Programming BaoFeng UV-5r to Repeater

[Shane2016]

Hello everyone. I am no newbie to programming my radio to work with commercial repeaters for work. However, today I am facing a new challenge. My job utilizes a Vertex Standard radio system to communicate however, I have a Baofeng UV-5r which seems to be compatible with their repeater.

I purchased a programming cable for the Vertex Standard VX-800u radio and acquired the programming for our repeater and the other repeaters here on campus. My only issue is that I am unable to successfully TX or RX after manually programming my radio.

In CE31 I have the RX and TX which work fine. However, I am unsure exactly what is meant by Dec and Enc: for these numbers it shows type DCS --> Dec: 031 and Enc: 031. Would this mean the receive digital carrier squelch (R-DCS) are D031N and transmit carrier squelch (T-DCS) are D031N on my baofeng?


Thank you.

 

[nd5y]

Would this mean the receive digital carrier squelch (R-DCS) are D031N and transmit carrier squelch (T-DCS) are D031N on my baofeng?

That would be most likely be correct. Enc is encode (transmit) and Dec is decode (receive). If it doesn't work you could try inverted codes D031I in the Baofeng.

 

[Shane2016]

Which menu option do I select for invert codes? So programming both tx and rx DCS codes are correct?

Sent from my LGUS997 using Tapatalk

 

[nd5y]

Which menu option do I select for invert codes?

On the Baofeng you select the DCS code and keep scrolling up or down until the N on the end of the code changes to I.

So programming both tx and rx DCS codes are correct?

I'm not sure what you mean by that. Program the codes the same as they are on the other radio first and see if it works. If it doesn't work then try inverted tx or rx or both on the Baofeng.

 

[Shane2016]

I got it to work. I programmed it by hand. However its terrible at receiving.

Sent from my LGUS997 using Tapatalk

 

[nd5y]

However its terrible at receiving.

Looks like you found out the hard way that Baofengs are junk.

 

[Shane2016]

What is comparable to a BaoFeng UV-5r in terms of features but that is under $200?

 

[nd5y]

There is a list of CCRs at https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Budget_and_Entry_Level_Transceivers.
I haven't used anything but Baofeng and Wouxun so I don't know what the others are like.
Probably most are about as bad.

Wouxun has some cheap models that are sold by several US companies.
KG-UVD1P, KG-UV2D, KG-UV3D, KG-UV5D are all the same radio sold by different vendors and cost around $90. They have better receivers than Baofeng because they don't use the transceiver-on-a-chip design but they are still not as good as Icom, Kenwood, Vertex or other lower end commercial radios.

 

[mmckenna]

What is comparable to a BaoFeng UV-5r in terms of features but that is under $200?

None, not for the low price of the BaoFeng's.

However understanding the limitations of the BaoFeng's is important to keep in mind if you are just looking at price.
-Minimal filtering means they'll frequently have issues in high RF noise environments.
-Low build quality means they won't stand up to the abuse of a higher tier radio.
-Questionable FCC certifications.
-Minimal manufacturer support.
-Disposable radio, if it breaks, you toss it and buy another.

On the other hand, if you get a higher tier radio (and by higher tier, I mean just about any other radio) that is band specific, you'll discover:
-Better filtering means greatly reduced interference.
-Better audio
-Much more durable.
-Lots of manufacturer support
-Radio that can be repaired.

I do not permit users to put these low tier Chinese radios on any of my radio systems. Since I'm responsible for those systems and their licenses, I have the ability to do that under FCC rules. There is someone at your place of employment that is responsible for the radio system, and you need to talk to them about adding radios to their system. Simply being an employee doesn't give you authorization to add equipment to their licensed radio system.

You can -easily- do better with a $200 budget. You can even find brand new radios that will work, and find them easily. The benefit to you (and your employer) is that you'll have a properly working radio, more durable, supportable, and better radio overall.

While the $25 radios are attractive to new users, most quickly learn that these radios are not a replacement for any true professional grade piece of equipment.

Avoid disappointment and invest in a good radio.

 

[SteveSimpkin]

What is comparable to a BaoFeng UV-5r in terms of features but that is under $200?

The Yaesu FT-65R is C omparable as in a dual band, 5 Watt HT. $140
https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/0065.html

 

[KC3ECJ]

Looks like you found out the hard way that Baofengs are junk.

The Baofeng UV-B5/6 is on par with the Motorola XPR3300e for UHF analog transmit and receive.
Get the same range out of them.

The only thing I found is NXDN will sometimes break through the CTCSS squelch on the Baofeng where it wont with the Motorola.

 

[KC3ECJ]

What is comparable to a BaoFeng UV-5r in terms of features but that is under $200?

Used?

A Kenwood maybe.

Just don't expect a VFO or dual band.

 

[mmckenna]

The Yaesu FT-65R is C omparable as in a dual band, 5 Watt HT. $140
https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/0065.html

Not suitable for commercial use, doesn't have FCC Part 90 certs. The OP was talking about using the radios at work.

Now, for Amateur radio only use, sure, that would be a good choice.

 

[SteveSimpkin]

Not suitable for commercial use, doesn't have FCC Part 90 certs. The OP was talking about using the radios at work.

Now, for Amateur radio only use, sure, that would be a good choice.

Oops. I forgot this was for commercial, Part 90 use.

 

[mmckenna]

Oops. I forgot this was for commercial, Part 90 use.

No problem. I'm sure the Baofengs are "good enough" for amateur use, but having had a bit of experience with them, I'd never waste my money on one.

 

[teufler]

might need a better antenna if you are having receive problems. something that caters to the the business frequencies you need.