Buddy F10  FRS Handheld   General Description 

The Buddy is a new addition to the BridgeCom line of handheld radios. They come pre-programmed with 16 FRS channels that are ready to use right out of the box.
 
 
Each Box Contains

-  Buddy F10  FRS handheld
-  3.7V  1200 mAh  Li-ion Battery
-  Wall Charger - AC to USB
-  USB to USB-C charge cable
-  Metal Belt clip + screws 
-  Hand Strap
-  User Guide
-  * BCE-300 Earpiece w/Microphone
          when purchased as a pair

  
Certification    Part 95
 
FCC Part 95 certification 2AB4F-F10 (5-27-2020)  fccid.io
 
 
Enclosure

The Buddy case measures  5.1 x 2.0 x 0.5"  (12.9 x 5.0 x 1.3cm) and weighs in at 3.2oz (91g) with battery installed. The small size allows them to fit nicely into a shirt pocket.
 
There are no tuning knobs as found on conventional handhelds. The volume is controlled by a toggle switch on the top of the radio. Pushing toward to back lowers the volume, while pulling back increases it.
 
The front of radio has the PTT button as well as the light ring indicator.
Green indicates incoming traffic and Red is transmit.
When charging, the indicator is Red until fully charged.
  The left side of the Buddy has a red Power On/Off button as well as the channel up/down buttons and the PTT.
Both the side PTT and the large front PTT button have the same function, but the front is much more convenient. The right side supports the USB-C charging cable as well as the K1 accessory connection.
Antenna
 
As required by the FCC, the antenna is permanent (1.25") and tuned for the FRS channels.
 
 
Transmitter
 
The transmit frequency range is preprogrammed to the 16 FRS channels shown below. Channels 1-7, 15, 16 are preset to high power (2W) while channels 8-14 are set to low (0.5W). These settings are fixed and cannot be altered.
 
To minimize interference, each channels is preset to a CTCSS tone of 67.0Hz, but this setting can be changed with software if desired. There is also a VOX (voice operated transmit) function that can be turned on using the software.
 

Click to Enlarge

Transmit Audio
 
For as small as they are, the audio sounds very good. Holding the radio about an inch away and speaking across the front of the radio produced to best audio. Any further and the audio started dropping off.
 
 
Receiver & Audio
 
The receiver sensitivity is very good and the audio quality was loud, clear and undistorted. There's plenty of volume for use in a noisy environment.
 
 
Software / Programming
 
The Buddy has no keypad, but options such as CTCSS tones, VOX and Squelch level can be adjusted using software. The software was extremely easy to use and very straight forward.
 
 
Programming Cable
 
The programming cable (not included) requires a 2 pin K1 style connector. The UART chip is inside the USB plug.
 
While some cables require special drivers, the BridgeCom cable loaded the driver directly from the internet with no issues. Having the proper cable will avoid hours of frustration.
 

 
Battery and Charger
 
The battery is an 1200 mAh Li-ion. With moderate use, a fully charged battery can last an entire day. For extended battery life, I would recommend using the low power channels unless necessary.
 
Charging the radio is done using the USB-C port located on the side of the radio. The included AC charger module provides the 5V for the USB connection to the radio.
 
While charging, the light ring on the front of the radio will glow red, then go off when the battery is fully charged. It takes  about 4 to 6 hours to charge a fully depleted battery.
 

click to enlarge

 

Accessories
 
The Kenwood K1 style connector on the side will accommodate the programming cable as well as accessories. I also tried my external Speaker/Microphone with success.
 
 
Distance
 
The average distance achieved by these radios is dependant on the terrain, environment and obstructions. In a city with tall buildings, expect a range of about 1/2 to 3/4 miles. In the open country, 1 1/2 miles is obtainable.
 
Note: FRS Radios advertised as 10-15 mile range are far from realistic. This can only be accomplished mountain top to mountain top.
 
 
Conclusion
 
The Buddy F10 is an extremely easy to use and program FRS radio. It is well constructed and has all the basic features needed for easy operation. They are ready to use right out of the box.
 
 
 
Note 1: This equipment was received for the purpose of a fair and unbiased review. All findings are factual based on the equipment I received. Any issues found have been reported both here and back to the seller or manufacturer.

Note 2:  I found absolutely no issues or concerns with these radios.
 
 

  
Available from BridgeCom: 
 
          Buddy F10 Handhelds
 
          Extra Batteries