BaoFeng - Is my one broken?

[definity]

So i finally took the plunge to get into the scanning world and didn't want to break the bank for my first radio (Im a student) so i decided to get this radio. I have managed to learn how to scan through freq's and i have noticed every time it stops and finds activity its always the same noise. It sounds like something is transmitting but all i can hear is silence with a bit of crackling on top. have not heard any data or voice yet.

I have pretty much been through the whole 130-150mhz section and 420-460mhz and all it every stop for is this same sound. Any ideas what this is? Is it broken or is this normal?
Thanks

 

[nd5y]

It could be picking up cable TV leaks, a computer, other electronic devices.
See if it does the same thing in another location several miles away if possible.

 

[gregg22]

I agree my bofeng picks up so much noise I cant use it at home

 

[n4yek]

Take off the antenna, does the signal stay the same strength? If so, it is possibly a birdie frequency. If the radio has the capability, lock that frequency out.
If the signal just gets weaker then you have something in the house causing interference as already suggested.

 

[robertmac]

And to repeat, these CCRs make absolutely the worst scanning devices. You get what you pay for. A real honest to goodness scanner is well worth the money you pay for.

 

[ramal121]

It's a birdie. Some radios let you shift the cpu clock on a certain channel to eliminate this, however Baofeng does not provide for this. Mark them unusable and do not include them in a scan list.

Oh and to robertmac, expensive scanners have birdies too. Unless your scanner uses crystals or has something like "beat shift", you'll have to work around them.

 

[mirayge]

I was about to ask the same question until I found this thread. To me it appears the receiver is sensitive enough, but too wide open. My UV-5R+ is programmed with the 2m/70cm simplex calling channels, frs, gmrs, and murs. My keyfob for the car makes the frs/gmrs channels buzz. When my at&t phone switches to 2g (edge) around 850MHz it produces buzzing and popping while scanning. If someone transmits on frs channel 6 (462.6875,) I also hear it clearly on gmrs 6 (462.6750.) Now for the worst part. When used at ground level I can hear bits of conversation from a couple of miles on gmrs. If I go outside at work, on the third floor roof, there is nothing. Not even with the squelch wide open. I'm starting to suspect that the lower cellular phone bands are desensitizing the reciever. From this same perch I can have a clear conversation with home using a pair of Audiovox gmrs7001 radios set at low power.

 

[chrismol1]

I picked up a couple boafeng F8 & F9 while they are ok for occasional receiving they are exactly as expected for the money. I was barely able to get a mile in open farm country with stock antenna on high power. The antenna is extremely inefficient and the cheap wide open electronics are as expected for a 40 dollar dual band radio