For this review, we will begin based on claims that the seller has made, and to what extent said radio lives up to said claims.

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(Per the product listing + description here on amazon.com)

• Tri-Band Flexibility for Licensed Amateur Operators: Unlock unparalleled versatility with the ability to operate across VHF, UHF, and the 1.25M band, offering broader communication options for licensed operators. With a powerful 10W output on VHF/UHF and 5W on 1.25M, the BF-F8HP PRO ensures you’re equipped for clear, reliable transmissions across multiple bands.
• Emergency Ready with NOAA Weather Radio and GPS: Stay ahead of the storm with built-in NOAA weather mode, keeping you informed of severe weather. Paired with GPS location sharing, you’re always prepared for any situation, whether in emergencies or outdoor adventures.
• Customizable Zone Management for Ultimate Control: Manage your communications with ease using customizable zone control, allowing you to organize up to 1000 channels across multiple zones. Dual independent zone control lets you monitor two zones simultaneously for ultimate flexibility.
• Aviation Reception: The BF-F8HP PRO provides aviation band monitoring with 108-136 MHz coverage, AM modulation, and 8.33 kHz channel spacing. Ideal for aviation enthusiasts this feature allows you to stay updated on airband communications (RX only) with crystal-clear reception.
• Firmware Updatable for Long-Term Value: Stay ahead of the game with firmware updates using the PC03 Programming Cable, ensuring your BF-F8HP PRO always has the latest features and performance enhancements. Unlike other distributors that push you to buy new radios for updates, we prioritize sustainability by reducing e-waste and designing a product built to last. Invest in a radio that grows with you, not again¹st you.
• BTECH is proud to be in the USA, which allows you to have the best available local support for any issue that may arise. BTECH only engineers and develops radio products. This brand focus allows you to have the best available radios and accessories with the most features, with real USA warranty and sup²port.

1. Tri Band TX/RX

This radio does have both 2, 1.25, and 70cm RX/TX capability. Note, however, that you may want to get a better antenna for use with 1.25 meter than the default secondary antenna that is provided. I can’t speak for how good the SWR of the provided antennas are, but I assume they are usable. Both antennas I received are of the “rubber duck” variety, meaning short, and rubbery, and not as high of gain as a longer whip antenna such as a Nagoya antenna or a Signal Stick antenna. I recommend a Nagoya antenna or an “Authentic Genuine Abree” clone of the Nagoya when it comes to more serious use, especially with VHF. Although, at the end of the day, whether you can hit a repeater or another simplex station on an HT with any antenna, the antenna matters less and more of where you and the radio are positioned. Overall, the radio meets these specific advertised claims. Let’s get to the next point.

2. NOAA weather listening capability.

NOAA weather listening works just as expected, and you can bind one of the two programmable SK (side key buttons) on the radio (located both above and below the PTT button) to start listening to NOAA weather radio. If you don’t hear a NOAA station, press and hold the “#” key on the radio until it starts scanning. You should hear a NOAA weather radio broadcast robot voice after a couple seconds or less. This can of course be extremely useful for getting weather information anytime and especially in a critical emergency or disaster where you don’t have internet access or need information in a quick, direct format.

3. GPS and GPS sharing.

I like the GPS feature on this radio, but it’s really not one of the radio’s strong points. If only for one major reason: This radio doesn’t share GPS location information via standard APRS packets; it uses an unknown proprietary protocol that Baofeng has made. This makes it impossible to interface with other systems such as those using a soundmodem (Direwolf) or APRS I-gates. Having said that, I do like it bechttps://amzn.to/4pqkYYLause it still works, and if you are using these radios as a team, it will let you easily share your speed, deg N/E/W/S, etc. to other users. But the format it shares over is this feature’s main weak point. If this radio did APRS for this price, it would be a STEAL.

4. Customizable Zone Management

The customizable zone management is a big plus for this radio. If you’re coming from a traditional Baofeng, you know how annoying it can be to scroll through hundreds of channels you don’t use to get to the handful you do. With zone management, you can group channels into logical sets. For example, you could have a “Local Repeaters” zone, a “Simplex” zone, and an “Emergency” zone. This makes operating the radio much more efficient and less frustrating. You can also monitor two zones at once, which is great for keeping an ear on a local repeater while also monitoring a specific simplex frequency. This feature definitely lives up to the claim and is a major improvement over older models.

5. Aviation Reception

The BF-F8HP PRO does indeed receive aviation communications in the 108-136 MHz range, and it does so with AM modulation, which is what’s used for airband comms. It’s a nice feature to have, especially if you’re an aviation enthusiast or just curious about what’s going on overhead. The reception is clear, and the 8.33 kHz channel spacing is a key feature, as it’s the new standard for many aviation frequencies. This is a “listen only” feature, so you can’t transmit on these frequencies, which is a good thing for safety and FCC regulations. The radio meets this claim perfectly, and it’s a neat bonus for a handheld radio in this price range.

6. Firmware Updatable

This is a big one. The ability to update the firmware on a Baofeng radio is a game-changer. Historically, when a new bug was found or a feature was added, you had to buy a new radio. BTECH’s claim of providing firmware updates through a PC03 programming cable means this radio has a longer lifespan and can be improved over time. The process of updating the firmware with BTECH’s official CPS tool was remarkably easy, as was uploading a large number of channels and information from RepeaterBook to the memory banks using CHIRP. It’s worth noting that while CHIRP is the quickest option for loading numerous channels, the official BTECH CPS software is the best for tweaking certain settings that are specific to this radio, giving you more granular control.

7. USA-based Support

BTECH is a USA-based company, and this is a huge advantage. If you’ve ever tried to get support for a generic Baofeng, you know it can be a nightmare. BTECH’s USA-based support means you can get help from real people who understand the product and can troubleshoot issues. They are also licensed amateur radio operators, so they speak the same language you do. This level of support, along with a real USA warranty, is worth its weight in gold. The focus on developing only radio products also means they are experts in their field. This claim is absolutely true and provides peace of mind that you’re not just buying a throwaway radio.

A Note on the Display

One minor point of contention for me, living in Arizona, is the display. While the color display is crisp and vibrant, and looks fantastic in low light or at night, it can be a bit challenging to read in the bright, direct sunlight that we get here. I’ve always preferred the high-contrast, monochrome LCDs for their excellent readability in full sun. However, for most use cases, the color display on this radio is superior and adds a modern feel to the device.

Final Verdict

Overall, the BTECH BF-F8HP PRO lives up to its claims. It’s a solid tri-band radio with a lot of features packed into a small package. The tri-band TX/RX is a great feature, and while the GPS isn’t perfect, it’s a nice addition for team use. The zone management, aviation reception, and firmware updatability are all major selling points that set this radio apart from its competition. When you factor in the USA-based support and warranty, it’s hard to beat the value proposition of this radio. I’d give it a 4/5 star rating overall. While it’s not a replacement for a high-end Icom or Kenwood, for the price, it’s a fantastic radio for any licensed amateur operator looking for a versatile and reliable handheld.

Thanks for reading, and if you want to purchase this radio, check out the link below:
Baofeng BF-F8-HP PRO on amazon.com.

Recommended accessories (amazon.com)

• Nagoya Tri-Band antenna
• APRS K1 cable for 2 pin radios (most baofengs)
• Extended battery for Boafeng BFF8-HP-PRO

Thanks again, 73.