Baofeng UV-3R + Baofeng BF-U3 Transceivers

Baofeng UV-3R and Baofeng BF-U3 Transceivers 

UV-3R and the BF-U3

Time for another radio review and this time a pair of miniature Baofengs.
Originally released in back in 2011 the UV-3R and BF-U3 are essentially cut down versions of the ever popular Baofeng UV-5R and 888 handy talkies.
These radios can still be found on internet auction sites relatively easily but are in no way as popular as the larger Baofeng radios.
I bought both of these radios for just under £20 from ebay UK sellers.

In this post I decided to look at these radios together rather than separately as they are very similar in looks, dimensions and technicalities.

Virtually the same stuff in both radio kits

The UV-3R and BF-U3 both ship with the usual Baofeng bits and pieces. Lanyards, chargers, crappy ear pieces etc so nothing new really.
One minor difference between these two and the normal Baofeng radios is the ear piece connection. Rather than the standard Kenwood style two pin affair here we have a 3mm Jack instead. The other port is for the charging cable meaning you don't have to use a desk top charger when the battery runs down, just plug the cable directly into the radio. I consider this an advantage.
Another advantage to these radios is the ability to charge them up via USB making them truly universal and portable. This ability negates the need to take the docking station around with you for longer usage or weekend trips etc.

Baofeng UV-3R MK2 UHF/VHF Transceiver

Throughout it's seven year history, The UV-3R has seen three separate revision changes.
The MK1 model featured a single line display, the MK2 introduced a dual line display and dual band antenna and the MK3 had a new case, charging port, battery, antenna connection and comms port roughly speaking. Despite these changes the internals pretty much stayed the same throughout. This radio is the MK2.

Specifications:
To save time and effort the pic below outlines the UV-3Rs specs.

Its basically a 2W UHF/VHF dual band transceiver capable of storing up to 99 memory channels. It operates on VHF between 136MHz - 174MHz and on UHF between 400MHz - 470MHz the usual Baofeng dual band offering.
It also has the usual flashlight, FM radio and annoying personal attack alarm that Baofeng insists on sticking on their radios. Nothing new here.

In terms of size the UV-3R is tiny and is possibly the smallest dual bander I have ever come across. It's very light weight but also feels cheap and plasticy too. Not as well constructed as the UV-5R series of radios that's for sure.
Operating the radio is easy enough if you are familiar with the other Baofeng radios out there although there are a few annoying differences.  Despite there being no keypad to speak of you can program the radio from the handset however once a channel has been stored it cannot be deleted it would seem. The only way to really add and remove channels is via a programming cable and software. Chirp is a good program to do this with.
Another annoyance is the fact that it wont allow stored channels to be available on both A + B VFOs.  Other dual banders let you put your favourite channels on both so you can switch between the two but not so on the UV-3R. Instead the lower B VFO is strictly for frequency only VHF. The upshot being you have to manually find the frequency and can't use any of the stored 'favourites' on the lower VFO. Its a little strange if you are used to normal Baofeng dual banders.
In practice the UV-3R works quite well despite the crappy antenna (more on that later) and the majority of my local repeaters etc are reachable. The audio quality of the internal speaker is very clear and very loud but being a digital volume control doesn't go low enough when operating discreetly. There seems to be a bug in the software stopping it from going low?. The all knowing internet suggests opening the radio and adding a resistor to the main board to counter this problem but to be honest I don't think it's worth faffing about with.
Other issues include channel scanning which is tediously slow and a poor front end allowing break through from nearby strong signals. Those who already own a Baofeng will know all about the crappy front end on these cheap chinese radios but the little UV-3R is possibly the worst of them all. Expect some RF splatter if you venture near any kind of transmitter.

The UV-3R does have a few good points surprisingly. Firstly the ability to store FM radio stations in memory, the ability to use the flashlight without switching the radio on (big deal!) and the transmit and recieve audio is very good (even if you can't turn it down properly!)



Baofeng BF-U3 UHF Transciever

The BF-U3 is a single band, 2W pocket radio operating on the 440Mhz 70cm band.
The lack of a display and buttons is all that really that separates this from the 3R in terms of looks

Specifications:
Once again I have included a photo of the specs sheet as I can't be bothered listing everything

The BF-U3 has a 16 channel storage capacity, channel scan, flashlight and annoying attack alarm.

Programming channels is strictly by PC and cable only due to the lack of a keypad but this is to be expected. Adding channels in software such as chirp is easy enough if you use the right programming cable for it.  Unfortunately The UV-3R cable does not work with this radio which is odd considering they are virtually the same radio. A specific BF-U3 cable is required - good luck finding one!.
It suffers from the same crappy front end and subsequent phase noise/ break through problems from strong signals as the 3R does but that's to be expected also.
What's good about the radio is the sound quality and tiny size.
Transmitting and recieving is pretty awful mainly because of its sawn off antenna. Voice audio is clear if nothing else.


The Similarities
Looking at the photo below it's hard to tell these radios apart. Both radios have a power output is 2W, the batteries are both 1500mAh and the cases and buttons are pretty much the same. Battery life on both radios is surprisingly good considering the physical size of them. Both use a small Nokia style li-po cell which can last a couple of days depending on usage. Unlike some other Baofeng batteries these ones can be bought quite easily and cheaply if a spare is required.

Which is which? The cases and belt clips are identical

The Antennas
The antenna is where these radios go in different directions.
The BF-U3 uses a specific UHF cut antenna which is very small and probably not the best but gets away with it to a certain extent. It's probably best suited to close distance work rather than long distance.
The UV-3R MK2 uses a very short dual band cut antenna which is about 7ins long.  Again it's pretty useless (especially on 2m band) but somehow gets away with it. It is certainly better than the one supplied with the single band BF-U3.
Unlike the normal Baofeng radios which use an SMA-F (female) connection these two use the opposite SMA-M (male) connection.
So forget screwing on your spare UV-5R nagoya. Further purchases are required.

UV-3R on the left and a sawn off BF-U3 antenna on the right

Overall, these radios are OK for what they are. If nothing else they are novelty pocket radios, something to show your mates but really not suitable for serious radio use.
As a spare radio to use in an emergency then I suppose they would do but for the money it's better to buy a normal UV-5R which is about the same price and offers so much more.
Comparing both of these radios I would choose the UV-3R over the BF-U3  because of the extra memory slots and the capability of transmitting on two bands.
What let's both of these radios down is their crappy antennas. Switching to a better quality rubber duck or even a proper roof antenna would improve their performance ten fold.

British SR6 NBC Respirator Part 1

British SR6 Respirator number 1 - 1966

Manufacturer: Leyland & Birmingham Rubber Co, England
Model: SR6 NBC respirator
Country: United Kingdom, Turkey
Production run: 1966 - 1986
Replaced: Light anti-gas respirator
Availability: quite easy to find on ebay UK
Size: N (normal)
Produced: 1966
Condition: used but in very good shape
Price: £19.99
Source: Charity seller on ebay

Buying an SR6 gas mask for my collection has been a very long time coming. The delay hasn't been down to my lack of desire to own one. More down to the cost and availability of them over the past year or so.
Recently I was fortunate enough to obtain two SR6s quite cheaply from ebay and this is my appraisal of the first (and oldest) piece.

These things are fast becoming antiques now so as the age of the S6 goes up in years then so does the price on the open market.
Typically a full SR6/S6 kit can fetch as much as £50 on ebay which is quite pricey compared to the multitude of similar aged soviet masks out there.
This first example of an SR6 cost me a grand total of £20 which seemed a fair price.


A bit about the SR6
At the time of writing this post I have no idea why this mask has two different model numbers? Is it an S6 or is it a SR6? Both numbers are stamped on the face piece which is confusing never the less the British SR6 was originally designed in the late 1950s as a replacement to the light anti-gas respirator which has been knocking about in one form or another since the war.
The SR6 NBC respirator came into service in 1966 and was issued to all branches of the UKs armed forces including civilian police forces for a period of twenty years until it was officially decommissioned in 1986 when the S10 would replace it. 
The SR6 actually continued to be used for much longer than that.

A mask made famous by the SAS

SAS assault on the Iranian embassy in London 1980

In 1980 a group of arab terrorists took 26 people hostage at the Iranian embassy in London.
Demanding the release of imprisoned comrades and safe passage from the UK they set about a sit-in siege which would last a full six days before the UK government got fed up and sent in the SAS to sort them out.
Operation Nimrod as it was known saw a small column of SAS troops dramatically assault the embassy and bring the situation under control. The operation was hailed a success and would forever cement the SAS reputation as being as hard as nails.
Millions of viewers around the world witnessed the assault on television and one memorable image were the soldiers wearing the S6 gas mask before, during and after the raid.
The SR6 will forever be associated with the SAS and the 1980 embassy incident.

Prime minister Margaret Thatcher was later photographed with the SAS members who took part in the operation when she met them to offer thanks from the government.

What came in the kit

• SR6 Face piece
• 40mm filter canister

What should be in the kit (to be complete)

• Original MK1 Haversack
• Decontamination outfit
• Survive to fight NBC booklet revision 1
• anti-dim outfit

Unfortunately this example of the SR6/S6 did not come with all of its original kit components. Not surprising considering the price I paid for it.  Fortunately the absent accessories can be bought separately from ebay to make the kit complete if so desired.

The Face piece

Following in the footsteps of it's predecessor the MK2 light anti-gas respirator, the SR6 is another well made and well designed british mask. The rubber used for the face piece is the thick butyl type - strong yet supple to the touch.      

The left side of the face piece is pretty much void of any notable features except perhaps for the date stamps. This particular mask was made in 1966, the first year of official deployment with the army. 

The right side features the 40mm screw thread connection for the filter and the size stamp.  This mask is an 'N' which means normal size. 

The SR6 has a very innovative inflatable inner mask which can be inflated to ensure a custom fit for the user. The air bladder is operated by way of a tap which sits just inside the mask.

Looking much like the drinking straws found in other masks, this air straw is inflated by the user once the mask has been donned. This clever feature is quite unique and actually works really well in practice. I have no idea why other manufacturers never pickup up on this idea and carried it on. 

The fixing harness at the rear of the mask is a six point design. The straps themselves are made from elasticated cotton and fixed to the mask with metal buckles. Over time and continued use these straps can start to fray but fortunately for me this example hasn't had that much use and so the straps are in very good condition.

The front of the face piece features the large round exhale valve/voice diaphragm and the curious looking eye pieces. The exhale/voice assembly whilst crude in looks is in fact very effective.

At the center of the assembly is a small black metal disc where sound is ejected. Surrounding the disc is a rubber ring which has a slit on either side to allow the exhaled air to escape the mask.  The rubber ring is fixed to the mask with a type of tape which can deteriorate over time. Some good old black insulation tape can be used as a replacement should a repair be required.

Not only does the SR6 have a unique air bladder it also has unique eye pieces. 

Most civilian and military gas masks have flat eye lens but the SR6 has curved lens instead. 

One presumes the idea for this shape was to offer a much better field of view for the user, however they have proven to be quite contraversial among enthusiasts. Many people complained that they had experienced a feeling of nausia after just a few minutes of using the mask due to the fish bowl effect the curved lens presented. This unpleasant side effect wasn't felt by everyone and did not damaged the masks reputation among the soldiers of the british army.

I must admit the eye pieces are very distinctive and a nice feature in my opinion. 

I have yet to come across another mask which has such radical eye pieces as this. 

The Filter Canister

The photos above and below feature the MK1 PR130 NBC filter which originally shipped with the SR6.

This particular filter was made in 1970 and is in quite good condition. There are a few dings here and there but nothing to worry about.
Of course, it has long since expired and therefore no good for anything other than for collecting or display purposes.

Donning and Doffing
Getting the SR6 on and off is simple, fast and easy.
The elasticated straps which attatch to the back of the head are very generous in terms of flexibility and allows for confortable adjustment once the mask is on.
Making an air tight seal around the face is made easy with the inflatable air bladder mentioned earlier. This added seal would be a huge benefit to the user in a real NBC situation as it could save them time in adjustments and reduce the possible risk of a mis-seal and subsequent breech which can happen sometimes.
Once the SR6 is properly fitted it tends to stay put. It doesn't seem front heavy or lob sided in any way, infact feeling reasonably light on the face.

Removing the SR6 is once again very quick and easy with the minimum of fuss.
Overall it's a very comfortable mask to wear all things considered.

Verdict
The SR6 respirator is another classic gas mask in much the same way as the S10 which came after. The build quality and inovations are remarkable for a mask design of over fifty years old. The SR6 is probably no good for preppers to use these days as its getting on in years and may not stand up to todays NBC situations but it still remains an essential mask for the serious collector. It has a character of all it's own.

British S10 NBC Respirator Part 1

British S10 NBC respirator number 1 - 1989

Manufacturer: Avon rubber, England
Model: S10
Country: United Kingdom + many others
Production run: 1986 - 2011
Replaced by: Scott GSR
Issued to: Military, Police
Condition: Used but in good shape
Year: 1989
Price: £12.50 + £3.90 postage
Availability: quite common
Source: private eBay seller
Shipped from: UK

What was in the kit?

• S10 face piece (used)
• Standard 40mm NATO NBC filter (new)
• old S6 40mm NATO filter (Used)
• British MOD radiac dosimeter watch (new)
• British army DPM camo haversack (used)

What should have been in the kit. (to be complete)

• Spare Standard 40mm NATO filter
• NBC rubber gloves
• Decontamination kit
• Chemical detection papers
• Protect to survive booklet

At last! an S10 for my collection
The S10 Gas mask kit by Avon rubber is possibly the most recognised gas mask in the world. It was synonymous with the british armed forces and highly regarded as one of the best mask of all time. Many of it's features live on in more modern mask designs today.
Fortunately for me this fine S10 fell my way quite recently so now I can appreciate what all the fuss is about.
Until now I had often considered the S10 a rather expensive mask for building my collection. Usually Several cold war masks could be bought for the price of a single S10 and so it hadn't seemed that appealing.

Whilst skimming the ebay listings one night I came across this kit which was being auctioned at a low price. Due to the S10's popularity I was half expecting to get gazumped right at the end of the auction by someone else (which normally happens) but this time it would be different.
The final price I paid for everything was £12.50 plus £3.90 postage which didn't seem bad at all. Normally a decent S10 can go for between £30 -£70 depending on the seller so this kind of price was not that common.
  

A bit about the S10
The S10 NBC respirator was first pressed into service in 1986 as the natural successor to the hugely popular SR6 (S6) which had been the mainstay mask of the british army since 1966.
The S10 kits were issued to all of the UK armed forces and also to civilian police forces and others making this mask truly universal.

The S10 NBC respirator was manufactured by Avon rubber in England and was exported to many other countries around the world as well as the UK
Many consider the S10 to have been a technical leap in design and the blueprint to modern masks. They remain extremely popular with collectors, preppers and the people who run about in the woods with pellet guns. Simply stunning.

The S10 was scheduled to have been phased out by 2007 and replaced by the newer Scott GSR. This didn't happen and so the S10 continued in active service until 2011.



The face piece

The S10 face piece is made from good quality materials. The rubber used in the construction of the mask seems very robust and sturdy whilst also being supple to the touch.
It doesn't take long to realise that this mask is top notch in terms of design and build quality. It has some clever innovative features and looks like it could get you out of a sticky situation without breaking a sweat.
I expected nothing less from a company like Avon who have a track record of making some of the best quality respirators in the world.
Time to take a closer look....

The right side of the face piece features a 40mm NATO filter fitting and the size marking of the mask. In this case it's a size 3 (small)
Running around the mask from right to left is a raised rubber ridge which is in fact a chemical hood stop. This ridge prevents the hood of an NBC suit from falling backwards and exposing the users head. A neat idea not often seen with gas masks.

On the left side of the face piece the date circle is stamped into the rubber. This mask was manufactured in 1989.
Moving down slightly the mask we discover the voice diaphragm. This circular part presumably helps to clarify the voice comms. It will be interesting to see if this side fitted diaphragm makes any difference.

The front of the face piece features a large circular structure which is home to the exhale valve, drinking system and a voice trumpet. It looks like a very well designed assembly on first glance and it becomes apparent where some of the more contemporary masks had got their inspiration from.
The drinking tube starts inside the mask with the mouth straw then it passes out through the side and around the outside of the disc ending with a water bottle adapter which is secured underneath the chin.
A small lever is situated on the left side of the disc next to the tube (see above photo) which acts a direction adjustment for the mouth tube inside. When the time for rehydration comes around it can be very difficult to locate the tube inside the mask once it has been donned.
A quick swing of the lever can get direct the tube into the users mouth quickly and without much fuss. A clever design in my opinion.
The exhale valve/voice trumpet section consists of a single rubber disc acting as the valve whilst the surrounding cavity is shaped in such a way as to amplify any sounds coming from inside. 

The inside of the face piece features a rubber inner mask which helps with making a good air tight seal and it offers a little extra comfort for the user.
Another feature of the inside is the nasal cup. The nasal cup is designed to divert warm air into the exhale valve and away from the eye pieces. It seems quite substantial on this mask so the need for anti-fog cream shouldn't be required.
The drinking straw required for rehydration is situated on the right side of the nasal cup and unlike the straw on the Czech M10M, it can be stowed to one side and away from the users mouth when not in use. I found the straw to be very annoying and intrusive on the M10M as it was always getting in the way.
The drinking system on the S10 seems far more useful.   

The last things to mention on this face piece are the eye pieces and the rear head harness.
The head harness is a six point strap and clamp system. Nothing special. Just some plastic clamps on the fixing points where you might expect metal buckles and the six corresponding straps made from a single piece of moulded rubber.
I'm not a fan of rubber harness straps but these are made from very soft and flexible rubber. I may not run the risk of having my hair ripped out now!
One remarkable design on this mask is the eye pieces. They appear to be made from Perspex/Plexiglass and not from traditional glass. They have an interesting shape to them. They Sort of look curved when first seen but on closer inspection are flat but with curved edges. I presume this shaping helps with the overall field of vision?   
Considering this mask has been issued the eye pieces have only superficial scratches on them. Nothing really noticeable.


The Filters


L12a1 or SP10

The SP10 is the filter which originally shipped with the S10 mask. It's a full range NBC protective filter housed in a plastic casing rather than the usual metal type. The SP10 has a NATO 40mm threading and will fit other NATO masks.

Old S6 filter - MK2 pattern

The other filter which came with my kit is an old british style piece which originally shipped with the Avon S6 - The mask which came before the S10.
The filter is dated 1981 and dinged up to hell but it still works (I think?)
Once again this is a full range NBC protective filter with a NATO 40mm thread and was the filter to SP10 replaced.


The Haversack

The photo above shows the british army S10 haversack which came with my kit. Its decorated with army standard DPM camouflage and dated 2007 so not the original haversack which came with the mask.
This haversack is every bit as formidable as the S10 itself. It's strong, tough and well designed.
The quality of materials used here are far more superior than the vast majority of other gas mask bags I have had my hands on.
The only criticisms are that maybe the haversack is a little large and cumbersome and the lack of a waist strap to prevent it flapping around if running away from danger.

There is plenty of room inside the haversack for 2 filters, the face piece and all of the regular accessories without having to squeeze anything in. This can often be a downside to the soviet haversacks which are generally smaller by comparison and carry the risk of the face piece being squished out of shape.


The mysterious extra item

One surprise with this S10 kit was the addition of a brand new and sealed British M.O.D. dosimeter watch. 

These are supplied to people tasked with working in a radioactive environment (obviously!) and have been in service since the early 1980s.  

They work by means of photoluminescent glass that is exposed to radiation and records the levels over a period of time. 

unfortunately this dosimeter does not display the radiation readings for the user to see rather the dosimeter is hooked up to a special reader to extract the information. (available separately). 

The dosimeter watch is a nice little extra in the bag which I wasn't expecting. I don't intend on opening the foil pouch as it might affect it's value one day. A quick google image search indicates that the watch isn't all that interesting to look at. 

Just a blank watch face and a crappy looking strap.   

Donning and Doffing
Getting the S10 over the head and sealed for business is quick, easy and pain free.
The straps on the read harness seem to be flexible enough to left set in the desired position whilst the mask is taken on and off negating the need for readjustment after every deployment.  One concern with the fixing clamps is that they may get weaker over the years and allow the strap/s to slide back out.
Getting the mask off again is just as easy.


Overall the S10 is a great quality respirator which certainly lives up to it's reputation. I would certainly reach for this mask first in the event of a disaster without a doubt.

Baofeng BF-888s - The disposable radio pt 2

Baofeng BF-888  - The disposable radio pt 2

Baofeng 888s twin pack

Manufacturer: Fujian Nan'an Baofeng Electronic Co Ltd
Model: BF-888s
Country of origin: China
Frequency: 400MHz - 470MHz UHF FM
Power: <5W. - often rated at 1-2W
Battery: 3.7V 1500mAh Li-ion
Price: £8.80 including postage
Type Certified: No
Shipped from: UK

This post serves as a follow up to an earlier post titled " Retevis H-777 - The disposable radio" . I once again return with another bargain radio deal which defies rational belief.

Click HERE for the original H-777 post.

So now a few months on from the first post I find myself staring across a table at a pair of original Baofeng 888s radios.
How did they get there?  Well being a sucker for a good deal I just had to make a purchase.
I wasn't actually looking to buy any more ham radio / PMR gear for the time being but the price I found these at made it rude not to.
I wondered how on earth can these guys make an profit?

The usual Baofeng bits and pieces

The seller on eBay who was peddling these radios had a very limited number available so without really thinking about it I pulled the trigger and paid the full £8.80 asking price.
That's TWO radios for £8.80!
If you break that down its £2.95 for each radio plus £2.90 postage. And they are not fakes or clones either!
I honestly thought that I wouldn't get better radio deal than that of the H-777 which only cost a fiver all told but I stand corrected.

Generally speaking the 888s model sells for around £10 each on eBay and quite often are sold in multiples which in itself is good value for money.
Considering the 888s capabilities compared to main stream PMR446 gear for instance, they really do offer great value for money. Who really wants to be paying £60 or £80 for a set of Motorola PMRs or £160 on a Yeasu handset which covers the amateur radio stuff? The 888s will work on both bands quite comfortably.

Although it sounds contradictory, these radios should NOT be used on the regular PMR 446mHz frequencies as it is illegal to do so in UK and probably the EU too. This is because all PMR type approved radios must have a fixed antenna and only pump out half a watt of radiated energy. (0.5W!) These Baofengs are up to x4 more powerful and can have larger antennas fitted allowing them to transmit over a much greater distance.
Technically speaking these Baofengs are only really legal for amateur radio use however for those wanting them for PMR use and are willing to break the law then these cheapo radios offer more power, channels and range than almost all of the commercially sold PMR446 walkie talkies.

Simple stuff but it works!

So is the Baofeng 888s another disposable radio?
Yes, disposable in the sense that once the battery has died for good you might as well chuck the whole lot in the bin and that includes the radio!
What would be the point of trying to buy replacement batteries for these? The complete kits are so cheap!
Even If you did manage to find someone selling spares then it's almost certain you would pay more for a battery on its own than buy a brand new radio kit.
It's seems a little crazy but these are the times we live in!
The 888s can also be described as disposable in the sense that if any accident or mishap should befall it, no one would really care! Just go and buy another one. Very cheap to replace.
You perhaps might not say that about a £200 Kenwood which accidentally slipped out of your hand and into the local lake.

 All the same underneath 

Style over substance?
Admittedly, the Baofeng BF-888 is an old radio now in terms of technology and very little has been done to upgrade the internal hardware since 2011.
When it comes to model updates Baofeng has a habit of only changing the style of the outer casings and tends to leave the electronics alone. This seems to happen across the whole product range and the UV-5R model is a prime example of this.
Despite its design age, the performance of the 888 family of radios is still good and offers great communication over short to medium distances.


CAUTION! 
I have to say this but anyone who buys a brand new Baofeng  888s MUST first wipe the channels which come on the radio.
The channels that were stored on the radio at the factory are not suitable to use in the UK and could cause interference to others Including some emergency services. The online sellers should make customers aware of this important aspect at the point of sale but NEVER do for some reason so the responsibility is with the customer in this case. It's illegal in the UK to use these radios as they are straight from the box.
Purchasing a UV-5R programming cable from eBay and download ing the software will sort this problem out.


Verdict
These are the disposable radios for the masses.
A decent pair of UHF transceivers for the price of a pack of cigarettes!
If they happen to break, chuck them away and buy another. Repairing a broken 888 is just not worth it considering the cost of labour and availability of spare parts.
Chucking these into landfill seems crazy and irresponsible from an environmental view point but no one seems to care these days.
Its definitely worth getting a few sets whilst they are at this low price point.

Stock Update - More IP-5 rebreather canisters

Stock update - IP-5 Oxygen generating canisters

Price: £30 for four units
Model: RP-5M
Source: Ebay seller bea27storee
Description: Soviet IP-5 rebreather oxygen canisters

This time on stock update we have the unique IP-5 rebreather once again and more specifically the oxygen generating canisters which fit in it.
Basically these canisters work by scrubbing the exhaled air of carbon dioxide etc and replacing it with fresh oxygen by way of a chemical reaction. Think potassium superoxide.
This reaction happens continuously over and over until the can is empty.

An East german instruction booklet

I already own three IP-5 rebreathers but didn't have many of the canisters which go with them. The reason for this is because they are hard to find and expensive generally.  The IP-5 rebreathers don't normally ship with these canisters when you buy them from the internet. Mainly because they weigh a ton and pose a potential health and safety issue.
Some ebay sellers will sell the canisters indirectly but the cost is still more than the rest of the kit as a rule.
Buying an IP-5 rebreather kit without the canister is fine but it's incomplete as a kit if it's left out. I like to have a filter for every gas mask in my collection so I was always going to buy a few of these when I had the chance.

Remember this fella? He still looks happy in his IP-5

Finding spare IP-5 canisters on the surplus market isn't as easy as it sounds with only a couple of sellers on ebay UK. The cheaper of the two stores were selling them for around £17.50 each with free postage but there was the opportunity to barter with the guy.
As I already owned one canister I still needed two more for my other kits so I decided to make him an offer of £30 for two which would be a saving of a fiver.
The seller happily accepted my offer and I awaited my canisters in the post.

To see my original review of the complete IP-5 kit click HERE

3 polish and 1 Soviet RP-5Ms

A large parcel arrived a few days later which looked much bigger than perhaps it should. Upon opening the box I found that rather than sending me two canisters he has sent me four! What a bonus! Looking through the loot it seems that I have been given three polish made cans and one original soviet can. So in the end it seems that these accessories have ended up costing me about £7.50 each. A price that's much easier to swallow. 

IP-5s are still being used today!

The video Above shows some russian lads taking a tank through a river and deliberately flooding it out. Check out their breathing apparatus! @ 2:00 min

The Polish RP-5M

Faser manufactured Can

It wasn't only the Soviets who were making these canisters during the cold war (and beyond) It seems that Faser in poland were also making their own licensed version for use in the IP-5.
As far as I know poland never adopted the IP-5 rebreather for use in their own armed forces so one can only assume that they were being made there and shipped out somewhere else - probably russia and east germany.
These canisters are made from what looks like stainless steel and feature all of the same ports, bungs and priming handle as the original.
Most were made in the late 1980s

The Soviet/Russian RP-5M

These are the proper canisters that go with the IP-5

And here we have an original canister dressed in cacky coloured brown paint.
These canisters are much harder to find than the polish version for some unknown reason. There are no discernable markings on it apart from what looks like a manufacture date of 1988.

The problem with the Polish versions

The photo above highlight a small problem with the polish version of the canister.
Around the top and bottom of both canisters is a metal lip which acts as a seal around the canister during manufacture. The lip on the left canister is noticeably bigger than the one on the right canister.

Hard to make out but the polish can is longer in comparison

and here in this photo the silver canister on the left is longer in size than the brown one on the right. It's not that noticeable here but there is a difference.

So what's the problem?
Well the problem only becomes apparent when it comes to fitting the canister in it's harness. It's virtually impossible to securely buckle the straps in place when using the silver canisters. The straps just won't pull far enough round to fasten in the buckle.
Fitting the original brown canisters is absolutely no problem at all.
The straps fits perfectly around the unit and into the buckle with ease.
I couldn't understand what was going on? Poland never made an IP-5 of their own and certainly not one which had a slightly larger canister pocket so why are these bigger?
It remains a mystery but for now there may be a work around to solve the issue.
If the metal lips on either end of the silver canisters could be bet downwards then they would fit snuggly. The brown soviet version does appear to have its edges curled downwards. 

Using the canisters
The IP-5 rebreather was originally issued to soviet tank crews as an underwater rescue system should the tank get submerged. They were also issued to soviet special forces frogmen for stealthy underwater missions (allegedly) . The oxygen generating canisters could provide up to 180 mins of air (depending on work load) and work in depths up to 30ft. As the IP-5 is a closed circuit rebreather it does not release any air bubbles and so could be considered a stealth item.

The canister in it's holder

Personally I wont be jumping into my nearest lake and have a swim about. Not only is there a small risk of the canister exploding if there is any water ingress but its also very difficult to tell when the oxygen stops being generated. Carbon dioxide will eventually stop being scrubbed by the canister and the build up could asphyxiate the user without them even knowing about it.
Its all sounds a little scary so the wise thing to do would be to keep them as part of the complete kit and never activate them. They should be perfectly safe on the shelf with the plugs left in.

Still a great looking rebreather

The IP-5 rebreather has to be one of my favourites, it is a unique diving gas mask which has never been copied or emulated. I suspect that one day this will become a most curious collectors item but without the canisters they are incomplete. I'm just glad I could get a few now before they become even more scarce!