Baofeng AR-5RM 10W Ham Radio 2-Pack - Long Range Emergency

In this review the Baofeng AR-5RM 2-pack stands out as a practical, budget-friendly choice for outdoor enthusiasts and emergency preppers who need dependable long-range handheld radios. The biggest reason to buy is clear: the radios combine wide receive coverage and NOAA weather alerts with a large 1.77 in color screen and up to 999 memory channels, making them easy to program and useful in survival situations or group outings. The package includes essential accessories so users can start communicating and charging right away.

Key Features

• Wide frequency coverage: The receiver covers multiple bands from 108 MHz to 520 MHz, allowing monitoring of local VHF and UHF activity and public broadcasts.
• Transmit bands for ham use: Transmitting in the 144-148 MHz and 420-450 MHz ranges supports common amateur radio nets and local simplex contacts.
• Large channel capacity: Up to 999 storage channels and a 1.77 in color screen make managing and selecting frequencies straightforward in the field.
• Multiple charging methods: USB-C cable, US base charger and a 2500 mAh rechargeable battery provide flexible charging from power banks, cars or laptops for extended standby.
• NOAA weather receiver: Built-in weather alerts help predict severe conditions and serve as an emergency radio when cell service is unavailable.
• Included accessories: The kit comes with programming cable, speaker mics, antennas and earpieces so two radios are ready to use out of the box.

Who It's For

This 2-pack is well suited to campers, hunters, hikers and small groups who need clear, reliable voice communications over local ham and public bands, plus weather alerts for safety. The radios are also a sensible addition to emergency kits where long standby and USB-C charging are valuable.

Those who need guaranteed commercial two-way radio compliance for business fleets or who require narrowband professional features beyond amateur operations should consider highertier, certified commercial models instead.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Good value with comprehensive accessories included for immediate use.
• Clear reception and reliable transmission on common ham bands and public broadcasts.
• Convenient USB-C charging and long battery standby for field operations.
• Programmable via CHIRP and allows frequency copy to simplify setup.

Cons

• Designed for amateur and general use; not a substitute for hardened commercial/mission-critical radios.
• Ergonomic larger body may be bulkier than ultra-compact handhelds for some users.

Specifications

Our Verdict

The Baofeng AR-5RM 2-pack delivers strong value for outdoor users and emergency-minded buyers who want flexible charging, NOAA weather alerts and broad frequency coverage. With extensive accessories and CHIRP programming support, it is a practical, budget-friendly option for most hobbyists and small groups who need dependable handheld VHF/UHF communications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can these radios receive weather alerts?
Yes. The AR-5RM includes a NOAA weather receiver to pick up alerts and forecasts for severe conditions.

Are programming cables and accessories included?
Yes. The package includes a programming cable, USB-C chargers, base chargers, batteries, speaker mics, antennas, earpieces, belts and hand straps for two radios.

Do they support CHIRP programming?
Yes. The radios support CHIRP for easy frequency management and also offer frequency copy between units.