Baofeng UV-5R

Baofeng UV-5R Notes

It is not known how much of this information applies to other firmware versions, model numbers or clones from other manufacturers.

Test Unit

• Baofeng UV-5R
• Firmware BFS311 130903N
• S/N US201311****
• S/N may also be a date code. Unit was purchased in 11/2013 and may have been manufactured the same month.

Preloaded Factory Test Frequencies

 Channel Freq Tone
  1  452.125  69.3
  2  453.225  91.5
  3  454.325  136.5
  4  455.425  151.4
  5  456.525  192.8
  6  457.625  241.8
  7  458.725  025N
  8  459.825  134N
  9  461.925  274N
 10  462.225  346N
 11  463.325  503N
 12  464.425  073R
 13  465.525  703R
 14  402.225
 15  437.425
 16  479.975
 17  138.550
 18  157.650
 19  172.750
 20  438.500
 21  155.700
 VFO A  155.500
 VFO B  136.000
 FM  100.7

DTMF

• On firmware version BFS311, and possibly others, it is not possible to send a DTMF "D" tone. Pressing the [EXIT] key sends "0" instead of "D".
• The internal microphone is hot when DTMF/1750 burst tones are transmitted.
• Pressing keypad keys while transmitting does not mute the mic. The mic can pick up the sidetone from the speaker and overdrive or distort the transmitted tones.
• Set Menu 16 DTMFST to OFF to keep the sidetone from interfering with transmitted tones.

Roger Beep

• 1st tone 1123 Hz 136 mS
• 2nd tone 865 Hz 202 mS
• No delay before tones are sent. No space between tones.

Receiver

• Receiver makes light crackling sounds while moving, even when receiving extremely strong signals from a few feet away. It appears to be some type of SDR artifact.
• Occasionally squlech opens and weak buzzing noises can be heard. May be SDR artifact or microprocessor noise.

Scanning

• Scanning stops on any signal or noise even in CTCSS/DCS decode mode.
• Scan speed ~3.37 channels per second. (Takes 29.6 seconds to scan 100 channels)
• Scan delay time CO mode ~6 seconds.
• Scan resume time TO mode ~6 seconds.

Squelch

• Setting Menu 0 SQL to 0 opens the squelch, settings 1-9 appear to be the same fixed level.

Squelch Tail Elimination (STE)

• When Menu 35 STE is ON, the radio sends a 55 Hz tone for ~280 mS when the PTT key is released. This occurs even if no CTCSS encode tone is selected (Menu 13 T-CTCS is OFF). Setting Menu 35 STE to OFF disables this.
• When CDCSS (DCS) encode is enabled, the radio sends the standard CDCSS turnoff code (134.4 Hz tone) for ~280 mS when PTT is released. Setting Menu 35 STE to OFF disables this.
• The microphone remains hot while the STE 55 Hz tone or CDCSS 134.4 Hz turnoff code are being sent.
• In decode mode if a signal with CTCSS or DCS is received and the tone is dropped, the squelch remains open for ~2 S.
• Menu 36 RP-STE and Menu 37 RPT-RL appear to have no function at all in any combination or with Menu 35 STE ON or OFF.
• Upon receiving a 55 Hz tone the the receive audio is muted, even when there is no receive CTCSS tone selected (CSQ) and regardless of Menu 35 STE, Menu 36 RP-STE, and Menu 37 RPT-RL settings. The receiver remains muted for ~750 mS after the carrier or 55 Hz tone drops.

Repeater STE

• Menu 36 RP-STE and Menu 37 RPT-RL do not appear to have any function at all.

UV-5R Stock Dual Band Helical Antenna

• Labeled 136-174, 400-520 MHz
• Base is grounded.
• Tap point 11 turns up from base. Has unknown value capacitor at tap point.
• Top section 19 turns from tap point to end of coil has wider spacing.
• Youtube video of antenna dissassembly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtnDvWGTKpk

Return to wiki page: Budget and Entry Level Transceivers