Elmer Series - PROGRAMMING THE BAOFENG UV-B5 - 2

PROGRAMMING THE BAOFENG UV-B5 - 2

In the previous post we discussed how a duplex repeater system works and the parameters that need to be programmed into the radio in order to access the repeater system, repeater output frequency, repeater offset, offset direction, and CTCSS tone.  Now let’s program these into the radio.

I recommend you read through the steps first so you have an idea what the procedure entails.  I’ll write up an abbreviated step guide further down to use once you get familiar with the process so you don’t have to find the actual step amongst all the text.

The first thing you need to do is to gather the required information for the repeater you are trying to access.   

The following parameters are for the EAARS repeater located on MULE Mountain in Bisbee, AZ.

Output: 147.080

Offset: 00600

Offset Direction: +

CTCSS: 141.3

To make things easier right now I recommend we turn Voice Prompts on and set it to ENGLISH.  Once you get familiar with the radio you will want to turn voice prompts off as it get annoying after a while.  Voice prompts have their uses so turn them on when you want to use them.

Press the Menu button.

Rotate the VFO knob to Menu 09 (VOICE).

Press the AB button.

Rotate the VFO knob until ENGLIS is displayed on the screen and a voice says “ON”. 

Now we are going to set the radio to VFO mode so we can type the output frequency into the radio.  

1.       Press the VM/Scan button to switch between memory and VFO modes.  VFO mode is indicated when no channel number is displayed on the screen.

Now were going to type the frequency into the radio using the keypad.  You will only press number keys, there is no need to enter any decimal point in the procedure.

2.       Press the 1, 4, 7, 0, 8, 0 keys in that order.  147.080 should be displayed to the right of the arrow symbol on the LCD display.

Now were going to set the repeater offset amount.

3.       Press the menu button and rotate the VFO knob to menu 22 (OFFSET) is displayed.

4.       Press the AB button to edit that menu setting. The arrow should drop to the second line on the LCD display.

5.       Now press the 0, 0, 6, 0, 0 buttons in that order. 00.600 should be displayed to the right of the arrow on the LCD display indicating the value is ready to be changed.

6.       Press the Menu button to accept the value.  600kHz is now stored as the repeater offset.

Now were going to set the offset shift direction to +.

7.       Press the menu button and rotate the VFO knob to menu 21 (SFTD).

8.       Press the AB button to edit the menu setting.  The arrow should drop to the second line on the LCD display indicating the value is ready to be changed.

9.       Rotate the VFO knob until a + is displayed on the LCD display.

10.   Press the menu button to store the value.

Now were going to set the CTCSS tone.

11.   Press the menu button and rotate the VFO knob to menu 12 (T-CODE).

12.   Press the AB button to edit the menu setting.  The arrow should drop to the second line on the LCD display indicating the value is ready to be changed.

13.   Press the menu key again to switch between CTCSS, DCSN, and DCSI.  If you have voice prompts on turn the VFO knob slowly until the voice says “CTCSS”.  A number should be displayed that does not have an N nor an I after it.

14.   Rotate the VFO knob until 141.3 is displayed on the screen.  If you are too slow in getting to 141.3 the radio may timeout and exit the menu system.  If that happens, just repeat steps 11-14 again until you get to 141.3.

15.   Press the Menu button to store the value.

One other setting we’ll need to ensure is set correctly is the FM bandwidth.  It needs to be set to Wideband (WIDE).

16.   Press the menu button.

17.   Rotate the VFO knob to menu item 28 and the voice prompt says “Channel Bandwidth”.

18.   Press the AB button to edit the menu setting.

19.   Rotate the VFO knob until the display shows WIDE.

We now have all the parameters entered into the radio, however we now need to store them in a memory channel so they are stored permanently.  If this is the first time storing information to a memory channel I recommend you use channel 1, but you can store in any channel you desire.  If you have stored other frequencies into memory make sure you know what the next empty channel number is or the channel number of a channel you want to write over.

20.   We first need to check that the frequency we entered earlier (147.080) is still displayed in the screen to the right of the arrow.  If not, just press 1, 4, 7, 0, 8, 0 on the keypad again.

21.   Press and hold the VM/Scan button until the voice prompts says “Memory Channel” or a channel number flashes on the LCD display above the arrow.

22.   Rotate the VFO knob to the desired channel you want to store the repeater parameters too.

23.   Press the VM/Scan button again and the voice prompt will respond with “Confirm” indicating the information was written to the memory channel.

Now were going to check that the parameters were stored correctly in memory.

24.   Press the VM/Scan button until the voice says “Channel Mode” and a channel number displays above the arrow in the LCD display.

25.   Rotate the VFO knob until the channel you just stored the information in is displayed on the screen.  The voice prompt will say the channel number.

26.   Ensure the LCD display indicates 147.080

27.   The W symbol should be displayed indicating the radio is in FM Wideband.

28.   The + symbol should be displayed indicating a positive offset shift.

To check the CTCSS, offset amount and shift direction we’ll need to enter the menu system to see them.

29.   Press the Menu button.

30.   Rotate the VFO knob to menu 22 (OFFSET) and the voice prompt says “Offset Frequency”.

31.   Ensure it displays 00.600.

32.   Rotate the VFO knob to menu to menu 21 (SFTD) and the voice prompt says “Frequency Direction”.

33.   Ensure it displays the + symbol.

34.   Rotate the VFO knob to menu 12 and the voice prompt says “CTCSS”.

35.   Ensure it displays 141.3.

If any of the values are incorrect you will have to exit the menu, change to VFO mode, and enter menu mode again and rotate the VFO knob to the menu number that contains the incorrect value and change it.  Once it is changed you will have to follow steps 20 through 23 to save it again and overwrite the incorrect value.

That’s all there is to programming a repeater frequency into the UV-B5 radio and checking it’s accuracy.

Here are the steps in sequence without all the explanation included to make it easier to follow once you understand the steps above. If at any time the radio times out and exits the menu mode, just hit the menu button again and rotate the VFO knob to the desired menu number.

Entering the Repeater Information

1.       Press the VM/Scan button to switch to VFO modes

2.       Press the number keys to enter the repeaters output frequency

3.       Press the menu button and rotate the VFO knob to menu 22 (OFFSET) is displayed

4.       Press the AB button to edit that menu setting

5.       Now press the number keys to enter the desired offset

6.       Press the Menu button to accept the value

7.       Rotate the VFO knob to menu 21 (SFTD)

8.       Press the AB button to edit the menu setting

9.       Rotate the VFO knob until a the desired shift is displayed on the LCD display

10.    Press the menu button to store the value

11.    Rotate the VFO knob to menu 12 (T-CODE)

12.    Press the AB button to edit the menu setting

13.    Press the menu key again to switch between CTCSS, DCSN, and DCSI

14.    Rotate the VFO knob until the desired tone is displayed on the screen

15.    Press the Menu button to store the value

16.    Rotate the VFO knob to menu item 28 and the voice prompt says “Channel Bandwidth”

17.    Press the AB button to edit the menu setting

18.    Rotate the VFO knob until the display shows WIDE

Storing the Repeater Information in Memory

19.    Check that the desired frequency is still displayed in the screen to the right of the arrow.  If not, just enter it again.

20.    Press and hold the VM/Scan button until the voice prompts says “Memory Channel” or a channel number flashes on the LCD display above the arrow.

21.    Rotate the VFO knob to the desired channel you want to store the repeater parameters too.

22.    Press the VM/Scan button again and the voice prompt will respond with “Confirm” indicating the information was written to the memory channel.

Checking the Stored Information

23.    Press the VM/Scan button until the voice says “Channel Mode” and a channel number displays above the arrow in the LCD display.

24.    Rotate the VFO knob until the channel you just stored the information in is displayed on the screen.

25.    Ensure the LCD display indicates the repeater output frequency

26.    The W symbol should be displayed indicating the radio is in FM Wideband

27.    The + or - symbol should be displayed indicating the desired offset shift

28.    Press the Menu button

29.    Rotate the VFO knob to menu 22 (OFFSET) and the voice prompt says “Offset Frequency”

30.    Ensure it displays the desired offset frequency

31.    Rotate the VFO knob to menu to menu 21 (SFTD) and the voice prompt says “Frequency Direction”

32.    Ensure it displays either the + or – symbol as desired

33.    Rotate the VFO knob to menu 12 and the voice prompt says “CTCSS”

34.    Ensure it displays the desired CTCSS tone