This short article was inspired by the following email from Rob:
” I’ve just purchased a Baofeng uv5r plus, and I’m a complete novice but really want to get in to ham radio, I cannot seem to pick anything up on my radio.
I’ve tried to set it up from different people helping via the web but with no luck. I do not have a PC, so I cannot programme via disk/computer. Could you please help me get it sorted manually or point me in the right direction?
Background
The Baofeng UV-5R is a low-priced handheld amateur radio transceiver that can transmit and receive on two amateur radio bands, the 2 metre band and the 70cm band. You need to be a licensed amateur radio operator to be able to transmit using this radio, but you don’t need a licence to listen in – which is handy for those looking to get into the hobby, or working towards getting a Foundation licence.
The Baofeng radios are favoured by many hams for their small size, flexibility, and cheap price. You can buy from various ham radio dealers in the UK, but most find it’s cheaper to import from Hong Kong, via one of the eBay Baofeng Stores.
Listening to 2m and 70cm
Amateur radio operators typically operate “HF”, which is used to talk around the world, or VHF/UHF, which is more local. Here in Essex, the 2 metre is more active than the 70cm band, and you can often work amateurs from Kent, London, Suffolk and Hertfordshire on 2 metres, often using ‘repeaters’ which widen the area.
The allowed frequencies for amateurs are as follows:
2 metres: From 144MHz to 146MHz
70cm: From 430MHZ to 440MHz
What can you hear?
Well, it depends who’s on, and what time of day you’re listening. Some days, it’s quiet, other days you’ll find lots of conversations in progress.
Two places to have a listen are:
145.500MHz – This is what’s known as the “calling channel”, where amateurs can call out for someone, or put out a general CQ call. Normally,
Your local repeater – In Essex, this is the GB3DA repeater (which is on 145.725MHz). If you’re not in Essex, see the UK Repeaters website for local repeaters and frequencies.
You can see what band amateurs are allowed to use, and what you can expect to find, on the Band Plan section of the RSGB website (check the 2M and 70CM tabs)
Struggling to hear anything?
There are a few things to bear in mind:
Antenna:
The small rubber duck antenna supplied with cheap handheld radios are pretty poor, and have a limited range. If the antenna isn’t up to it, you can get a longer portable aerial to replace the short stubby aerial. For better performance, you’ll need something better. Here are some options
- A rooftop co-linear antenna would be best (from £20)
- The same antenna mounted in the loft will work, but not as well
- A mag-mount antenna on the roof of your car
- A mag mount antenna on a biscuit-tin or baking tray
Location:
Height matters, so an antenna on the roof is best. Operating with the aerial inside a car, or inside a concrete/brick building isn’t great. Try outdoors, with nothing blocking your path to the station you’re trying to receive.
Activity:
Of course, you could be listening at a time that no-one’s transmitting. You may have to be patient.
It may be worth clecking out some of your local clubs to get a feel for when the local frequencies are busy. Locally in Essex, Every Monday we run a busy net on the GB3DA repeater that lasts for at least two hours – great for people new to the hobby to tuine in to. If you’re in Essex, have a listen on 145.725MHz from 8pm on a Monday. If you’re out of the area, find out whaich clubs near you run a net, at what times, and on what frequency, so you can have a listen.
Programming your radio?
Assuming all you’re doing is listening… then you don’t need to programme anything in. Just go to the frequency you’re after, and listen away
When it comes to transmitting using a local repeater, you’ll need to programme the radio to set the transmit offset and CTCSS tones… but that’s only for talking through a repeater, and not for simply listening. If you’re looking to programme your rig for transmitting to a repeater, we have several guides on the site, or you can ask for help specific to your rig in our Essex Ham Forum
Hopefully that gives you the basic information that you need to know to start listening in to amateur radio transmissions. If you have any questions, please add a comment below.
This is the best bit of info if had yet also it was very simple, and I can now say iv just picked up my local repeater(I think) or at least one of them which is a start.
Thanks for your help Pete.
Great. Happy to help. If you have any more questions, please ask away.
Alright Pete whats the chances of me listening to the iss on my uv-5r I’m in the Cambridge area (Ely) ?
Hi Pete,
Your online trading helped me get licensed last FEB. A big thankyou again
Now I’m Trying to get my head around vhf. I have a handheld. Nothing.
I recently bought an IC 705 that covers all bands. I’ve managed to get som Hf reception now but after buying a 2m vertical diamond x50 antenna and mounting it 12+ ft on the hf antenna mast, I’ve yet to hear any vhf or uhf communication. I’ve dialled all the broadcast frequencies of the nearby repeaters… a big nothing but the air band via same aerial and radio.
Is it possible being ~10-17 miles from any repeater exceeds the propagation of 2m?
I can’t get anything in any mode on vhf or uhf ham bands
Thanks for input,
Geoff Cox (Stansted Essex)
M7COX
Hi Pete,
Your online trading helped me get licensed last FEB. A big thankyou again
Now I’m Trying to get my head around vhf. I have a handheld. Nothing.
I recently bought an IC 705 that covers all bands. I’ve managed to get som Hf reception now but after buying a 2m vertical diamond x50 antenna and mounting it 12+ ft on the hf antenna mast, I’ve yet to hear any vhf or uhf communication. I’ve dialled all the broadcast frequencies of the nearby repeaters… a big nothing but the air band via same aerial and radio.
Is it possible being ~10-17 miles from any repeater exceeds the propagation of 2m?
I can’t get anything in any mode on vhf or uhf ham bands
Thanks for input,
Geoff Cox (Stansted Essex)
M7COX
I got radio aaofeng
Hi, stupid question – probably – Tx/Rx is on the same frequency / Band – UNLESS via a repeater where the offset function needs to be set up ?
Brand new to the hobby. Was given a cheap handheld and have been picking up (LISTENING ONLY, I don’t have my license yet) our local repeater. But there’s not much going on there. VERY quiet. The odd burst of Morse Code, the occasional chat about the weather. I took it camping with me last weekend and there was nothing – and I mean nothing – to hear. I was pretty disappointed. I’ve just bought a mag mount antenna for the car that I hope will do a bit better than the stock rubber duck supplied.
Have any tips on how best to hear more? I think I need to get out a bit, go for a mountain walk. Put some distance between me and the ground of the valley I live in (obviously).
Might be worth finding out if there are any Nets on your local repeater (as these are a focal point for locals). Also, talk to local amateurs and clubs to find out where and when there’s activity (assuming there is some).
With a larger/better antenna, you should be able to pull in signals from further afield, including other repeaters.
Pete
If I buy a ham radio just two listening like a radio do I need a licence to use one,
Please get back to me as soon as possible as I am in the process of buying one it is an Icom lc R9500 the person I am buying it off is also selling me and antenna which happens to be and 800 model and I am getting it at a cut price just on £6.000 so I need your answer ASAP please help me if you can
You do not need a licence to listen to amateur radio in the UK. You do need a licence to transmit on amateur radio frequencies. Pete
I can’t hear Shi just annoying sound Why?
Tips please
What frequency are you listening to? What radio? What aerial? Have you read/tried the tips in the article?
Happy xmas pete
From NR512 Richard
446 mhz ch8 Dorset
You do a great job
Hi, I am listening to a particular channel using this device. However, my charger broke and until i get a replacment, I wanted to know if I can listen via a website?? It’s a long shot but I thought id ask on here, thanks!
It depends what you’re trying to listen to. Some repeaters and nets ‘stream’ over the Internet, some are relayed over the net using what’s called a WebSDR, and some repeaters are relayed over Zello (a smartphone voice-over-Internet app)
WebSDR.org
Hi
When we scan the frequencies we can get the network if we actually find the RX frequency while we are talking, my question is, can we find the TX frequency?
I assume you’re referring to a repeater? If so, there is a list of repeater RX and TX frequencies here: https://www.ukrepeater.net/repeaterlist1.htm
I have a Baofeng uv5r 111. I cant hear much where I live. I think this is due to being fairly low down. Can you recommend an aerial set up that I could buy. For roof or outside of an upper floor window.
Hello, I recently bought a Baofeng uv5r and was recieiving large amounts of static and no conversations etc. I then adjusted the squelch levels using chirp, this stopped the large amounts of static and now I’m not picking up anything. Could it be where I live or the radio itself ? Thanks.
Hi James – did you read the advice under “Struggling to hear anything?”?
Great info thanks – is there a list of services, I.e. weather, emergency, government (in case of SHTF lol) in the U.K., so anyone unlicensed could listen in case of global/national trouble, etc? Thank you – waiting to start my foundation course with essexham
Matthew, Just search for PREPPER & SURVIVALIST SHTF FREQUENCIES 2 WAY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS on internet and download and print the sheet from RADIOFREEQ.WORDPRESS.com Should give all you need but if you cannot do this you can use 446.030 146.420 146.520 146.550 for prepper and survivalist channels 155.160 is FM search and rescue 156.800 is marine vhf FM safety calling and 156.625 is FM boat prepper. All worth programming in. Good luck
Hi Doug.
Are there any offsets or ctcss tones for any of these channels? I assume not for ease of access?
Thanks
Matt
Hi great article which is helping me understand this baffling hobby (only been looking into it for a couple of days). Which baofeng would you guys recommend and which antenna for inside a loft? Cheers.
Was looking for radios for Airsoft and seem to have fallen into the mysteries of Radio, but not complaining. My father-in-law was a professional radio tech who started with Freddy Laker’s airline and ended up specialising in ship to shore satellite comms, including doing the radio training for the British Antarctic survey teams. We won’t discuss his seconded civilian role with British forces in the Falklands war (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). He had a large transmitter scavenged from a ship and refurbished operating from his garage for many years after his retirement. Unfortunately he is no longer with us to share his stories.
My UV5R TP arrived today, and I have registered to do the foundation through you from 16/8/20. Although I live in Milton Keynes I have found your club site to be the most informative so far for a Physics numpty like me. Thanks for all of the useful info so far.
i have just got a baefong uv-5r am struggling to find local repeater im innorthamptonshire , is it uhf or vhf and wide on narrow , thanks for any help
Hi There
I am in London and would like to listen to HAM conversations using my Internet. Kindly help me
Thanks
Harry
I have Purchased a UV9R Plus Am i doing anything illegal by listening to the local reapeater? I have done some of the Essex Ham Course but dont feel confident just yet . Im looking for a club in the County Durham or Newcastle area Looking to eventually do the beginers intermediate course
hi pete
im very very new to this hobby but would like to progress in it . i purchased a new ailunce to just get to know a bit about the amateur radio etiquette but as yet cant find any communications conversations just white noise and a green screen . i live in sunderland north east . as im new to it i dont know if the handheld is faulted . i really want to progress and get my foundation licance but not having much luck at the moment , any advise would be amazing .
thank you
joe
Hi Joe – did you read the advice under “Struggling to hear anything?”? What have you tried so far?
hi pete e
thank you for your quick response , ive had the radio for a week now and havnt heard a word spoken !
i can get fm radio but thats it . im scanning on fm and dmr but as yet nothing . should i be on narrow band or wide band ? im so sorry for asking all these questions but i have no idea and just learning mate . what basic settings should i be on just the listen ? and should i need to connect to a repeater ?
thank you
joe
What type of antenna have you got? How far away is your nearest repeater?
Out of interest, have you started studying for Foundation yet?
Just signed uo for the foundation course. I have a few HTs , radtel and baofeng and a few antennas. Also have a handheld CB. All USB chargeable.
I’ve read about the Nagoya 771 helping bring in more stations, is that correct or just waffle. And im guessing yhats for 2m and 70cm, also I’m mainly listening indoors so all I can really pick up is ATC from the Thames Radar plus Marine from the Thames.
I haven’t heard anything on the 2m calling channel or 70cm or the lo Al repeaters in Bromley.
When scanning I get lots of hits for distortion or static so I’m guessing they are DMR.
It’s all very interesting.
Looking forward ro getting going, I also bought the EssexHam study guide which made me sit up and take notice.
I’ve previously taken and passed my drone licence exams and it seems a similar method of learning and gaining licences.