Cheap Comms - Baofeng Radios

[kpp80202]

Zombie post

It has come to my attention that the baofeng radios coming out now (at least the uv5r) are locked out from transmitting on GMRS and MURS frequencies. While it is illegal to transmit on these without an approved radio during normal times, it is nice to be able to transmit on whatever you need to in an emergency.

To fix it, turn the radio off, press and hold the PTT, monitor, and VFO/MR buttons, then power on while holding them.If you were locked, you should see "factory" on the boot screen.

Is this all it takes to “unlock” a UV-5r?

[00tec]

Is this all it takes to “unlock” a UV-5r?

Yes

[kpp80202]

Yes

Thank you!

[battlemidget]

FYI the gmrs license fee is supposedly dropping to $35 this year (from $70).

[00tec]

FYI the gmrs license fee is supposedly dropping to $35 this year (from $70).

Still illegal to use a baofeng on it

Not that I'm snitchin

[hollohas]

Still illegal to use a baofeng on it

Not that I'm snitchin

Why would it be illegal to use a particular brand if you're licensed?

[Grant H.]

Why would it be illegal to use a particular brand if you're licensed?

The radio hardware isn't licensed/certified for use on those bands.

Not only do you the operator have to have a license for operations, but the radio has to be tested/certified/licensed for use on those bands in the US.

As an example, you have LOTS of devices that are known to broadcast RF that have a label that says something along the lines of "this device complies with part 15 (insert other part as necessary for device, band, etc) of the FCC reg's". Your wifi router operates in the ISM band, which does NOT require YOU to have a license, but it has to "licensed"/tested/registered with the FCC before it can be sold in the US.

[hollohas]

The radio hardware isn't licensed/certified for use on those bands.

Not only do you the operator have to have a license for operations, but the radio has to be tested/certified/licensed for use on those bands in the US.

As an example, you have LOTS of devices that are known to broadcast RF that have a label that says something along the lines of "this device complies with part 15 (insert other part as necessary for device, band, etc) of the FCC reg's". Your wifi router operates in the ISM band, which does NOT require YOU to have a license, but it has to "licensed"/tested/registered with the FCC before it can be sold in the US.

Someone going to have to explain this a bit more to me, because I'm slow. You're telling me, that an entire BRAND is not FCC Certified?

And if you're not talking about the entire brand but just one device, which one are you referencing as not being FCC Certified to operate on GMRS frequencies?

For example, the UV-5R which is typically what people are talking about when referring to Baofeng and the subject of this thread, is FCC certified as a portable transceiver on 136-174MHZ/400-480MHZ, FCC Identifier ZP5BF-5R. Last I checked, 462MHz and 467MHz were in that range. And you can absolutely set the wattage to operate within the FCC permitted power range for GMRS.

Did they revoke that authorization or am I misunderstanding?

I just this minute downloaded this from the FCC OET website...

[00tec]

Why would it be illegal to use a particular brand if you're licensed?

Same reason you can't pipe 100w over FRS bands.
Because the government says so.

[brutal]

FYI the gmrs license fee is supposedly dropping to $35 this year (from $70).

Wasn't it approved for reduction 2 years ago and has been "supposed to go into effect" for about that long now? I guess the FCC is lacking manpower or a contractor to update the website and payment processor.