3rd Annual SAN G. TRAIL RUNS & POTLUCK/BBQ ON 9/22-24

$25 dollars per person for a group class so we can all get our licenses.

 

I would be down. Really need to learn how to use this radio haha. All i know is how to change stations and lock the buttons haha

 

For starters, this is how to set your Baofeng IF you have a HAM license and are able to connect to a repeater system!!! Here's a write-up I did about 3yrs ago now on how to do a basic repeater setup on your Baofeng handheld. BUT, please keep in mind DO NOT jump on a repeater if you do NOT have a license!!!

That I know of, just about ALL of the Baofeng HT models have the same/similar menu setup?! Some may have added features, but the settings should still be there and similar.

Here is how to set your Baofeng to the Keller Peak Repeater, for example.

NOTE: the 2nd line in the display is LBFD (Long Beach Fire Dispatch) main dispatch channel (i.e. 153.950). Assuming you ever care to use your HT as a 2m analog non-trunking "scanner", LOL!!! Btw, you CAN use your Baofeng HT as a 2m/70cm (144-148/420-450) scanner, assuming you know what frequency you want to listen to because you have to "punch the frequency in". The HT doesn't "scanchannels/frequencies" like you would normally see on an actual scanner!!!

So, say you want to "monitor" the NOAA Weather service, just press the BLUE A/B button and go to the 2nd line and punch in, say, 162.550 and you SHOULD now hear the NOAA Weather service. Simply press the BLUE A/B button to go back to the 1st line (i.e. in this case, the Keller Peak Repeater).

Below are the dedicated frequencies for the NOAA Weather service throughout the U.S. and Canada (that I know of). Please note that some frequencies may NOT work because of the area that it covers might not be near you!!!

162.400 MHz
162.425 MHz
162.450 MHz
162.475 MHz
162.500 MHz
162.525 MHz
162.550 MHz (one of a few that come from the Oxnard area)



For the Baofeng, do the following: (please read each line very carefully)
NOTE: when you first turn on your HT, make sure it says, "Frequency Mode"
1) enter 146.385 (this will be on the top line and is the output freq of the repeater)
NOTE: you only NEED to press MENU if you are back on the "freq mode" HOME screen!!! I will be jotting down instructions, assuming that it goes back to this HOME screen for time-out reasons of the radio!!!
2) press MENU
3) press the UP/DOWN arrow buttons until you see SQL
4) press MENU to set the SQL (squelch) and set it to, say 3 by pressing the UP/DOWN arrow buttons
5) press MENU to "confirm"
NOTE: there is really NO manual for these things so I'm assuming a 0-3 is fairly sensitive to incoming weak signals???
6) press MENU
7) press UP/DOWN arrow buttons until you see STEP
8) press MENU to set the STEP and set it to 2.5K by pressing the UP/DOWN arrow buttons
9) press MENU to "confirm"
10) press MENU
11) press UP/DOWN arrow buttons until you see TX HIGH/LOW
NOTE: it MAY be set to LOW or HIGH???
12) press MENU and set to "HIGH" by pressing the UP/DOWN arrow buttons
13) press MENU to "confirm"
NOTE: in class, they teach you to use LOW TX settings as much as possible, but in my humble experiences, people on the receiving end ALWAYS complain about low wattage output on "my side"... sounds like it is "bacon sizzling" on "their" end... so set it to HIGH and do yourself a favor!!!
14) press MENU
15) press UP/DOWN arrow buttons until you see WN
16) press MENU and set to WIDE by pressing the UP/DOWN arrow buttons
17) press MENU to "confirm"
NOTE: TDR is used for "dual standby" mode... it simply goes to the most active channel/line. So, say the 2nd line is currently "active", then your HT will continue to monitor and/or stay on that active line until the transmission ends.
18) press MENU
19) press UP/DOWN arrow buttons until you see TDR
20) press MENU and set to OFF by pressing the UP/DOWN arrow buttons
21) press MENU to "confirm"
NOTE: for now, just set this to OFF and you can keep the NOAA Weather frequency on the 2nd line and just simply press the BLUE A/B button to go to the 2nd line and now you SHOULD hear the NOAA Weather service!!! Press the BLUE A/B button again to go back to the 1st line (i.e. in this case, the Keller Peak Repeater)
22) press MENU
23) press UP/DOWN arrow buttons until you see T-CTCS
24) press MENU and set to 146.2 by pressing the UP/DOWN arrow buttons
25) press MENU to "confirm"
NOTE: KNOW THAT, for all intents and purposes, that this is an actual Motorola thing also known as a "PL tone", Private Line.
26) press MENU
27) press the UP/DOWN arrow buttons until you see SFT-D
28) press MENU and set to "+" by pressing the UP/DOWN arrow buttons
29) press MENU to "confirm"
NOTE: this is to tell the radio if the repeater is UP/DOWN for freq shift. Repeaters are +, some are -, and some don't give a rats. A repeater guide is usually handy in this case.
30) press MENU
31) press the UP/DOWN arrow buttons until you see OFFSET
32) press MENU and set to 000.600 by pressing the number buttons
33) press MENU to "confirm"
NOTE: a "blank channel" has NO "CH" in front of the number. ALSO, the Baofeng's, in my humble opinion, are a bit quircky when it comes to storing channels. I still need to practice/understand how this part works!!!
34) press MENU
35) press the UP/DOWN arrow buttons until you see MEM-CH
36) press MENU and set to, say for example, channel CH-000
37) press MENU to "transmitting memory", basically a "confirm", if you will
38) press MENU
39) press the UP/DOWN arrow buttons until you see BAND
40) press MENU and set to VHF (i.e. the 2m band)
41) press MENU to "confirm"
42) press MENU
43) press the UP/DOWN arrow buttons until you see TDR-AB
44) press MENU and set to A by pressing the UP/DOWN arrow buttons
45) press MENU to "confirm"
46) press MENU
47) press the UP/DOWN arrow buttons until you see STE
48) press MENU and set to OFF by pressing the UP/DOWN arrow buttons
49) press MENU to "confirm"
NOTE: if you do NOT set STE to "OFF" then you are basically blocking the repeater!!! I found this out the hard way and still don't quite understand how/why this is???

NOTE: you now "SHOULD" see this on your HOME screen (please refer to attached picture above). You are effectively now on the Keller Peak Repeater and can use it anytime you want, BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE A HAM LICENSE!!! You DO NOT NEED A HAM LICENSE TO "MONITOR" A FREQUENCY!!! I do NOT remember when they do their "net roll/calls" for their weekly emergency services net calls and they will please ask you to stop TX'ing until they are done, which takes about 20-30min. Then you can continue using their repeater system. Very nice people that run it.

Hope this helps you guys a little?!

EDIT:
Btw, 0-3 for a squelch setting is pretty sensitive. As a matter of fact, set it to "0" and see what happens?! LOL!!! That NOISE you hear is open to ALL freq and this would be your most sensitive setting if you're trying to pick-up an extremely weak signal!!! Many factors are involved as well!!!

 

Thank you!

 

Too many words for me Randy.
I need to see you do it so I can learn.

 

Found it! Was already set on high. It's weird my last radio had better range than this one. Might need a better antenna.

 

I just checked mine as well and it was set on high. The battery life span is great at that setting (Full weekend of use).

 

I see you have a stock duckie. So yeah, get a better antenna. Something like the "Nagoya

$21 NA-771 15.6" Whip VHF/UHF (144/430Mhz) Antenna SMA-Female for BTECH and BaoFeng Radios

NA-771" is a really good antenna. They have shorter ones as well. The antenna length can be cumbersome inside a cab. Aftermarket antennas typically have better efficiency on TX and much better gain on RX!!!

What were you getting, about a mile or less on HIGH power?

 

Feels like a quarter mile, tops
The one that was stolen from my truck ( ) handled a mile just fine. That antenna is super long! Think the NA-717 would still work better with my little 4watt radio?

 

not give it away for free I am with Oscar. I can't even get kodi right or fix my kids tablet. I am computer stupid.

 

Guess an antenna does a world of difference

 

LMAO!!!

 

It should work just fine. Much better than stock!!!

 

Now i gotta ask. @WileECoyote, i'm using the Nagoya UT-308UV 22-Inch. haven't had a chance to confirm but feel like it's giving me better range (i have the UV-5RHP). Is this a good match up? I still need to double check was setting im at too!

 

When it comes down to it, it really is ALL ABOUT the antenna!!! You could have THE MOST EXPENSIVE radio setup, but if the antenna is CRAP, that $$$ setup you boast about is just about as good as a note attached to a rock for comms!!!

 

Since it is "outside of your cab", you are MOST DEFINITELY going to get better transmission!!! When TX'ing from within your cab (i.e. the antenna is inside) you are cutting down the RF power going out because your cab is acting like a "shield", if you will.

 

Awesome, Thank you!

 

I've spent almost my entire life watching Randy be a nerd in person. And now that he has a Tacoma, I get to see it in writing, too.

 

@WileECoyote just ordered a NA-717 Hopefully it'll be here to test at JT this weekend. Prime isn't always reliable.

 

Really, surprised I and many of us have not meet you.
We have known Randy for some time now. Obviously not as long as you and this is the first I've seen you post.
Or have know this.