Baofeng UV-5R

[ceemee2]

Brand new user needs help! Bought Baofeng UV-5R, w/computer cable, joined RadioReference, downloaded CHIRP, Downloaded from radio into CHIRP, imported from RadioReference, upoaded to radio. Saved file.

All I get is intermittent static (like its picking up the frequencies...but not heard a voice yet). What am I doing wrong?

 

[cmjonesinc]

What are you trying to monitor? Can you confirm the frequcencies successfully programmed into the radio? What's your squelch set at?

 

[ceemee2]

Grainger County Frequencies for EMS, etc. I just want to listen, not talk. It did upload to radio correctly... can see all the set frequencies, and it is scanning through them. Squelch is set at 5.

 

[nd5y]

You're not providing enough information for anybody to help you.
Where are you located and what frequencies are you trying to listen to?
Are you trying to listen to a digital or trunked system?
Are you near any TV, FM or other towers?
Baofeng and other cheap chinese radios have poor receivers and can be nearly useless in certain locations.

 

[nd5y]

Some of those radios have problems scanning. If you programmed the frequencies with receive CTCSS or DCS then scanning might not stop on them.

 

[cmjonesinc]

In the database it appears they're just analog conventional as far as ems. Unless something has changed you should be good. I'd enter in a noaa frequency and check for audio. Also if you're inside trying moving around or going outdoors. Those radios have a terrbile front end and can catch static and overload from all sorts of devices.

 

[ceemee2]

Blaine, TN 37709...Regular emergency, fire, etc channels as uploaded from RadioReference.
Digital.
No TV, FM or other towers within 7 miles
I know its a cheapy, but just wanted to listen.

 

[ceemee2]

Same stuff indoors or out. I did as suggested and downloaded frequencies for NOAA from Morristown, TN...Comes in Clear as a bell! Now if I can just fix the others!

 

[cmjonesinc]

Do you have a pl or dcs tone in place on the ems frequencies?

 

[ceemee2]

Brand new user needs help! Bought Baofeng UV-5R, w/computer cable, joined RadioReference, downloaded CHIRP, Downloaded from radio into CHIRP, imported from RadioReference, upoaded to radio. Saved file.

All I get is intermittent static (like its picking up the frequencies...but not heard a voice yet). What am I doing wrong?

 

[ceemee2]

I have downloaded what is currently set in radio.

 

[nd5y]

Set the Tone Mode column to (None) for all of them and see if that helps.

You should also set the Duplex column to off to avoid the possibility of illegally transmitting on frequencies you aren't licensed or authorized to transmit on.

 

[ceemee2]

Done... Still get NOAA Clearly...Still nothing on other channels.

 

[nd5y]

I think I figured out your problem. You need to set the Skip colums to S for the NOAA channel or anything else that transmits continuously. Otherwise scanning will stop on that channel and depending on how you have the scan resume set it could stay on that channel preventing you from hearing anything else.

 

[popnokick]

The RR db for Grainger Co TN shows nearly all of the UHF (450-470mHz) as "DMR". That looks like EMS, Sheriff, Fire, and others. That's a digital format and is not going to work at all with the Baofeng you have. However, you should be hearing the ones labeled "FMN" assuming they are transmitting and you have a capable antenna (which may not be the rubber duck on the radio).

 

[KevinC]

I merged the 2 threads discussing this exact same thing.

And I think "popnokick" has the correct answer.

 

[n4yek]

popnokick beat me to it, Grainger county is DMR which your radio can not decode.
I listen to them using DSDPlus and a tapped scanner.