Baofeng has done it again, came out with yet another radio. Is this one any better than all of their others? I don’t know. I’ve had mine for a couple of weeks and while I like it, I hate it too.
Say hello to the UV-32 series. A Motorola knock off in a way as they designed it to look like a Motorola APX-7000/APX-6000. But while it resembles an APX radio, it isn’t, its still a Chinese radio.
The UV-32 and UV-32DM is a 8 to 10 watt Dual or Tri-band Transceiver with Air Band Receive. The 32DM version is a Tier II DMR radio and the UV32 is a 2 meter, 70cm and 1.25cm amateur transceiver in Analog only. both radios also offer full VHF (136-174 MHz) and UHF (380-470 MHz) bands which makes the radio useable by small companies, firefighters, GMRS licensees and others. And it receives 108 to 136 MHz AM Aviation band. It will also receive Broadcast FM. Unlike most all baofeng radios the UV32 series does not come with a flashlight.
The radio offers 1000 channels grouped in 10 banks of 100 channels. It scans only what you select withing a bank so no cross bank scan. The scan isn’t fast. It does however skip empty channels and it has a search feature that I like. It does not appear to offer a CTCSS/DCS tone search option.
Baofeng offers UV-32Pro software but it also programs just fine in CHIRP. The Analog 32 model includes a scramble/encryption option through the radios memory settings, but not through the software.
The radio seems to have microphones on both sides of the radio but the speaker is only on one side opposite of the display. This is a trait of the Motorola APX series portable radio. The audio is loud and crisp however a bit scratchy on Air band receive. The squelch is kinds a buzz killer though, I have mine set at 1 and its still missing traffic. The stock antenna isn’t all that either. It matches the radio and that’s about it. You tube says the Airband receive on the DM version is better though. I am somewhat inclined to think the 32DM is better than the 32Analog all the way around. I am in the middle of writing a DMR code plug now and I really have to say the DMR32 software is better than all of baofeng’s previous software versions. It seems to flow better and just work better. Many options Baofeng took away in the DM1801 software they brought back in the DM32 software such as writing your own AES256 encryption key. Now, the contacts are at 50000 so that is a little low for some. But 50000 contacts aka Talk groups is plenty for most of us especially those of us using this radio in a SHTF scenario.
The UV serios might be a better choice than Radtel, Radioditty, Retevis and other low end Chinese brands. But at the end of the day, its a baofeng.
The HamGeek APX8000 is the closest replica to the UV32 and while the HamGeek 8000 is a closer match to the Motorola APX cosmetically, it falls way short of the UV32 in programming functionality and basic operation.
This radio is for the collector who doesn’t care about all the other stuff. There are better radios out there that include DMR. The 32 Series isn’t bad but isn’t great either.
The UV32 includes GPS and its pretty easy to use with good location and tracking. The downside is you need more radios with the feature to take advantage of it. This though, could be a good SHTF/Prepper tool for small to medium size groups.
