Help me with my Baofeng.

[seanbforhockey]

I have a Baofeng UV-5RA, and I need to know what frequencies on the "channel mode" (what the lady says when you press the "V/M" button on the radio) don't require a ham license.

I am in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Frequencies: 138.550, 157.650, 172. 750, 438. 500, 155. 700, 402.225, 453. 225, 454. 325, 455. 425, 456. 525, 457. 625, 458. 725, 459. 825, 461. 925, 462. 225, 463. 325, 464. 425, 465. 525, 402. 225, 437. 425 and 479. 975.

 

[WA0CBW]

It looks like none of them are ham frequencies and they all would require an FCC license.
BB

 

[gewecke]

ALL of those frequencies require a license. If not a ham license, it would be public safety or even government clearance. You'd be safer to drop that thing in a burn barrel. :wink: 73, n9zas

 

[jwt873]

The radio won't receive a lot of the frequencies you listed.

What exactly did you purchase the radio for? Do you plan on just listening to it (scanning) or do you plan to talk to someone, and if so, who?

 

[DickH]

... You'd be safer to drop that thing in a burn barrel. :wink: 73, n9zas

Why do you hate the Chinese HTs? They have their place as starter Ham rigs and as inexpensive conventional freq. scanners.

 

[robertmac]

Why do you hate the Chinese HTs? They have their place as starter Ham rigs and as inexpensive conventional freq. scanners.

Because they can illegally transmit on frequencies that require a license. And people that buy them often do not have a license. And from all the posts on problems programming them, especially field, they do not make a good first ham radio. In response to OP post, specific ham frequencies are 438.5, 437.425. But as others point out, all other frequencies do require a license. And yes, not everyone will be transmitting but far too many do.

 

[DickH]

Because they can illegally transmit on frequencies that require a license. And people that buy them often do not have a license. ...

And why is that any of your business?

 

[wb1ccp]

In the U.S. there a handful of VHF and UHF frequencies, including FRS and MURS channels, on which one can legally transmit without a license. All have power restrictions, from 350 milliwatts up to 2 watts. The Chinese HT's typically put out 4 to 5 watts and are therefore not legal to use on these services.

Having myself been in the two-way radio business for about 40 years, I have spent countless hours tracking down both accidental and malicious interference. In the past several years, much of it has been caused by HT's capable of illegally transmitting on licensed frequencies. When they interfere with Public Safety communications, it suddenly becomes everyone's business.

 

[buddrousa]

robertmac So can any Motorola, Kenwood, Icom and hackware software found in multiple places on the internet. As the problem with most things these days the problem is with EDUCATION they either do not know better, they were not taught any better or they just don't care. But by your standards we should BAN EBAY ALSO.

 

[KD8DVR]

I have a Baofeng UV-5RA, and I need to know what frequencies on the "channel mode" (what the lady says when you press the "V/M" button on the radio) don't require a ham license.

I am in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Frequencies: 138.550, 157.650, 172. 750, 438. 500, 155. 700, 402.225, 453. 225, 454. 325, 455. 425, 456. 525, 457. 625, 458. 725, 459. 825, 461. 925, 462. 225, 463. 325, 464. 425, 465. 525, 402. 225, 437. 425 and 479. 975.

Those are test frequencies that are programmed at the factory. They are not designed for the purchaser to use. You must reprogram the radio to the frequencies you are licensed to use.

Sent from my LG-D631 using Tapatalk

 

[gewecke]

Why do you hate the Chinese HTs? They have their place as starter Ham rigs and as inexpensive conventional freq. scanners.

Well DickH, first of all they have NO business being in the U.S. to begin with, they offer buyers NO warranty recourse which most manufactured goods from other countries do. Also for those who care about type acceptance, there's little if any validation there. Most of all they're JUNK right out of the damn box they came in! They are NOT user friendly, require more patience to program than any of our big three, Kenwood, Yaesu, or Icom. I won't even mention M because those deserve to be in their own class. There's WAAAY too many inexperienced, unlicensed people buying this trash from Fleabay, Amazon and others without a bugs *** of an idea what they're even doing when they get it out of the box! Which brings up my most pertinent gripe Dick. These clueless people are transmitting with this CRAP all over the damn spectrum with NO regard to the consequences!! Monday night I heard a damn roger beep on one of our nationwide mutual aid fireground channels!! Hmmm...what do you think THAT was?! It sure as hell was NOT a Motorola or Kenwood. I'm going to stop now dick, before I ruin my keys! I have even MORE valid reasons too why this garbage doesn't belong on OUR SOIL too but I'm sure you're sorry you asked by now ... Right? I apologize to the Mods for this rant. 73, n9zas

 

[gewecke]

In the U.S. there a handful of VHF and UHF frequencies, including FRS and MURS channels, on which one can legally transmit without a license. All have power restrictions, from 350 milliwatts up to 2 watts. The Chinese HT's typically put out 4 to 5 watts and are therefore not legal to use on these services.

Having myself been in the two-way radio business for about 40 years, I have spent countless hours tracking down both accidental and malicious interference. In the past several years, much of it has been caused by HT's capable of illegally transmitting on licensed frequencies. When they interfere with Public Safety communications, it suddenly becomes everyone's business.

. Well Said !! 73, n9zas

 

[gewecke]

And why is that any of your business?

Wow!! Really?! :roll: 73, n9zas

 

[NC1]

As long as you set your power output correctly, MURS and FRS will be fine.

That being said, I doubt anybody will be able to tell if you are using 500mw on FRS, or 2 watts. Same thing with MURS - 2 watts or 5 watts does not make much of a difference.

Assuming you are using the stock antenna, you will probably be within the ERP limits by about 20% anyway.

 

[gewecke]

As long as you set your power output correctly, MURS and FRS will be fine.

That being said, I doubt anybody will be able to tell if you are using 500mw on FRS, or 2 watts. Same thing with MURS - 2 watts or 5 watts does not make much of a difference.

Assuming you are using the stock antenna, you will probably be within the ERP limits by about 20% anyway.

None of the chinese radios are LEGAL for FRS in the U.S.because they all have removable antennas and None that I'm aware of will go down to 0.5 watts. Murs AND Frs radios are also required to be 2.5khz deviation as well. Most of the chinese radios fail to do this as well. Walmart has truck loads of Legal legitimate Frs radios on their shelves, there you go! . 73, n9zas

 

[NC1]

None of the chinese radios are LEGAL for FRS in the U.S.because they all have removable antennas and None that I'm aware of will go down to 0.5 watts. Murs AND Frs radios are also required to be 2.5khz deviation as well. Most of the chinese radios fail to do this as well. Walmart has truck loads of Legal legitimate Frs radios on their shelves, there you go! . 73, n9zas

I agree 100%, very good and valid points. I forgot about those requirements.

I am just a bit curious, has anybody ever been charged and convicted using 2w on FRS? or having a removable antenna? What about more than 2.5khz deviation on MURS?

I know the potential to cause (and has caused) problems, but I doubt the FCC is going to do anything at all about it. Just look at CB or GMRS bands - it's the Wild West in some areas.
Not that I condone it, but it is the reality in which we live.
At the very least, any of his transmit issues would be confined to MURS and FRS.