Baofeng UV-5R as a scanner

[dmg1969]

I know that some people use the Baofeng UV-5R as a scanner. I am considering getting one to monitor 3 VHF and UHF frequencies while I am out of the car. I am aware that it is a transceiver and I would have to disable the TX ability (transmit inhibit) per channel.

Several questions.

1. Is there any additional power or gain in the receive ability over a regular scanner?

2. For programming and monitoring only 3 frequencies, is it worth bothering with the CHIRP software and programming cable? Or do I NEED to in order to get to the transmit inhibit option? Can that been done on the radio itself or no?

I'd like to hear from someone who actually has this radio and is using it as a scanner.

Thanks in advance.

 

[nd5y]

1. If all you need to listen to is 3 or so strong local repeaters it should work OK. The scan speed is about 3 channels per second which is very slow. If you want to listen to weak distant stations it may not be any good. It depends on your location. I'm too close to several FM and TV stations or something that desenses the Baofeng receiver. I can hear NOAA stations 60 miles away on a BCD396T or other radios that the Baofeng UV-5R and UV-82 can't receive at all (swapping the same antenna). The bigger and better the antenna the worse the problem is.

2. Transmit disable and locking out channels from the scan list can only be done with CHIRP or other programming software.

 

[popnokick]

I have a couple of Baofengs (UV-B5) and a Wouxun dual bander... and they make pretty crummy scanners in comparison to a purpose-built scanner like the BC125AT. If you already have a BC125AT I think you'll find it superior for scanning compared to a HT transceiver not only for the reasons cited in the reply from ND5Y, but also:
- Scanners are built to scan quickly, and do. The HT's do not.
- Freqs are easily entered/changed on a handheld scanner. Not always true with the China HTs.
- Getting into / out of Scan mode is easy on a scanner. Not always true with the China HTs.
- No "CloseCall" or similar mode in the China HTs.

 

[N8IAA]

I have a couple of Baofengs (UV-B5) and a Wouxun dual bander... and they make pretty crummy scanners in comparison to a purpose-built scanner like the BC125AT. If you already have a BC125AT I think you'll find it superior for scanning compared to a HT transceiver not only for the reasons cited in the reply from ND5Y, but also:
- Scanners are built to scan quickly, and do. The HT's do not.
- Freqs are easily entered/changed on a handheld scanner. Not always true with the China HTs.
- Getting into / out of Scan mode is easy on a scanner. Not always true with the China HTs.
- No "CloseCall" or similar mode in the China HTs.

+1. My 125 is superior to any of my ham HT's for scanning.
Larry

 

[dmg1969]

Thank you both for your input. I might get one just to play with. It's only $31 for the radio plus another $6 for the programming cable on Amazon. Worst case, I don't like it and I put it on eBay or give it away to someone who can use it for its intended purpose.

 

[ScannerSK]

Thank you both for your input. I might get one just to play with. It's only $31 for the radio plus another $6 for the programming cable on Amazon. Worst case, I don't like it and I put it on eBay or give it away to someone who can use it for its intended purpose.

Compared with a PSR-500 the reception sounds a lot cleaner in the VHF range on my UV-5R using simply the stock antenna. Likely the radio has a much tighter/narrower filter built into it. Maybe they have improved the reception on the UV-5R or newer shipments. One of the reasons I enjoy the UV-5R is for its crisp clean reception which leaves the PSR-500 sounding like everything is full of static even on stations with decent signal strengths.

There really is no true transmit disable. What most people are doing using the CHIRP software is throwing the radio's transmit frequency outside the radio's transmit range so basically when the radio is keyed up it transmits a bunch of white noise over scores of frequencies at much lower power; this can be seen on a spectrum analyzer. Personally, I think this is hard on the radio and could burn out the final. I choose rather to set my radio to a frequency I am licensed to use (ham frequency) just in case it gets bumped and transmits unknowingly.

These radios do scan however as mentioned quite slowly. There is no way to change the scan rate and there is no lockout feature. You cannot select what channels you wish to scan. It scans all memories programmed into the scanner so you would have to limit what is programmed into the radio only to the channels you wish to scan. If you only want to monitor two channels you can select any two channels in the memory to monitor at any given time using the dual watch feature however if you want to monitor more than two stations it has to scan all programmed memories.

Without the software you have to first enter the receive frequency and settings (entered in frequency mode) and transfer them to a memory channel and then go back and enter the transmit frequency and settings (entered in frequency mode) and then transfer them to the same memory channel. Programming is a little more complicated without the software however is doable. There are some helpful PDFs that are much more useful than the manual that comes with the radio. I am fairly certain the CHIRP software is required to throw the transmit frequency outside the radio's transmit range thereby somewhat inhibiting transmission.

Shawn
73s

 

[nd5y]

Compared with a PSR-500 the reception sounds a lot cleaner in the VHF range on my UV-5R using simply the stock antenna. Likely the radio has a much tighter/narrower filter built into it.

They have better audio filtering and lower synthesizer phase noise than a scanner. You can't hear PL tones. At least that's one thing they did right.

There really is no true transmit disable.

Sorry, you're wrong. Setting Duplex to Off in CHIRP disables transmit.

You cannot select what channels you wish to scan. It scans all memories programmed into the scanner so you would have to limit what is programmed into the radio only to the channels you wish to scan.

Wrong again. CHIRP allows you to select which channels are skipped during scan.

 

[ScannerSK]

They have better audio filtering and lower synthesizer phase noise than a scanner. You can't hear PL tones. At least that's one thing they did right.

Sorry, you're wrong. Setting Duplex to Off in CHIRP disables transmit.

Wrong again. CHIRP allows you to select which channels are skipped during scan.

I appreciate the corrections. I never noticed the skip column in CHIRP before. So, I guess the radio can be programmed to scan some of the 128 memories and not others. I don't see the skip feature listed in the menus so likely the CHIRP program is required to program which memories are enabled for scanning and which are not.

Regarding the transmit disable you are correct. I read a note online that to disable transmit a person had to zero out the transmit frequency which in reality does not do the job. Setting the duplex to off does the trick and completely disables the transmit.

It's a good radio. I have considered purchasing another one as a spare.

Shawn
73s

 

[dmg1969]

I ordered the unit yesterday on Amazon and have already downloaded CHIRP and have been playing with it. That coupled with some online research, I figured out about setting the Duplex to Off to inhibit transmit and also how to use the Skip feature in CHIRP to "lock out" frequencies from scanning.

I'm a fan of trying to learn things even before getting the radio.

 

[DJ11DLN]

I ordered the unit yesterday on Amazon and have already downloaded CHIRP and have been playing with it. That coupled with some online research, I figured out about setting the Duplex to Off to inhibit transmit and also how to use the Skip feature in CHIRP to "lock out" frequencies from scanning.

I'm a fan of trying to learn things even before getting the radio.

I have one I bought out of curiosity a couple years ago and I second the concerns of others here. Scan speed is absolutely glacial, but if you're only scanning 6-7 frequencies, it's a do-able solution. I find mine pretty susceptible to intermod but maybe the newer firmware will help this. I've used it for a little rail scanning and it works fairly well for that. Unlike others I find the audio on my Pro-651 and Pro-18 far superior on VHF/UHF, but again that might be a firmware issue.

If you don't need a lot of flexibility when you're mobile with it, it may do the job. But if you find yourself frequently wishing that you could easily add or remove a frequency (without having to have a laptop and CHIRP for that important transmit-inhibit function), you might be better off looking for a used analog scanner. With digital becoming so popular you can often find good used ones for less than you're going to have in your Baofeng and cable.

 

[ScannerSK]

I ordered the unit yesterday on Amazon and have already downloaded CHIRP and have been playing with it. That coupled with some online research, I figured out about setting the Duplex to Off to inhibit transmit and also how to use the Skip feature in CHIRP to "lock out" frequencies from scanning.

I'm a fan of trying to learn things even before getting the radio.

The following PDF is a good reference guide as well: Bofeng UV-5R Manual

Shawn

 

[SCPD]

I know that some people use the Baofeng UV-5R as a scanner. I am considering getting one to monitor 3 VHF and UHF frequencies while I am out of the car. I am aware that it is a transceiver and I would have to disable the TX ability (transmit inhibit) per channel.

Several questions.

1. Is there any additional power or gain in the receive ability over a regular scanner?

2. For programming and monitoring only 3 frequencies, is it worth bothering with the CHIRP software and programming cable? Or do I NEED to in order to get to the transmit inhibit option? Can that been done on the radio itself or no?

I'd like to hear from someone who actually has this radio and is using it as a scanner.

Thanks in advance.

I have one as a collector/ spare use.

I reccomend the usb cable and free chirp software.

there's no way to disable tx. Either removing internal parts which most don't want to is only way to prevent ptt. I suggest and encourage setting the offsets Which Is easier in chirp which is free to download and easy to use if your familiar with radios. Say set your offset to a murs channel so if any ptt occurs accidently it would be in that and not a public safety channel. Or if uhf a frs channel.

Is it better Then a scanner? Sort of it does have what seems better reception on analog conv and better audio speaker.

Scanning more then a few channels though isn't better then a scanner as it isn't made to be a scanner and doesn't scan as a scanner would but is better then the old other Chinese radios where scanning was a nightmare. But with the dual monitoring and only 3 or 5 channels you want it should be fine For what you want.

Before buying visit the official baofeng site i forget the link. But there is tons of old firmware re housed colored radios running around so be careful. While at same price for a latest firmware baofeng you be better off. Several models are discontinued and third party vendors are still selling old obsolete firmware radios. Luckily I got a uv5ra with decent firmware from a actual amazon seller Of baofeng therr site lists the sellers name.

give me a few and I'll get you the link here and the seller they reccomend on amazon.

 

[ScannerSK]

there's no way to disable tx. Either removing internal parts which most don't want to is only way to prevent ptt. I suggest and encourage setting the offsets Which Is easier in chirp which is free to download and easy to use if your familiar with radios. Say set your offset to a murs channel so if any ptt occurs accidently it would be in that and not a public safety channel. Or if uhf a frs channel.

Using the CHIRP software the transmit feature can be disabled for all VHF frequencies, all UHF frequencies or all VHF and UHF frequencies.

Also, I verified that setting the duplex to off for any channel in CHIRP completely disables the transmit feature for that specific memory channel. When PTT is pressed the radio simply beeps and will not allow the transmit feature for that frequency.

I was glad to learn this from nd5y.

Shawn
73s

 

[SCPD]

Using the CHIRP software the transmit feature can be disabled for all VHF frequencies, all UHF frequencies or all VHF and UHF frequencies.

Also, I verified that setting the duplex to off for any channel in CHIRP completely disables the transmit feature for that specific memory channel. When PTT is pressed the radio simply beeps and will not allow the transmit feature for that frequency.

I was glad to learn this from nd5y.

Shawn
73s

Really.... I'll have to go play now and try it if so it Makes life easier lol I thought it went into simplex if no offset was done boy did I miss that. but one thing in a double duplex these Chinese dual mode radios come in handy as a scanner. Such as mobile and base individually needs to be monitored. Very handy. I set mine up time to time on a vhf motorola mobike antenna mounted to the roof monitoring a base and mobile freq (using the adapter of course from antenna wire to radio) and it's smooth seamless.

 

[SCPD]

Here is the link https://baofengtech.com/radios and they give info on the models and the ones using old firmware to what's been discontinued. The link for the amazon seller is there also. They are nkt like my high end equipment but for a dual band handy little radio at low cost it does a decent job for ham and basic uses or monitoring. I never thought I'd like these little guys but got fond of one I have. I also got the extended battery so it was a little taller then the stock battery it comes with. to me they look better with the extended battery.

 

[dmg1969]

I have one I bought out of curiosity a couple years ago and I second the concerns of others here. Scan speed is absolutely glacial, but if you're only scanning 6-7 frequencies, it's a do-able solution. I find mine pretty susceptible to intermod but maybe the newer firmware will help this. I've used it for a little rail scanning and it works fairly well for that. Unlike others I find the audio on my Pro-651 and Pro-18 far superior on VHF/UHF, but again that might be a firmware issue.

If you don't need a lot of flexibility when you're mobile with it, it may do the job. But if you find yourself frequently wishing that you could easily add or remove a frequency (without having to have a laptop and CHIRP for that important transmit-inhibit function), you might be better off looking for a used analog scanner. With digital becoming so popular you can often find good used ones for less than you're going to have in your Baofeng and cable.

I do have an analog handheld scanner. This is just more of a toy to experiment with. I wanted to compare the reception versus my BC125AT. I figured that the audio might be a little cleaner being that the radio has different filtering being a transceiver.

 

[dmg1969]

The following PDF is a good reference guide as well: Bofeng UV-5R Manual

Shawn

Thanks, Shawn. Yep, I found that online and already have it downloaded and printed. I hope to have the radio to play with this weekend.

 

[dmg1969]

I have one as a collector/ spare use.

I reccomend the usb cable and free chirp software.

there's no way to disable tx. Either removing internal parts which most don't want to is only way to prevent ptt. I suggest and encourage setting the offsets Which Is easier in chirp which is free to download and easy to use if your familiar with radios. Say set your offset to a murs channel so if any ptt occurs accidently it would be in that and not a public safety channel. Or if uhf a frs channel.

Is it better Then a scanner? Sort of it does have what seems better reception on analog conv and better audio speaker.

Scanning more then a few channels though isn't better then a scanner as it isn't made to be a scanner and doesn't scan as a scanner would but is better then the old other Chinese radios where scanning was a nightmare. But with the dual monitoring and only 3 or 5 channels you want it should be fine For what you want.

Before buying visit the official baofeng site i forget the link. But there is tons of old firmware re housed colored radios running around so be careful. While at same price for a latest firmware baofeng you be better off. Several models are discontinued and third party vendors are still selling old obsolete firmware radios. Luckily I got a uv5ra with decent firmware from a actual amazon seller Of baofeng therr site lists the sellers name.

give me a few and I'll get you the link here and the seller they reccomend on amazon.

I don't know if you are correct in saying that there is no way to disable TX. I did some research online and saw two ways that people were saying to do so. One was to set the Duplex setting to OFF and another said to set the Offset to zeros. However...I watched a video on programming the UV-5R using CHIRP yesterday. The guy did not touch on it, but I saw under Settings>Other there are check boxes for VHF TX Enabled and UHF TX Enabled. I would imagine that unchecking those boxes would disable transmit as well. I am going to do some more research, but I think you certainly can disable TX. And I did already purchase it...waiting on delivery.

 

[dmg1969]

Here is the link https://baofengtech.com/radios and they give info on the models and the ones using old firmware to what's been discontinued. The link for the amazon seller is there also. They are nkt like my high end equipment but for a dual band handy little radio at low cost it does a decent job for ham and basic uses or monitoring. I never thought I'd like these little guys but got fond of one I have. I also got the extended battery so it was a little taller then the stock battery it comes with. to me they look better with the extended battery.

Thank you. I think I had found that website as well, but I will double check. I f not, I will bookmark it. I appreciate it!

 

[dmg1969]

Not sure how helpful it is, but I also found this link and have it bookmarked it as a reference. Baofeng Pofung Information Site UV5R GT3, Ham Radio