Baofeng and other handheld radios

Baofeng handhelds (UV-5R, BF-F8HP, UV-82 and similar) are cheap, dual-band (2 m and 70 cm) radios. They are popular for preparedness, and easy to misuse.

Legal notes. In the US these are amateur radios. Transmitting needs a ham licence (Technician or higher) and must stay on amateur bands. They are not certified for FRS, GMRS or MURS; transmitting there is illegal. Listening to the public services in this guide (weather, marine, ham, CB, FRS, GMRS, MURS) is legal; federal law restricts intercepting or sharing some other communications. In an emergency, FCC rules (47 CFR 97.403) let a licensed amateur station use any means of radio communication at its disposal for essential communications about the immediate safety of human life or protection of property, when normal communication systems are not available. This is not a general permission for unlicensed transmitting.

Before you start

Charge the battery fully. Learn the two buttons you will use most: VFO/MR (switches between typing a frequency and using saved channels) and A/B (top or bottom line).
Set the radio to low power for nearby contacts; it saves battery.

Keypad programming (UV-5R family)

To listen on a frequency:

Press VFO/MR until you see a frequency, not a channel number.
Type the frequency, for example 146520 for 146.520 MHz.

To save a simplex channel:

In frequency mode, type the frequency.
Press MENU, then 2, 7 (menu 27, MEM-CH). Press MENU.
Use the arrows to pick a channel number. Press MENU to save. Press EXIT.
Press VFO/MR to return to channel mode.

Menu numbers vary between models and firmware. Check your manual.

Programming with CHIRP (recommended)

CHIRP is free, open-source software that programs many radios from a computer. It is far faster than the keypad, and lets you keep a channel plan in a file.

Install CHIRP. Buy a genuine programming cable for your radio; cheap clones often need a driver fix.
Turn the radio on, plug the cable in firmly (it needs a firm push).
In CHIRP: Radio → Download from radio. Pick the vendor, model and port. Save this file before changing anything: it is your backup.
Edit the channel list: frequency, name, tone mode, tone, duplex and offset.
Radio → Upload to radio.

Sample channel plan (receive only unless licensed)

Ch	Name	Frequency	Notes
1	NOAA1	162.550	Weather, receive only
2	NOAA2	162.400	Weather, receive only
3	2M CALL	146.520	Ham simplex calling
4	70CM CALL	446.000	Ham simplex calling
5	MARINE16	156.800	Listen only
6	MURS1	151.820	Listen only (not certified for MURS)
7	FRS1	462.5625	Listen only (not certified for FRS)
8 to 20	Local repeaters	from a local directory	Add offset and tone

Tones (CTCSS and DCS)

Many repeaters only open when your radio sends a sub-audible CTCSS tone (for example 100.0 Hz) or a DCS code. Tones do not make a channel private. Set the tone in CHIRP's "Tone" column with tone mode "Tone".

Antennas

The stock "rubber duck" antenna is the weakest part of the radio. A longer whip, such as a 15-inch (38 cm) dual-band antenna, or a roll-up J-pole hung high in a tree, can double your range. Check the connector type (most Baofengs use SMA-female).

Battery care

Store charged to about half if unused for months, and top up every few months.
Carry a spare battery, or the AA battery case, for long outages.
Keep batteries out of extreme heat and cold.

Sources

FCC Enforcement Advisory 2018-03 on non-compliant handheld radios (DA 18-980) (US government, public domain)
FCC: Interception and divulgence of radio communications (US government, public domain)
47 CFR 97.403 (US government, public domain)
FCC: Amateur radio service (US government, public domain)
CHIRP project (open-source software; links only)