Posted: 7/31/2021 9:38:33 PM EDT
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Hey everyone, I just bought another baofeng UV-5R, and I programmed up my usual channels using CHIRP and now I cannot transmit. I just get a beeping noise when I attempt to transmit. After some troubleshooting I found I am able to transmit on 147.000 MHZ and below, as soon as I try to transmit on the MURS freqs (at low power) specifically 151.820, 151.880, 151.940 it will not transmit. Anyone experience similar issues? |
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Quoted: They must finally be taking Part 95 seriously. What's that? Forgive my ignorance. I'm new to the radio world. Update: I cloned a known good config from a working UV-5R, factory reset new radio, uploaded it to the new radio, no dice. I also factory reset a known good radio, re-uploaded the known good config and it works. Even manually setting the frequency after a factory reset on the new one it will not transmit. |
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Quoted: What's that? Forgive my ignorance. I'm new to the radio world. On the UHF side can you transmit on FRS/GMRS frequencies? Or is it locked there from 420-450 MHz? |
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Quoted: Certain versions of Baofengs are now being locked down to only transmit on the amateur bands. The 2 meter ham band is 144-148 MHz, so if yours cuts out at 148, that might explain it. On the UHF side can you transmit on FRS/GMRS frequencies? Or is it locked there from 420-450 MHz? Everything above 148 is locked, I'm still trying to study up for my test, so I can't legally test 420-450 I don't think. Been keeping it low power on the MURS frequencies to stay legal. I suppose I could set it and try just keying up quickly to see if it receives? |
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Quoted: If you still have the original box can you see a manufacture date? Also, what version of firmware did it come with? Box doesn't say a manufacture date, not how to check firmware version Attached File |
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Quoted: Box doesn't say a manufacture date, not how to check firmware version https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/504237/20210731_202645_jpg-2035335.JPG The firmware should show up in chirp. But, if you've already written over top of it you may have replaced the factory load. |
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Quoted: The firmware should show up in chirp. But, if you've already written over top of it you may have replaced the factory load. Amazon will let me return it with no questions asked... thinking about doing that and ordering one from a different seller. Thoughts? I know I know, get my tech license and spend more cash on something better. |
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Quoted: Amazon will let me return it with no questions asked... thinking about doing that and ordering one from a different seller. Thoughts? I know I know, get my tech license and spend more cash on something better. That may not be a bad idea at all. If you're looking for a no frills HT I'll toss my recommendation of the FT-65 in there. Mine are newer and are made in Japan. Rock solid little units and not stupid expensive, but admittedly harder to program. |
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Quoted: Amazon will let me return it with no questions asked... thinking about doing that and ordering one from a different seller. Thoughts? I know I know, get my tech license and spend more cash on something better. Getting your tech license and/or spending more money won't necessarily make any difference. When you purchase an AMATEUR radio they are FCC Part 95 type accepted, meaning they will not transmit outside the amateur bands. Beofengs were NOT Part 95 type accepted and were not legal for sale in the USA. They were forced to fix them so they adhered to the US laws if they wanted to sell them in the USA. Those would be the same laws that all the other manufacturers adhere to. |
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Quoted: Getting your tech license and/or spending more money won't necessarily make any difference. When you purchase an AMATEUR radio they are FCC Part 95 type accepted, meaning they will not transmit outside the amateur bands. Beofengs were NOT Part 95 type accepted and were not legal for sale in the USA. They were forced to fix them so they adhered to the US laws if they wanted to sell them in the USA. Those would be the same laws that all the other manufacturers adhere to. Baofengs aren't part 97( amateur) or part 95(murs/gmrs) approved. Some are part 90 (lmr) approved. |
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Maybe certain sellers are sending them nodded to stay within the 2m/70cm bands? Fuck that, the wide range is a feature, not a bug.... I'd not heard that was being done. If any sellers are neutering Baofengs for "compliance", that's new to me. Last UV-82 I bought, from R&L electronics, was sometime late last year.....works as it should. It's possible to "kerchunk" a nearby repeater, see if you get a signal back. Yeah yeah, of course that is illegal until you're licensed. Me, even if it transmits fine within the 2m/70cm band, I'd return it and buy elsewhere. These radios work just fine, by the way, for what they are. I use my TYTs alot more these days, but still run the Baofengs at times. Was running one today. |
| Baofeng is known to change firmware versions frequently, and it's entirely possible that a newer version of firmware is incompatable with the version of chirp you are using, especially if you're trying to write a saved configuration from an older radio to it. Manufacturer's software is a safer choice. |
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Quoted: Maybe certain sellers are sending them nodded to stay within the 2m/70cm bands? Fuck that, the wide range is a feature, not a bug.... I'd not heard that was being done. If any sellers are neutering Baofengs for "compliance", that's new to me. Last UV-82 I bought, from R&L electronics, was sometime late last year.....works as it should. It's possible to "kerchunk" a nearby repeater, see if you get a signal back. Yeah yeah, of course that is illegal until you're licensed. Me, even if it transmits fine within the 2m/70cm band, I'd return it and buy elsewhere. These radios work just fine, by the way, for what they are. I use my TYTs alot more these days, but still run the Baofengs at times. Was running one today. I like them because they're cheap, when my boys are out riding 4-wheelers around the land they take em with them for emergencies. If the radios break or get lost they're cheap and easy to replace |
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Ive ran into this on radios purchased from amazon, but not from ebay (yet). The firmware between the radios that would operate on the 1.25m band was (reported as) the same as the ones that would not. There was no distinguishable difference between them. I disassembled one and it looked visually the same as my others. Theres obviously been a firmware change, but I dont think they did it for compliance. Radios that are not compliant can be programmed to operate on the 1.25m band without purchasing a tri band version. The updated dual band versions will only operate on 2m and 70cm bands. So if I want tri banding, I'll have to buy a tri band version now. |
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Google unlock baofeng. I would beet there is a work around in the software. Edit: Here you go!  Failed To Load Title |
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Quoted: Google unlock baofeng. I would beet there is a work around in the software. Edit: Here you go!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4T4sIk1M7sThe radios i have from amazon will let you change the rx to anywhere you want with chirp, but when you try to tx outside 2m and 70cm the radio will just beep. I couldnt find any way around it and the firmware is only one time programmable. So its an ok dual bander for me, but no tri banding. I even tried the baofeng vip software. No joy there either. |
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Quoted: The radios i have from amazon will let you change the rx to anywhere you want with chirp, but when you try to tx outside 2m and 70cm the radio will just beep. I couldnt find any way around it and the firmware is only one time programmable. So its an ok dual bander for me, but no tri banding. I even tried the baofeng vip software. No joy there either. That sucks. You need some pre ban baofengs. 
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Quoted: That sucks. You need some pre ban baofengs. Or just get an Retevis RT76P The firmware is updatable and there is one that fully unlocks the radio. |
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This has to do with FCC actions. US distributors are now receiving radios that are incapable of transmitting outside of amateur radio. The only real work around is to order from Chinese distributors such as Alibaba and wait for the radio to make it across on the boat. This also comes after several UV-5R variants had their Part 90 grants revoked (some of which go back to 2012) by the FCC. There are several Part 90 approved models for sale (you'll have to verify with US based resellers) and even some various models for Part 95 services such as GMRS, FRS, and MURS (and with FM being under consideration for CB we may even see some CB grants in the future). Remember, Amateur radio service (Part 97) does not require approval but radios that are marketed and sold for amateur radio purposes must meet Part 15 standards (and the FCC ID's will typically refer one to the Part 15 grant). Here is a posting on Reddit's /r/baofeng regarding the topic. |
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There are instructions everywhere to "MARS mod" Yaesu HT radios. I would do it if I had no choice, and needed the frequencies, but I could use a UV-B5 or a tyt HT I have if it doesn't sell. All the old hams here love the cheap baofengs when buying a new HT. The local club did a group buy for some 8w radios, and ended up getting 17 of them, lol. |