Baofeng RX-only advantages

[nanZor]

Is there any advantage to disabling transmit on a Baofeng / Pofung or similar? (yes).

And that is - by not being concerned with antenna efficiency for transmit, you can reduce front-end problems by purposely using an inefficient antenna solely for receive in high-rf dense areas.

First, one can simply not push the PTT. OR, you can use something like the Btech GMRS-1 which locks out transmit by default in the frequency mode. OR, if nothing else you can use Chirp software: (full discussion of Chirp elsewhere)

Settings > Other Settings
VHF TX enabled <-- disable it
UHF TX enabled <-- disable it

Example: with my triband Baoefeng which comes with 2 antennas - one for the 220 (1.25cm band) and another for vhf/uhf, purposely using the 220 mhz antenna for monitoring in my rf-dense area on vhf/uhf, results in a much quieter noise floor and the systems I monitor sound just fine. AND, I don't need to worry about burning up my power output transistors with the wrong antenna since I've locked myself into rx-only.

Another antenna I use is what I think is a small Kenwood business-band stubby only a few inches long. (I'll have to check, not sure if it's a kenwood). I really don't care what the frequency tuning is, the Baofeng's front end seems to have no problem, even on VHF stuff I listen to.

Thing is, sdr receivers by nature have a lower noise floor than do analog receivers in general. But without a good front end, that can expose *more* gremlins and other junk to deal with. Since the Baofengs don't have attenuators like scanners do, the only option is to make your antenna INefficient. What you may find is that this front-end with a seemingly inefficient antenna, a better performer in the rx-world.

In other words, in my area, using a 4-foot long "tactical" antenna is WORSE for the Baofeng's front end, than using a real inefficient stubby. For me, less is more!

Scanning? Sure, it doesn't lock up on so much household junk - but for the most part, if you want to scan use the right tool for that - an actual scanner.

Just wanted to point this out for any new users who aren't really interested in transmitting. With that concern out of the way, you may find that smaller stubbies (even 800 mhz types if they actually fit) are ok for rx-only purposes depending. Experiment!

 

[prcguy]

If I can make a comparison... it sounds like someone trying to use a shaver designed for a human face to sheer sheep and its not working out very well. So you starve your sheep and now their wool is very thin and you can then sheer them with the tiny shaver. Problem solved, or is it? I would rather get the right tool for the right job like a receiver that works ok in a high RF environment with any antenna you want.

BTW, SDR receivers do not by nature have a lower noise floor than analog receivers. It depends on a lot of things like how many bits is the A/D? An old analog receiver might have 80dB dynamic range but an SDR with an 8 bit A/D might have 50dB at best which is going to impact its noise floor.

Is there any advantage to disabling transmit on a Baofeng / Pofung or similar? (yes).

And that is - by not being concerned with antenna efficiency for transmit, you can reduce front-end problems by purposely using an inefficient antenna solely for receive in high-rf dense areas.

First, one can simply not push the PTT. OR, you can use something like the Btech GMRS-1 which locks out transmit by default in the frequency mode. OR, if nothing else you can use Chirp software: (full discussion of Chirp elsewhere)

Settings > Other Settings
VHF TX enabled <-- disable it
UHF TX enabled <-- disable it

Example: with my triband Baoefeng which comes with 2 antennas - one for the 220 (1.25cm band) and another for vhf/uhf, purposely using the 220 mhz antenna for monitoring in my rf-dense area on vhf/uhf, results in a much quieter noise floor and the systems I monitor sound just fine. AND, I don't need to worry about burning up my power output transistors with the wrong antenna since I've locked myself into rx-only.

Another antenna I use is what I think is a small Kenwood business-band stubby only a few inches long. (I'll have to check, not sure if it's a kenwood). I really don't care what the frequency tuning is, the Baofeng's front end seems to have no problem, even on VHF stuff I listen to.

Thing is, sdr receivers by nature have a lower noise floor than do analog receivers in general. But without a good front end, that can expose *more* gremlins and other junk to deal with. Since the Baofengs don't have attenuators like scanners do, the only option is to make your antenna INefficient. What you may find is that this front-end with a seemingly inefficient antenna, a better performer in the rx-world.

In other words, in my area, using a 4-foot long "tactical" antenna is WORSE for the Baofeng's front end, than using a real inefficient stubby. For me, less is more!

Scanning? Sure, it doesn't lock up on so much household junk - but for the most part, if you want to scan use the right tool for that - an actual scanner.

Just wanted to point this out for any new users who aren't really interested in transmitting. With that concern out of the way, you may find that smaller stubbies (even 800 mhz types if they actually fit) are ok for rx-only purposes depending. Experiment!

 

[nanZor]

Well of course it depends on a lot of things - get an Icom R30 or 8600 and call it a night.

But what if all you have is a Baofeng? Like scanners with front-ends that usually are not as robust as a receiver, a common technique to handle the front end was to use attenuation, or a less efficient antenna if all you are concerned with is reception in an rf-dense environment.

I don't know, I just thought my experiences might help someone who might think that getting a 4 foot long gain antenna is the way to go in NYC, whereas a stubby might be the better option. It's kind of why I posted in the budget transceiver forum with a Baofeng header, and not the sdr forum in the first place.

Guys - what's happening to RR? Maybe I'm getting too sensitive in my old age. It just seems like everything turns into a technical argument (and yes, I AM guilty of that), dissuading anyone from trying to help without having a doctorate in RF or being an exacting technical writer.

Time for me to take a break - maybe a long one - I gather nobody will miss me either. What's that - the door just hit me in the ass!

 

[prcguy]

Sorry, maybe its a lack of sensitivity on my side. I've got a few Baofengs and have experienced the overload you described and don't use them any more because of that. When a radio lets me down, sometimes even the slightest, I have no problem tossing it in the trash can or giving it away on the spot and buying something else but I forget that many people are not in a position to do that and want to make the best with what they already have.

Sharing your experiences is a great way for others to get the most out of their equipment and I've done all those things you mentioned and more, taking it to the extreme in the past.

Well of course it depends on a lot of things - get an Icom R30 or 8600 and call it a night.

But what if all you have is a Baofeng? Like scanners with front-ends that usually are not as robust as a receiver, a common technique to handle the front end was to use attenuation, or a less efficient antenna if all you are concerned with is reception in an rf-dense environment.

I don't know, I just thought my experiences might help someone who might think that getting a 4 foot long gain antenna is the way to go in NYC, whereas a stubby might be the better option. It's kind of why I posted in the budget transceiver forum with a Baofeng header, and not the sdr forum in the first place.

Guys - what's happening to RR? Maybe I'm getting too sensitive in my old age. It just seems like everything turns into a technical argument (and yes, I AM guilty of that), dissuading anyone from trying to help without having a doctorate in RF or being an exacting technical writer.

Time for me to take a break - maybe a long one - I gather nobody will miss me either. What's that - the door just hit me in the ass!

 

[KevinC]

Sorry, maybe its a lack of sensitivity on my side. I've got a few Baofengs and have experienced the overload you described and don't use them any more because of that. When a radio lets me down, sometimes even the slightest, I have no problem tossing it in the trash can or giving it away on the spot and buying something else but I forget that many people are not in a position to do that and want to make the best with what they already have.

Sharing your experiences is a great way for others to get the most out of their equipment and I've done all those things you mentioned and more, taking it to the extreme in the past.

Don't expect a reply, he took his ball and left for some reason.