Post by Jeff - jthspace on Aug 7, 2021 12:42:08 GMT
I posted an article HERE about PMR radios, in particular BAOFENG PMR, as they are cheap and very good.
Here is how I set up the first 5 radios that have been purchased by MXFivers for their own and club use.
You will need:
CHIRP radio programming software - Free, a quick search of the web will find it for you and you can download the flavour you need (Windows, Mac, Linux etc.)
Programming Lead for your particular radio (Amazon or eBay are your friends, under a tenner)
A List of the Channel Settings for the radio so that you are set to the same standards as everyone else.
The article linked above gives the channel settings, but, basically, they are:
Channels 1 to 16 - UK PMR frequencies with Tone control - only other radios set identically can hear/speak to you
Channels 71 - 86 - EUR PMR frequencies for use when touring Europe
Channels 101 - 116 - UK PMR frequencies "open" to everyone with similar equipment.
Now, on with the overview / explanation
Picture of what is in the box when it is opened.
You can see the radio, the base charger and USB charge lead, the belt clip, a wrist strap and an earpiece (uncomfortable!)
The frequencies that the radio comes with as standard - NOT recommended as outside licenced frequency bands and may interfere with Emergency Services etc who operate in nearby frequencies.
Before you ask "why sell on illegal frequencies?" - you can by an electric scooter at Halfords, they are illegal to use on public roads, but they are not illegal to sell, only to use. Same with CB back in the day . . . .
This is the CHIRP SOFTWARE and the PROGRAMMING LEAD that you will need to configure the radio
First of all, using the CHIRP software, you have to grab the existing settings from the radio - radio settings are not interchangeable, so for example, if you have a UV5R radio, you cannot upload a UV10R set of frequencies. Hidden in the download are firmware settings.
Once the settings for all of the UK and European licenced frequencies are copied across to the settings in CHIRP, the settings can be uploaded to the radio - NOTE that even though these are UV10R radios, they are so new that the database does not include it. However, the UV10R is an updated BF-F8HP so that worked out OK.
BTW, you can use the keypad to manually add and configure each channel without the software, but you will be doing it for hours . . .
The manual is a bit like a chocolate teapot, useful for basic operation and extra somethings, but overall . . . .!!!!!!
4 of the radios will be mailed to their new Owners on Monday and I am keeping the 5th one - I was so impressed; I will be putting my UV9R radios up for sale at some stage; they are configured differently as they are on PMR as well as 2 metre and 70cm amature bands so need "wiping" and reconfiguring.
Hope you found this interesting.
If anyone wants me to configure their radios for them, if you PM me for my address and send them to me, I will configure them and post back "at cost". If you feel like "tipping" for the service, buy a Coffee from the Donate section for club funds.
Here is how I set up the first 5 radios that have been purchased by MXFivers for their own and club use.
You will need:
CHIRP radio programming software - Free, a quick search of the web will find it for you and you can download the flavour you need (Windows, Mac, Linux etc.)
Programming Lead for your particular radio (Amazon or eBay are your friends, under a tenner)
A List of the Channel Settings for the radio so that you are set to the same standards as everyone else.
The article linked above gives the channel settings, but, basically, they are:
Channels 1 to 16 - UK PMR frequencies with Tone control - only other radios set identically can hear/speak to you
Channels 71 - 86 - EUR PMR frequencies for use when touring Europe
Channels 101 - 116 - UK PMR frequencies "open" to everyone with similar equipment.
Now, on with the overview / explanation
Picture of what is in the box when it is opened.
You can see the radio, the base charger and USB charge lead, the belt clip, a wrist strap and an earpiece (uncomfortable!)
The frequencies that the radio comes with as standard - NOT recommended as outside licenced frequency bands and may interfere with Emergency Services etc who operate in nearby frequencies.
Before you ask "why sell on illegal frequencies?" - you can by an electric scooter at Halfords, they are illegal to use on public roads, but they are not illegal to sell, only to use. Same with CB back in the day . . . .
This is the CHIRP SOFTWARE and the PROGRAMMING LEAD that you will need to configure the radio
First of all, using the CHIRP software, you have to grab the existing settings from the radio - radio settings are not interchangeable, so for example, if you have a UV5R radio, you cannot upload a UV10R set of frequencies. Hidden in the download are firmware settings.
Once the settings for all of the UK and European licenced frequencies are copied across to the settings in CHIRP, the settings can be uploaded to the radio - NOTE that even though these are UV10R radios, they are so new that the database does not include it. However, the UV10R is an updated BF-F8HP so that worked out OK.
BTW, you can use the keypad to manually add and configure each channel without the software, but you will be doing it for hours . . .
The manual is a bit like a chocolate teapot, useful for basic operation and extra somethings, but overall . . . .!!!!!!
4 of the radios will be mailed to their new Owners on Monday and I am keeping the 5th one - I was so impressed; I will be putting my UV9R radios up for sale at some stage; they are configured differently as they are on PMR as well as 2 metre and 70cm amature bands so need "wiping" and reconfiguring.
Hope you found this interesting.
If anyone wants me to configure their radios for them, if you PM me for my address and send them to me, I will configure them and post back "at cost". If you feel like "tipping" for the service, buy a Coffee from the Donate section for club funds.
