Hello? Is this thing on?

[Tim]

so I got my Baofeng BF-F8HP (3rd gen UV-5R) 8 Watt radio the other day. I downloaded the CHIRP software and was able to (I think) program our local repeaters...but I'm not hearing any chatter. How do I know if I have this thing set up properly if I can't broadcast and say, "hey...anyone home?"

I did hear some Morse Code last night, but no voice traffic at all.

What's a "busy" frequency I should try to scan to see if everything is working?

 

[Coltdefender1911]

WKRP..... in Cincinnati

 

[Toxmedic751]

WKRP..... in Cincinnati

I miss that show.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[trcubed]

Check to make sure you have the offsets and tones set correctly. That's usually what trips me up.

 

[Tim]

Check to make sure you have the offsets and tones set correctly. That's usually what trips me up.

<flips to index, looks up "tones">

 

[trcubed]

Look for R-CTCS and T-CTCS in the menus. The repeater information will tell you what settings to use.

 

[Tim]

Look for R-CTCS and T-CTCS in the menus. The repeater information will tell you what settings to use.

Shouldn't the CHIRP software have programmed that?

 

[trcubed]

Possibly. I programmed mine manually without CHIRP, so I can't say for sure.

 

[LeeMajors]

If you import them using the links in the menus then delete the ones you won't use and rearrange the way you like them should have you all set. I have programmed them with chirp without chirp and manually and the easiest for me is just import from repeater book or the other one available in the chirp program.

 

[Tim]

Ive followed the instructions and watched a couple YouTubes to setup this radio, but Im still not able to eavesdrop on anyone. Ive set it to scan my programmed channels and have not had a single hit in the last 3 nights. Can one of yall peek at the attached and see if Ive done something wrong?

FULL SIZE PIC:

 

[Mike Overlay]

Can you hear any of these

 

[Tim]

Ok, so as soon as I said that I was able to listen in to some sort of "check in" meeting on 147.105

Essentially a bunch of dudes saying, "yup I'm here"

 

[Tim]

Can you hear any of these

if I just want to listen in, do I simply dial in the frequency? Or do I also need to set the tone, offset, etc.?

 

[Les White]

if I just want to listen in, do I simply dial in the frequency? Or do I also need to set the tone, offset, etc.?

Just dial to the output freq of that repeater.

 

[georgel]

if I just want to listen in, do I simply dial in the frequency? Or do I also need to set the tone, offset, etc.?

For listening, you just need the frequency. Try listening during drive times, morning and afternoon. Activity is usually higher then.
"Just dudes checking in..." Unfortunately, that's all some nets do. Although, some offer "discussion"time, called a rag chew semi-formally afterwards, where its like the original Facebook and some discuss their day in agonizing detail.

 

[noway2]

Try listening in on Asheville repeaters, especially the ~144-147 MHz ones, as a George said, drive time is best.

 

[JohnFreeman]

yep, don't need tones offsets anything, just to listen. Dial in the repeater output and listen away.

That being said, I spend 95% of my ham time on HF ;-)