On 06-April-2012 I decided to order a Baofeng UV-5R from 409Shop. After all the fuzz around the UV-3R including its spectral purity issues, and the reported improvements for the UV-5R I really had a desire to have the experience myself to see how good these cheap HTs are. This is the first time I ordered something from this shop which is based in Hongkong, but based on what is said about this site on zendamateur.com and the limited amount of money involved, I decided to take the risk to order this relatively cheap dual band HT.
On 12-April-2012 I received an email, including a tracking number for the Hongkong Postoffice confirming that the shipment was on its way. The small delay was probably due to my ordering just before Easter. Around the same time my Paypal payment was taken from my credit card. For a total of USD 79 (EUR 62), the UV-5R including an extra battery and a programming cable were on their way. Guess what, I am curious how long it will take to be delivered to my home address in Geldrop.
The confirmation mail received gives a tracking number and a link to the Hong Kong Postoffice. At the moment this website shows the following for my tracking number.
Based on the reviews from PD0AC my expectations are relatively high. In case you got interested, have a look at these blogs (part one and two ) by Hans.
On April 27 a package got delivered, nicely wrapped an clearly shipped from Hong-Kong. To give you an impression of what you get if you never ordered something from this internet shop, I've taken some pictures. On the other hand you get to keep in mind that results from the past... don't give any guarantees for the future...
After removing the wrapping, the shipment is nicely put together in a solid box, that didn't show any damage.
Inside the box, parts are nicely put in packaging materials which obviously have taken care of its contents during its journey.
After removing all packaging materials, this is what is left. In my case I have ordered the UV5R, including an extra battery and a USB programming cable.
In case you wonder about the size of the HT, here's two pieces of art together. If you like the piece of art on the left, have a look at Sjer Jacobs.
At this point it is time to share some experiences about the use of the UV5R. The initial experiences are:
Knobs and Controls
| Function | Function | ||
| 1 | Antenna | 10 | Buckle for strap |
| 2 | Flashlight (LED) | 11 | Speaker/mic connectors |
| 3 | Volume + on/off | 12 | A/B switch |
| 4 | Display | 13 | Band switch |
| 5 | Call: FM-radio + alarm | 14 | Keypad |
| 6 | Moni: Monitor + flashlight | 15 | Speaker + Mic |
| 7 | PTT | 16 | Battery pack |
| 8 | VFO/MR (freq/channel mode) | 17 | Battery charging contacts |
| 9 | Send/Receive LED | 18 | Battery latch |
After playing with this radio for some time, you will find some functions rather intuitive, while other features are hard to find out about without some description. For myself, there's no comparison to other handheld radios as this is the first Ham HT that I own.
The VFO/MR button (8) switches the mode of operation of the radio between VFO and Memory Channel mode. In VFO mode, one can enter frequencies directly on the radios keypad or use the up and down to increase or decrease the frequency. In Memory Channel mode you can switch through the programmed channels using the up and down keys or alternatively one can enter the channel number on the keypad. Unfortunately channel numbers have to be entered as a 3 digit number.
The A/B key (12) let you switch between the two frequencies on the display. This works in both VFO as well as Memory Channel mode.
The Band key (13) lets you switch between VHF and UHF, but this only works in the VFO mode. Each channel can contain a single frequency and some settings and this information includes the used band. So the Band key doesn't work in Memory Channel mode.
Programming memory channels
Programming memory channels into the UV-5R is obviously not obvious. Even the 409shop has a link on its home page pointing to more detailed instructions. The manual is useless in this area. On YouTube you will find some videos describing how to program memory channels. Here's a textual explanation that appears to work, based on the text from the 409Shop. Before going through this procedure, it helps to realise that:
First make sure the channel you want to program (0-127) is clear, e.g. not programmed. Note that you can always go back up in the menu structure using the exit key on the keypad. Deleting channels can be done through the following steps:
Once you are sure that a memory channel is not in use, you can start programming the channel. Here is another set of steps for programming memory channels:
Programming the radio using the USB serial cable and several pieces of software, including the Baofeng software and Chirp have been unsuccessful so far on several laptops. Remarkable detail: all these laptops were Dell Latitude of different ages (610, 630, 6300) running Windows XP and Vista. This leaves room for possible causes around:
Using the radio is good fun. On a business trip to South Africa, I used this radio to connect on 70cm to the ZS6STN repeater in Bryanston, setting up an IRLP link with PI2EHV in Eindhoven. It worked without a glitch. Well... The only thing I figured was that you shouldn't have CTSCC configured for the frequency in use on the remote node. But I can't blame the radio for that.
NOV 2012: It took me a while to find out that the UV5R programming cable used normally has both a 3.5mm as well as a 2.5mm connector which is combined. If you take a careful look at the pictures above, you'll see that my cable only has a 3.5mm connector. It seems as if I was accidentally shipped a programming cable for an UV3R. A quick email exchange with 409shop has confirmed this thought, and they are currently shipping me a new cable, free of charge.
DEC 2012: The new programming cable has arrived. I'm now using chirp to program the radio. Some hints and tips that were handy came from John K3NXU.
Here's the list of frequencies that I've programmed for The Netherlands, based on information available from the Veron Repeater list
Location,Name,Frequency,Duplex,Offset,Tone,rToneFreq,cToneFreq,DtcsCode,DtcsPolarity,Mode,TStep,Skip,Comment,URCALL,RPT1CALL,RPT2CALL
0,PI3EHV,145.700000,-,0.600000,Tone,71.9,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
1,PI2EHV,430.100000,+,1.600000,Tone,71.9,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
2,TUE 2M,145.325000,,0.000000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
3,JOTA,145.500000,,0.000000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
4,PI3ALK,145.600000,-,0.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
5,PI3TWE,145.600000,-,0.600000,Tone,67.0,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
6,PI3ZVL,145.600000,-,0.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
7,PI3SRT,145.600000,-,0.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
8,PI8EHV,438.625000,+,1.600000,Tone,71.9,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
9,145.575,145.575000,,0.000000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
10,145.425,145.425000,,0.000000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
11,144.775,144.775000,,0.000000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
12,PI3APM,145.612500,-,0.600000,Tone,82.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
13,PI3RTD,145.612500,-,0.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
14,PI3ZOD,145.625000,-,0.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
15,PI3ASD,145.637500,-,0.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
16,PI3FRL,145.637500,-,0.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
17,PI3ZUT,145.637500,-,0.600000,Tone,77.0,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
18,PI3BRD,145.650000,-,0.600000,Tone,71.9,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
19,PI3MEP,145.650000,-,0.600000,Tone,82.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
20,PI3ZDM,145.662500,-,0.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
21,PI3NOV,145.675000,-,0.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
22,PI3VHP,145.687500,-,0.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
23,PI3BOZ,145.687500,-,0.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
24,PI3DTC,145.687500,-,0.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
25,PI3EHV,145.700000,-,0.600000,Tone,71.9,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
26,PI3HVN,145.700000,-,0.600000,Tone,82.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
27,PI3ZAZ,145.712500,-,0.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
28,PI3APD,145.725000,-,0.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
29,PI3GOE,145.725000,-,0.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
30,PI3ZLB,145.725000,-,0.600000,Tone,71.9,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
31,PI3WAD,145.725000,-,0.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
32,PI3FLD,145.737500,-,0.600000,Tone,77.0,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
33,PI3GRN,145.750000,-,0.600000,Tone,82.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
34,PI3RAZ,145.750000,-,0.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
35,PI3NYM,145.750000,-,0.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
36,PI3HLM,145.775000,-,0.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
37,PI3AMF,145.787500,-,0.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
38,PI3VLI,145.787500,-,0.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
39,PI2EHV,430.025000,+,1.600000,Tone,82.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
40,PI2HVH,430.037500,+,1.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
41,PI2UDN,430.037500,+,1.600000,Tone,71.9,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
42,PI2ASN,430.050000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
43,PI2AMF,430.050000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
44,PI2NEN,430.062500,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
45,PI2ALW,430.062500,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
46,PI2ZST,430.075000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
47,PI2VLI,430.075000,+,1.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
48,PI2MEP,430.075000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
49,PI2MST,430.075000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
50,PI2DFT,430.087500,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
51,PI2FRL,430.100000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
52,PI2NOS,430.125000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
53,PI2GRO,430.150000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
54,PI2APD,430.150000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
55,PI2NYM,430.162500,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
56,PI2DEC,430.175000,+,1.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
57,PI2KMP,430.175000,+,1.600000,Tone,77.0,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
58,PI2YDN,430.175000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
59,PI2ASD,430.200000,+,1.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
60,PI2NLB,430.200000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
61,PI2BOZ,430.212500,+,1.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
62,PI2TWR,430.212500,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
63,PI2WAD,430.212500,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
64,PI2TWE,430.225000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
65,PI2HWD,430.225000,+,1.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
66,PI2SHB,430.237500,+,1.600000,Tone,71.9,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
67,PI2RGK,430.250000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
68,PI2YSS,430.250000,+,1.600000,Tone,77.0,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
69,PI2NOV,430.262500,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
70,PI2SWK,430.262500,+,1.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
71,PI2RDH,430.262500,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
72,PI2ANH,430.275000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
73,PI2WSN,430.275000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
74,PI2KAR,430.287500,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
75,PI2FLD,430.287500,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
76,PI2RTD,430.300000,+,1.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
77,PI2ZWL,430.300000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
78,PI2NMG,430.312500,+,1.600000,Tone,77.0,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
79,PI2BRD,430.325000,+,1.600000,Tone,71.9,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
80,PI2DZL,430.325000,+,1.600000,Tone,82.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
81,PI2ZAZ,430.325000,+,1.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
82,PI2HGL,430.350000,+,1.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
83,PI2VNR,430.350000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
84,PI2DEV,430.362500,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
85,PI2RMD,430.362500,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
86,PI2ALK,430.375000,+,1.600000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
87,PI2OSS,430.375000,+,1.600000,Tone,71.9,88.5,023,NN,FM,5.00,,,,,,
More to be written in the future, once I get my head around this new toy.