Radio
Radio Tips:
How to talk:
Hold the radio about 4 inches away from your mouth, antenna in vertical position.
Press the Push-to-Talk (PTT) button. Wait 1 second before speaking
Speak clearly, slowly, but not too loud so the voice is not overmodulated
Wait 1 second before releasing the PTT
Comprehensive instruction manual for the Baofeng UV-5R is found Here
About the only way to damage your radio is to transmit (press the side PTT button) with out the antenna connected.
Switch between low(2W) and high(4W) power: short press # key. Letter L will show up on the screen.
Repeater reverse mode: short press on * key. Letter R will show up on screen. In this mode, the repeater input and output frequencies are switched. It is used to find out if the person you are talking to, is within simplex range. DONT FORGET TO TURN OFF VOX or the entire bay are will hear your conversations!
About the only way to damage your radio is to transmit (press the side PTT button) with out the antenna connected. Further reading
General Operating Tips:
Our class simplex frequency is 146.430 (ch-4), monitor it for EE123 traffic
SMPLX2M (ch-1) is 146.520 MHz, the national 2m simplex calling frequency, SMPLX446 (ch-2) is 446.000 MHz. You can most always directly reach fellow hams by transmitting “CQ CQ CQ followed by your callsign” when at higher elevations on this frequencies, especially 146.520 MHz.
WW6BAY (ch-43,ch-44) is a linked repeater system covering all of the bay area. It's 2m, 70cm south bay and 70cm north bay are listed in your radios with the 2, S and N suffixes respectively. It is owned and operated by many local engineers.
N6QOP (ch-23) is a phantastic repeater which is part of the CARLA system and has coverage of the Berkeley area as well as east of the hills. Use CARLA (ch-49) to link to the entire system
WA6HAM is the Contra Costa ARC repeater. Very good coverage in the east bay
You are well aware of this by now, but it's important enough to merit repeating. Your first and last transmission should always contain your call sign. During an extended contact (QSO), you also need to ID with your callsign at least every 10 minutes.
KB6LED is a repeater on top of Grizley peak. It is also be reached through echolink, which makes it an excellent way to access a person with a radio on campus from the internet.
N6NFI The most active repeater in the bay area hosting the 9am talknet. Press on the PTT to transmit and then key 699 to get a signal report!
Nets:
PLease join the monthly emergency communication net. Net takes place each FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH (AT NOON) immediately after the siren tests on the UC Berkeley campus. There are two ways to check in:
On repeater WA6ZTY (Ch-21 on your radio)
On the Cal Bears 2m calling frequency 146.430MHz (Ch-4 on your radio)
9AM talk net is a daily net starting at 9am on the N6NFI repeater (Ch 31 on your radio). Its moto: “We encourage new hams to check in and ask questions” Topics vary from very technical:“I built this massive antenna structure” to “I'm drinking my coffee on my commute ,hi everyone”
Programming Cable and Class Bandplan
In order to program the radio, you will need a USB programming cable and a programming software called Chirp. There may be some windows driver issues discussed in Here. Read install instructions on the Chirp Wiki!!!
Baofeng UV-5R programming files: CSV,
Some cables you buy may be faulty, here's a workaround
If you want to make your own cable look Here. You need a 3.5mm plug to 2.5mm plug cable (Amazon link) which you will cut in half, and a CP2102 USB to TTL (Amazon link)
