Baofeng BF-T1

 The Baofeng UV5R had a baby I guess...

More on Packet Radio

 Navigating packet radio can be very hard, especially if you're just starting out in the hobby. You may have questions like "What's the difference between APRS and packet?" or "Why can't I use X software for packet?" Heck you may even wonder how can you set up your own packet radio operation. Today, I hope that this blog post can put some of those wonder and questions to rest. So follow me as I delve into (hopefully) helping you get your start in the internet of amateur radio - packet radio!

BBS Packet Radio PART II

Okay everyone, we are just a few connections and solder blobs away from putting the packet radio node on the air! It's been quite the adventure, so let me tell you all about it!

Dusting off the crystal scanner

Do you have a crystal scanner that you just can't find a crystal for? Perhaps you have one that has your area's old analog public safety frequencies. Not sure what to do with it except throw it in the trash? Well today, I might just have the solution to keep it out of the landfill.

BBS Packet Radio

 Okay, so my AllStar node was a bit too...ambitious. Therefore, Project AllStar has been cancelled :( I might make a personal radio-less AllStar node just for me.

That's okay, though, because I have a better and easier project that even YOU can do! And this should still benefit my community too!

QYT KT-8900 Kaput???

 Back again with a 6 month review and update of my QYT KT-8900.

I have to say that I am thoroughly impressed with this radio, despite it not reaching the 25W promised output. I can still live with that though! I can easily access the repeater anywhere in town with a simple mag mount antenna. The microphone issue never really seemed to be an issue in the first place. However, the mic may have a different problem associated with it now that I've had it in my car for a bit.

The Main Issue

Here's what I think...

On cold days, when my car is not started, I can climb in and key up the radio. However, as the environment around me warms up, the microphone stops working. I can key the microphone which transmits a non-CTCSS carrier, but it never seems to transmit the CTCSS code. When I let the PTT up, it transmits the squelch tail properly on the repeater.

Now, it doesn't always work when it is cold, and the workaround is to twist and bend the mic wire every which way in order for it to transmit. I've narrowed down the problem to one of two places - the mic cable or the microphone itself. So I'm planning to order a different styled microphone in the hopes that it will solve the problem! I highly doubt it is within the radio circuitry but that isn't out of the question quite yet.

Here's what actually happened...

So we have two cheaply-made radios here - a Baofeng UV-5R and a QYT KT-8900. One has a very weak and insensitive receiver, meaning that every time I key up my QYT very close to the Baofeng (in this case, INSIDE of the car or a VERY large Faraday cage), I'm essentially overloading the Baofeng's receiver. The UV-5Rs do suffer from this design flaw and are known to have crappy receivers if overloaded. They just become so deaf they're useless. Due to the receiver sensitivity being quite finnicky, you just kind of get what you pay for. This is more so the problem - the UV-5R is so overloaded by the mobile radio that it doesn't even pick anything up, only the repeater's squelch tail. 

Problem solved - no mic needed here!!! Phew!

Again, ham radio problem-solving at its finest, ladies and gents!

How's it going?

Well, to be honest, the KT-8900 does the job just fine, even at around 10 watts! CHIRP just released another stable version a few days ago and it appears that I can finally customize the settings without a problem.

I've attached the radio via Velcro just below the steering wheel where it is out of sight from view. The Velcro does a much better job than Command strips at fastening, securing, and holding the radio. 

Again, my recommendations still stand. Turn down the power pot so you're only at around 10 watts on high power or replace the final transistor. The first is the easiest option by far, and only takes around 5 minutes. It is a very touchy adjustment so adjust in tiny increments.

So, after almost half a year, I'd still recommend this radio. 

A Month with the QYT KT-8900

 Well it's officially been a month or two since I first received the QYT KT-8900. As promised, I would like to do a one-month check-in on this rig!

Baofeng UV5R

 If you're a new amateur radio operator, you probably have one of these:

This is a Baofeng UV-5R. Like the Pixie kit, some amateurs talk it up, some talk it down. For a beginner, it's a great little handheld for 2m/70cm operations. It's affordable, being almost $30 or less for just the radio. It can be programmed using CHIRP or by the user themselves, and can have special properties programmed for repeater operations, CTCSS/DCS tones, and much more. Plus it comes with a built-in FM radio! What could be better than this?

Unfortunately, the Baofeng has its drawbacks. It's limited to 5 watts (8 watts with the 5R+), technically making it a QRP rig. It's analog FM only, meaning you can't operate DMR or other digital FM voice modes like C4FM. Lastly, many of these sold at a particular time were not FCC compliant - they could transmit in other frequency ranges other than amateur ranges. Accidental use of these frequencies could mean men in suits and ties showing up at your door with handcuffs, a cease-and-desist, or permission to take away your license for good.

Despite its drawbacks, it's a good radio to have at your side, whether you're new or a seasoned operator. I have one in my school backpack. For as much as it has been slammed on the ground, thrown around, and even stepped on, the radio has survived and hopefully will continue to, knock on wood. 

I have heard from an operator or two that these were made for the Chinese army. This could explain why they are so cheap, since they apparently continue to make too many of them for the army's handling. I got mine when I became an amateur radio operator in 2018 and immediately made a contact out of the box on my local 2m repeater. My signal reports have been good, I've gotten one report which said I had a good, quieting signal coming into that repeater. Of course, I was using a repeater, and the person I was talking to was about 50 miles away from me. 

Being a Chinese product, I didn't expect it to last long. I expected at least two years out of it, but so far it is still working as it should've been six years later!

The Baofeng is an excellent choice for someone on a budget. It's very portable which makes it good for someone who wants portability and versatility. In fact, it could be made into a mobile transceiver with an external antenna from sites like Amazon. Besides amateur monitoring, you can monitor NOAA satellites which transmit APT on the 137 MHz band, and listen to the NOAA Weather radio, monitor law enforcement activity (if it's legal in your area), just to name some things. Programming the radio is stupidly simple, especially if you use CHIRP. It also has an FM radio built in, for receiving local radio stations. You can talk on repeaters with ease on the same frequency setting. Additionally, the battery life is amazingly long. I haven't charged mine in weeks and it is still full!

With every good rig comes the drawbacks. This radio has potential, but its flaws limit it. I don't expect much in power, but 5 watts it too limiting. Something like 10 watts would do much better. It is a solid radio, but don't expect bulletproof performance. One drop in a muddy puddle would kill it for good. The buttons on mine are starting to scratch off, but that's expected for a silicone keypad. Most importantly, no one can repair these. It's best to buy a new one if you were to ruin it.

Besides voice, you can do digital modes like APRS, SSTV, and 8PSK, just to name a few. In the ARRL's band plan, 145.500 - 145.800 has been set aside for "experimental" modes, and most of these modes are a perfect fit here. These modes aren't commercially popular on 2 meters, but some modes have grown popular in recent years. MSK144 is a good place to start too, though operations are better on 6 meters. 

The ISS has SSTV events every so often, and you can receive these images with a Baofeng easily, as well as any other 2m scanner. You can even talk to amateur satellites with the Baofeng's 5W of power. An external Yagi antenna will give optimal results, but I've heard reports of operators using the stock rubber duck antenna. 

In conclusion, is getting a Baofeng worth it? ABSOLUTELY. That's all there is to it. If you're on a budget and want to get on the air fast, getting one of these is your best bet. The only drawback is the quality: some have had theirs for a while and some break right out of the box. Due to the inexpensive nature of these radios, fixing it is just as worthwhile as replacing it. As for programming, using CHIRP is recommended, as it basically flashes a spreadsheet image (.csv/.img file) to the radio.

UPDATE (4/8/22): I previously mentioned that you could use this as a mobile transceiver, not just as an HT handheld. You can buy mounts off of Amazon or even print them using a 3D printer. I am in the process of printing one off from Thingiverse. That project is here. You'll need an external antenna, as your car acts as a Faraday cage, which will block reception and transmission of signals. I am getting a window mount that the folks at Nagoya sell for a relatively fair price. See the link below for more details.

Here are some helpful links:

UV-5R Radio

Nagoya Window Antenna

CHIRP Software

RepeaterBook - Useful in finding repeaters near your area. Available on your mobile device (Android/iOS) too!

Until next time, 73s!