I bought the BTech UV-5X3 so I could have an analog tri-band HT with decent TX power on all three bands. Other handheld tri-banders I've seen have significantly reduced power on 1¼ meters.I like that after charging the 5X3, I was able to use it for simplex with hardly any help from the manual. Punching in frequencies is easy. Key in 146520 for 2m simplex calling, 223500 for 1¼m, 446000 for 70cm, 162550 for local weather... But wait a second. I bumped the TX key and it *transmitted* on 162.550 MHz? Minus one star for this. I realize now why this UV-5X3 is so cheap and that I have to be very careful using it at all times.Everything beyond simplex VFO-mode usage is complex. Even changing the squelch level requires going into a menu selection, changing the numbered level, and saving it. The menu system key sequences are unique for anything I've ever programmed via keypad. After getting moderately comfortable with the key sequences, it still took me about a half hour to store 5 local repeaters with proper CTCSS and TX Offset into memory. Addressing each memory # you want is also a chore. It is easy to accidentally overwrite the wrong memory. I also found that programming memory #0 doesn't work right even though it's available -- leave #0 empty and start with #1.You can probably guess by now that the design of the menu system and what various keypresses do during usage is atrocious. It is unnecessarily complex, and some functions that seem logical to perform just aren't there. For instance, when scan mode stops on a signal you want to skip, you can't just hit a key like "up" arrow, you have to initiate the scan again -- and if the signal you're on is still there, you have to move off the frequency first. This simple operation becomes something like EXIT (to break out of scan), hit UP to get off the frequency first, then press/hold SCAN again. Scan mode has one more kicker, too -- if during scan it stops on a signal with a different CTCSS than you have programmed, scanning stops anyway and stays stopped even though you can't hear anything. By the way, you can change (program) what Scan does when it stops on a signal, but all three choices have their own drawbacks.I absolutely suggest getting the programming cable and using CHIRP to program the UV-5X3, not just because programming all the memories and various functions are phenomenally easier, and not just because some features like entering callsigns can only be done with CHIRP, but because it might save you from throwing out your 5X3 if something in its firmware goes haywire -- like mine did one time so far (this is where I drop another star). Once so far, my UV-5X3 began malfunctioning the moment I turned it on. The display LEDs stopped lighting in any mode. Receive was fine, but there was no transmit signal on 2m or 70cm, it would only transmit on 1¼m -- and high power only. Nothing would fix it, I went into the menu system and did a RESET ALL, waited for *WAIT* to finish on the screen, and even though all my stored values were gone it still did not work. I hooked it up to CHIRP, re-uploaded my most recent saved file, and it fixed everything including all my stored memories. So, now I know if I go travelling and this 5X3 unexpectedly loses its mind again, I might have a useless HT unless I have my computer with me.One thing the UV-5X3 has that is supposedly great compared to other Baofeng models is Synchronized Display mode for scanning memories. The top line shows the frequency, while the bottom line shows the channel name you programmed with CHIRP. If you are scanning or working one channel this is fine. Unfortunately, this eliminates the Dual Watch ability to monitor two frequencies at a time (emulating 2 VFO's). It would be nicer if the firmware alternated the display between frequency and channel name every couple seconds on both lines.When this UV-5X3 works, how well does it work? This is where it gets some stars back. My first ever contact on 223.500 MHz simplex was just a couple days after getting this radio, with a fairly clear signal at both ends and 10+ miles between us. My audio was clear on the other end, and the tiny speaker produced clear, loud audio on my end. I've *cleanly* worked repeaters 20+ miles away at ground level on all three bands. Battery life with the slim, stock cell is good. There is a selectable low-power mode (thank goodness you can toggle *that* with a single key!) which works fine on 2m and 70cm, but for some reason on 1¼m modulates a strange whirling howl in the background of my audio. On the receive side, sensitivity and selectivity appear very good as long as there are no strong signals nearby. For example, I can be listening to 147.3 MHz just fine but if one of a Public Works truck drives past while keyed up on 159 MHz, my UV-5X3 momentarily cuts to static or close to it. Same for listening to 440 MHz if someone keys up at 465 MHz.The bottom line. The BTech UV-5X3 is a truly inexpensive HT with a fair amount of annoyances. However, outside of my one recoverable failure, it can work well and be a fun HT to keep handy.