HAM radio for beginners

Recently picked up one of those handheld Baofeng radios. I’ve entered frequencies I’ve found in my area on radioreference and repeaterbook, but when I try talking with the PTT button, I don’t think that they can hear me. Any other HAM users here

 

Bump

 

Double check whether those frequencies are repeaters or not. If so you need to be able to use duplex. That requires setting an inbound and outbound frequency.

 

Also keep in mind handhelds have a much shorter range. If you're a long ways from a repeater it may not hear you at all.

 

Pretty sure my intended frequency is a repeater. Any idea how to set up inbound/outbound frequencies on a

$40 Baofeng UV5R Dual Band 3800mAh Rechargeable Two Way Radio Walkie Talkies for Adults with Earpiece,Speaker Mic and Programming Cable Full Kit (Black-1Pack)

Baofeng UV5R?

 

Did you enter anything other than a plain frequency? If not you won’t actually be using the repeater. Most repeaters have a specific frequency offset and tone that needs to be set in the radio. For example, the repeater I normally use up here broadcasts on 146.880 but transmissions into the repeater are on a -.600mhz offset, meaning when I key up my radio is transmitting on 146.280. Most repeaters also use a tone setting to ensure that any random user broadcasting on the repeater input frequency isn’t rebroadcast.

I set my Baofeng up using Chirp software and the programming cable available on Amazon.

 

My problem is I’m not completely familiar with this new Baofeng interface and inputting these settings into my radio.

 

Are you able to walk me through setting transmission offset on my

$50 UV-5R 8Watt UHF/VHF Radio with 2 Rechargeable Battery, Portable Radio for Adults with Earpiece, GV-771 Antenna, Compatible with BAOFENG Programming Cable (3rd Gen)

UV-5R?

 

I've never used that handheld. But it sounds like you'll need the owners manual and need to set it up for Duplex if it is capable.

 

Here ya go
https://forums.radioreference.com/b...how-program-repeaters-into-baofeng-uv-5r.html

I recommend the programming cable and using Chirp. Makes it so much easier, plus you can name the presets rather than having them be numbers.

 

Not really, I did mine via my computer so I could enter what I want into the program and then have it loaded to the radio.

This might help https://forums.radioreference.com/b...how-program-repeaters-into-baofeng-uv-5r.html

 

OP did you ever get this figured out? What antenna and wattage are you using on your UV5r?

If your on 70cm (430.000 MHz – 440.000 MHz) you'll have to be closer to the repeater, if you're on 2m (144.000 MHz – 146.000 MHz) you can be a little farther away. with my BF-F9V2 I was hitting repeaters 19mi away but I think my radio has a little more power than yours and I have a Luiton antenna.

Also do you have your License?

 

The stock antenna on those leaves much to be desired... an upgraded antenna will make a world of difference.

If you have the cable for it, and using chirp, you will make life a lot easier with programming.

Also second the license question