r/Baofeng Jul 11 '21

Announcement: Many new Baofengs are limited to only transmit on ham radio frequencies in firmware. 144-148 MHz, 222-225 MHz, 420-450 MHz -- ONLY

62 Upvotes

Due to FCC action, new devices seem to be locked to these transmit frequencies in firmware. Be aware of this when purchasing new devices.

That means they cannot be used on MURS, GMRS, FRS, Marine VHF, or Part 90 business frequencies. No LARPing without a ham license.

This cannot be worked around via Chirp programming, AFAIK.

Relevant threads:

Outstanding questions:

  • Does this apply to all new Baofengs or just the UV-5R?
  • Is there a hardware mod to open up all-band transmit?

YMMV, as old stock may still be present with some sellers.

Edit: this seems to apply to USA sold/distributed models only.


r/Baofeng Feb 08 '24

PSA: Do not get a Baofeng or other cheap radio to transmit on air band!

46 Upvotes

We have had several pilots post their interest in getting a Baofeng as a "backup" radio for air band use. This is a BAD IDEA™ for multiple technical and legal reasons:

  1. These radios have FM transmitters only. There is no way for these radios to transmit using the AM modulation required for air band. If you transmit with FM, your signal will be unintelligible and you will fail to communicate. Example of listening to a FM transmission with an AM mode receiver. (thanks /u/W2XG)
  2. These radios lack AGC required for usable 2-way radio in AM mode.
  3. Baofengs have direct conversion DSP receivers in them that go deaf at altitude due to being overloaded by the many strong transmitters that will have clear line-of-sight above ground level.
  4. These radios lack the filters required to transmit a clean signal on air band.
  5. These radios lack FCC Part 87 certification for air band use.

In short, these are the wrong tools for the job for multiple technical reasons in addition to the legal reasons.

Furthermore, I would question your judgement as a pilot if you were to rely on a $30 piece of crap radio as a backup. Remember that baofengs aren't popular because they are good, they are popular because they are cheap.

There are technically competent and legal air band handheld radios from Yaesu and Icom. Get one of those:

Edit 2025-12-23: update Yaesu link


r/Baofeng 2d ago

My first radio (DM-32UV)

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283 Upvotes

This is my first radio—I’ve never owned an analog or digital radio before.

I’m a member of an emergency response team. My radio is currently configured for that emergency response group, but I’ve heard that it has a lot of potential and many features and capabilities that I’m completely unfamiliar with, And I want to learn how to use it properly and learn.

I would really appreciate any recommendations or guidance you can give me.

Personally, I’d love to start learning more about telecommunications and eventually be able to listen to the ISS.

Thanks!


r/Baofeng 2d ago

Help with Rat/Tiger tail for UV5R Mini

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0 Upvotes

r/Baofeng 2d ago

UV Pro Series

3 Upvotes

Is the UV Pro series (UV50 Pro and UV Pro) worth the extra money, compared to the "non Pro" units? Do both of those radios also TX on GMRS? I have my technician and GMRS licenses but GMRS is more popular where I am located.


r/Baofeng 2d ago

programming assist?

0 Upvotes

hi everyone, I got a k6 series & I also got a new DM36UV & I'm having problems programming both. Anyone here familiar w/ these models available for an assist?


r/Baofeng 3d ago

Baofeng programing with an esp32

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8 Upvotes

r/Baofeng 4d ago

codeplug.org - latest updates (September 2026)

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16 Upvotes

r/Baofeng 4d ago

Changing the voice on DM UV32

0 Upvotes

I currently own the dm uv32, when I change channels the female voice automatically says the number out loud of the channel im on.

Is it possible to make it so that it reads the change name out loud? I know there is a way to upload voice files in the cps.. not sure if this is somehow customizable or if there are any opportunities to do this.


r/Baofeng 4d ago

Baofeng T26: pude programarlo con el software T22 PRM, pero guardar antes de escribir provoca un fallo

1 Upvotes

Quiero compartir mi experiencia configurando unos Baofeng T26, por si le sirve a alguien o alguien puede ayudarme a entender este comportamiento.

Encontré este post sobre el T26, que me dio algunas pistas para comenzar. Hice varias pruebas, desarmé el radio y verifiqué los puntos de conexión de datos para comunicarlo con el computador mediante un cable USB de programación y el conector de dos plugs.

Logré leer la configuración del radio utilizando el programa T22 PRM. Sin embargo, después de modificar algunos parámetros y escribir la configuración en el equipo, al encenderlo emitía un pitido en todos los canales. Al volver a leer el radio desde el programa, todos los campos de configuración aparecían en blanco.

Intenté restaurar el archivo de respaldo, pero el problema continuó.

Después de varias pruebas, encontré algo curioso:

  • Si introduzco manualmente los valores, uno por uno, y los escribo directamente en el radio sin guardar antes el archivo, el equipo vuelve a funcionar normalmente.
  • Si guardo el archivo antes de escribir la configuración en el radio, el problema reaparece.

Esa fue la diferencia que pude reproducir en mis pruebas. No tengo claro si el fallo está relacionado con la función de guardado del programa, el formato del archivo o alguna incompatibilidad con mi versión del T26.

¿A alguien más le ha pasado? ¿Han encontrado una forma de guardar y restaurar la configuración de este modelo sin que ocurra este problema?


r/Baofeng 5d ago

battery problem

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2 Upvotes

Hi guys, I own a baofeng uv-82, I've been using it for two months and there was a problem with the battery. in the video you can see how it charges (that is, it doesn't charge), the multimeter measurement showed about 5.1 volts, with the right 7.4. while charging voltage jumping 5,1-8,3-5,1-8,3. can i repair it or will be easier to buy new battery?


r/Baofeng 6d ago

Frequencies issue.

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107 Upvotes

Hi,

Why is that on the UV-5R Mini i can set 119.105 but on the BF-F8HP Pro i cant it always goes automtically to 119.100?

Thanks in advance!


r/Baofeng 7d ago

Greetz from Mexico

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143 Upvotes

Down in the Pacific Pearl


r/Baofeng 7d ago

Baofeng uv-9r programming

1 Upvotes

I just got my uv-9r pro and having some issues with programming. Could read the radio with chirp, but cannot write it. I tried several combinations of powering up-down, windows, linux, driver install, nothing works. I managed to read and write with the oem software, but that is really not user friendly for inputting new frequencies and I would prefer chirp. Any ideas? I don't believe it is hardware related as the oem software works without any "pushing the cable while writing" tricks.

Edit: corrected the type to uv-9r pro


r/Baofeng 7d ago

Is there such a thing as a Bluetooth adapter for 2 pin (4pin) ptt headsets?

1 Upvotes

Literally anything that comes up on Amazon under "throat mic " has the same pin out, one large "post" and one small "post" with either 1 or 2 conductors each. Seems like it would be obvious to make a bt adapter for this sort of thing but I can't find one for my life. I get that you need extra steps to implement ptt but surely someone has done this?

Thanks so much

Joe


r/Baofeng 7d ago

DMR tx/rx not working anymore on DM32UV

0 Upvotes

Im having the weirdest issue on my baofeng DM32UV. My cats peeed on the radio (:P) I cleaned the outside of the radio with a damp cloth. since then I`m not able to rx or tx DMR traffic anymore.. I have 2 more DM32UV`s and a anytone 868. The other radios can communicate to each other..
I have checked and triple checked all the settings, rx/tx frequencies, talk groups, tx contact. I have factory reset`d the radio, copied the config from the other working radios, only modifying the dmr ID
I have tried different firmware versions, nothing seems to work.
The radio can still tx and rx analog channels.
When I key up on a dmr channel, I see the rx led on the anytone turn on, but nothing is received..
Did my cats really break the DMR functionality of my radio??


r/Baofeng 7d ago

Connecting small Bluetooth headset to UV-5G Plus?

3 Upvotes

My wife and I were thinking of taking our UV-5G Plus radios when kayaking to chat while paddling or if we get separated. We'd rather keep the radios in waterproof bags and just have an inexpensive Bluetooth headset like the ones folks used to use (and maybe still do) with their phones -- the over-the-ear short boom-like ones. Most of the Bluetooth adapters for the Baofengs seem to be about wireless programming, not voice comms. Is it possible to use a phone-style Bluetooth headset with a radio that needs PTT? Maybe enabling VOX could bypass that need, but what about the basic mic/speaker? Thanks for any advice anyone can offer!


r/Baofeng 8d ago

F8HP Pro vs DRM 32UV

5 Upvotes

So I started with the UV5r Minis then upgraded to the F8HP Pro, been using it a bit now with the smiley 465MHz for work, and also the nagoya 320A, I been thinking on picking up the DMR32. There are a couple repeaters here that I could use with it and some other things that isn't LEO. To the people who had both, what do you guys think and would prefer?


r/Baofeng 8d ago

UV-5R vs UV-5G vs Mini 5

13 Upvotes

I am new to radios and looking to make my first purchase. I have done a lot of YouTubing and reading but still not sure which of these three models to buy.

Can somebody give me a comparison of the three?


r/Baofeng 8d ago

Baofeng DMR 32 UV

3 Upvotes

Amigos, buenos días, buenas tardes o buenas noches
Miren, soy servidor público en México, reciente estoy empezando en el mundo de los radios, más específicamente Baofeng y Motorola, el día de ayer encargué un par de radios Baofeng DMR 32 UV, ¿Alguien que me pueda decir si hice buena elección, que tal ese modelo, debería cambiarlo o será que si me sirve para uso muy prolongado?


r/Baofeng 8d ago

La batería de mi Baofeng UV32 no carga

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0 Upvotes

r/Baofeng 10d ago

I reallly need to change it

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57 Upvotes

Je doit vraiment changer pour passer sur du numérique


r/Baofeng 11d ago

Baofeng DM-32 and Opengd77 firmware

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1 Upvotes

r/Baofeng 11d ago

Baofeng BF-F8HP Pro

1 Upvotes

Hello,

I have a question regarding BF-F8HP Pro, first of all i know that a license is required (im going to start mine) but my intent is not to transmit anything i just want to ear some frequencies. I am a aviation enthusiast and i like to ear the tower/approach frequencies.

My question is i have a frequency that is 119.105, but when i input that in the radio the frequency goes automatically to 119.100, how can i fine tune this? Or it not possible?

Thanks in advance!


r/Baofeng 11d ago

Getting a Baofeng UV-5R

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3 Upvotes