Is my Uv5-r compatible with my local frequencies listed in rr data base?

[WiskyTango]

New user here, Is my handheld capable of picking up my local frequencies? Programmed everything through Chirp. I know some are not compatible , such as the dmre. But what about the FMN frequencies?

Zip code is 71701 if that is helpful, thanks in advance

 

[03msc]

The UV5R is an analog fm radio. So it can be used to listen to any analog fm (or fmn) radio traffic (that isn’t scrambled). Other modes, as you eluded to, won’t be decoded by the radio.

If public safety frequencies, or any frequency you don’t have license or authorization to use, program as receive only.

 

[nd5y]

For the UV-5R and similar radios Wide = FM and Narrow = FMN.

I would suggest reading everything at:

UV5R, UV6R, GT3 Info - Miklor

UV5R, UV6R, GT3 Info - Miklor

www.miklor.com

If you use CHIRP to program the radio then refer to these:

Baofeng UV-5R - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

and this:

Documentation - CHIRP

Redmine

chirpmyradio.com

 

[WiskyTango]

For the UV-5R and similar radios Wide = FM and Narrow = FMN.

I would suggest reading everything at:

UV5R, UV6R, GT3 Info - Miklor

UV5R, UV6R, GT3 Info - Miklor

www.miklor.com

If you use CHIRP to program the radio then refer to these:

Baofeng UV-5R - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

and this:

Documentation - CHIRP

Redmine

chirpmyradio.com

I wonder if its a reception issue , even the weather is hit or miss. I was thinking there was something I missed when programming. But I will definitely read up some more. I appreciate the response!

 

[nd5y]

I wonder if its a reception issue

It's possible. They have poor receivers compared to scanners and real radios. Do you have anything to compare it to? You could be in a location where even a good Baofeng won't work. Also quality control is hit or miss. You could have a defective one.

Baofengs are not good choices for newbies with little or no radio experience.

 

[WiskyTango]

It's possible. They have poor receivers compared to scanners and real radios. Do you have anything to compare it to? You could be in a location where even a good Baofeng won't work. Also quality control is hit or miss. You could have a defective one.

Baofengs are not good choices for newbies with little or no radio experience.

Nothing to compare it to, like I said the national weather freq is hit or miss im assuming because of the tin roof lol, as when im outside its clear as day. Inside in different spots in the house ill get no bars where as other spots the national weather will come through. When I go to the police fire and ems frequencies I dont get any bars. I wonder if an antenna upgrade will help? Im using the stock antenna that came with the radio its self.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

when im outside its clear as day. Inside in different spots in the house ill get no bars where as other spots the national weather will come through

Par for the course when listening indoors sans an outdoor antenna. Everything from building materials to electrical appliances can attenuate signals coming through indoors. Welcome to the RR forums

 

[WiskyTango]

Par for the course when listening indoors sans an outdoor antenna. Everything from building materials to electrical appliances can attenuate signals coming through indoors. Welcome to the RR forums

Thats for that! I definitely have some reading to do. I just got ahold of the ARRL handbook for radio communications. Seems pretty extensive so I have my work cut out for me it seems.

 

[03msc]

I will add, after these other comments, that a Baofeng is typically not that great of a radio. Honestly, for monitoring, you'd be better off with a scanner. Yes, the UV5R works, etc., etc., but performance wise they aren't the best. So, that is probably a contributing factor to your experiences.

 

[nd5y]

Inside in different spots in the house ill get no bars where as other spots the national weather will come through. When I go to the police fire and ems frequencies I dont get any bars. I wonder if an antenna upgrade will help?

Unlike NOAA Weather public safety radio doesn't transmit continuously. Depending on where you are and what agencies/frequencies you programmed it could be minutes or hours or longer between transmissions.

Using a better antenna or external antenna on a UV-5R will most likely make it worse. The stock antenna will work ok assuming you don't have a defective radio.

 

[WiskyTango]

I will add, after these other comments, that a Baofeng is typically not that great of a radio. Honestly, for monitoring, you'd be better off with a scanner. Yes, the UV5R works, etc., etc., but performance wise they aren't the best. So, that is probably a contributing factor to your experiences.

Unlike NOAA Weather public safety radio doesn't transmit continuously. Depending on where you are and what agencies/frequencies you programmed it could be minutes or hours or longer between transmissions.

Using a better antenna or external antenna on a UV-5R will most likely make it worse. The stock antenna will work ok assuming you don't have a defective radio.

Interesting , if the NOAA is picking up wouldn't public safety pick up as well? Assuming the data base in rr is accurate of course and therefore programmed correctly. I guess thats why my assumption is signal strength or quality.

 

[nd5y]

if the NOAA is picking up wouldn't public safety pick up as well?

No. Not unless all of your local public safety transmit antennas are in the exact same location and height as the NOAA antenna. That's not very likely. Even if it was the crappy Baofeng receiver might not perform the same on different frequencies.

 

[WiskyTango]

No. Not unless all of your local public safety transmit antennas are in the exact same location and height as the NOAA antenna. That's not very likely. Even if it was the crappy Baofeng receiver might not perform the same on different frequencies.

Hmm, would you say the problem is most likely the cheap transceiver unit and it not being meant for scanning? Or would you say maybe the issue relies else where? I dont think its a faulty unit I mean i guess I could be wrong? I didnt buy it for its scanning abilities but I guess that was a plus. Everything else seems to work just fine , again even receiving certain frequencies, just an issue with public safety frequencies that use narrow fm

 

[RaleighGuy]

Hmm, would you say the problem is most likely the cheap transceiver unit

That says it all !!!!! The CCRs are seldomly tuned correctly, have inferior components, and poor reception which varies from frequency to frequency. You can't expect a under $30 radio to work very well, these are nothing but a kids walkie talkie with more features.

 

[nd5y]

Hmm, would you say the problem is most likely the cheap transceiver unit and it not being meant for scanning?

Probably.There is no way anybody can tell you for sure without being there and seeing what you have programmed and what the surroundings and RF environment is like and comparing with known good equipment.

 

[KC3ECJ]

UV-5Rs have terrible VHF reception.

 

[paulears]

Terrible compared to some, yes - but in practical use, they're OK. Most of the issues are not really relevant here. If he has programmed in frequencies and is not hearing anything, it will be basic.
1. It could be faulty, but that would be rare.
2. The frequencies entered may not be in use.
3. They may be legitimate frequencies, but he is simply too far away.
4. The frequencies may simply have little or no traffic.
5. they have been entered incorrectly.

Split frequencies are sometimes entered the wrong way around - so your radio is listening to the mobiles, NOT, the base.
Range is so often misunderstood.
If I enter a frequency for my own repeater, in my home it works fine. in my office, half a mile away, it's very, very weak. The office is in the harbour, surrounded on three sides by buildings. My office can hear the airfield 8 miles away! Just geography and topology.

I'm a Brit, so your zip code in google earth shows a very rural area. Small towns with lots of countryside between them. If i look at a 10 mile circle and move it around, lots of places have nobody in them!

Silly question, but what kinds of frequencies are you entering and how far away from you are they?

 

[WiskyTango]

Terrible compared to some, yes - but in practical use, they're OK. Most of the issues are not really relevant here. If he has programmed in frequencies and is not hearing anything, it will be basic.
1. It could be faulty, but that would be rare.
2. The frequencies entered may not be in use.
3. They may be legitimate frequencies, but he is simply too far away.
4. The frequencies may simply have little or no traffic.
5. they have been entered incorrectly.

Split frequencies are sometimes entered the wrong way around - so your radio is listening to the mobiles, NOT, the base.
Range is so often misunderstood.
If I enter a frequency for my own repeater, in my home it works fine. in my office, half a mile away, it's very, very weak. The office is in the harbour, surrounded on three sides by buildings. My office can hear the airfield 8 miles away! Just geography and topology.

I'm a Brit, so your zip code in google earth shows a very rural area. Small towns with lots of countryside between them. If i look at a 10 mile circle and move it around, lots of places have nobody in them!

Silly question, but what kinds of frequencies are you entering and how far away from you are they?

Thanks for the response , very insightful! So as far as the distance im not too sure on that one, not really sure how to even find that out with certainty. Here are two im interested in. All frequencies have been programed using chirp. Drivers and software installed my radio manufacturer. Some have suggested to reset and use miklor. I didnt find this out untill after the fact. I am not sure of the difference between using the stock drivers/software vs miklor either to be honest.

 

[paulears]

Well, they look OK *to somebody 5000 miles away. The question is - where are you and where are they? Let's assume you have the radio correctly programmed. If the hospital - to use that as an example - has the antennas ON the hospital, then it's probably going to be capable of a reliable 20 mile range around it. Could be more, but in that case there would normally be more than one frequency - so wider area coverage could be possible - ignoring the very clever systems, but this looks simple. Do you live within say 15 miles of the hospital? The ambulances have decent antennas and are quite tall. If you live in a hilly area, reduce the 20 miles, if you live in a flat area, increase it. If the hospital is in your town, then if you don't hear anything my guess is the frequency is incorrect. What other radio users are in your area? Any hams with repeaters and stuff? Google them and see if any are close.

 

[03msc]

Based on the database info here: Ouachita County, Arkansas (AR) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

...I would venture to guess the Sheriff Dept is mostly using DMR (DMRE...) and the analog is just a backup. Maybe that's why there's no traffic being heard.

As for the hospital, not sure. Depends on location, etc., as has been said.