Setting up my UV-5R

[AD8NT]

I am a newly licensed tech and bought my first HT.
I bought the bare minimum only because at the moment, its all I can afford.

I have the Baofeng UV-5R, It has NFM and FM.....
When I load up anything via chirp the repeaters come down as FM... isn't that the same as WFM? and don't most repeaters use NFM?

I TX primarily on 70cm and 2m bands, I've only made one contact so far, the other ham complained of alot of noise, I don't know if that was due to my location or that I was on FM and not NFM...

Also I'm trying to figure out the proper khz spacing.. I'm set to 12.5KHz right now and live in north eastern Ohio, I hear different areas use different spacing?

I just don't want to piss off the seasoned hams with stupid mistakes, thanks for your time and support.

 

[K9WG]

Most all amateur repeaters use FM not NFM.


Spacing is not a concern on Amateur frequencies. Just set the radio to the correct frequency.

 

[N9HQ]

Check out the Yahoo Group "baofeng_uv5r". It is full of hints, tips and user guides.

 

[N8OHU]

I am a newly licensed tech and bought my first HT.
I bought the bare minimum only because at the moment, its all I can afford.

I have the Baofeng UV-5R, It has NFM and FM.....
When I load up anything via chirp the repeaters come down as FM... isn't that the same as WFM? and don't most repeaters use NFM?

I TX primarily on 70cm and 2m bands, I've only made one contact so far, the other ham complained of alot of noise, I don't know if that was due to my location or that I was on FM and not NFM...

Also I'm trying to figure out the proper khz spacing.. I'm set to 12.5KHz right now and live in north eastern ohio, I hear different areas use different spacing?

I just don't want to piss off the seasoned hams with stupid mistakes, thanks for your time and support.

We all make "stupid" mistakes as new operators, and we sometimes make them after being in the hobby for years.
Ill see if I can chat with you 9ne of these evenings on 146.715, probably around 6:30 pm, since that's about the time I'm in range of the repeater with the radio I carry with me.
Matthew Pitts
N8OHU

 

[mancow]

Use 5kHz steps for Vhf, 12.5 or 25 for Uhf
Regular FM is fine. Few amateur repeaters are narrow FM.
The standard offset for Vhf is 0.600. The standard offset for Uhf is 5.000. Things can vary but 99% or more will follow that standard.

I am a newly licensed tech and bought my first HT.
I bought the bare minimum only because at the moment, its all I can afford.

I have the Baofeng UV-5R, It has NFM and FM.....
When I load up anything via chirp the repeaters come down as FM... isn't that the same as WFM? and don't most repeaters use NFM?

I TX primarily on 70cm and 2m bands, I've only made one contact so far, the other ham complained of alot of noise, I don't know if that was due to my location or that I was on FM and not NFM...

Also I'm trying to figure out the proper khz spacing.. I'm set to 12.5KHz right now and live in north eastern ohio, I hear different areas use different spacing?

I just don't want to piss off the seasoned hams with stupid mistakes, thanks for your time and support.

 

[AD8NT]

Thanks mancow, I wasn't sure what stepping to use at all

FM for repeaters, got it..
What about simplex?

 

[N8OHU]

Simplex would be the same as for repeaters; the main difference is there won't be an offset programmed for simplex.

Matthew Pitts
N8OHU

 

[W2NJS]

Buy an ARRL Repeater Directory. Almost everything you need to know about repeaters is in it, as well as most of the repeaters themselves.

 

[AD8NT]

Thanks guys, I kept being told repeatedly that I should only use nfm.. but any time I looked at repeaters they said fm.

Just bad information I guess, thanks again

 

[MTS2000des]

NFM refers to narrowband deviation and IF bandwidth, required if you're using your UV-5R on commercial (part 90) frequencies, but ham is exempt, and most repeaters and simplex operations are 5KHz wide deviation. Narrowband (2.5KHz wide) is what the commercial world is being forced to (by Jan 2013).

your UV-5R is a type certified LMR radio. I've got one of these and I have to say I am very impressed, for a $50 radio- no, it isn't an APX7000, but for what it is, it does it well.

Chirp is great BTW.

 

[kb2vxa]

Bad info is right, with NFM your transmit audio is low and received signals may sound distorted due to the bandwidth difference. Just to clear up a possible misunderstanding, the FCC rule regarding bandwidth specifies a maximum +/- 5KHz frequency deviation from center carrier, that is frequency without modulation. This results in an occupied bandwidth of 10KHz maximum.

Just to be on the safe side transmitters come from the factory preset to +/- 4KHz or 8KHz maximum bandwidth and those who "roll their own" use that as standard.

The WFM setting often confuses newcomers, it applies to receive only and is used to properly receive FM broadcast stations where applicable. I never heard of a ham rig having such FM broadcast band receive capabilities but it's fairly common with scanners so don't confuse it with a specialized function that applies to ATV on 70cM. HUH? You're just starting out so one step at a time, we can get to the finer points of ham radio when you're ready.

 

[chooch352]

can I use my baofeng uv5r to listen to the railroad? chooch352@yahoo.com