I’m 59yrs old and have never owned a pc or laptop and I have to always manually program my radios. It may be slower but I get to know the radio better.
Yes, many thanks for that. I am a techie but not one that done anything but use radios in the past. I bought one of these radios just for the fun of it but have no idea what I will use it for!
Only thing I would have have added to the video is how to find the com port number so that if someone doesn't know what one there one is it is easier to find it without trial and error
Top tip - If you plug in the USB with the radio connected and run the Chirp software, click on help in the drop down menu in the com port box then unplug and plug the usb back in, then it will auto populate the com port box with the correct info...
Great video, thank you. But you forgot to mention to backup your radio first and save the backup. You could have shown that as well, just in case you mess your radio up. But apart from that, like I said, a great video.
Thank you. Very useful information. Having programmed my radio using Chirp via following another video, this was far better explained. I think I have to change mine from FM to NFM though. I didn’t need a driver for some reason.
@@CB-RADIO-UK Thanks Fred. My radios are only cheap Baofeng BF T 20’s for when I go urban and rural exploring with my mate. I’d have thought they would be ready to use out of the box, so when I saw the factory test frequencies on there I was a little alarmed.
My old windows 10 Sony laptop installed the driver automatically, the only issue I had was making sure the radio volume was high enough otherwise I would get a comms error.
Great video. I use an XP machine. Churp that works on my machine doesn't list my Radio. Latest Chirp on my Windows 11 machine has my Radio but drivers not supported by Windows . So no nearer in programming my radio. 😢 George
Win 10 will install the driver automatically for , connect the lead to pc, but not radio it detects the chip in the lead , and will install the lead to that com port.
Hey Fred. Have a look into the Meshtastic project, you and you're followers might find interesting and useful ... It's an off grid text messaging / tracking pocket sized radio system some are calling CB 2.0 ... Some of the devices are dirt cheap, link to android devices or alike via Bluetooth for use of keyboard and GPS, some come with keyboard. the little radios use the LoRa digital mode on the 868MHz License Exempt band, transmission power around 100mW, Tx range line of sight distances to up to around 200miles i think the current record stands from hill top.
Very interesting project. I believe they can act as repeaters as well. How more there are how further you can communicate.. I'm not sure on that but i heard someone say it in a UA-cam video.
Yes all the nodes act as Repeaters in standard configuration out the box. or you can easy define them as dedicated Repeaters or trackers. Also they can be unencrypted for that open CB like usage to talk to strangers for a CQ, or you can encrypt and have private encrypted channels. Meshtastic also be used on the 433MHz band for HAMs, also with the APRS network, but obviously no encryption allowed on HAM bands. The app is so easy to use anyone can get started on the 868MHz band
Greetings: Just 2 B clear, this and related clone units do NOT receive lower than 50 Mhz? I am seeking a unit that has RX 500Khz - 5Ghz or at least 1Ghz with BNC Spectrum display, Switched back light, All mode (AM. FM, USB, LSB), DTMF, fine tune,
Ha ha--after much to-ing and fro-ing over two days, installing and reinstalling windows drivers and chirp multiple times (read at least twenty times apiece) i could not get the download from the Radio to work, (Cannot connect to radio) and then after trying for about the 50th time pulling the usb in and out it magically uploaded. I carried out Fred's instructions and changed the frequencies and tried to upload to the radio another 20 times all to no avail. I have 4 radios to do so i was somewhat exasperated. I checked the connections to the Radio and ensured it was a tight fit, i also checked that the USB cable was tight and showing on the pc all looked well. As a last resort before i launched all 4 through the window i started fiddling about with the wire that goes into the USB fitting and although nothing seemed amiss lo and behold it started uploading to the radio. I did it another three times to the remaining radios wiggling the wire with the same result. Moral of this story is, don't assume an unused Baufang cable has nothing wrong with it. GRRR now for egzuma..... and the air bands... Thanks all for the advice!
Help. I have just got an old XP laptop just for radio use. Installed the old chirp version. It doesn't recognise the USB port as it doesn't appear in ports in chirp. Xp machine is not connected to Internet and I don't own a computer that is. Got an android phone and was hoping to download and move file from phone to xp machine. But cannot find driver for xp machine. 😢 George
Christ were going back. As i rem with XP you needed the latest version. Think it was V3 to support USB 2 ports. Other than that it was USB 1 which prob wont work.
Thanks for the video, is there anywhere to get a file to import with chirp that has all the best frequencies to scan, air, CB etc, I am very new to this but finding it great to pass the time,
I mean, I could buy one of those and, speak with Truckers on highway, or on break from work. Wouldn't want to distract them from the road, of course, just a bloke with a Toy, ME. Sounds like fun! IN USA back in the 80's we had these units called "HELP" in a case, you'd plug it into cigarette lighter and put magnet antenna on car through window. You can google it to see, i guess. Drivers are cool, and they have a HUGE job. But their people too, raise a chanty. When they are driving, they are happy.
I think truckers would be more likely on AM CB radio. These little radios can be reprogrammed / modded to receive CB radio but you wont get much luck trying to talk back.
Hi great video i am a total noob at radios do i still have to download prolific driver for a baofeng uv-5rh i have looked on baofeng uk and not bound them details do i need them ?? Thanks
You will need a driver but it may already be installed. As you plug the program cable in without connection to the radio you should hear the windows sound.
Hi Fred,nice video's.Can you give me please just a simple link for a Quansheng UV-K5 8 driver install.On the Githubpage there are so many links but i can't find the simple driver install program.Thanks anyway!👍🏻
Good video, Now I have a question,, sometimes chirp will not upload to radio. It downloads fine but when I go to upload the upload command line is light coloured not bold type so no activation for upload. Any ideas how to fix this or make it work?
No one mentioned Chirp only works with 64 bit Windows or any range of compatibility with any other computer. I have Win XP Pro SP2 and Win 7 Pro. Is there any way to program manually and have Channel Names on the LCD display? I just need to do 45 channels, I don't need all the memory.
Hi! Sorry for the potentially silly question, I was wondering if it is possible to use CHIRP to set certain frequencies to specific power outputs in numerical terms. So say, I wanted to have PMR446 channels that outputed 0.5 W specifically or 1W specifically? Is that doable?
Hi there people, i have downloaded the driver and Chirp, clicked on new file and from download from radio i enter the correct port and I get the message, COM5: 2303TA does not support windows 11. Com 5 which is the correct port as it does ping when i plug it in, does this mean the cable i am using is Kaput. It comes from a Baofang. Thanks in advance!.
Maybe. Com ports and chirp can be a problem. They certainly dont like USB hubs much. Only suggestion is to try the driver download again and re install chirp trying a fifferent com port.
I just purchased the Retevis RA79 and went to Chirp to programme etc and I don't see it in the drop down for Retevis models. Does anyone know or encountered this problem? Thanks.
Can be tough. Its normally down to the PC not finding the COM port more than the driver. My PC tends to choose a different port if i use a different USB socket.
When I follow the directions for the chirp software on the spreadsheet, I have all of the frequencies and offsets set properly. When I go to upload it to the radio it uploads everything except the frequencies for every channel. All channels end up the same 145.470. Why will the frequencies from the spreadsheet not upload to the radio properly?
@ when I download from the radio where the frequencies are the same, the frequencies are the same as the ones I programmed. They just do not upload to the radio except for the 145.470 for each channel freq.
If you do this, can you only listen to the 16 PMR446 channel or can you also transmit on them? I tried testing with this setup, and when trying to communicate with someone, I get a three step beep when PTT is pushed in.
I tried updating my current 2021 version of CHIRP to the current version. It didn't go well. For Windows the CHIRP software is now only available for 64-Bit operating systems which, for me is unfortunate as my Windows 10 is 32-Bit.
It's not clear what versions of Windows CHIRP will accept, no one's being clear on that. Looks like I gotta buy another computer! Win 9? 10? 11? %#@ sad LOL
There are MANY "how to do CHIRP" videos on UA-cam. This is one of, if not THE , best . Many thanks!!
Thank you. I tried to make it easy for everyone.
@@CB-RADIO-UKI had a Baofeng UV-5R I got rid of it as I couldn't get it working
I’m 59yrs old and have never owned a pc or laptop and I have to always manually program my radios. It may be slower but I get to know the radio better.
Yes i did the same with the RA 89. Does take a while though.
But how can a K5 be programmed manually? no details in the manuals or UA-cam.
@CB-RADIO-UK Yeah man, Raccal manufactured some really nice bits of kit even rackmouted receivers.
Greetings: I know the feeling.
Hi Fred, That Chirp information was very useful, Many thanks, Keep the info coming.
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome walk-thru!
Tnx from the Louisa County stix in Central Virginia, USA
Getting back into radio after a 20 year break!😂
Subscribed!
Welcome back!
Excellent video and thank you. needed the driver and didn't realise about the 12.5 for analog. All working good now on both my radios.Thank you.
Thanks. Yes its the cable driver which normally stops people getting it to work.
Hi! What do you mean "12.5 for analog"?
Your speed was just fine. Thanks for the video.
Just got my first Quansheng UV K5(8) and studying for my foundation exam - so thank you for this, I am a raw beginner and these are very helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Frid in the shed your utube videos are awesome my friend
I use a programming cable with an FTDI chip, no messing about, it just works.
Cheers FRED that’s seems to be easy enough. Thanks for doing it nice and slow that’s much appreciate. Alan from Leighton buzzard.👍
Cheers Alan. Most welcome.
Frid in the shed I learn lot from you about bying quality cb radios and antennas for cb radios my friend
Think you did a great job explaining in detail dude...great video for beginner's
Glad it was helpful!
yeap, good how-to for radio rookie's
Iv had so much fun with it already, im waiting for the PL cable, thx for your amazing vids 👍
As said recently bu others, THIS IS DEFO THE BEST instructional video for this subject. Brilliant, thank you.
Thanks.
Yes, many thanks for that. I am a techie but not one that done anything but use radios in the past. I bought one of these radios just for the fun of it but have no idea what I will use it for!
Just use it as a scanner. Amazing the range of freqs it will cover
Thank you so much for taking me by the hand !
Any time!
Really easy to follow. Thanks for this video.
Brilliant content 👌
Thanks
Nice one fred been away from radio for a while . This video is just what I needed , cable on route :-)
Your just the type of person i wanted to help out. Have fun.
@@CB-RADIO-UK glad you're still interested on UA-cam 😎topbloke
Only thing I would have have added to the video is how to find the com port number so that if someone doesn't know what one there one is it is easier to find it without trial and error
Top tip - If you plug in the USB with the radio connected and run the Chirp software, click on help in the drop down menu in the com port box then unplug and plug the usb back in, then it will auto populate the com port box with the correct info...
Great video, thank you. But you forgot to mention to backup your radio first and save the backup. You could have shown that as well, just in case you mess your radio up. But apart from that, like I said, a great video.
Thank you friend. I am a very grateful computer dinosaur.
Peace from Texas.
You are very welcome
Nice video Fred. Always better to go steady and show all the detail rather than rushing it and leaving new users confused.
Absolutely!
Thank you for the great and detailed instructions. I give you a subscription for other videos as well.
Thank you. Very useful information. Having programmed my radio using Chirp via following another video, this was far better explained. I think I have to change mine from FM to NFM though.
I didn’t need a driver for some reason.
Glad it helped. Yes your going to need NFM for everything other than the FM radio.
@@CB-RADIO-UK Thanks Fred. My radios are only cheap Baofeng BF T 20’s for when I go urban and rural exploring with my mate. I’d have thought they would be ready to use out of the box, so when I saw the factory test frequencies on there I was a little alarmed.
Yeah they deffo need re programming.
My old windows 10 Sony laptop installed the driver automatically, the only issue I had was making sure the radio volume was high enough otherwise I would get a comms error.
Great video. I use an XP machine. Churp that works on my machine doesn't list my Radio. Latest Chirp on my Windows 11 machine has my Radio but drivers not supported by Windows . So no nearer in programming my radio. 😢 George
I’ve got a radio , and not got a computer yet
I’ll have watch this twice
And I’ll have to borrow my mums laptop to download load this
Just take your time and it will work fine.
Great video by the way!
Win 10 will install the driver automatically for , connect the lead to pc, but not radio it detects the chip in the lead , and will install the lead to that com port.
Hey Fred.
Have a look into the Meshtastic project, you and you're followers might find interesting and useful ... It's an off grid text messaging / tracking pocket sized radio system some are calling CB 2.0 ... Some of the devices are dirt cheap, link to android devices or alike via Bluetooth for use of keyboard and GPS, some come with keyboard. the little radios use the LoRa digital mode on the 868MHz License Exempt band, transmission power around 100mW, Tx range line of sight distances to up to around 200miles i think the current record stands from hill top.
Very interesting project. I believe they can act as repeaters as well. How more there are how further you can communicate.. I'm not sure on that but i heard someone say it in a UA-cam video.
Yes all the nodes act as Repeaters in standard configuration out the box. or you can easy define them as dedicated Repeaters or trackers.
Also they can be unencrypted for that open CB like usage to talk to strangers for a CQ, or you can encrypt and have private encrypted channels.
Meshtastic also be used on the 433MHz band for HAMs, also with the APRS network, but obviously no encryption allowed on HAM bands.
The app is so easy to use anyone can get started on the 868MHz band
brilliant video and channel
Thank you kindly
Can you do a video on how to "add a channel in FM with frequency."
Greetings: I hope U can shut off the read back voice. Perhaps substitute a confirmation tone?
Greetings: Just 2 B clear, this and related clone units do NOT receive lower than 50 Mhz? I am seeking a unit that has RX 500Khz - 5Ghz or at least 1Ghz with BNC Spectrum display, Switched back light, All mode (AM. FM, USB, LSB), DTMF, fine tune,
Ha ha--after much to-ing and fro-ing over two days, installing and reinstalling windows drivers and chirp multiple times (read at least twenty times apiece) i could not get the download from the Radio to work, (Cannot connect to radio) and then after trying for about the 50th time pulling the usb in and out it magically uploaded. I carried out Fred's instructions and changed the frequencies and tried to upload to the radio another 20 times all to no avail. I have 4 radios to do so i was somewhat exasperated. I checked the connections to the Radio and ensured it was a tight fit, i also checked that the USB cable was tight and showing on the pc all looked well. As a last resort before i launched all 4 through the window i started fiddling about with the wire that goes into the USB fitting and although nothing seemed amiss lo and behold it started uploading to the radio. I did it another three times to the remaining radios wiggling the wire with the same result. Moral of this story is, don't assume an unused Baufang cable has nothing wrong with it. GRRR now for egzuma..... and the air bands... Thanks all for the advice!
Help. I have just got an old XP laptop just for radio use. Installed the old chirp version. It doesn't recognise the USB port as it doesn't appear in ports in chirp. Xp machine is not connected to Internet and I don't own a computer that is. Got an android phone and was hoping to download and move file from phone to xp machine. But cannot find driver for xp machine. 😢 George
Christ were going back. As i rem with XP you needed the latest version. Think it was V3 to support USB 2 ports. Other than that it was USB 1 which prob wont work.
@@CB-RADIO-UK It's the only computer I can afford to buy. Been given a few hand helds etc. George
Great video, well explained. Would i need to download a driver for a baofeng uv-5r? Thanks
You will only need a USB cable driver as shown on the vid.
Thanks for the video, is there anywhere to get a file to import with chirp that has all the best frequencies to scan, air, CB etc, I am very new to this but finding it great to pass the time,
Hi. I dont know of any myself but i would imagine its come up on UV-K5 Chat Forums.
been a few years but i never could chirp to work on my 2 lap tops a thoshiba and dell never could get the com ports to work
Com ports can be tricky. Normally it comes down to the cable used.
I mean, I could buy one of those and, speak with Truckers on highway, or on break from work. Wouldn't want to distract them from the road, of course, just a bloke with a Toy, ME.
Sounds like fun! IN USA back in the 80's we had these units called "HELP" in a case, you'd plug it into cigarette lighter and put magnet antenna on car through window. You can google it to see, i guess. Drivers are cool, and they have a HUGE job. But their people too, raise a chanty. When they are driving, they are happy.
I think truckers would be more likely on AM CB radio. These little radios can be reprogrammed / modded to receive CB radio but you wont get much luck trying to talk back.
@@CB-RADIO-UK Whoops!
@@ClickinChickenThe Brits can verify, they have trucks, but most often they are called lorries. But what the heck is a chanty?
Hi, can I install the digital pmr channels as well as the analogue ones on the Retravis RA 79. Thanks.
You know I am not sure as i dont do digital myself. Sorry.
Hi great video i am a total noob at radios do i still have to download prolific driver for a baofeng uv-5rh i have looked on baofeng uk and not bound them details do i need them ?? Thanks
You will need a driver but it may already be installed. As you plug the program cable in without connection to the radio you should hear the windows sound.
@CB-RADIO-UK thanks I will have a go ......and keep you updated 👍
Hi Fred,nice video's.Can you give me please just a simple link for a Quansheng UV-K5 8 driver install.On the Githubpage there are so many links but i can't find the simple driver install program.Thanks anyway!👍🏻
Hi. Do you want the Egzumer software download. ?
Good video, Now I have a question,, sometimes chirp will not upload to radio. It downloads fine but when I go to upload the upload
command line is light coloured not bold type so no activation for upload. Any ideas how to fix this or make it work?
Only issues ive had with it is accepting the cable and COM port. Normally i try another USB port and it normally works.
No one mentioned Chirp only works with 64 bit Windows or any range of compatibility with any other computer. I have Win XP Pro SP2 and Win 7 Pro. Is there any way to program manually and have Channel Names on the LCD display? I just need to do 45 channels, I don't need all the memory.
Yes you can do it the old way of tuning the radio and saving the preset.
Hi Fred, i have the Quensheng KV5 where do i find that on the retevis site, or is it somewhere else.
Hi. Details in this video description. ua-cam.com/video/K7DPQmHYwNA/v-deo.html
Hi! Sorry for the potentially silly question, I was wondering if it is possible to use CHIRP to set certain frequencies to specific power outputs in numerical terms. So say, I wanted to have PMR446 channels that outputed 0.5 W specifically or 1W specifically? Is that doable?
Hi. No i dont think you can set exact output by watts. Only high or low power.
@@CB-RADIO-UK Thanks! Was struggling to find a definitive answer elsewere.
Fred is it possible with this radio to transmit on the cb band?.
Hi. No not really. The radio can be forced but the output would be to low to be any use.
Fred I have F4HWN Firmware, can I still follow this guide?
I am not sure as ive not tried that firmware myself sorry.
Hi there people, i have downloaded the driver and Chirp, clicked on new file and from download from radio i enter the correct port and I get the message, COM5: 2303TA does not support windows 11. Com 5 which is the correct port as it does ping when i plug it in, does this mean the cable i am using is Kaput. It comes from a Baofang. Thanks in advance!.
Maybe. Com ports and chirp can be a problem. They certainly dont like USB hubs much. Only suggestion is to try the driver download again and re install chirp trying a fifferent com port.
I just purchased the Retevis RA79 and went to Chirp to programme etc and I don't see it in the drop down for Retevis models. Does anyone know or encountered this problem? Thanks.
Hi. Try the Quansheng UVK5 as its the same radio.
@@CB-RADIO-UK thanks for that Fred, i also noticed the Baofang UVS9 Plus is not listed, is there an alternative for that one ? 👍
Not sure on that one. I tend to try a few and see if one works.
@@CB-RADIO-UK ya that's what ill do as therevso many of them replicated, thanks for the replies 👍
I used the genuine Retevis cable like yours & installed the drivers but cable doesn’t work for me on Win 10
Can be tough. Its normally down to the PC not finding the COM port more than the driver. My PC tends to choose a different port if i use a different USB socket.
When I follow the directions for the chirp software on the spreadsheet, I have all of the frequencies and offsets set properly. When I go to upload it to the radio it uploads everything except the frequencies for every channel. All channels end up the same 145.470. Why will the frequencies from the spreadsheet not upload to the radio properly?
Try saving it as a new file, close Chirp then open and re-load the saved file then write to radio.
@ when I download from the radio where the frequencies are the same, the frequencies are the same as the ones I programmed. They just do not upload to the radio except for the 145.470 for each channel freq.
@ didn’t work, thank you
@@CB-RADIO-UK tried all suggestions, after uploading it just puts the first freq into a channels on the radio.
No not really. Ive not come across this myself.
If you want to save the downloaded file what format should you use? I tried .CSV and Chirp threw an error.
Always used CSV which Chirp recommends.
@@CB-RADIO-UK When I try to export the file as .CSV I get: An error has occured 'Field Immutable Is Not Mutable On This Memory'
If you do this, can you only listen to the 16 PMR446 channel or can you also transmit on them? I tried testing with this setup, and when trying to communicate with someone, I get a three step beep when PTT is pushed in.
Chirp normally unlocks the radio.
how do we copy an paste lots of new frequencies rather than one at a time?
I have tried to paste a whole cell in chirp but it really did not like it.
Anyone know what the Mode and Tuning Step should be for Marine Frequencies?
Mode would be NFM. Not sure of the step but just scan 156 to 174 MHz maybe try .25 MHz step
@@CB-RADIO-UK Thanks! New to this and stumbling my way through. I have beeping that sends on TX which I can't seem to get rid of.
thank you.
Welcome!
Fred, can you recommend a decent mobile antenna for the RA79 for me?
Not of hand as ive not tested any. Any 2m/70cm mobile antenna will work.
@@CB-RADIO-UK - Thanks for the advice.
chirp says I can't delete this memory when I want to change the frequency! what am I doing wrong? Thanks
Have you tried clicking on the cell and using backspace one at a time them typing in new freq.
Hi where did you get the Tone squelsh number from
Sorry ?
Lol I was trying to write to radio in fw mode what a wally I am 😂
I tried updating my current 2021 version of CHIRP to the current version. It didn't go well. For Windows the CHIRP software is now only available for 64-Bit operating systems which, for me is unfortunate as my Windows 10 is 32-Bit.
Do it on a friends computer?
Not 100% but there are other versions to download going back to windows 7
That's what I plan to do@@48pluto
@@CB-RADIO-UKMaybe? But those are older versions and they won't have the newer radios on them. Unless I'm missing something Fred?
Thank you.
followed everything and still getting error reading from radio: not the amount of data we want
Some later versions just wont accept Chirp I am afraid.
super thankyou.
Welcome 😊
Nice unit.
Hi Andy. These little radios are all over the net right now. Thought you might already have one bud.
Why are you doing them all one by one?
You can just select them all, copy, and then paste.
Mine would not work with a group cell paste.
Pity doesn't work with a GD-88
MINT!
Hello
I have Windows 7 and the new chirp doesn't work and I want to program the tid radio H3 which is not included in the chirp version for Win7
Guess they stopped support for win 7 😞
It's not clear what versions of Windows CHIRP will accept, no one's being clear on that. Looks like I gotta buy another computer! Win 9? 10? 11? %#@ sad LOL