutofband
signalsyoumentioned?
thanks.
REPLY
Hans
DECEMBER17,2014@12:28PM
Probablyyes.ItalldependsonyourlocationandtheamountofRFpollutionaroundyou.The
problemwillhurtyouthemostwhenyouliveinthecity;whenlivingintheproverbialmiddle
ofnowhereyoumightnevernoticeit.
MyUV5Rcantbeconnectedtoanoutdoorantennaeither,thereceiverwillcollapse
immediately.My(recentlysold)KenwoodTMV71couldnthandleiteither,andthisisan
expensivedualbandradio.TheBaofengGT3versionsdoabetterjob.
MonobandhandheldsfromYaesu,suchastheFT270RandFT277R,wontcare.Theseare
muchmoreexpensive,ofcourseabout3xthepriceofaBaofeng.
REPLY
Rizki
DECEMBER17,2014@3:27PM
HiAgainHans,yesiamlivingrightinthemiddleofthecit.YousaidGT3markIIdoesa
betterjob,butisitgoodenoughthatitdoesntbecomedeafatyoulocationwhereKenwood
TMV71andBaofenguv5rreceiverfailed?
MylastquestiondoessinglebandHTingeneralisbetterinhandlingstrongoutofbound
signalthandualbandHT?
Manythanks.
Hans
DECEMBER17,2014@3:36PM
YoucouldrunintoalousyChinesemonobandtoo,butyes,monobandtransceiversare
generallylesssusceptibletoRFpollution.WhethertheGT3MKIIwoulddoaswellatyour
placeasitdoeshere,ishardtopredict.Thebestadviceistoborrowoneandtryitout.
Rizki
DECEMBER19,2014@4:46AM
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Wellyouanswerisspoton,iwasthinkingofgettingtheGT3MarkIIandwonderingifthe
GT3MarkIIwillhandlenoisebetteratmylocation.Iguesstheonlythinktodoistogetone
sincenoneofmyfriendhasone.IwillkeepmyUV5RthoughthisisareallyniceHTasitis.
Thanks.
8.PINGBACK:BaofengGT3MarkIIendtail|RadioamateursFrance
Vernon
DECEMBER23,2014@11:25PM
?????????
Allmyhandhelds(Baofeng)runoanexternal(outdoor)antennajustfine..
IrunaVerticalDipoleandSWRisalmost1:1
Ihavehadnoissues..ForRFIusethecliponfiltersyoucanbuy..
Justclipthemontothecoax..Iaddedabaluntobothmydipolesandnoticednodierencetonot
havingabalun..Thecliponfilterswerenoticedrightaway.
Bothmydipoleshandle2mand70cmjustfine..
(ActuallyIhave3Dipoles,butnevermind)..The3rddipoledoesnotrunabalunorfilters,and
isjustaseasytolivewithastheothertwo..
REPLY
JohnLeake
FEBRUARY9,2015@2:01AM
Hans,doyouthinkthenewGT3isabetterradiothantheGT5ortheUV82?Ihavethe82andI
getnothingbutcomplimentswhenItalkonthe2meternets.OnehamthoughtIwasrunninga2
meterbasestationandwasastonishedwhenItoldhimwhatIwasusing.Ihaveithookeduptoa
2mmobileantenna.
REPLY
Hans
FEBRUARY9,2015@7:42AM
TheGT3MKIIisabetterradiowhenusedundermorechallengingconditions(e.g.RF
pollution).Ifthatsnotaproblemwhereyoulive,dontbother.Forme,owningaboutevery
Baofengvariety,itwasablessing.RFpollutionisveryhighhere.
REPLY
Maurizio
FEBRUARY15,2015@10:22AM
@Hans
Soyousuggestgt3tpoverthegt5?
Thx
Hans
FEBRUARY15,2015@11:17AM
Yes,especiallyifyouliveinanareawhereRFpollutionisafactoflife.Ifthatsnotaproblem
whereyoulive,theGT5(whichisjustaUV82inanotherpackage)willdofinetoo.
Ed
FEBRUARY14,2015@10:00PM
WhatsoftwareicanusewithGT3Markii?
REPLY
Hans
FEBRUARY15,2015@11:15AM
StandardUV5Rsoftware,orthemoreadvancedChirp(selectUV5Rfromthesupportedradio
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models).
REPLY

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