Baofeng uv5r Not Receiving?

[nd5y]

Now, how can you get the UV5R to use BOTH lines of the display for the ONE CHANNEL.

You can't. All you can do is set both A and B to the same channel.

 

[KC9HI]

Talk about challenging.
I finally got the CHIRP to work, and it works well enough, COM PORT CAN AND DOES CHANGE OFTEN.
YOu need to click on Devices and Printers in Windows 7 to see what is going on, and the Bofong Software that does not work, causes conflicts. I had to uninstall that softwaree and drivers to get
CHIRP to work and you MUST allow the computer time to register a com port for the cable, THEN
try it out.

If you plug the USB programming cable into a different USB port each time, a new instance of the driver is installed and a different COM port is assigned. So don't do that.

CHIRP needs the same programming cable with compatible device driver as the OEM software. You can't uninstall the driver to get CHIRP to work. You had to have uninstalled an incompatible driver and then installed a compatible one.

Choose the USB port that you want to use, install a compatible driver, plug the USB programming cable into that USB port, then go into Device Manager to choose the compatible driver. The instructions are documented on the miklor.com website.

USB Cables and Drivers for Microsoft XP, Vista, W7 & W8

Then always use the same USB port.

Now, how can you get the UV5R to use BOTH lines of the display for the ONE CHANNEL.

You can't. Both displays are independent and cannot be automatically synchronized.

I really don't know why they place two frequencies on the display. A and B..
apart from having two VFO's it would be easier to just have a good display of information.

This is to support the radio's dual watch capability. Select two frequencies, one in A and the other in B. Then set menu 7 (TDR) to ON and now the radio scans between A and B like a 2-channel scanner so you can monitor both channels.

Jim KC9HI

 

[KB1MZR]

I seem to be having a similar issue. I tried downloading the initial image from the radio into CHIRP and settings were not even listed. When I uploaded an image to the radio, I got the error message on the CHIRP website that said it should not effect the radio, something along the lines of the firmware version is not the same and this is looking for BFB-297XX. I am definitely having the receive issue with the Mon button being the only thing that allows receive to function. BEEP is set to on in menu option 8. When I try to upload the BFB-297 and the N5R-20 recovery files in the 7-14-14 build or the current build of CHIRP it tells me in both that the "image is not supported by the radio". Any suggestions?

 

[KC9HI]

I seem to be having a similar issue. I tried downloading the initial image from the radio into CHIRP and settings were not even listed. When I uploaded an image to the radio, I got the error message on the CHIRP website that said it should not effect the radio, something along the lines of the firmware version is not the same and this is looking for BFB-297XX. I am definitely having the receive issue with the Mon button being the only thing that allows receive to function. BEEP is set to on in menu option 8. When I try to upload the BFB-297 and the N5R-20 recovery files in the 7-14-14 build or the current build of CHIRP it tells me in both that the "image is not supported by the radio". Any suggestions?

You must not upload a CHIRP .img file into a radio with N5R-20 or N5R-30 firmware that came from a radio with a prior firmware version. If this has been done, you will experience the receive issue. You must follow the procedure on the miklor.com website to restore receive.

UV5R F8HP Recovery Baofeng Pofung UV5R

Jim KC9HI

 

[steve8001]

So, I tried a full reset and that seems to have taken care of it. Working perfect now.

I also found that the newest driver (2013) for chirp won't function on Windows 8. Downloaded one from 2006 (I think) and it works fine.

Oh well, keeping my fingers crossed. Working fine now.

Amazing little radio for the money.

Having same problem. How do you perform a "full" reset? I assume that's different than a function 40 reset.

 

[KC9HI]

Having same problem. How do you perform a "full" reset? I assume that's different than a function 40 reset.

Unfortunately there is no "full" reset. The closest that you can get to a "full" reset would be to use CHIRP to upload a .img file that was saved from the radio immediately after powering it up for the first time.

Most new radio owners don't know (of forget) to do this step to save the "factory state" of their radio. For those that didn't, I have gathered them up from as many firmware versions as I could get "my hands on" and made them available here: Index of /uv5r/programming/CHIRPrecovery

Jim KC9HI

 

[rmj2]

Same Issue FRUSTRATED!!!

Hello Friends, I am having the same issue. I have the BF-F8+ and have no RX unless i press MON. I have been on the RECOVERY page and I have tried multiple times. The radio does not completely reset to factory after I upload the .img to it. Pressing 3 when I turn on it says VER BFB297 but it is the N5R-20 software because holding down 0 I get the battery info.

When I save N5R-20 recovery img. and try to upload to radio I get the below attached error message. Can anyone be a hero and HELP!!!!!!????????

 

[KC9HI]

Hello Friends, I am having the same issue. I have the BF-F8+ and have no RX unless i press MON. I have been on the RECOVERY page and I have tried multiple times. The radio does not completely reset to factory after I upload the .img to it. Pressing 3 when I turn on it says VER BFB297 but it is the N5R-20 software because holding down 0 I get the battery info.

When I save N5R-20 recovery img. and try to upload to radio I get the below attached error message. Can anyone be a hero and HELP!!!!!!????????

What happens is that new N5R-20 owners don't have the latest daily build of CHIRP so they are able to cross load an image from another radio with an older firmware version to their new radio, thus creating the RX problem. Then they upgrade to the latest daily build hoping that it will fix the problem.

The latest daily build can't fix the problem, but it would have prevented the problem to begin with because it won't allow the .img files to be cross loaded. This same protection won't let your re-cross load the factory .img back to the radio.

This is why the first step of the recovery process, which you appear to be skipping, it to downgrade to CHIRP daily build 20140714 (which doesn't have this cross loading protection). Then once you've successfully uploaded the N5R(factory).img file to your radio, immediately upgrade to the latest CHIRP daily build to prevent cross loading of .img files in the future.

UV5R F8HP Recovery Baofeng Pofung UV5R

Good luck,
Jim KC9HI

 

[N5ZRL]

Beep Mute was My Problem

Jim,
Your detail on the receive audio being muted when selecting to turn off the key beep via Menu option 8 was almost right on. I found that receive was altogether SQUELCHED, rather than muted, with the key beep off. The issue resolved when the key beep was turned back on.
I say SQUELCHED because I had no indications of a signal received unless I used the Monitor button. Only then would I get visual confirmation via LED and display. All functions seem to be normal with the beep enabled.

How I got this problem in the first place?
Initial attempts to utilize UV5R_VIP were hampered by failure to interpret language. All labels were "???"
This led me to use CHIRP. I did export my image as a .CSV file, but failed to save an .img file. I missed the importance of this point until I had altered my original .CSV file. Attempts to load channel lists were just a series of mishaps. Unable to restore my factory .img file, I chose to load another I found. Only after I had all kinds of trouble receiving did I start running through the various fixes. Upon finding this thread, I reverted to the earlier version of CHIRPS, restored a matching image from MIKLOR, updated to latest CHIRPS, and edited as originally planned.
The Rx issue persisted, even after the restore, until you mentioned the Beep option. That got me back in action. Big Thanks! I'll be watching for the fix from Baofeng.

 

[KC9HI]

Jim,
Your detail on the receive audio being muted when selecting to turn off the key beep via Menu option 8 was almost right on. I found that receive was altogether SQUELCHED, rather than muted, with the key beep off. The issue resolved when the key beep was turned back on.
I say SQUELCHED because I had no indications of a signal received unless I used the Monitor button. Only then would I get visual confirmation via LED and display. All functions seem to be normal with the beep enabled.

How I got this problem in the first place?
Initial attempts to utilize UV5R_VIP were hampered by failure to interpret language. All labels were "???"
This led me to use CHIRP. I did export my image as a .CSV file, but failed to save an .img file. I missed the importance of this point until I had altered my original .CSV file. Attempts to load channel lists were just a series of mishaps. Unable to restore my factory .img file, I chose to load another I found. Only after I had all kinds of trouble receiving did I start running through the various fixes. Upon finding this thread, I reverted to the earlier version of CHIRPS, restored a matching image from MIKLOR, updated to latest CHIRPS, and edited as originally planned.
The Rx issue persisted, even after the restore, until you mentioned the Beep option. That got me back in action. Big Thanks! I'll be watching for the fix from Baofeng.

I agree, SQUELCH issue is probably a better way of saying it. Unfortunately, the cross loading of CHIRP images and the BEEP=OFF issue have similar symptoms. It is easy to diagnose the problem and give the opposite "cure". And sometimes, both solutions are needed. We've struggled with how to best present the solutions on the Miklor website.

The "fix" will mean throwing away the radio that you have and purchasing the next version that has the "bugs" swatted. The firmware in the UV-5R (and its many variants) is a one-time-programmable chip and cannot be updated.

Jim KC9HI

 

[jonwienke]

I have a BF-F8HP with the keybeep bug, but having key beep always on isn't a deal-killer for me. At least it isn't the roger beep always on...

 

[steve8001]

Unfortunately there is no "full" reset. The closest that you can get to a "full" reset would be to use CHIRP to upload a .img file that was saved from the radio immediately after powering it up for the first time.

Most new radio owners don't know (of forget) to do this step to save the "factory state" of their radio. For those that didn't, I have gathered them up from as many firmware versions as I could get "my hands on" and made them available here: Index of /uv5r/programming/CHIRPrecovery

Jim KC9HI

None of the recovery images would work so I ordered another radio of the same model. Downloaded and saved the image and tried to upload to the other radio and get a message it's not supported by that radio.How can that be??

 

[jonwienke]

Different firmware version.

 

[steve8001]

Actually since I posted the previous post I solved the problem. I had been trying with the latest version of chirp. I tried with the older version I screwed them up with and The .img file uploaded fine and the problem is solved, it now receives.

Thanks for the help guys!
Steve
KG5DVG

 

[KC9HI]

Actually since I posted the previous post I solved the problem. I had been trying with the latest version of chirp. I tried with the older version I screwed them up with and The .img file uploaded fine and the problem is solved, it now receives.

Thanks for the help guys!
Steve
KG5DVG

Yep. Step #1. Downgrade to CHIRP daily build 20140714 or older.

Now upgrade to the latest daily build so you won't be able to accidentally cross load .img files in the future.

Jim KC9HI

 

[bdoss]

I just got my uv5r this week and it did the same thing- FIrmware is BFS297- Chirp DID cause the issue but it is NOT a brick. I was able to fix it by going to this URL

N5R Issue Recovery

It works great now...


Good luck!

 

[Jo_oe]

UV-5R Receiving Problems

Hi, I have recently purchased a UV-5R. I am having minor problems unlike some of the ones discussed. I can turn my radio on and go to the National Weather frequency and hear it loud and clear. However, when I try to scan for any other frequencies I get nothing. It will stop on occasion but all I can hear is white noise. My squelch is set to 1. I have scanned numerous times but still have not came across any other channels other than the Weather Service. I thought maybe it would be the antenna not being big enough. Then on second thought, that should only limit my ability to transmit out and not have much to do with receiving? I have also looked up local frequencies and manually entered them with no luck. I have a cable coming in the mail so I can hook it up to the computer. I am thinking that might help me out? I have also checked out the software on the radio and it is version 297. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[KC9HI]

Hi, I have recently purchased a UV-5R. I am having minor problems unlike some of the ones discussed. I can turn my radio on and go to the National Weather frequency and hear it loud and clear. However, when I try to scan for any other frequencies I get nothing. It will stop on occasion but all I can hear is white noise. My squelch is set to 1. I have scanned numerous times but still have not came across any other channels other than the Weather Service. I thought maybe it would be the antenna not being big enough. Then on second thought, that should only limit my ability to transmit out and not have much to do with receiving? I have also looked up local frequencies and manually entered them with no luck. I have a cable coming in the mail so I can hook it up to the computer. I am thinking that might help me out? I have also checked out the software on the radio and it is version 297. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Hi Jo_oe,

Antenna performance is reciprocal. Whatever is done to change the gain (good or bad) affects both TX and RX.

Just because a frequency is listed in RadioReference (or anywhere else) does not guarantee it is being used. Since you can hear the NOAA Weather Radio, you at least know that your radio is working.

Are you "scanning" in VFO (frequency) mode or MR (channel) mode? Look at the left status area while you are in receive mode. You should not see DCS or CT. If you do, that is likely the problem. Even if a DCS code or CTCSS tone is listed, do not program either into menu 10 (R-DCS) or menu 11 (R-CTCS). You never need DCS or CTCSS for listening. Set either of these menus incorrectly and your radio will be deaf. OFF always works.

Also since you have a new radio, it most likely has N5R-20 firmware even though it shows BFB297 when powered on while holding the [3] key (the only way to know for sure is by using CHIRP). This firmware has a bug such that if you set menu 8 (BEEP) to OFF, you won't be able to hear stations. So if you set BEEP to OFF after you tested the NOAA frequency, you won't be able to receive. The only workaround is to set BEEP to ON and leave it that way.

Jim KC9HI

Remember that when programming channels using the keypad, newly programmed channels are not scanned until after the radio is power cycled.

 

[Jo_oe]

Jim KC9HI,

Thank you for the quick response. I get excited at times and when I don't fully understand things I can jump the gun from time to time. I have been mostly scanning for law enforcement channels and haven't been able to get very much feed. However, I was able to finally pick up some channels from the local fire department.

When looking into the local police department frequencies I did see a little information online that reads they might have changed to an encrypted frequency? I have had the UV-5R for a few days and have never owned a scanner before. I didn't know exactly how to use it or what to expect but I have been reading the manual online and I'm coming around! I'm looking into getting the CHIRP software soon and hopefully I can finally get some channels programmed in.

Once again, I appreciate the quick response and I apologize for the inconvenience!

 

[KC9HI]

Jim KC9HI,

Thank you for the quick response. I get excited at times and when I don't fully understand things I can jump the gun from time to time. I have been mostly scanning for law enforcement channels and haven't been able to get very much feed. However, I was able to finally pick up some channels from the local fire department.

When looking into the local police department frequencies I did see a little information online that reads they might have changed to an encrypted frequency? I have had the UV-5R for a few days and have never owned a scanner before. I didn't know exactly how to use it or what to expect but I have been reading the manual online and I'm coming around! I'm looking into getting the CHIRP software soon and hopefully I can finally get some channels programmed in.

Once again, I appreciate the quick response and I apologize for the inconvenience!

The manual that comes with the UV-5R is next to worthless. If you want a decent manual, you should get a copy of the manual that comes with the BF-F8HP. The BF-F8HP is basically the same as the UV-5R with 3 power levels so the manual is 99% accurate for the UV-5R, too. Here is a link to the manual and some other references.

BF-F8HP User Manual
Reference for UV-5R Menus
Baofeng UV5R Information Site

Jim KC9HI