Radios can provide a huge tactical advantage on in airsoft. The ability to quickly communicate information can be the difference between victory or defeat. Radios have been a tricky subject for airsoft with a lot of misconceptions about them being spread around. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about using radios in airsoft.
Why Use A Radio?
As mentioned above, radios are the best way to instantly communicate with your teammates. It’s much clearer than trying to yell or use hand signals, and can used over longer distances. They also have greater reception than using a device like your cell phone, which I’ve seen have zero signal at many airsoft games and events due to their remote locations. Radios perform better and more reliably than any other communications system available.
The Legality of Radios
Some parts of the world have restrictions on the usage of specific radio frequencies. Please check your local, state or federal laws for more information for which channels you can legally use. This information is widely available, and can be found with a quick Google search. If you live in the U.S. you should only be using FRS (Family Radio Service) channels. More information about these channels can be found on the FCC website here.
Our Radio of Choice: Baofeng UV5R
The Baofeng UV5R radio is a great choice for any airsofter for a wide variety of reasons. First, they’re widely available and incredibly affordable. For under $40 you can get a high performing radio with a wide array of aftermarket accessories, which we’ll be touched on in just a moment. This radio is also very rugged and has a solid construction. They’re easy to program and can be set up in under five minutes.
The UV5R features a keypad underneath the screen which makes dialing in radio frequencies or adjusting the radio’s settings much easier than other radios on the market. There’s a built in Push To Talk (PTT) on the left side of the radio to communicate with your teammates, and the radio also has a built in flashlight should you need it in an emergency.
Accessories For Your Radio
PTTs & Headsets
While the Baofeng is an excellent radio in it’s own right, it really starts to shine when used with accessories to make it better suited for airsoft. The Baofeng UV5R uses the Kenwood 2 Pin connector for it’s accessories, and the connector is located on the right side of the radio.
The most important accessory for a radio is a Push To Talk (PTT). These give you a separate button or switch to press when you want to speak. While this may seem small, it saves you the trouble of having to reach down into your pouch to press the very small PTT button on the left hand side of the radio, and can help avoid you pressing it when you don’t mean to (called hot mic’ing.) The Baofeng UV5R includes a PTT in the box, but I do not like it because it is very small and the button does not have an attachment point on it so it can swing around freely. My preferred PTT is the Code Red Headsets Signal 21 Speaker Mic
This PTT is great because it can function by itself or as part of a system with a headset. The speaker is very crisp, making it easy to hear those communicating with you. The volume is adjusted using the round nob on the top of the Baofeng radio. If you’re looking for something a bit stealthier, there’s a 3.5mm audio jack for a headset of ear piece (the same kind for wired headphones.) This is what I use, with the Code Red Headsets Tango Jr earpiece. This is a very low profile system to make sure it does not interfere with my goggles or anything else on my head. Code Red offers other great options such as their throat mic. Here’s some of our favorite choices for PTTs and headsets for the Baofeng UV5R.
Extended Batteries
While the Baofeng has a pretty decent battery life, the extended battery is a great addition for a couple of reasons. The extra battery life helps out at longer games or milsim events, and is a must have for multiday milsim games. I also like to use the extended battery for other reasons because it adds a lot of height to the radio. This makes it much easier to fit into radio pouches designed for military radios like the PRC148 or 152. While we’re talking about batteries, the Baofeng UV5R has car chargers available. This can be very handy for multiday milsim games.
Pouches for the Baofeng UV5R
Because the Baofeng UV5R is sized differently than other radios, many companies have made their own pouches for them. One of my favorites options is from One Tigris. It’s simple to use because of the velcro closure, and is designed to be used with the extended battery. There are plenty of other options available for both the standard and extended battery.
What Else Should We Include?
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