On Thu, 14 Oct 2021 01:00:46 +0000, "Doug J" <vk2xlj@...> wrote: The UV-5R is a good budget priced radio. They are good value for the price you pay, but they aren't top of the line. If you take them into town/shopping centres, they are prone to interference, as they aren't very selective. I have a UV-5R also. I bought it from a retailer at Hamvention a few years ago and got it with two of the extended batteries (they let me swap and pay the difference between the small battery and the larger one). If you're not in a flat area or nor near a repeater, it may not be worth getting a handheld. If you can have another ham in your club come over and test to see if you can bring up the local repeaters from your home, or wherever else you might want to use it, that would tell you if it's a good purchase. Mine wasn't. I have one spot outside by the garage where I can bring up one repeater, and I'm a bit noisy getting into it. One other thing to know ahead of time with most of these Chinese radios is that you'll probably want a programming cable (get one from BTech on Amazon and you'll be getting the one from Baofeng's USA distributor), and CHIRP programming software (it's free). There's a CHIRP group here, too, that I started so if you have questions about using it, then post there. If you don't get the cable from BTech, get one with the FDTI chipset. There are counterfeit cables with the Prolific chipset and the driver will refuse to work with a counterfeit cable in at least some cases. There's a third chipset that I forgot what it's called and it will work, but finding the driver for it was not easy. I have an "octopus" cable that has 8 or so different ends to fit various radios, and I bought it just to see if it works. Other then the difficulty of finding the right driver for it, it DOES actually work, so I can program several brands of radios with it. You can also get non-free software from RT Systems. You can get a good cable from them and also great software, but CHIRP is good enough and will save you money. Figure about $50 for the cable and software from them. Figure less than $20 for the official cable, less for one that works but isn't the official one (check Amazon reviews first as some are a waste of money), and CHIRP software is free. There are other Chinese radio HTs but Baofeng is probably the most popular and least problematic. Don't try to save a few $$$ and buy another brand. The Baofengs are already pretty cheap anyway. I won a different Chinese brand of HT at our local hamfest and after finding a cable for it, was unable to program it. I sold it for $5 at the next year's hamfest, which is about 1/2 what I paid for the cable. It was a waste of money to have even bought the cable! (Yes, I did tell the buyer my negative experience.) Donald KX8K ---------------------------------------------------- Some ham radio groups you may be interested in: /g/ICOM /g/Ham-Antennas/g/HamRadioHelp /g/Baofeng/g/CHIRP
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The UV-5R is a good budget priced radio. They are good value for the price you pay, but they aren't top of the line. If you take them into town/shopping centres, they are prone to interference, as they aren't very selective.
I use one for around the house or walking around the local district, as I am talking and listening to things close. The unit is small and will fit into your top pocket easily with the standard battery. The high capacity battery can be handy if you are going
out all day and will be using it alot. The big battery doubles the size of the unit and weight.
I don't think you will be disappointed.
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Listening, looking around, reading umpteen reviews, and having an old vet budget and too many interests, I agree with some which relate that the Baofeng is a good low priced entry level device for those entering amateur radio. I've been all around in electronics
and communication and listened to my old military receiver.
But I am having trouble identifying which unit is preferable. I see only an odd unit with almost unused (in the US,) and a unit with a larger battery, (which I love,) and a dual-power level, which I will like, once I am licensed.
This site shows some unit examples.
$29 vs $69 no huge biggee. (A ext mike and better antenna can come when I can Xmit and am licensed on more than my ancient CB, lol !)
Comments plz if any. TIA
73s
BillSF9c
KALA3329 ?
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Listening, looking around, reading umpteen reviews, and having an old vet budget and too many interests, I agree with some which relate that the Baofeng is a good low priced entry level device for those entering amateur radio. I've been all around in electronics and communication and listened to my old military receiver. But I am having trouble identifying which unit is preferable. I see only an odd unit with almost unused (in the US,) and a unit with a larger battery, (which I love,) and a dual-power level, which I will like, once I am licensed. This site shows some unit examples. $29 vs $69 no huge biggee. (A ext mike and better antenna can come when I can Xmit and am licensed on more than my ancient CB, lol !) Comments plz if any. TIA 73s BillSF9c
KALA3329 ?
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On Mon, 11 Oct 2021 21:32:27 -0400, "Mark Payne" <markp200@...> wrote:
Begin forwarded message:
From: Mark Payne <markp200@...>
Date: October 11, 2021 at 4:39:50 PM EDT
Subject: Uv 5r 3
?
Radio will not receive on Ext antennas tried several ant but no luck if you press menus or exit it will receive until the repeater drops but will not receive again until press one of these buttons are pressed again. If you hold the pl/59 on the antenna very close the the sma pin in the radio will receive but as soon as you connect the antenna no receive. I have tied every thing I know to work but nothing. All antennas and feed are new with no problems with other radios working on the antennas all tones or receive turned off. Thanks. Mark
Sent from my iPhone
---------------------------------------------------- Some ham radio groups you may be interested in: /g/ICOM /g/Ham-Antennas/g/HamRadioHelp /g/Baofeng/g/CHIRP
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Hadn’t thought of the antenna location in relation to the radio. Good call, but we’ll see what he finds out.?
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On Oct 12, 2021, at 10:55, Mark Payne <markp200@...> wrote:
? Thanks will try On Oct 12, 2021, at 1:25 PM, Milt / KJ7PPX <milt.reynolds@...> wrote:
? Mark, this happened to me several times, under the following situation:
- My feed-line was about 12 feet long, connected to a home-made dual-band J-pole antenna
- The antenna was standing upright, about three feet away from the radio
I would receive traffic, and I would then press the PTT to respond. But after releasing the PTT, there was absolute silence. Only after pressing the squelch or [EXIT] key would the radio receive traffic again.
I decided that the radio's receive circuitry was being overloaded by my transmitting so closely to the radio. I'm thinking the stock whip antenna is better designed to eliminate this?
Anyway, the cure was making sure my external antenna was at least 10-20 feet away from the radio before transmitting.
I'm still a raw newbie, so I'm not at all sure that I'm understanding the problem well, but perhaps my experience will will with your troubleshooting?
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On Oct 12, 2021, at 1:25 PM, Milt / KJ7PPX <milt.reynolds@...> wrote:
? Mark, this happened to me several times, under the following situation:
- My feed-line was about 12 feet long, connected to a home-made dual-band J-pole antenna
- The antenna was standing upright, about three feet away from the radio
I would receive traffic, and I would then press the PTT to respond. But after releasing the PTT, there was absolute silence. Only after pressing the squelch or [EXIT] key would the radio receive traffic again.
I decided that the radio's receive circuitry was being overloaded by my transmitting so closely to the radio. I'm thinking the stock whip antenna is better designed to eliminate this?
Anyway, the cure was making sure my external antenna was at least 10-20 feet away from the radio before transmitting.
I'm still a raw newbie, so I'm not at all sure that I'm understanding the problem well, but perhaps my experience will will with your troubleshooting?
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Mark, this happened to me several times, under the following situation:
- My feed-line was about 12 feet long, connected to a home-made dual-band J-pole antenna
- The antenna was standing upright, about three feet away from the radio
I would receive traffic, and I would then press the PTT to respond. But after releasing the PTT, there was absolute silence. Only after pressing the squelch or [EXIT] key would the radio receive traffic again.
I decided that the radio's receive circuitry was being overloaded by my transmitting so closely to the radio. I'm thinking the stock whip antenna is better designed to eliminate this?
Anyway, the cure was making sure my external antenna was at least 10-20 feet away from the radio before transmitting.
I'm still a raw newbie, so I'm not at all sure that I'm understanding the problem well, but perhaps my experience will will with your troubleshooting?
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Try a FACTORY RESET. That “may” clear it.?
Then you’ll have to reprogram the radio from scratch.?
Do NOT download your existing radio database and just reload that back!!
?You will most likely re-introduce the very same problem back into the radio.?
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On Oct 12, 2021, at 01:54, Mark Payne <markp200@...> wrote:
?
Begin forwarded message:
From: Mark Payne <markp200@...>
Date: October 11, 2021 at 4:39:50 PM EDT
Subject: Uv 5r 3
?
Radio will not receive on Ext antennas tried several ant but no luck if you press menus or exit it will receive until the repeater drops but will not receive again until press one of these buttons are pressed again. If you hold the pl/59 on the antenna very close the the sma pin in the radio will receive but as soon as you connect the antenna no receive. ?I have tied every thing I know to work but nothing. All antennas and feed are new with no problems with other radios working on the antennas ?all tones or receive turned off. ?Thanks. Mark
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From: Mark Payne <markp200@...>
Date: October 11, 2021 at 4:39:50 PM EDT
Subject: Uv 5r 3
?
Radio will not receive on Ext antennas tried several ant but no luck if you press menus or exit it will receive until the repeater drops but will not receive again until press one of these buttons are pressed again. If you hold the pl/59 on the antenna very close the the sma pin in the radio will receive but as soon as you connect the antenna no receive. ?I have tied every thing I know to work but nothing. All antennas and feed are new with no problems with other radios working on the antennas ?all tones or receive turned off. ?Thanks. Mark
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Re: UV-5R: Charge and Use at Same Time?
> A Lion charger will start charging at a defined current, then when the battery voltage reaches a certain level, it will charge in pulse cycles, adding charge, then observing the voltage. ?When the voltage reaches the correct level, it stops charging altogether.
Bill
Welllll... This may best meet the rule, Read the whole danged manual." But a radio tech for any business or agency ought to go a step further and absolutely confirm charging details.
An exception is my phone.
It checks battery levels before charging. It can charge at at least 3 voltages and varying currents.
With FLA, (flooded lead acid) you can see charging current drop of with an old school charger as the battery fills and "resists" input. When low, my charger offers almost 10v and almost 2A,.if my oh is off or on standby. If I attempt to use my ph, I accomodates me but V drops to 5 & change, and current to ~0.9 then smoothly drops diwn, 0.5> 0.017A etc & to 0.000. Current drops at it nears full.
So any absolute charging rule, as technology advances, is a risk. Manual are detail-poor as ~"noone really reads them or cares."
I do have a few pics of charging rate graphs I can dig up, soon, I think.
I got a cute (useful for anal-nerds,) toy from OReilly's Auto for $10 to montior a ph charger's output. They seem to have quit selling them but are on the 'net for $7-8. Big pretty blue and red LED readouts. Reading the dropping A, you know your ph is filling well or about full.
For the same price there's one with smaller text which also tells each ma and accumulates a total. You can see if your battery is still virile or getting tired. (Used sales generally attest to "at least 80% capacity.")
I use the simple on in my car w big bright letters and the detailed unit at home. Great gifts! Plug them into your USB charger and your cord into it, thus, no matter if your ph is USBC or iPh, et al.
Baofeng is a portable, so I'll mention my phf is? DooGee S96Pro.
Protection Grade:?IP68 / IP69K/ MTL-810G, waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, high & low temperature resistance.
IOW, heavy w a BIG battery, seriously ruggedized, video 15 ft down, B&W nite vision camera. Good for outdoor types. It's not 100% ideal software but neither is a $500 ph that fails after it's 3rd splashdown. Has a spot for a wrist lanyard, incl. Joke is, to avoid black eyes when reading in bed. I think it's so you don't drop?it so it doesn't exceed 15 ft when swimming in a lake, but it could also be for use as a weapon.
$199-350. 2 types, so match your PSP, (carrier.) I use Metro/TMobile, (NON-CDMA.) Was Spanish - became Chinese. Cord chg or wireless. Wireless chgr not incl, but a fast chgr is.
Good info on amazon, but price spread is huge. Be neat if OtterBox made a waterproof cover for the Bao's. This ph got a cheap clear cover as one is NOT really needed.
Mmm, it seems.my batyery charging rate graphs were in my costly ph. Too bad. Note also, Lithium batyeries are changing, va doping with Fe, for example. Voltage and overcharge forgiveness changes, as can charge and discharge rates... so an old lower V charger may nearly fill a new battery, but visa versa could cause a fire. Just a vague rule of thumb upon which you must not rely. Check, and re-confirm IF & before jury rigging a charger.
BillSF9c
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Re: UV-5R: Charge and Use at Same Time?
Bill, Thanks for the more detailed explanation. ?I’m used to having to “dumb things down” for the non-radio folks at work. Even then I get the glazed stares, so I quit explaining and just emphasize the fact that their radios most likely won’t work because they aren’t being charged.?
Thanks!
Rod KC7CJO
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On Oct 10, 2021, at 14:20, Bill Storey via groups.io <WTStorey@...> wrote:
? The other piece of this puzzle is that LiION batteries require a very specific charging cycle. ?Trickle charging after they are full may result in metallic Lithium, which becomes an explosion hazard. ?If you run the radio while it is charging, the charging circuit is unable to observe the condition of just the battery. ?Essentially the radio drain makes the battery look under charged, which will cause the charger to overcharge the battery, risking the hazard listed above.
A Lion charger will start charging at a defined current, then when the battery voltage reaches a certain level, it will charge in pulse cycles, adding charge, then observing the voltage. ?When the voltage reaches the correct level, it stops charging altogether.
As pointed out by others, using the battery while charging it can be a life safety issue, due to a hazardous battery condition, if not due to inadequate charge.
Bill Sent from my shoe phone’s big brother . ?Please excuse auto connections caused by typhoons.??
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Re: UV-5R: Charge and Use at Same Time?
The other piece of this puzzle is that LiION batteries require a very specific charging cycle. ?Trickle charging after they are full may result in metallic Lithium, which becomes an explosion hazard. ?If you run the radio while it is charging, the charging circuit is unable to observe the condition of just the battery. ?Essentially the radio drain makes the battery look under charged, which will cause the charger to overcharge the battery, risking the hazard listed above.
A Lion charger will start charging at a defined current, then when the battery voltage reaches a certain level, it will charge in pulse cycles, adding charge, then observing the voltage. ?When the voltage reaches the correct level, it stops charging altogether.
As pointed out by others, using the battery while charging it can be a life safety issue, due to a hazardous battery condition, if not due to inadequate charge.
Bill Sent from my shoe phone’s big brother . ?Please excuse auto connections caused by typhoons.??
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Re: UV-5R: Charge and Use at Same Time?
Thanks for the clarification. I just ordered the Baofeng BL-5 Battery Eliminator from Amazon Smile, so I can safely use my HT on automobile power.
David
On Sunday, October 10, 2021, 10:11:17 AM EDT, Rodney kraft via groups.io <kc7cjo@...> wrote:
I’m the Radii Tech for Clackamas County, Oregon and every radio manufacturer says the same thing! And here’s why:
The chargers are, by design, made to trickle charge the the batteries. This keeps the batteries from overheating when charging, thus prolonging their life span.?
The chargers are designed to only produce a small current level to do this and thus stop charging if this level is exceeded.?
I keep telling our folks in the court house, and every other County agency with portable radios, who use their radios to communicate emergency situations, should they arise, between the Sheriff personnel and all the Courthouse personnel.?
They tell me that they won’t remember to turn OFF the radio when on the charger or to remove the radio from the charger when the radio is ON!
I tell them that they “CAN” leave it in to listen to the radio, BUT the radio will NOT work if they NEED to use it because it does NOT charge while it‘s in the charger!
It’s a “LIFE SAFETY” issue; ?“ YOUR CHOICE”!!
But they still do it!
So to directly answer your question: ?YES, the manual is correct! ?Do NOT try to operate your radio while is connected to a charger! ?It won’t charge the radio AND it could damage your charging device as well!
HOWEVER, ?they do make a “Battery Eliminator” which allows you to use your portable radio in a mobile configuration and they work great!
73’蝉! Rod KC7CJO?
On Oct 10, 2021, at 04:43, David AD4TJ via groups.io <ad4tj@...> wrote:
? ? The manual says don't charge the radio and use it at the same time. Is that really true? What is anyone's experience with this? I ran the radio with APRS and charging it at the same time yesterday and did not notice anything detrimental to its operation.Thanks in advance.
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Re: UV-5R: Charge and Use at Same Time?
They might be referring to transmitting which would take more current than the battery charger could supply.
I have a Baofeng DM1801 and a Anytone 878 and I leave them on the charger while listening no problem.
In both cases they do reach full charge just might take a little longer.?? It will charger faster with the radio
off.
Ken
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Re: UV-5R: Charge and Use at Same Time?
I’m the Radii Tech for Clackamas County, Oregon and every radio manufacturer says the same thing! And here’s why:
The chargers are, by design, made to trickle charge the the batteries. This keeps the batteries from overheating when charging, thus prolonging their life span.?
The chargers are designed to only produce a small current level to do this and thus stop charging if this level is exceeded.?
I keep telling our folks in the court house, and every other County agency with portable radios, who use their radios to communicate emergency situations, should they arise, between the Sheriff personnel and all the Courthouse personnel.?
They tell me that they won’t remember to turn OFF the radio when on the charger or to remove the radio from the charger when the radio is ON!
I tell them that they “CAN” leave it in to listen to the radio, BUT the radio will NOT work if they NEED to use it because it does NOT charge while it‘s in the charger!
It’s a “LIFE SAFETY” issue; ?“ YOUR CHOICE”!!
But they still do it!
So to directly answer your question: ?YES, the manual is correct! ?Do NOT try to operate your radio while is connected to a charger! ?It won’t charge the radio AND it could damage your charging device as well!
HOWEVER, ?they do make a “Battery Eliminator” which allows you to use your portable radio in a mobile configuration and they work great!
73’蝉! Rod KC7CJO?
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On Oct 10, 2021, at 04:43, David AD4TJ via groups.io <ad4tj@...> wrote:
? ? The manual says don't charge the radio and use it at the same time. Is that really true? What is anyone's experience with this? I ran the radio with APRS and charging it at the same time yesterday and did not notice anything detrimental to its operation.Thanks in advance.
David AD4TJ
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UV-5R: Charge and Use at Same Time?
? The manual says don't charge the radio and use it at the same time. Is that really true? What is anyone's experience with this? I ran the radio with APRS and charging it at the same time yesterday and did not notice anything detrimental to its operation.Thanks in advance.
David AD4TJ
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Baofeng UV-5R and APRSdroid Settings
? Just started dabbling in APRS. Have the UV-5R, the APRS-K2 cable that hooks up to my LG smartphone, downloaded and installed the APRSdroid software, obtained the APRS-IS passcode and put that into the program. Finally seems that I have everything working. The volume on the radio is set to about 50% and looks like it decodes well. VOX is set at 8. I'm fuzzy on the APRSdroid settings; not real clear what needs to be set to what. I'm wanting to use this in my vehicle next weekend. Will set at high power, running into a 5/8 wave mag mount. Any thoughts/recommendations are appreciated!
David AD4TJ VA FM08me
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Re: Improve, Upgrade, Repair the Charger for Baofeng Handhelds
Doug . . . On Sat, 11 Sep 2021 23:48:22 +0000, "Doug J" <vk2xlj@...> wrote: I thought it was OK if you state that it isn't you own article and provide the source, which I did. The problem is that you quoted more than a paragraph. I forget the word limit, but in college I think we went with 100 words or less to be quoted. You did provide the source but quoted way too much. Once I wanted to post an entire booklet about toroids. It looked like it was as much an advertisement as a reference work. I contacted the company and they told me I couldn't get permission to post it, so I didn't. I know there are groups here that have entire articles posted but if there are any complaints, Mark (the groups.io owner) won't tolerate copyright infringements and if they're reported, the group could be gone in a few minutes. We don't moderate attachments like that but if it became common, we might have to moderate any posts with attachments (yours was an inline attachment, not a separate file). I know you didn't intend to violate copyright, but we have to be careful. Back when it was Yahoo Groups, I didn't even think about it, but in the group manager's forum it's been discussed and also how intolerant Mark is about this sort of thing if it's reported to him. As far as I know he doesn't even ask to remove the information. A short quote and a link would be appropriate though. One picture perhaps from the article if it's needed. I used to think if it was for noncommercial use it was OK but apparently not. There are things I will send to someone that I wouldn't post because of those restrictions. Donald ---------------------------------------------------- Some ham radio groups you may be interested in: /g/ICOM /g/Ham-Antennas/g/HamRadioHelp /g/Baofeng/g/CHIRP
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Re: Improve, Upgrade, Repair the Charger for Baofeng Handhelds
Hello Donald,
I thought it was OK if you state that it isn't you own article and provide the source, which I did.
But fair enough, I now know for next time and I am not offended that you took it down because you emailed me and explained why.
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One other thing I should mention is that a short quote (like one
paragraph) with attribution is considered OK. Possibly a picture also.
However, you can summarize the article in your own words and provide a
link to the original article.
Donald KX8K
----------------------------------------------------
Some ham radio groups you may be interested in:
/g/ICOM??
/g/Ham-Antennas
/g/HamRadioHelp???
/g/Baofeng
/g/CHIRP?
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Re: Improve, Upgrade, Repair the Charger for Baofeng Handhelds
One other thing I should mention is that a short quote (like one paragraph) with attribution is considered OK. Possibly a picture also. However, you can summarize the article in your own words and provide a link to the original article. Donald KX8K ---------------------------------------------------- Some ham radio groups you may be interested in: /g/ICOM /g/Ham-Antennas/g/HamRadioHelp /g/Baofeng/g/CHIRP
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Doug J
Milt / KJ7PPX