Baofeng 888S VOX Trouble

[ashv]

I recently purchased headsets with PTT/VOX for my Baofeng 888s

(D Shape Earpiece Headset Boom Mic Vox BAOFENG Radio UV 5R UV 3R 666s 777s 888s | eBay)

After connecting them to the 888s and enabling VOX on my two headsets, it seems one headset is transmitting sound all the time. The other headset seems to only receive and not able to transmit. I guess that means the noise level should be increased, so only voice is transmitted. How do I do that?

The manual does say "adjust VOX Gain level to an appropriate sensitivity to allow smooth transmission" but doesn't say how to do that! Anyone have any idea or has done this before?

 

[KC9HI]

I recently purchased headsets with PTT/VOX for my Baofeng 888s

(D Shape Earpiece Headset Boom Mic Vox BAOFENG Radio UV 5R UV 3R 666s 777s 888s | eBay)

After connecting them to the 888s and enabling VOX on my two headsets, it seems one headset is transmitting sound all the time. The other headset seems to only receive and not able to transmit. I guess that means the noise level should be increased, so only voice is transmitted. How do I do that?

The manual does say "adjust VOX Gain level to an appropriate sensitivity to allow smooth transmission" but doesn't say how to do that! Anyone have any idea or has done this before?

According to the manual on the miklor.com website, the VOX level can only be set using software. I recommend CHIRP.

BF888 BF888S User Manual - Miklor

Jim KC9HI

 

[ashv]

On CHIRP, what option is the vox setting or noise level? It's not the squelch level..

 

[KC9HI]

On CHIRP, what option is the vox setting or noise level? It's not the squelch level..

It is "VOX Level" and it has a range of 1 to 5.

"Squelch level" is a separate setting with a range of 0 to 9.

Jim KC9HI

 

[ashv]

Thanks, VOX is working now. But I have another issue.

After I stop talking, it takes about 3 seconds for the VOX to turn off and have someone else reply. Is there a way I can change that to 1 second or instantly? Is that a microphone/headset thing or a baofeng thing?

 

[Jaxco]

It's the nature of the beast, it leaves a tail there in case you pause or speak very s l o w l y

 

[ashv]

Is that something to do with the headset or a feature on the baofeng?

 

[Jaxco]

It is the way the 'gate' on most vox systems work, you would not want the transmit gate closing on you 2 or 3 times during a sentence because it would have to reset and would clip the beginning of the next transmission as well.

Quick keying on HAM radio is considered impolite anyway... Plus vox will catch every cough, throat clearing, some background noise, etc. anyway. It has its' use but it functions with a timeout to keep it from keying and unkeying at an inappropriate times.

 

[jeffp1031]

I'm having a similar issue issue, but I'm not sure how this one was resolved.

I just purchased several BaoFeng BF-888S radios (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ECWE4WC/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) with SUNDELY Over Head headsets (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DTU9LOO/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1).

If I switch the headsets to vox (without turning on the vox function on, on the transmitter) the mic stays open the whole time.

If I turn on the vox function on, on the transmitter (with the headset still set on vox) it doesn't transmit at all.

The manual (BF888 BF888S User Manual - Miklor) is not very helpful.

Can anyone help me?!

 

[nd5y]

You guys are finding out the hard way that VOX doesn't work well and can be useless in many cases.