New to Ham

[Benoit55]

Can someone please explain what frequency mode FM is and how it works. ...I'm very new and can't catch anything on that FM frequency. (Boafeng UV-5R)

Thank you

 

[WA0CBW]

FM (frequency modulation) is a type of modulation. It is the same type as used on your FM radio in your car or home radio. A frequency is the specific "channel" such as 146.52 Mhz or 442.600 MHz. Other types of modulation are AM (amplitude modulation or SSB (single side band modulation).
BB

 

[ladn]

Can someone please explain what frequency mode FM is and how it works. ...I'm very new and can't catch anything on that FM frequency. (Boafeng UV-5R)

Thank you[/QUOTE

Welcome to the hobby! If you already have a license, you may want to reread your licensing manual. If you do not yet have a license, this is a good time to get a licensing manual and start reading before using your UV-5R to transmit. Your Baofeng is an FM (only) two way radio that is capable of transmitting outside of established ham radio frequencies.

 

[jwt873]

You probably want to expand your question a bit.... "can't catch anything on that FM frequency." really doesn't do a good job of describing what you're trying to do. The radio only receives FM and it covers hundreds of frequencies.

What frequency are you tuned to? Who are you trying to hear? How far away are they?

Just for info.. 'Ham' is a nickname for a federally licensed amateur radio operator. (As a point of interest, the name ham has been in use for over 100 years).

To get the amateur or 'ham' license in most countries, you need to write technical exams. The U.S. entry exam is pretty easy.

The UV5Rs are sold as ham radios because hams are the only ones that can transmit with the radio legally. Despite that, UV5R's are used commonly as scanners because of their low price. But simply owning a UV5R doesn't make you a ham.

Hams will have federally issued call signs and will use the radio on the assigned 2 meter or 70cm bands.

 

[teufler]

many of the FM frequencies we could have monitored with the uv5's, are gonew as the owners have gone to trunking on 800 mhz. Some rural areas, have stuff that you can monitor. Many volunteer fire depts still have vhf fm , thats in the 150 mhz area. Some Highway Patrols are still in areas that can be monitored, believe Texas is one.

 

[K5MPH]

We might be able to help you more if we knew what part of Texas you are from.....

 

[nd5y]

Some Highway Patrols are still in areas that can be monitored, believe Texas is one.

Texas DPS is all P25 digital. No Baofeng radios can receive P25.