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Baofeng UV-5XP


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Got my new toys in the mail, a 2 pack with extended battery. Any tips, tricks, suggestions? Not a HAM... but got these for more than just fancy walkie talkies? My understanding is they can be used to monitor emergency services frequencies in addition to many other uses?

Thanks.

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I Have been doing a lot of research on HAM radio as of late. I’m going to be getting my license in the not too distant future. 
 

Get a programming cable and download the Chirp software(free) so you can program your units. Find out what channels the local emergency services use, assuming they aren’t already on digital trunk systems, and program those in if you want to listen to them. Also find out what channels the civilian emergency folks in the area use so you can utilize them in case of dire emergency. 
 

Regardless of how you program them, even if you program them for FRS or MURS channels, it is illegal for you to hit the transmit button without a license. They transmit at a power level you are required to have a license to operate. 

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Frequency listing... https://www.radioreference.com/

As stated, you can't pick up trunked radio, which most public safety systems are. Theres apps for listening to trunked radio or you can use the internet. 

To really do much more than listen to NOAA, you need a license. One of the kids in my son's scout pack and his dad got radios and licenses. They chat periodically, though the only plus over a phone is not requiring cell service. 

Edited by peejman
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I too have a UV-5R and a ham license. The UV-5R is excellent. Talked my dad into one and several coworkers during the early days of covid-19. 

I'd use it more if I was close enough to a repeater. 

Edited to add: For those interested in getting a license you can study all of the most recent questions here: https://hamexam.org/ 

Edited by crake
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On 9/16/2020 at 12:43 PM, Chucktshoes said:

I Have been doing a lot of research on HAM radio as of late. I’m going to be getting my license in the not too distant future. 
 

Get a programming cable and download the Chirp software(free) so you can program your units. Find out what channels the local emergency services use, assuming they aren’t already on digital trunk systems, and program those in if you want to listen to them. Also find out what channels the civilian emergency folks in the area use so you can utilize them in case of dire emergency. 
 

Regardless of how you program them, even if you program them for FRS or MURS channels, it is illegal for you to hit the transmit button without a license. They transmit at a power level you are required to have a license to operate. 

There are several amateur radio clubs in the area which provide classes and exam sessions.  

AK4SZ

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I took my exam last weekend so it will be about another 1-2 weeks before I get my call sign.   I got a Baofeng BF-F8HP a couple of weeks and have gotten a few accessories/upgrades so far.       Thankfully I live pretty close to a good repeater.   Looking to join the Nashville ARC club since they're the ones I been listening to the most.   

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20 hours ago, Trekbike said:

I took my exam last weekend so it will be about another 1-2 weeks before I get my call sign.   I got a Baofeng BF-F8HP a couple of weeks and have gotten a few accessories/upgrades so far.       Thankfully I live pretty close to a good repeater.   Looking to join the Nashville ARC club since they're the ones I been listening to the most.   

Must be a slow exam group, the local one here that I am a member of does ours on Saturday mornings (or at least we did before Covid) and most people had theirs in the system by Tuesday.

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4 hours ago, Tobashadow said:

Must be a slow exam group, the local one here that I am a member of does ours on Saturday mornings (or at least we did before Covid) and most people had theirs in the system by Tuesday.

Depends on if they enter electronically or mail the results in. Ours does electronically and I tested on a Saturday and had callsign by 930am Monday morning. If mailed takes approximately 2 weeks but they say give it 21 days. 

AE4GW

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On 9/20/2020 at 1:16 PM, Trekbike said:

I took my exam last weekend so it will be about another 1-2 weeks before I get my call sign.   I got a Baofeng BF-F8HP a couple of weeks and have gotten a few accessories/upgrades so far.       Thankfully I live pretty close to a good repeater.   Looking to join the Nashville ARC club since they're the ones I been listening to the most.   

How hard wasthe test?

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5 hours ago, TripleGGG said:

Depends on if they enter electronically or mail the results in. Ours does electronically and I tested on a Saturday and had callsign by 930am Monday morning. If mailed takes approximately 2 weeks but they say give it 21 days. 

AE4GW

I took it down in Murfreesboro with the Stones River club since it was the closest one to Nashville at the time.    I don't remember how they said they submit.    They did said it would be at least the Tuesday after the test for them to submit.    Checked again just now and nothing is showing up yet.   

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Ive been interested in Ham for many years.  I have an older grundig Satelite 700 multiwave radio that picks up most everything, ham and shortwave included.  I keep putting off the license.  I used to be afraid of learning code but i dont think thats required anymore so Im not sure why i still procrastinate.  I need to get on this.

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I've been meaning to experiment with setting up two UV-5Rs as a repeater and lofting it with a drone, but flight times would be extremely limited (~10m) unless some sort of tethering system can be devised.  The commercial tethering solutions are silly expensive.

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 9/20/2020 at 1:16 PM, Trekbike said:

I took my exam last weekend so it will be about another 1-2 weeks before I get my call sign.   I got a Baofeng BF-F8HP a couple of weeks and have gotten a few accessories/upgrades so far.       Thankfully I live pretty close to a good repeater.   Looking to join the Nashville ARC club since they're the ones I been listening to the most.   

Congrats on passing Technician test.  Hope to hear you on HF in the future.

AK4SZ

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