Help with Radio

[mmckenna]

It's when I receive on my Baofeng. I have them near each other so I can transmit on one and hear the other. Static comes through, but barely a voice signal. My squelch is off on both

There's something wrong with your Yaseu. Might be simple like a broken antenna jack, but won't be easy to fix. Before spending money on test equipment, I'd just send the radio in for repair. There's not really much an end user (even a ham) can fix on these modern radios.

 

[KF0SOP]

Ok! I just send directly to the manufacturer?

 

[mmckenna]

Ok! I just send directly to the manufacturer?

How new is this radio?

I'd start by contacting the vendor you purchased from and seeing if it's still under warranty. If it is, let them deal with it. If it is not, ask them if they can tell you where to send it.

 

[KF0SOP]

I got it from another ham at a field day, and I don't know where he got it from. I can ask my one of my friends that knows him if he can ask him, or if I can get his phone number

 

[mmckenna]

I got it from another ham at a field day, and I don't know where he got it from. I can ask my one of my friends that knows him if he can ask him, or if I can get his phone number

Contact their customer service line and ask how to send it in for service:

https://www.yaesu.com/contact-us.aspx

 

[KF0SOP]

I contacted them!

 

[mmckenna]

I contacted them!

Good deal.

I had a radio do something similar once. The final power transistor was bad, so it was only putting out about 10mw. Acted similar to what you are experiencing. It was new, so it was sent back for replacement.

 

[AK9R]

Try transmitting simplex frequency 146.52 from your Yaesu to your UV5R programmed to receive the same. If it sounds static, it’s your radio, if it’s clear, it’s your programming.

To the OP, when doing this 146.52 test, make sure that both radios are on simplex with no repeater offset.

Also, have you tried receiving the NOAA weather radio broadcast for your area? The frequencies are 162.400 to 162.550 MHz in 25 kHz steps.

 

[KF0SOP]

Ok!

 

[KF0SOP]

I can hear the weather broadcast, but there's definitely static behind it

 

[K4EET]

I can hear the weather broadcast, but there's definitely static behind it

The closest weather station to you is:

WXK91, Topeka, 162.475 MHz

With that frequency set in both your Baofeng and Yaesu HTs, does the received audio sound the same or is one HT receiving better than the other? That station is about 40 miles from you and should be heard in your area near Kansas City, KS.

 

[KF0SOP]

I'll check and get back to you!

 

[K4EET]

I'll check and get back to you!

Thank you, my friend!

 

[KF0SOP]

Not receiving anything on either

 

[K4EET]

Not receiving anything on either

Hmmm… I would have thought the Topeka NWS station would be heard in Kansas City. If you open the squelch on those two HTs, do you just hear white noise (static)? 40 miles is a bit of a stretch and I have no idea what the coverage circle looks like for that site.

 

[KF0SOP]

Yeah, it's just static

 

[K4EET]

I can hear the weather broadcast, but there's definitely static behind it

Yeah, it's just static

In post #36 above, you said the weather station was just static yet you previously said in post #30 you could hear the weather broadcast with static. Was your test in post #30 on a different frequency than in post #36?

 

[KF0SOP]

I think so. Don't know what frequency the other one was

 

[KD8DVR]

Best thing to do is to say this:

“Good afternoon. This is Kilo Foxtrot Zero Sierra Oscar Papa. I am a new ham and I would appreciate a radio check. This is Kilo Foxtrot Zero Sierra Oscar Papa in Olathe, Kilo Foxtrot Zero Sierra Oscar Papa standing by.”

Or don't use phonetics when saying your call sign. Using phonetics makes you sound like a whacker.

 

[KD8DVR]

Where are yo when you are testing?

A hand held radio in a poor location, like inside a home or car, can have a really hard time reaching a repeater. You may be getting just enough signal into the repeater to trigger it, but your audio may be so bad that they cannot understand you.

If you've double/triple checked your programming, go outside, or get much closer to the repeater and see if it helps.

This is important. A lot of people will kerchunk the repeater, thinking they are making it; but when they transmit, they aren't holding the repeater.