The Baofeng UV-5R is a great cheap little radio, but it's notoriously difficult to use, with poor documentation. Here are some tips and resources I've found to help me use them.
Accessories
I've found the following accessories to be useful. These are my recommended brands. Some similar/cheaper things didn't work.
- Baofeng USB Programming Cable
- Reverse SMA Antenna - give your Baofeng superpowers with a better antenna
- 1/8" to Baofeng Connector - connects the radio to an iPhone/Android
Menu Reference
Note: This guide was originally written for the Baofeng UV-5R, but may work on other models as well. So far this has been confirmed to work on the following models. If you have a different model that you've been able to use with this cheat sheet, please let me know!
- Baofeng BF-F8HP
Commonly Used Menu Items
| 0 | SQL | RF Squelch |
| 2 | TXP | Transmit power (Tap # to temporarily change power) |
| 11 | R-CTCS | Receive CTCSS (PL) |
| 13 | T-CTCS | Transmit CTCSS (PL) |
| 25 | SFT-D | Repeater Shift Direction |
| 26 | OFFEST | Repeater Offset (MHz) |
| 27 | MEM-CH | Save to memory channel |
| 28 | DEL-CH | Delete memory channel |
WTF Menu Items
| 7 | TDR | Dual watch (monitor A and B at same time). May change the transmit side – be careful with TDR-AB setting* |
| 34 | TDR-AB | Side for transmit after receiving a signal when TDR is on |
| 9 | TOT | Limit transmission time to xx seconds |
| 14 | VOICE | Voice confirmation of keypresses/menu selections. Choice of English, Chinese, or OFF |
| 15 | ANI-ID | A coded signal that is sent when an “alarm” is activated. You probably don't need this. |
| 17 | S-CODE | Sends a DTMF code on transmit/end of transmit |
| 19 | PTT-ID | Activates the DTMF code on transmit/end of transmit. Best left OFF. |
| 20 | PTT-LT | Delay before sending PTT-ID |
| 23 | BCL | Busy channel lockout – prevents transmitting when a channel is busy. (What is "busy"?) |
| 32 | AL-MOD | Alarm mode. |
| 35 | STE | Squelch Tail Elimination – squelches tail noise in simplex. |
| 36 | RP-STE | Squelch Tail Elimination Repeater – squelches tail noise from a repeater (i.e., the courtesy tone) |
| 37 | RPT-RL | Squelch Tail Delay. |
| 39 | ROGER | Sends an end-of-transmission tone after PTT release. Turn this OFF or you'll annoy people quick. |
| 40 | RESET | Resets all settings and erases memories. |
Based on a PDF from Jon Perelstein WB2RYV
Programming Guide
Here is a great guide to how to manually program the Baofeng UV-5R, copied below.
How to manually program a simplex channel
- Step 1. Press [VFO/MR] and enter Frequency Mode.
- Step 2. Press [A/B] and choose the A Side (upper display).
The A side must be used to program channels into the radio. Programming data entered on the B Side (lower display) will not be saved. - Step 3. Press [BAND] for the frequency band.
Toggle [BAND] to choose 136 MHz (VHF) or 470 MHz (UHF).
If the incorrect band is chosen for the frequency entered in Step 5, the radio will cancel the operation. - Step 4. Disable TDR (Dual Watch/Dual Standby).
Press [MENU] 7 [MENU] [press up/down arrow keys] OFF [MENU] [EXIT]
It is highly advised to turn TDR off when programming directly from the radio. - Step 5. Enter the frequency.
Use the keypad to enter the frequency into the radio. - Step 6. optional - Enter the transmit CTCSS/DCS code.
- CTCSS - [MENU] 13 [MENU] [enter/choose code XXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
- DCS - [MENU] 12 [MENU] [choose code XXXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
- Step 7. Assign the frequency to a channel.
[MENU] 27 [MENU] [enter channel number XXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
How to manually program a repeater channel
- Step 1. Press [VFO/MR] and enter Frequency Mode.
- Step 2. Press [A/B] and choose the A Side (upper display).
Like the simplex channels, the A side must be used to program the repeater channels into the radio. Programming data entered on the B Side (lower display) will not be saved. - Step 3. Press [BAND] for the frequency band
Toggle [BAND] to choose 136 MHz (VHF) or 470 MHz (UHF).
If the incorrect band is chosen for the frequency entered in Step 6, the radio will cancel the operation. - Step 4. optional - Clear any CTCSS/DCS codes previously assigned to the channel.
If no previous codes exist or when setting up the channel for the first time and no codes are needed, set the menu items listed below to OFF.- RX DCS - [MENU] 10 [MENU] [enter 0 (OFF)] [MENU] [EXIT]
- RX CTCSS - [MENU] 11 [MENU] [enter 0 (OFF)] [MENU] [EXIT]
- TX DCS - [MENU] 12 [MENU] [enter 0 (OFF)] [MENU] [EXIT]
- TX CTCSS - [MENU] 13 [MENU] [enter 0 (OFF)] [MENU] [EXIT]
- Step 5. Disable TDR (DualWatch/Dual Standby).
Press [MENU] 7 [MENU] [press up/down arrow keys] OFF [MENU] [EXIT]
It is highly advised to turn TDR off when programming directly from the radio. - Step 6. optional - Delete any existing data on the channel to program.
Skip this step when setting up the channel for the first time. Press [MENU] 28 [press up/down arrow keys to choose channel number] [MENU] [EXIT]
It is highly advised to turn TDR off when programming directly from the radio. - Step 7. Enter the frequency.
Use the keypad to enter the frequency into the radio. - Step 8. Input the repeater frequency offset.
Press [MENU] 26 [MENU] [enter the offset for 2 meter or 70 cm repeater] [MENU] [EXIT] - Step 9. Enter the Transmit Frequency Shift.
Press [MENU] 25 [MENU] [enter 1 for positive shift or 2 for negative shift] [MENU][EXIT] - Step 10. optional - Enter the transmit CTCSS/DCS code.
- CTCSS - [MENU] 13 [MENU] [enter/choose code XXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
- DCS - [MENU] 12 [MENU] [choose code XXXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
- Step 11. Enter the repeater output frequency.
Use the keypad to enter the frequency into the radio. - Step 12. Assign the receive frequency to the same channel in Step 6.
[MENU] 27 [MENU] [enter channel number XXX] [MENU] [EXIT] - Step 13. Press the [*Scan] button to activate Reverse Mode and display the transmit frequency.
- Step 14. Assign the transmit frequency to the channel.
Press [MENU] 27 [MENU] [enter the same memory channel in step 27] [MENU] [EXIT] - Step 15. Press the [*Scan] button to exit
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