The complete article is at:
https://www.shtfblog.com/a-better-baofeng-uv-5r-instruction-manual/
So, let’s avoid CHIRP, and get on to how you can use your UV-5R without ever having to
touch that detested software.
Notes on UV-5R Specs
One of the chief things that you need to know about your UV-5R is that the radio (called a
transceiver – because it both
trans
mits and re
ceives
messages) has a
male
SMA connector. This
means that it needs a
female
SMA connector antenna to work. What comes in the box is both the
necessary antenna and radio.
The type of antenna that comes in the box of your stock UV-5R is referred to as a “rubber duck.”
It’s an absolute terrible antenna.
One of the first pieces of advice that just about any seasoned
ham operator (referred to as an “elmer”) will tell you is that your radio is only as good as
your antenna.
I say this because one of the first things that you need to do for your UV-5R to
function effectively is to upgrade your antenna.
I highly recommend the Nagoya NA-771.
This
will probably cost you around $25 and is well worth the cost.
With the stock antenna, I have been able to listen to people from two hours away to as far away
as Las Vegas! The problem is that I can’t talk back to them. Even when I tried to transmit to an
elmer about 100 yards away from me in a parking
lot, my transmissions still came through fuzzy and
undecipherable. If you want to be able to transmit
(and you do), then you need to upgrade your
antenna, and you need to get one with a female
SMA connector.
How to Turn Your
Baofeng UV-5R On
To turn on your UV-5R, all you have to do is
rotate the knob at the top of the radio beside the
antenna.
Attaching Accessories
Your UV-5R can have various accessories
attached to it through the means of a Kenwood 2-
pin connector. If you do decide that you would
