Baofeng UV-5R How-to

Handy reminders of menu/functionality of Baofeng UV-5R.

I have a couple of Baoeng UV-5R’s kicking around - one in the house and one in the car. They are radios I can use when I need to punch in a frequency on the fly, as my other radios are programmed and do not allow entering in frequencies manually. Often I use them to listen to various frequencies when not “in the shack”, usually to gain situational awareness. Because they are not a daily driver, I often find myself forgetting how to perform certain functions. Given I turn to these cheap radios for scanning-type capabilities, I thought it would be beneficial to document some of the features in an easy to find summary. This is my Baofeng cheat-sheet, and does not cover all functions or capabilities of the radio - they are settings that I like and find useful for my use-case.

• VFO/MR to switch between Frequency (VFO) mode and Channel (MR) mode. Frequency mode allows manual entry of frequencies to RX/TX on, and Channel mode refers to pre-programmed frequencies (such as for repearers - 128 memmory channels)
• CALL button (short press) switches to FM mode. CALL button (long press) activates alarm function.
• When in FM mode, BAND switches between 65-75MHz and 76-108MHz bands.
• Long press of 0SQL button displays battery voltage information
• Short press of # button will toggle between high and low power (low power indicated by L on the display). Long press locks and unlocks the keypad.

Some of my favourite settings:

• Turn off voice prompt when switching on radio:

  1. MENU
  2. 14 (VOICE)
  3. MENU
  4. OFF
  5. MENU
  6. EXIT

• Turn off backlight colours (to conserve battery):

  1. MENU
  2. 29 (WT-LED)
  3. MENU
  4. OFF
  5. MENU
  6. 30 (RX-LED)
  7. MENU
  8. OFF
  9. MENU
  10. 31 (TX-LED)
  11. MENU
  12. OFF
  13. MENU
  14. EXIT

Programming a channel

To save frequencies in memory, you must be in Frequency (VFO) mode.

Simplex - if the RX and TX frequencies are the same:

1. Ensure in Frequency (VFO) mode
2. Enter RX Frequency in slot A
3. MENU
4. 27 (MEM-CH)
5. MENU
6. Select a blank channel number by scrolling up/down. Used channels are indicated CH-XXX (e.g. CH-001) and vacant channels are dispayed numbers only
7. MENU
8. EXIT

Duplex - if RX and TX are offset:

If there is a CTCSS tone that needs to be applied to the TX Frequency, the tone needs to be set before programming the frequencies:

1. Ensure in Frequency (VFO) mode
2. MENU
3. 13 (T-CTCS)
4. MENU
5. Scroll up/down until you find the required tone
6. MENU
7. EXIT

1. Ensure in Frequency (VFO) mode
2. Enter RX Frequency in slot A
3. A/B (to slot B)
4. Enter TX Frequency in slot B
5. A/B (back to slot A)
6. MENU
7. 27 (MEM-CH)
8. MENU
9. Select a blank channel number by scrolling up/down. Used channels are indicated CH-XXX (e.g. CH-001) and vacant channels are dispayed numbers only
10. MENU
11. EXIT
12. A/B (to slot B). MENU
13. 27 (MEM-CH)
14. MENU
15. Select the same channel number as above (note that now it will display as CH-XXX)
16. MENU
17. EXIT

Scanning

You can scan in both Frequency and Channel modes.

• In Frequency mode long press *SCN - radio will start scanning up according to the set frequency step
• In Channel mode long press *SCN - radio will start scanning through programmed RX frquencies. Press up or down to change direction.

Dual-watch

There is also “dual watch operation”, which is a way to scan two frequncies in Frequency (VFO) mode:

1. Ensure in Frequency (VFO) mode
2. Enter first RX Frequency in slot A
3. A/B (to slot B)
4. Enter second RX Frequency in slot B
5. MENU
6. 7 (TDR)
7. MENU
8. ON
9. MENU
10. EXIT

Regarding transmitting while dual-watch is activated, there are three options:

1. OFF where transmitting is based on the selection using A/B
2. A where transmission will be frequency in slot A
3. B where transmission will be frequency in slot B

To adjust this fuction:

1. MENU
2. 34 (TDR-AB)
3. MENU
4. Choose OFF / A / B
5. MENU
6. EXIT