21
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Are Baofeng radios illegal in the U.S?
2023 Update:
Since I wrote this answer, there's been quite a bit of FCC enforcement (on importers, not amateurs), and as a result, most new Baofeng radios sold for amateur use in the US in the past ...
- 13.2k
19
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Are Baofeng radios illegal in the U.S?
They are legal to use, but only on the amateur bands. (Of course, you'll need to get a license first).
There was a lot of debate on whether they were legal, but the FCC finally stated that they were. ...
- 8,175
15
votes
How do PTT buttons work?
The basic PTT (push to talk) button on the HT is a simple switch that is normally open and when it is pressed, the switch is closed (conducting). Internally to the radio, this applies power to the PA (...
- 18.6k
13
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Can a Baofeng UV5R receive airport radio transmissions?
As far as I've read, all Baofeng radios do FM only. The majority of aircraft communications uses AM, so whether or not it can be tuned there, you would not hear the audio, just approximate silence (...
- 25k
13
votes
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What is the appropriate length of an antenna for a handheld on 2 meters?
These antennas don't always contain a simple straight length of conductor, but rather usually have coils of wire inside, so the actual physical length doesn't mean that much. They are designed so that ...
- 3,739
12
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Can a Baofeng UV-5R Display Both Name and Frequency Simultaneously?
Yes, kind of. You can program the A and B settings separately. Set channel A to display name, and set B to display frequency. Also, set the receiver to only listen to the monitored channel to ensure ...
- 797
10
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Can a Baofeng UV-5R Display Both Name and Frequency Simultaneously?
No, you cannot display "Name & Frequency" if the unit is in "Channel Mode".
what you could do is program (part of) the frequency in the "Name field" of the channel. This way it helps you, like a ...
- 2,195
10
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How much current can Baofeng UV-5R provide on +V pin?
With no load, I measure 3.17V
With 100kΩ load, 2.91V
With 10kΩ load, 1.59V
With 1kΩ load, 0.29V
The math works out to a 10kΩ series resistance between +V and ground.
As such the maximum power that ...
- 321
9
votes
Baofeng UV 9R Handheld programming
Almost nobody programs Baofeng and similar radios by hand: too difficult, as you discovered. The thing to do is to get your hands on a programming cable and programming software. If you go to a ...
- 9,320
9
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Beginner listening to a repeater - only hearing one station
It is presumed that you were receiving on the 2m band.
It appears that you were listening in, using 'repeater reverse' mode. In other words, you were listening in on the repeater's input frequency ...
- 767
8
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How to make a PTT button for Baofeng UV-5R
You want your switch to short the shield of each of the connectors to each other, strange as that sounds. These plugs are commonly known as TRS, or tip-ring-shield, so the shield is the part closest ...
- 736
8
votes
How much current can Baofeng UV-5R provide on +V pin?
I would first measure the current draw of your ESP32 to rule out a fault there.
The +V pin on the Baofeng microphone connection is probably intended to bias an electret microphone. These are ...
- 52.4k
8
votes
programming Pofung UV-82
Commercially-sold radios that transmit for nearly every purpose other than the amateur service (Part 97) and Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) equipment (Part 18) in the US must be type-...
- 9,320
8
votes
Why do Baofeng radios have such poor reception reliability?
You get what you pay for. The Baofeng radios take a number of shortcuts in their design to make them cheaper, including leaving out front end filters. The result is that the radio is marginal on ...
- 6,960
7
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Why can I hear Morse when not in CW mode?
You don't say where you are hearing the Morse code. You say "on the same channels", but don't specify where you are listening.
If you send Morse code using a buzzer, then that generates an ...
- 4,669
6
votes
How can I avoid accidentally transmitting with a Baofeng UV-5R?
While in Chirp go to Duplex and set it to "OFF"
If the duplex is set to off then transmission on this channel will be disabled (if the radio supports this capability).
Thomas
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6
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Can a Baofeng UV5R receive airport radio transmissions?
From the amazon page you've linked to:
Frequency Range: 136-174 / 400-479.995 MHz.
So, no, you can't receive 121.9 MHz.
- 17.3k
6
votes
My Baofeng UV-5RV2+ will receive a signal with rubber duck antenna but not with a new Nagoya
The fact that you have a static free signal when you press the monitor button or open the squelch sounds like you may have CTCSS or DCS decode (receive squelch) turned on. This feature is normally ...
- 18.6k
6
votes
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DC connector type for Baofeng UV5R base charger
The plug used in the Baofeng base is a 5.5 mm/2.1 mm barrel connector.
However, you cannot simply parallel a bunch of base charger units and power them off of a single AC or DC adapter without ...
- 18.6k
6
votes
BF-F8HP: "Radio did not respond" when trying to use CHIRP
The most common error is not selecting the correct COM port for the virtualized USB cable.
- 18.6k
6
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BF-F8HP: "Radio did not respond" when trying to use CHIRP
For me I didn't have my radio cable fully pushed into my radio. It took some extra pressure and then it snapped in place. I had to press harder than expected.
- 211
6
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ISS repeater on a Baofeng?
Absolutely. In fact, 8W may even be overkill.
VHF/UHF is far more dependant upon line of sight than on transmit power. Since the ISS is a relatively low orbit station, as long as you have a good pass (...
- 176
6
votes
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I am trying to get the 800.00 frequencies on a Baofeng UV-5R
It doesn't do that. Depending on the revision of UV-5R you have, the highest receive frequency is either 470 MHz or 520 MHz. Either way it doesn't go up to 800.
- 13.2k
6
votes
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Are Baofeng radios illegal in the US?
While some amateur radio equipment is certified by the FCC, much of it is not, as it is the licensed amateur radio operator's responsibility to insure that it follows the rules when transmitting.
Many ...
- 6,960
5
votes
UV-5R 4W BFB297 vs UV-5R 8W BFP3-23 (difference 4W vs 8W)
The exact answer is given by the Friis equation. If you double the power, your range will increase by 1.413 times whatever it was before doubling the power if you change nothing else. This assumes you ...
- 18.6k
5
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What is the socket for on this Baofeng BL-5L battery?
That's for charging a 3800mAh battery using the side jack.
To charge the BL-5L 3800mAh battery you must purchase a:
- TYT TH-UVF9 battery charger for 110VAC or
- TYT TH-UVF9D for 12VDC.
These are ...
- 66
5
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UV-5R 4W BFB297 vs UV-5R 8W BFP3-23 (difference 4W vs 8W)
4W to 8W is a doubling of power, or a 3dB increase. That's 3dB you can add to your link budget. Provided of course that the limiting factor is the other station hearing you, not the other way around.
...
- 52.4k
5
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Baofeng GT-3WP Cross Band Operation?
I have a Baofeng handheld with similar specifications, and the short answer is no, it does not function as a repeater in any way - cross band or otherwise. I would imagine that would be a feature they ...
- 166
5
votes
Bf-f8hp radios and no idea what I'm doing
From what I can tell, the BF-F8HP is very similar to the UV-5R. These links may help answer your question.
licensing a group of BaoFeng BF-888S
Can a Baofeng UV-5R+ be used on FRS, GMRS, and MURS?
On ...
- 8,175
5
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Pair of Baofeng BF-888s stopped communicating after reprogramming - what to do
One other setting for each channel that may be giving you problems is Duplex/Simplex. Make certain it is set to Simplex or equivalently "no offset". This feature, when turned on, causes that channel ...
- 18.6k
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