All Baofengs used for security work can be set up to scan the same list, so that if necessary, any one on the ‘team’ can scan even when not on ‘watch’. Of course a standard scanner would do that job better, but it would cost more, and it will never transmit. Persons on ’look out’ dusty can carry an extra Baofeng, in addition one for monitoring the primary frequency, and for only the purpose of scanning GMRS, FRS, and MURS, and radio traffic that would most likely be used by attackers. , 2 meter, and 70cm, and public emergency services frequencies.īuy extra Baofengs to do service as scanners, and these can also be pressed into the rotation if necessary.
Using another Baofeng, I would also scan all the repeaters in the area, and especially the Amateur Radio, and GMRS repeaters, and the national calling frequency for the service, i.e. These 27 frequencies would be my first choice to scan, and are GMRS, FRS, and MURS. I would limit it’s ‘scan’ list to no more than 27 frequencies, or to a list of frequencies that it can scroll though in less than 3 seconds. If an older Baofeng no longer transmits, these make for good receivers to monitor a single channel, or to make slow scanner. If high power is necessary, let it cool off, lest it may over-heat, and fail. We will also limit how many people may listen in, if low power is used. Set on the lower power setting, and the ‘talk’ time increases significantly, and so does the battery life. The ‘duty cycle’ or the amount of time one should transmit on high power of 4 watts, is only a few minutes. If you feel the radio getting warm, then you are talking on it too much. If it is necessary to transmit on an antenna not design for a frequency, always use the lowest power setting. Use the correct antenna for the frequency, and the radio will have a longer service life. We should strive to limit the range, or have a range that is far enough to make reliable communications with those whom we would talk to, and no one else. This kind of antenna is suitable only for base stations, and is best as a antenna for scanners, however we are not necessarily interested communicating at the furthest range our equipment is capable of.
To make full make use of the Baofeng’s range, a discone antenna is necessary. This antenna–unlike most antennas offered–is pre-tuned, and could also be used as a base station antenna for either a mobile, or a handheld. The external antenna that can be used on a vehicle, that best matches the Baofeng UV5R’s useful transmit range, is the Tram 1181. We would not want to shorten the life of the radio by transmitting outside the antenna’s design range. If you have one of these short antennas on all, and any of your set of radios, then replace it! Standardize every aspect of your radios, so that they look and function the same. It is also no good for MURS or VHF business band (itinerants).
The shortest antenna that a UV-5r normally is supplied with is good for only 144 to 148 Mhz, and is no good for the 70 cm band. Given the several antennas that usually come on these radios, I would test them, but if not, at least limit the range that the radio will transmit on in the ‘memories’ section in Chirp, to 144 to 153 Mhz, and 430 to 450 Mhz for the most common antenna. One should always have fighting knife handy for these occasions. Note: Should one find the need to use one of these capped button to access the flashlight or FM radio, simply use your K-Bar to carefully pry the ‘cap’ off. (Unless you do not want that radio to transmit. That one is the Push To Talk (PTT) button. Be sure not to do this to the big button that is in between the two smaller ones. This in ensures the flashing light and siren are not inadvertently triggered.