Baofeng –Uv5R

Guide to Programming and Operating the

Radio

KARL KEMPF

2020
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Table of Contents:

INTRODUCTION
BAOFENG UV-5R EXPLAINED
THE CONTROLS
THE COMMANDS/KEYS AND BEYOND
THE DISPLAY
THE BASIC OPERATION OF THE RADIO
TURNING THE RADIO ON/OFF
ADJUSTING THE UNIT’S VOLUME
MAKING A CALL
SELECTING FREQUENCIES AND CHANNELS
Frequency Mode
Channel Mode
WORKING THE MENU
MENU ITEMS
USING SHORTCUTS
SCANNING
THE MODES OF SCANNING
TONE SCANNING
DUAL WATCH
ENABLE/DISABLE
LOCKING THE TRANSMIT
SIGNALING
SELECTIVE CALLING
CTCSS
DCSS
TONE-BURST
MANUAL PROGRAMMING
QUICK KEYPAD PROGRAMMING FOR HAM USE
PROGRAMMING MEMORIES AND CHANNELS
SIMPLEX CHANNELS
REPEATER CHANNELS
Repeater with Standard Offsets
Repeater with an Odd Split
DUPLEX CHANNELS
COMPUTER PROGRAMMING
INSTALLING THE USB CABLE AND A DISOFTWARE
PROGRAMMING WITH THE BAOFENG SOFTWARE
Adding Channels
 RADIO CLONING
CONCLUSION
Introduction
Congratulations on your new purchase of the Baofeng Uv-5R radio! This
dual band/dual display radio is fairly easy-to-use and will grant you access to
quick, secure and reliable communication. Whether you simply want to use it
between yourself and your friends to communicate as a walkie-talkie, are
looking to pursue a new hobby , or are no amateur to the world of HAM radio
and wish to broadcast your message as an operator, you have made a great
choice in the selection of Baofeng Uv-5R radio. . For a more than a fair price,
this two-way radio indeed serves its purposes, and this book is here to show
you how!

Like all new items, it does require a bit of a learning curve to truly master but
don’t worry, master it you shall in no time at all. As great and functional as it
is, Baofeng Uv-5R is, it can leave you scratching your head when you first
try it out. From basic features to advanced operations and programing, this
radio will require you to take the time to learn about all its different features
so that you can optimize its use! However, don’t be deterred, luckily for you
This is exactly why this book was written! You just need to skip the whole
this-thing-doesn’t-even-start phase, and have someone show you how to set
up, program, and use the Baofeng Uv-5R radio with ease.

Starting with the basics, this book will first explain the buttons, keys,
commands, and simplify the display in a much more helpful way than the
very boring and technical user manual. Then, we will move to more advanced
topics and explore the basic operations and functions of the radio so you can
get to know your new toy. After you have learned how to perform simple
operations with it, that’s when the real fun begins. Encompassing every topic
that you can possibly think of, this book is the only guide to programming
and operating your two-way radio you will ever need.

What are you waiting for? Jump to the first chapter and let’s explore different
frequencies!
Baofeng Uv-5R Explained: The Basics
Baofeng Uv-5R, or otherwise known as Pofung Uv-5R, is a dual-band FM
transceiver manufactured by Fujian Nan’an Baofeng Electronics Co. Ltd.
from China. This compact, portable hand-held and quite inexpensive two-
way radio transceiver is distributed in the US by Foscam Digital
Technologies LLC from Texas.

This popular walkie-talkie is created to transmit from 138 – 174 MHZ on the
2-meter band, and between 400 and 480 MHz on the 70 cm band. This
compact radio comes with a special VHF receive band between 65 and 108
MHz, including the expended FM broadcast band. In addition, this radio also
comes with a flexible ANT5 SMA – J antenna (that features a ‘male’ jack), a
battery BL – 5 LI-ion, wrist strap, a standard AC adapter (8.4 V 600 ma), belt
clip, earpiece and a tray that is drop-in charging. On top of all that, the radio
also has a 128-channel capacity!

Before you can use your shiny and new walkie-talkie, you will first need to
download the appropriate software and in addition purchase the USB-02
cable to program it. Once that’s done, you are ready to set-up your radio to
your liking with the help of the instructions provided in this book.

Note: Please keep in mind that this dual-band radio is not the best amateur
starter radio as it is certified under FCC part 90, meaning that the way in
which this radio operates is much different than the equipment of other
amateur radios you may be more familiar with. This is mainly due to the fact
that Baofeng UV-5R is not as frequency-friendly as other radios and the
frequencies here are best optimized when they are programmed into the
radio’s memory, then operated in the channelized mode.

The Controls
The Baofeng Uv-5R you will see that it has quite a few buttons, knobs and
switches which may seem a bit overwhelming at first. Do not be discouraged,
they are actually there for your convenience! This book will tell you exactly
what each and every one of them does, and you’ll be a pro in no-time! Now
once you have unpacked your new transceiver, compare your Baofeng UV-
5R to the picture below. You should have 18 operation and movable units in
all. Take this time with the help of the below diagram to learn and memorize
the controls on your new radio.

Note: Be sure to check that you have acquired all the items before discarding
any packaging material, and that they are not missing or damaged as can
sometimes be the case with shipment.

Photo source: VHF/UHF FM Transceiver User’s Manual via www.baofengtech.com

1. The antenna
2. A flashlight (LED)
3. The knob for the volume (ON/OFF)
4. An LCD display
5. SK-side key 1 for CALL (radio, alarm)
6. SK-side key 2 for MONI (monitor, flashlight)
7. The Push-to-Talk (PTT) key
8. The frequency mode / channel mode (VFO/MR)
9. The LED indicator
10. A strap buckle
11. The accessory jack
12. The switches (A/B key) for the frequency display
13. The band switches (BAND key)
 14. The keypad
15. The speaker and microphone
16. The battery pack
17. The battery contacts

18. The Battery removal button

Command and Keys

The Baofeng UV-5R is designed for optimal functionality with the comfort of
being a hand-held device. It has been designed for maximum function in the
unit, all neatly maintained in the comfort of your hand.

Push-to-Talk or PTT – If you want to transmit a message, just press

down and hold the PTT button. You will begin to receive any incoming
transmitting when the button is released.

SK - SIDE KEY 1 [CALL] – Activation of the FM radio is done by

pressing the CALL button. To de-activate, simply press again. Pressing and
holding will activate the ALARM function. Pressing and holding again will
de-activate the ALARM function

SK - SIDE KEY 2 [MONI] – Pressing the MONI button will activate the
flashlight, pressing it again will turn the flashlight off. Pressing and holding
the MONI button will allow you to monitor the signal.

[BAND] Button – To switch the BAND display, just press the BAND
button. While the FM radio is activated, pressing the BAND button can
switch the FM’s BAND.

[VFO/MR] Button – A press of this button switches the channel mode as

well as the frequency mode.

[A/B] Button –Pressing to switch the frequency display.

[*SCAN] Key – Pressing down on this key will activate the REVERSE
function, meaning that this button exchanges transmission frequency and a
separate reception.
Holding down on it for two seconds will allow you to scan the frequencies
and channels.

While FM radio is activated, pressing it will allow you to search for FM

stations.

Tip: Press the *SCAN button while setting your RX CTCSS/DSS and you will
start the scanning for RX CTCSS/DSS.

KEY – Pressing the key while the Baofeng Uv-5R is in channel

mode, will allow you to switch between the HIGH and LOW transmit power.

Pressing and holding the and for 2 seconds will enable you to lock/unlock
the keypad.
Numeric Keypad –The numeric keyboard allows you to program the list
of the radio, as well as the non-standard CTCSS.

Putting the Uv-5R in a transmission mode, enables a signal code to be sent

when the numeric key is pressed (which should be set by PC software)

The secondary functions of the keys are printed next to the numbers.

Photo source: VHF/UHF FM Transceiver User’s Manual via www.baofengtech.com

Function Keypad

If you press the [MENU] key, you can enter the menu as well as confirm
settings.

Pressing the UP and DOWN keys allows you to scroll for frequency. Pressing
and holding either the UP or DOWN key will increase the speed of scrolling.
The [EXIT] key is used to clear, cancel or exit.

Status LED – The status LED is traditionally designed and therefore fairly
straight forward. A green signal indicates that you are receiving a signal,
while a red display is an indicator that you are transmitting one. The radio is
in stand-by mode when it is OFF.

Battery Indicator – Also very simple, indicating the amount of charge left in
the battery. When it is time for you to charge the transmitter, the radio will
begin beeping and a display flash will indicate the critically low level.

The Accessory Jack is actually a 2-pin design that is Kenwood compatible.

It has two plugs that are spaced 12mm apart – one being a 3.5mm TRS plug,
and the other one is a 2.5mm TS plug.

Photo source: “Baofeng Uv-5R – The (Chinese) Radio Documentation Project” by Lennnart Lindberg
via www.buytwowayradios.com

The Display
The LCD display is small screen that very adequately shows quite a few
features. When certain features are activated, they become visible as icons on
the radio’s display.
 Photo source: VHF/UHF FM Transceiver User’s Manual via www.baofengtech.com

Here is a breakdown of what is being indicated on the display:

-

1. The strength of the signal

2. LOW transmitting power
3. Either the Dual Watch or Dual Reception are enabled
4. The function VOX is activated
5. The frequency direction that helps you access repeaters
6. Reverse function is enabled
7. The Wide Band is selected
8. The function for keypad lock is active
9. Battery life
10. The operating channel
11. The active frequency
12. The operation frequency
13. DCS is activated
14. CTCSS is activated

Note: Pressing and holding the [PTT] followed by the [BAND] button will
transmit a 1750Hz tone. The enables you to establish long distance
communication as the radio repeater will be activated after receiving a
1750Hz tone.
Operation the Radio: The Basics
This chapter will give you the basic knowledge you need to start operating
your amateur radio. Before we proceed and start tackling some basic usage,
double check that your device is actually properly set-up. Check to make sure
that the battery is charged and that the antenna is installed correctly. You may
want to reference your user manual before we begin.

Turning the Radio On/Off

To turn the radio on, simply rotate the power/volume knob clockwise fully
until you hear a ‘click’. To turn it off simply rotate counterclockwise until
you hear it ‘click’.

Photo source: VHF/UHF FM Transceiver User’s Manual via www.baofengtech.com

Once powered on, your device should also ‘beep’ and the backlight of the
display should be lit. It should resemble the picture below:
Photo source: “Baofeng Uv-5R – The (Chinese) Radio Documentation Project” by Lennnart Lindberg
via www.buytwowayradios.com

Good to Know:
Pressing and holding the [3] key while turning the knob clockwise, your radio
will tell you the firmware version.

Pressing and holding the [6] key and simultaneously turning the radio on,
your radio will display the unit’s hardware revision number and date of
manufacturing.

Adjusting the Unit’s Volume

You can easily adjust the volume of your radio to your liking with the help of
the power/volume knob Clockwise increases the volume and turning it in the
opposite direction decreases it. Just be sure not to turn it off by twisting too
far.

Placing a Call
To make a call, simply press and hold the Push-to-Talk [PTT] button. For a
good quality transmitting, make sure to speak about 3-5 cm (about 1.5 – 2
inches) from the microphone.

Remember, you are only transmitting while pressing and holding down the
button. Once released the radio automatically goes back to receiving mode.
Selecting Channels and Frequencies
The radio has TWO operational modes – Frequency mode or VFO mode and
Channel (Memory) or MR mode.

The channel mode is more common for everyday use, however the VFO
mode is extremely practical if you want to experiment a bit when on the field.
This mode is also used for programming channels into memory, which we
will discuss further in this book.

Both modes are great for transmitting and receiving communications. It all
comes down to your own personal preferences and usage, so go ahead and try
them out to see which one works best for you!

Frequency Mode
TheUP and DOWN arrows allow for easy navigation, and with each press
you will either increment or decrement the frequency, which is shown on
your display.

You can also insert the frequency number directly on the keypad. Keep in
mind that the radio will automatically floor to that frequency which is nearest
to you. That is why when inputting frequencies with resolution over 1kHz, it
is recommended to round up the frequency number.

Frequencies are entered in 6 digits, i.e. 157687 or 477240.

Channel Mode
Your radio cannot operate in channel mode if you have not programmed in
the channels to use. This is also something that will be discussed a little
further on as well.

Once programmed, simply scroll through the channels using the UP and
DOWN buttons, until you select the one that you want.

Channels are entered in three digits, i.e. 012, 116, etc.

Operating the Menu
Pressing the MENU button, will as we mentioned earlier, display the menu
system. It is super user friendly and easy to operate.

1. Press MENU to enter.

2. Use the UP and DOWN arrows to navigate between the items and
select the desired one (there are 40 menu items in total – see
below).

3. Pressing MENU again will select the item.

4. Now, it is time for you to select the parameter. You can do so with
the UP and DOWN arrows.

5. Once the parameter has been selected pressing MENU will

confirm it or you can use the EXIT button and make changes by
cancelling your selection and going back.

Menu Items
As I’ve previously mentioned, there are 40 different MENU items. Knowing
their exact purpose and number will help you use your radio much more
conveniently and efficiently. Save yourself sometime between navigating all
40 of them in order to find the one you want. You can simply input the
desired number to fast track any changes you wish to make at that time. You
should easily get the hang of the menu items the more you use your radio.

Here is a list of the 40 menu items that are available:

#0: SQL – Squelch Level

This is used in for the selection of the noise threshold.

The values for the squelch level range from 0 to 9, where 0 indicates that the
squelch level is fully open. Your radio has a default value set at 3.
#1: STEP – Step of Frequency

The regular intervals of the change of frequency are called frequency steps.
The amount of frequency changes with the use of UP and DOWN arrows, but
this can also be done when scanning for VFO mode.

Key Values
0 2.5 kHz
1 5.0 kHz
2 6.25 kHz
3 10.0 kHz
4 12.5 kHz
5 25.0 kHz

The default Frequency step of a new UV-5R is 5 or 25.0 kHz.

#2: TXP- Transmit Power

Transmit power is only available in Frequency mode. If your radio is on MR

mode, the transmit power will then be set to the level that is programmed in
the corresponding memory.

Transmit Power has two levels:

- HIGH, approximately about 4 W, with the corresponding key being 0.

- LOW, approximately 1 W, with the corresponding key being 1.

The default setting of your unit is HIGH transmit power.

#3: SAVE – Battery Save

This represents the receiver’s sampling ratio for spotting a signal, which is
basically a ‘sleep ratio’.

These values range from 1 to 4. The higher the number the greater the
increase in the RX cycle, however, this increases the chance of missing out a
couple of syllables even before the signal opens.

This ratio can also be turned OFF.

The default value of your unit is 3.

#4: VOX – Voice Operated Transmission

The VOX switch operates when a sound is detected when a certain threshold
is met. This can be used in place of the PTT button to save storage space, as
VOX is also used as a transmitter and/or recorder.

The sensitivity of VOX can be adjusted with values ranging from 1 to 10.

The default setting of your unit is OFF

#5: W/N – Wideband/Narrowband

This allows the maximum band deviation to be set. There are two values:

- WIDE (5 kHz). The corresponding key is 0.

- NARROW (2.5 kHz). The corresponding key is 1.

FCC part 90 radios has to be switched to NARROW in the US. However, this
does not affect amateur radios. In fact, the WIDE value is recommended as
the setting in the beginning.

#6: ABR – Display Illumination Time

This setting is used to select the time you wish your display to stay
illuminated, ranging from 1 to 5 seconds.
The default setting of your unit is OFF, which allows for a longer battery life

#7: TDR – Dual Watch

When the dual watch is ON, this allows for simultaneously monitoring of 2
different frequencies. The values are 1 for ON and 2 for OFF.

The default setting of this function is OFF.

#8: BEEP – Keypad Beep

If you like (or don’t) the keypad to emit a sound any time a key is pressed,
you can select the option in the MENU. If you want it to be ON, the key is 1.
For OFF, the key is 0.

#9: TOT – Timer for the Time-Out of Transmission

After the set time for transmission runs out, your radio will let you know that
the time is up. The range to select from is between 15 – 600 seconds (in 15
second increments).

The default time of your unit is one minute or 60 seconds.

You can use this formula to help you set the value: (T – 15) / 15 = X. For
instance, if you want the time to be 240 seconds, the value that you have to
enter is 15. 240 – 15 / 15 = 15.

#10: R – DCS – Receiver DCS

DCS stands for Digital-Coded Squelch. The function of the DCS is to block
those signals which don’t align with the DCS code.

The DCS codes are as follows:

Photo source: “Baofeng Uv-5R – The (Chinese) Radio Documentation Project” by Lennnart Lindberg
via www.buytwowayradios.com

To set the R-DCS receiver OFF, enter 000. The default setting of your unit is
also OFF.
#11: R – CTCS – Receiver CTCSS

CTCS stands for Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System. This receiver

blocks those signals that are not in sync with the CTCSS sub-tones.

The CTCSS frequencies range is 67 – 254.1. you can use the table below as a
reference:
Photo source: “Baofeng Uv-5R – The (Chinese) Radio Documentation Project” by Lennnart Lindberg
via www.buytwowayradios.com

#12: T – DCS – Transmitter DCS

This item sets the DCS codes for the transmitter, which you can find in a
table above on the previous pages.

The value ranges from D023N to D754I. This item is turned OFF by default.

#13: T – CTCS – Transmitter CTCSS

This sets the CTCSS sub-tones for the transmitter. Again, you can use the
table on the previous pages for reference.
The range is 67.0 to 254.1, and this is also turned OFF by default.

#14: VOICE – Voice Prompt

This setting allows your radio respond back to you meaning that the unit will
give you audible confirmations.

You can enable it by pressing 1 for English and 2 for Chinese. If you want to
turn it OFF, just press 0.

#15: ANI – ID – An Automatic ID Number

This is used primarily in commercial applications as its main function is to

alert the dispatchers of the keyed field radio.

The default value is 80808

Note: This can only be set by PC software

#16: DTMFST – DTMF Tone of Transmit Code

This determines when there are DTMF codes heard through your radio’s
speaker.

OFF – No tones detected

DT – ST – Only the DTMF codes that have been manually set are detected

ANI – ST – Only the automatically keyed codes are detected

DT + ANI – All of the DTMF codes are detected

#17: S-Code – Signal Code

The signal code is what sets your transceiver to some of the 15 group ID
codes. The default value is 1.

Note: This function also can only be set using PC software and that you
cannot set the signal code if you are in MR mode.

#18: SC – REV – Scanner Resume Method

Sets the scanner’s behavior after detecting frequencies. There are three
different ways to do this:

1. Time Operation (TO) – The scanner resumes after the set time
2. Carrier Operation (CO) – The scanner resumes after the signal
disappears
3. Search Operation (SO) – The scanner keeps the detected active
frequency

The default setting is of your unit is TO.

#19: PTT – ID – When to Send the Code (Delay the signal code sending)

This is set when the PTT-ID codes are:

Beginning of Transmit (BOT) – key value 1

End of Transmit (EOT) – key value 2
Both BOT and EIT (BOTH) – key value 3
OFF – key value 0

Note: if you are in Channel mode, you will not be able to see PTT – ID.

#20: PTT – LT – Signal Code Sending Delay

This is the time delay before sending the PTT-LT code. The time range that
can be set range from 0 to 30 minutes, the default being 5.

#21: MDF – A – Channel Mode A Display

This menu selection sets the upper display to display mode.

CH (Channel Number) – The key is 0

NAME (Channel Name) – The key is 1
FREQ (Frequency) – The key is 2

The default is FREQ.

#22: MDF – B –B Display for Channel Mode

This sets the display mode to the lower display. The values remain the same
is in A display.

#23: BCL – Busy Channel Lock-Out

When enabled it prevents you from transmitting on the frequencies that are
active.

Press 1 to turn it ON and 2 to turn it OFF. The default setting is OFF.

#24: AUTOLK – Automatic Keypad Lock

The keypad will automatically lock after 8 seconds of inactivity. Press 1 to

turn it ON and 2 to turn it OFF.

#25: SFT – D – Frequency Shift

This represents the direction of the frequency shift and enables access to
those repeaters that are in a Frequency mode:

+ (TX Frequency = RX + OFFSET) – The key is 1

- (TX Frequency = RX – OFFSET) – The key is 2
0 – OFF

#26: OFFSET – Frequency Shift Amount

This is the amount of the frequency shift. It specifies the difference between
RX and TX. The values (in MHz) are between 00.000 – 69.000.

The offset frequency is entered in 10 MHz, be careful not to forget the

leading zeroes. For example, a 400kHz shit should be entered as [0] [0] [6],
whereas a shift of 3MHz should be [0] [2]

#27: MEM – CH – Store a Memory Channel

This stores channel information in memory slot of your unit. The values that
can be entered are between 000 – 127.

#28: DEL – CH – Delete a Memory Channel

This removes channel information from the memory slot. The values are as
above, between 000 – 127.
#29: WT – LED – Display Back-Light Color, Standby

Illumination display color of standby.

Blue – Key 1
Orange – Key 2
Purple – Key 3
Off – Key 0

The default of your unit is Purple.

#30: RX – LED – Display Back-Light Color, Receive

Illumination display color of reception.

Values are same as above.

#31: TX – LED – Display Back-Light Color, Transmit

Illuminati display color of transmission, values remain unchanged.

#32: AL – MOD – Alarm Mode

TONE – Sounds the alarm only through the speaker - key is 1

CODE – This only transmits a 5-seconds and then it is followed by a Morse -
key is 2
SITE – The sound is cycling through the air - the key is 0

The default setting of your radio is SITE.

#33: BAND – Band Selection

To select VHF press 0

To select UHF press 1
The default value is VHF.

#34: TDR – AB – Transmit Selection While in Dual Watch Mode

This forces the unit to transmit on the selected frequency when it is in Dual
Watch mode.
A – Upper Display - key is 1
B – Lower Display - key is 2
OFF – key is 0

The default setting is OFF.

#35: STE – Elimination of Squelch Tail

You can enable this by pressing 1, press 0 to disable.

#36: RP – STE – Elimination of Squelch Tail (Repeater)

The values range from.1-10 with the option of OFF as well. The default value
is 5.

#37: RPTL – RL – Delay the Squelch Tail of Repeater

The values are from 1 to 10 and the default is OFF.

#38: PONMGS – Power on Message

This displays a 2-line message on the display.

FULL – The entire LCD flashes, key is 0

MSG – A 2-line message is displayed, key is 1

The default value is MSG.

#39: ROGER – Roger Beep

This transmits a tone after you release the PTT. The default setting is OFF
(key 0), but you can easily turn this ON by pressing 1.

#40: RESET – Restore Defaults

This resets the unit to its factory settings with the exception of “The VIP
Band Limits” and “The Power on Message”.

VFO – Reset the VFO settings only - key is 0

ALL – Total Reset - key is 1
Using Shortcuts
What’s great about Baofeng UV-5R is that it is user-friendly. You should
have a pretty good feel for your radio about now and have hopefully had the
time to go through and to better understand the various settings. All of the
previously mentioned menu items have numbers that can be used for a direct
access of those settings. Using these shortcuts couldn’t be simpler:

1. Pressing the MENU enables you access to the 40 menu items.

2. You can use the numerical keypad instead of scrolling to access

the functions you wish to modify quicker.

3. Press MENU again to access the submenu functions.

4. Use the UP and DOWN arrows to enter the parameter or enter the
KEY for the desired value.

5. Press MENU to confirm or choose EXIT to cancel the changes.

Scanning
To be honest, Baofeng Uv5R doesn’t exactly have a reputation when it comes
to being a good scanner. It can only scan three frequencies per a second
which isn’t as fast as some other radios, however, scanning is an extremely
useful feature that every HAM user will deeply appreciate.

This radio is equipped with a built-in scanner that uses both UHF and VHF
bands. When in VFO mode it scans the steps according to your frequency
step. When in MR mode, it scans through your channels.

Just press and hold the [*SCAN] key for two seconds to enable and the
scanning will begin. If you want to terminate scanning mode, simply press
EXIT at any time.

The Modes of Scanning

Your radio’s scanner can be configured to three operations as mentioned
earlier – TO (Time Operation) mode, CO (Carrier Operation) mode, and SO
(Search Operation). For any of these operations to work, the scanner mode
has to be enabled first in the menu as follows:

1. Enter your menu by pressing the MENU key.

2. Use the shortcut number to the SC-REV (Scanner Resume

Method) in your menu, which is 18. Press [1] [8] to get there.

3. Press MENU to select the SC-REV.

4. Use the UP and DOWN arrows to select the scanning mode.

5. Once you find the one you wish to select, press MENU again.

6. Finally, press EXIT.

The three options for your scanner are as follows:

1. To stop when a signal is detected, then resumes scanning after a set

 time –Time Operation

2. To stop after detecting a signal and automatically resume scanning

after that signal is lost – Carrier Operation.

3. To simply stop the scanning completely after detecting the signal

–Search Operation.

Note: The scanning here will not resume automatically. If you wish to resume
scanning, you will have to manually press and hold [*SCAN] for two seconds
and go through the process again.

Tone Scanning
You can scan for the CTCSS sub-tones and the DCS codes in both frequency
and channel modes. The only difference is that in channel mode they cannot
be saved. If you want to save the detected tone or code, make sure that you
are in Frequency (VFO) mode.

Scanning for tones and codes:

1. Enter the menu by pressing the MENU key.

2. Enter [1] [0] for DCS codes or [1] [1] to scan for the CTCSS tones.

3. Press the MENU key to select the desired option.

4. Press the [*SCAN] key. You will notice that the DCS or CTS will
immediately start flashing on your display as soon as the scanning
begins. When your radio locates and active tone or code, the radio
will notify you with a beep, and the display will stop flashing.

5. To confirm, press the [*SCAN] key.

6. Press EXIT to exit the menu.

Keep in mind:
If you wish to establish communications with another radio upon finding the
settings (DCS or CTCSS) that it is transmitting with, you have to configure
your transmit so it matches the receive DCS or CTCSS that your scanner set.
Dual Watch
Luckily for you, you don’t have to buy a Dual Receive radio (a radio that has
two receivers) if you wish to monitor two channels. Although this is indeed a
great way of monitoring different channels at the same time, there is a
simpler and cheaper method, and it involves nothing but your ordinary
Baofeng Uv-5R.

This radio is equipped with a Dual Watch functionality which is a feature that
allows you to watch two frequencies at the same time. Of course, ‘at the same
time’ doesn’t exactly mean at the exact same time. It Allows you to monitor
two different frequencies at fixed intervals and kind of go back and forth
between them. Once active, the Dual Watch will lock its transmit to one of
the two frequencies that you are monitoring.

Keep in mind:

When the Dual Watch mode is active, there are some functions that are not
available:

- You are not able to use the reverse function while on Dual Watch
- You are not able to use the key to shift from High to Low transmit
power and vice versa.

You can save duplex channels only if you know the TX frequency. You
cannot use the Reverse function to find out the frequency, but If you just
enter the TX frequency into the VFO, you will not have a problem.

Enable/Disable
Enabling/Disabling the Dual Watch mode:

1. Enter the menu by pressing the MENU key.

2. Press [7] to get to the Dual Watch menu.

3. Press MENU again to select.

 4. You can enable or disable the Dual Watch mode with the UP and
DOWN arrows, or you can press [1] for ENABLE and [0] for
DISABLE.

5. Press MENU again to confirm.

6. Hit EXIT to exit the menu.

Locking the Transmit

The Baofeng Uv-5R is designed that when one of the two channels become
active, it immediately begins to transmit on the active channel. This might
seem convenient but can cause trouble especially if one of the two
frequencies is illegal to transmit on.

Fortunately, this radio offers you the convenient option of locking the
transmit to one of the frequencies.

Here is how:

1. Enter the menu by pressing the MENU key.

2. Press [3][4] to go to TDR-AB (Transmit Selection While in the

Dual Watch Mode).

3. Press the MENU key to select

4. Using the UP and DOWN arrows, choose A (upper display) or B

(lower display). You can also use the keys by pressing [1] for A
and [2] for B.

5. Hit the MENU key to select the display.

6. Press EXIT to exit the menu.

Signaling
The recommended method for signaling is DTMF, since it uses, for any code,
same dual and sinusoidal signals. While DTMF has been primarily developed
for telephone systems, it is now a versatile and much needed tool for many
different areas. When it comes to the two-way radios, the DTMF signaling
method is mainly used for remote-control and automation systems. This is
especially useful for the amateur radio repeaters when some of them are
activated when a DTMF sequence is sent.

Here is a table with the DTMF frequencies and their corresponding codes:
1209 Hz 1336 Hz 1477 Hz 1633 Hz
697 Hz 1 2 3 A
770 Hz 4 5 6 B
852 Hz 7 8 9 C
941 Hz * 0 # D

This radio has a full implementation of this signaling method.

You can match the DTMF codes thanks to the keys on the numeric keypad
(including the [*SCAN] and keys. You can find the A, B, C, and D codes
in the MENU key, EXIT key, and the UP and DOWN arrows.

Sending DTMF codes is super simple Just hold the PTT key and at the same
time, press the key that is correct for the message that you wish to send.

Note: You don’t have to unlock your keypad to send these codes.
Selective Calling
Unfortunately, one downside with radios such as this is overcrowding. Just
imagine you are employed at a large construction site where your coworkers
all have a Uv-5R in their pockets. You cannot exactly tell your colleague
something before the one that is already speaking finishes.

Luckily with this radio there are several different methods that can
successfully block out any unwanted transmissions. There are two methods
that can minimize this inconvenience: group calling and individual calling.

Group Calling which only works one-way. All of the radios in your group are
configured the same way, and each one of them can make a contact with
every other radio in the group.

Individual Calling or ‘paging’ is a communication that is one-to-one. Each of

the radios is configured uniquely and programmed with a special ID code. To
get a radio receive your transmissions, it will need to have a matching code.

Baofeng Uv-5R only supports group calling. There are three different
methods featured:

1. CTCSS
2. DCS
3. Tone-Burst (1750 Hz)

For amateur radio operators, the most popular group calling methods are
CTSS and tone-burst because they are the most successful in opening up
repeaters.

CTCSS
Although we already have talked quite a bit about CTCSS already, we did not
go over how to set-up and program them.

Reminder: CTCSS can be found in menu 11 for receive and menu 12 for
transmit.

This is how you can set up these codes:

 1. Enter the menu by pressing the MENU key.

2. Enter its menu key, which is [1] [1] to get to the CTCSS.

3. Press MENU to select this menu option.

4. Enter the desired frequency from the list of tones using the
numeric keypad.

5. Press MENU to confirm the code.

6. Now, enter the [1] [3] keys to enter the transmitter CTCSS. Again,
press MENU to select this option.

7. Find the desired frequency you wish to transmit on from the list of
tones and enter it in Hz with the numeric keypad. Press MENU to
confirm. Note: this has to be the same frequency that you entered
earlier for the receiver.

8. Press EXIT.

Turning the CTCSS OFF, enter [o] instead of the desired frequency.

DCSS
Here is how you can set up DCSS:

1. Enter the menu by pressing the MENU key.

2. Enter [1] [0] on the menu to get to the DCS menu.

3. Press MENU to select

4. Enter the desired code from the list of codes using the numeric
keypad and press MENU to confirm the code.

5. Press [1] [2] to get to the transmitter DCS and hit MENU to select
 the option.

6. Enter the desired DCS code from the list of codes followed by
MENU to confirm it. Note: the code has to be the same as the one
you entered earlier for the receiver.

7. Press EXIT.

Enter [o] instead of the code and hit MENU to turn OFF the DCS

Tone-Burst
To send tone-burst no configuration is needed. Press BAND while holding
the PTT key, Voila!
Manual Programming
The reputation of Uv-5R is that it is difficult to program. Despite its bad
reputation, Baofeng Uv-5R is pretty straightforward to program if you know
the exact steps. This chapter will help you understand how to program your
radio manually, using the keypad.

Quick Keypad Programming for Ham Use

Follow these steps to program your Uv-5R by the keypad If you wish to set
up your radio quickly. We will discuss some of these steps in detail, later in
this book.

Step #1

Note: Make sure the radio is reset to factory settings before you begin in case
there are stored channels.

1. Enter the menu by pressing the MENU key.

2. Press [4] [0] to get into the Factory Reset.

3. To select it, press MENU again.

4. Select “Total Reset” using UP and DOWN arrows or by pressing

[1].

5. Choose MENU to confirm.

6. Exit the menu by pressing MENU.

Step #2

One of those inconveniences that people stumble upon is that some of the
radios, upon factory reset, also reset to their original language setting as well.
If this occurs, don’t worry, you can easily fix this:

1. Enter the menu by pressing the MENU key.

 2. Press [1] [4] to choose the language mode then press MENU to
select.

3. Press [1] to set the default language to English.

4. Press MENU to confirm and then hit EXIT to exit.

Step #3

Next, you need to change the frequency stepping so you can program your
favorite frequencies.

1. Enter the menu by pressing the MENU key.

2. Press [1] for the Frequency Step.

3. Press MENU to select.

4. With the UP and DOWN arrows, change this to your desired

setting. Note:2uite a few people preffer 5.0K, although if you are
using it for ham purposes only, 10.0K also works well.

5. Press MENU to confirm.

6. Exit the menu by pressing EXIT.

Double check that you are in frequency mode by pushing the VFO/MR
button, also make sure that you are on FREQ A (the top frequency on the
display). This enables you to dial other frequency or your favorite repeater.

Step #4

Setting the CTCSS tone and the offset.

1. Press MENU to enter the menu.

2. Choose [1] [3] and press MENU again to select.

 3. Use the UP and DOWN arrows to choose the tone, or simply input
it if you know what it is.

4. Push MENU to confirm.

5. While in MENU, press [2] [5].

6. Choose MENU to select and then set either a NEG (-) or a POS (+)
offset. If you want a simplex, leave this at OFF.

7. Press MENU to confirm.

8. While in MENU, press [2] [6].

9. For Ham repeaters, set the offset to 00.600.

10. Press MENU and then EXIT.

Step #5

Almost FINISHED! You just need to program your settings into memory.

1. Enter the menu by pressing MENU.

2. Press [2] [7] to enter the memory channel then MENU to select.

3. Using UP and DOWN arrows, choose the memory channel that

you want to set up. Press MENU to confirm.

4. Press EXIT to leave the menu.

Step #6

1. Press VFO/MR button to procede to the memory channels. Note:

Unfortunately, the radio doesn’t automatically put in the transmit
frequency, and this is okay since Uv-5R are not primarily designed
for ham use.
2. Dial in the frequency of your desired repeater.

3. Put in the INPUT frequency of the repeater

4. Enter back the menu by pressing the MENU key, press [2] [7],
choose the same memory channel that you have already
programmed in, and press MENU to confirm. Note: The point is to
save the same channel as your repeater output.
Programming Memories and Channels
The memories store, receive, and transit the frequencies, as well as the DCS
codes and CTCSS tones, channel width, and power level. There are two ways
to program memories, either standard split or odd split.

Note: Once you program a memory, keep in mind that it cannot be changed.
However, there is a small difference in this when it comes to power level.

It is possible for it to set to its other value (the value that is stored in memory)
temporarily, by pressing the key while in memory. The trick to changing
power levels is to switch channels, press the key again, or to turn the unit
off and on. Keep in mind that this trick is only successful if the TDR (the
Dual Watch mode) is set to OFF.

Now, let us return to how to program the channels. In order for you to
program channels, make sure to switch your unit to VFO or Frequency unit,
which can be done by pressing the VFO/MR button.

Once you are in Frequency mode, you need to select your preferred
frequency with the numeric keypad. You can easily configure the other
details such as the bandwidth, transmit power etc. with the help of the menu
system.

Simplex Channels
You can program simplex channels once you have set your desired
frequency. Remember, you need to be in VFO mode!

1. Enter the menu by pressing the MENU key.

2. Enter the MEM – CH, press [2] [7].

3. Press the MENU key to select.

4. Select the channel you want to program into memory with the UP
and DOWN arrows, or simply use the numeric keypad if you want
to enter it directly.
 5. Press MENU to confirm.

6. Press EXIT.

Press the VFO/MR button and switch from Frequency to Channel mode. You
can also use the computer to name your channel.

Repeater Channels
An automated transceiver that has a fixed location is known as a repeater.
When we’re thinking about repeaters, we usually think about those that are
mounted up high on hills or on top of buildings, however, they can also be set
up indoors for internal use.

The purpose of the repeater is to receive a signal and then relay it by

amplifying it by the magnitude orders. This is extremely useful since we can
use two-way transceivers such as the Uv-5R and reach further distances.

Repeater with Standard Offsets

How to program a repeater that has standard offsets:

Step #1

Begin by selecting the frequency A that is on the top of the display. This is
usually already in default, but if you are, for some reason, on B, once you go
through all through all of the steps of programming, the final confirmation
press of MENU will result in a single beep. By pressing the A/B button in the
beginning and making sure that you are actually on A, is recommended.

Step #2

You have to be in VFO mode, so press the VFO/MR button and double-
check that you are in Frequency, not on Channel mode.

Step#3

Make sure that you are on the right Band. If your unit says “Cancel” once
you press the last digit, you need to press the [Band] key to select the right
band.

Step #4

Put in the output frequency of the repeater, such as, for instance, 157020.

Step #5

1. Enter the menu by pressing the MENU button.

2. Press [2] [6] for the Offset Frequency Shift Amount.

3. Press MENU to select.

4. For the 2-meter repeaters, enter 00600. For the 70-cm repeaters,
press 0500 (note that this may vary from country to country).

5. Press MENU to confirm.

Step #6

1. While still in MENU, press [2] [5] for the Frequency Shift.

2. Press MENU to select that menu item.

3. For a positive offset (+), press [1]. For a negative (-) offset, press
[2].

4. Press MENU to confirm.

Step #7

Now you need to set the DCS codes and CTCSS notes to transmit and
receive. For receive, this can be done in menu 10 for DCS codes and menu 11
for CTCSS codes. For transmit, the DCS codes can be set in menu 12, while
for the CTCS notes in menu 13.

Remember to check tables of DCS codes and CTCSS notes for more info. Or
you can enter the CTCSS codes directly using the numeric keypad.

Step #8

1. If you have exited the menu, press the MENU key again to enter.

2. Press [2] [7] for Memory Channel and then MENU again to select.

3. Enter channel number. Remember, your radio has 128 memories,

however, does not allow for an overwrite. If the channel is
currently programmed in memory, you must select a different one
to use.

4. Enter the channel number, press MENU to confirm.

5. When the radio says “Receiving Memory”, press EXIT.

Step #9

Now, press the “Scan/Rev” button to swap over the frequencies (both
transmit and reversed) and make sure that they are reversed. This is
especially useful when listening for the input channel of the repeater when
determining whether the station is in a simplex range.

Step #10

1. Press the MENU key.

2. Select [2] [7] to enter the Memory Channel, press MENU to select.

3. Now, entered the same memory channel that you entered earlier in
step #8, and press MENU to select.

4. When the radio says “Transmitting Memory”, press EXIT.

Congratulations, you have now learned how to set you repeater channel. You
can find the repeater channel in the list of program channels once you switch
over to MR mode.
Repeater with an Odd Split
You don’t have to program a repeater channel as described in the previous
section. You can also choose to specify your receive and transmit frequency.
To do that, you will need to program the receive frequency first, and then
program the transmit frequency the same way.

Most people find this to be somewhat more reliable due to the fact that when
it comes to programming memories, only the A display actually works,
meaning that the unit can only remember 1 offset value in order to program.
That is why for this purpose, the offset values – memory 26 and memory 25,
do not matter at all.

To make things a bit more interesting and teach you how to program a
repeater with an odd split, we are going to program the popular 147.435
repeater that is in LA, into memory 99. The input frequency of this repeater is
147.435 and the output frequency is 146.400, which is an odd split.

Note: that there are no CTCSS tones here, so we are not going to need them
for this example.

Step #1

You have to be in Frequency mode for this to work so if you are in Chanel
mode, press the VFO/MR button to switch to VFO.

Step #2

Now, input the frequency of the repeater by pressing [1] [4] [7] [4] [3] [5].

Step #3

You will also need to make sure that there are no DCS codes or CTCSS tones
set from earlier, so go to the menus 10, 11, 12, and 13, and make sure that
they are all set to 000.

Step #4

1. Press the MENU key.

 2. Press [2] [7] to enter the Memory Channel, and press MENU to
select.

3. Press [0] [9] [9] and then hit MENU to confirm.

4. When the radio says “Transmitting Memory”, press EXIT to leave

the menu.

Congratulations! Your odd split has been successfully programmed.

Remember, you can also use this procedure with repeaters with standard
offsets. The only thing you need is to know the input and output of the
repeater, so you can program the frequencies separately.

Duplex Channels
At this point, it is safe to assume that you are in Frequency mode and that
have already gone through and set up a repeater channel as described before.

1. Save a simplex channel as it is described in the section above.

2. Get into reverse mode by pressing the [*SCAN] key.

3. Save it to the same memory channel as before (step 1).

If you want to test the new channel, you can do that by pressing the VFO/MR
button and switching to Channel mode.
Computer Programming
Although many opt for computer programming to avoid all of the
inconveniences that manual, keypad programming brings, programming your
Uv-5R with the help of your computer is not a breeze as well. Fortunately for
you, this chapter will fix that for you.

Installing the USB Cable and a DiSoftware

The USB cable is buggy and the programming software – although it is
meant to be helpful – can give you a headache. However, that does not mean
that programming your radio with your computer is impossible. In fact, it’s
not and I’m here to show you how.

In order for you to program your radio using your computer, you first need to
have the USB cable and software properly installed.

Step #1

Make your radio is OFF. Turn your computer ON, let the radio remain on
OFF.

Step #2

Now, you need to locate the exact correct programming driver for the
operating system of your computer. Prolific driver is recommended for Mac,
Windows, and Linux. You can download the driver from here
http://www.miklor.com/COM/UV_Drivers.php.

Some of you may already have that driver, depending on where you’ve
bought your programming cable for.

Step #3

Install the driver following its steps and instructions, but DO NOT connect
the USB programming cable just yet.

Step #4
Find the correct Programming Software CHIRP for the operating system of
your computer. You can download it from here

https://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Download.

Choose the right folder for your OS, and install the software following the
instructions. Do NOT runt the program just yet.

Step #5

Now, plug one end of the USB cable into your computer’s USB port and the
other end into your radio. Turn your radio on.

Additional Steps for Windows

If you are using Windows, know that the connection may or may not be
established. To verify the connection, check the Windows Device Manager.

Once you enter, click on Ports (COM and LPT), which should be Prolific
USB-to-Serial Comm Port (Comx). The X here stands for the number of your
port. Write that down as you might need it later when you will be configuring
the software.

Step #6

Run the CHIRP software. Click on Go to Radio and choose Download

from Radio. Select the port number for the USB cable, the Vendor
(Baofeng), as well as the model of the radio (Uv-5R). Your radio should be
now connected to the computer and the CHIRP software should be able to
establish communication with it.

Programming with the Baofeng Software

If you decide to stick to the Baofeng software, despite all its faults, the
installing part should be pretty simple. Just connect the programming cable to
your USB port and your radio, and then open the Baofeng software on your
computer.

When you do this you will be first greeted by the software’s Channel
Information window, which is where you will be storing the information for
your memory channels. If this doesn’t start by default, you can open it by
going to Edit and then selecting Channel Information.

Hold on just a bit, before you actually start adding channels, you will need to
go to Communication in order to select the USB port that your radio is
attached to. Once you have selected this go to Program and then Read from
Radio. Click on read and read the channel information on the radio. If
everything is working as it should, the LED display on your radio will start
flashing, which is an indicator that data is being transmitted from the radio to
the computer.

The Channel Information window is really simple to use and pretty

straightforward, which is, in my opinion, the biggest plus when it comes to
programming via the Baofeng software.

Here are the definitions for the values found in the Channel Information
window, which can be pretty helpful:

Channel = Channel Number

Band = The Band used, both UHF and VHF are set as defaults

RX Frequency = Receive Frequency

TX Frequency = Transmit Frequency

CTCSS / DCS Dec = Receiver DCS or CTCSS

CRCSS / DCS Enc = Transmitter DCS or CTCSS

TX Power = The power of transmitting

W / N = This represents the Wideband and Narrowband operation

PTT – ID = This enables the position of PTT-ID, as well as sets it

BusyLock = Busy Channel Lockout

Scan_Add = Add to scanning mode. When this is enabled, it is actually

included in the scanning mode.
SigCode = Signal Code, the channel’s group ID.

CH-Name = The Channel Name

Adding Channels
If you wish to add a new channel, you have to go to the row of the channel
number that you want to edit and follow the exact same steps:

1. Select the BAND.

2. Next, hit the RX Frequency field that is found next to the BAND
and input the receive frequency.

3. Click on TX Frequency. Now, the remaining values in the row

should fill in automatically, except for the CH-Name (giving you
the opportunity to fill it)

4. If the channel being added is Duplex, the TX (transmit) frequency

has to be input manually.

5. Now, all that is left is for you to fill in information that is mainly
based on your preferences.

6. Once finished, you can input a 6-character name in the field of

CH-Name. However, this is optional and can be left blank.

Repeat these steps for any additional channels you wish to add. Once you
have added all of the channels to the software, the next step is to simply add
these channels to the radio.

If you would like to write some info on the radio, go to Program and then
select Write to radio. Click on write.

You will know that the writing process is successful once the radio start
flashing green, which is an indicator that data is being received. Once the
data is received, the radio will restart itself.
Radio Cloning
While we are still on the topic of cables and USB connections, it is pretty
important to mention the term called radio to radio cloning to you. Let’s
pretend that you have two radios instead of one. For the first one, you had to
go through a lot of trouble to configure and program it the exact way that you
wanted. The good news is that you don’t have to go through all of that
trouble again. Radio to radio cloning means that you can simply copy the
configuration of your first radio and paste it onto your new one.

You just need to attach them together with a single cable and go through a
couple of basic steps. Unfortunately, this can’t be done with your
programming cable, since your radio does not have an USB port like the one
found on your computer. To do this, you need a special cloning cable, which
can be easily purchased on Amazon for no more than 10 dollars.

We refer to your first radio as the ‘master’ radio, and the new one that you
want to configure as the ‘slave’ radio.

1. Attach one end of the cloning cable to your master radio, the other
one to your slave radio.

2. Turn your slave radio ON.

3. Now, turn ON the master radio while holding the MONI key.

4. Once that is completed your master radio will automatically start

copying the data and the slave radio will begin receiving it. This
process will be indicated by both of the radios flashing red,
meaning the connection has been established and the cloning is in
process.

5. Once the cloning is completed, the LED will turn off and the radio
will restart. Your slave radio will now be programmed exactly like
your initial radio, which means that you will have no problem to
use it for the same purposes, just as successfully.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You are officially a Baofeng Uv-5R user. Now that you
know far more than to just turn the unit on and say “Roger”, you can take
your radio journey to a whole new level.

I really hope that this book was able to clear all of the confusions that the
manual and conflicting theories online caused. It is my best wish to you that
you have gained a much better understanding and knowledge of your radio.

Did you learn how to operate your Baofeng Uv-5R? Leave a review and let
the others know. Your feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!