Baofeng Uv-5r Driver Mac

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The Baofeng UV-5R police scanner is a useful gadget for emergencies. However, you need to do some technical tinkering to get it up and running. If you don’t know how to do that, you’ll end up with a useless device at a crucial time.

So, we’ve put together this quick guide to give you everything you need to know about how to program a Baofeng UV-5R.

Table of Contents

  • What is the Baofeng UV-5R?
  • How to Receive Transmissions?

What is the Baofeng UV-5R?

The Baofeng UV-5R is a popular two-band radio. It’s inexpensive, feature-packed, and compact. For users that are new to portable programming, the Baofeng UV-5R may be difficult to program due to the lack of Baofeng’s support, and because of its poorly written user manual. If this is a deal-breaker, you can check other models such as the Whistler WS1040. If not, read on.

  1. Genuine Baofeng cables use an FTDI chipset. This used a Prolific chipset. This will cause you problems with programming some Baofeng radios. This worked fine with default drivers for BF-888s, but failed on UV-5r until I installed the Prolific driver in place. Side Note: Real Baofeng cables have a.
  2. On my baofeng uv-5r, change to fail. Baofeng usb to a coke-bottle shape to install this thread. These chips were cloned by some chinese companies and appear in many of today's generic programming cables. 1 download the prolific 3.2.0.0 driver file from 2007 and save it to a new work folder on your pc.

Fortunately, there are resources available from an active community of UV-5R enthusiasts. This includes a simple instruction manual and a software application to help program the device with your computer. The CHIRP software is used to program the UV-5R. Widely available online, CHIRP is a good solution provided that you have a programming cable and time to manually input the data in 128 channels.

But, what if you’re driving on the road and there’s no computer nearby? What if you need to program a channel or add in a frequency quickly?

How to Program it For Police Scanning

Software

We recommend that you use CHIRP for programming your Baofeng. CHIRP is available on Windows, Linux, and MAC OS, so you’re covered no matter what operating system you use. Just download the needed version and install it.

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Alternatively, if you want to switch to a police scanner, we have some of the best options for police scanners here.

Manuals & Software. Here you will find user manuals, device drivers and softwares for a wide range of our products. Installation Guideline of Baofeng Programming Cable & Driver 28-020-122 Driver Installer of Win10 Programming.

Programming Cable

You will need a Baofeng USB Cable. Since this unit is a transceiver, a USB programming cable isn’t included in the box, so you have to buy it separately. Once you have the USB cable, you can install the right drives for programming. It’s also a great idea to make a copy of this in another USB stick for added safety.

How to program a simplex channel

For most users, you’ll want to program a simplex channel for your radio. Here’s how you can do it properly.

  • Step 1. On the radio, press the [VFO/MR] setting and press Frequency Mode.
  • Step 2. Press the [A/B] setting and select the A side.
    • The A-side is used to help program the channels on the radio. The Programming data on the B side will not be saved.
  • Step 3. Press on the [BAND] button to receive a frequency band.
  • Step 4. Disable the TDR (Dual Standby/Dual Watch)
  • Step 5. Start entering the frequency.
  • Step 6. Next, enter in the DCS/CTCSS Code.
  • Step 7. Lastly, you can assign a frequency to a channel.

These steps might be confusing for some, but there are some resources available that can help you. In fact, you can search through videos online for a structured and effective way to program your radio. By doing so, you’ll be able to use the radio channels and tune into your favorite local police reports.

How do I Switch Through Channels?

To switch channels, press the menu button. The up and down arrows can then be adjusted to find the desired channel. To eliminate confusion, keep in mind that programmed channels will have a CH- next to the channel number.

On the other hand, if you’re trying to scan, press the VFO/MR setting and press 7. The display on the device will change color to red and a green light will flash to denote that it’s scanning. To stop scanning, press the VFO/MR setting and the device will start to operate again.

How to Receive Transmissions?

With some research, you can tune in to the frequencies that the RACES and ARES groups are in. These are emergency associations that assist responders with information about area-specific conditions. But if you’re looking for “nets” in your vicinity, you can use a tool from AARL.

UV-5R Accessories

The Baofeng UV-5R works well on its own. Still, here are some accessories that you can use to help improve your police scanner’s efficiency:

Radio Pouch

While the UV-5R has a belt clip included with the device, you can use a pouch to keep it protected. With the radio pouch, you can carry it in your pocket without worrying about it falling out.

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Baofeng Two Way Speaker

Although this two-way radio is cheap, you can use it to transmit and listen to communications. For convenience, you can attach it to your shirt with a clip that’s on the model.

How to View Your Frequencies

There are some good frequencies to help program your UV-5R, which includes 146.520, and 446.000. These are simplex “calling” frequencies, which means they are monitored by local radio operators for simplex operation.

One conversation that starts on a simplex frequency is moved up and down to another through the frequency band when others call it. You will need a license to help transmit those frequencies. But in our tests, we found that simplex frequencies can receive and transmit better than MURS and FRS bands.

Hint: You will have to change your settings on your Baofeng to make 5K increments once you’re programming frequencies. First press the menu button then find the item 1STEP. Then you can adjust it back to 5K.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a beginner or a pro radio enthusiast, you can easily use the Baofeng UV-5R. By programming this device, you’re not limited to just police stations. You can also tune into air traffic control, firefighters, and more. However, make sure you’re aware of the police scanner laws in your area.

To conclude, the Baofeng UV-5R can be difficult to program at first. But once you continuously expose yourself to the controls and documentation, you’ll find it easier to listen to police broadcasts within your area. If you’re interested in more police scanner options, read our best police scanner list: https://www.ratedradardetector.org/police-scanner/best/.

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Related Posts:

  • Baofeng UV5R / UV82 (and variants)
    • Common Errors

This page provides general tips and troubleshooting for the Baofeng UV-5R, UV-82, and related radios (See Baofeng_UV5R_Variants). The UV-5R is the base model for a lot of variants, so this page will apply to many more people than just those with that specific badge on their radio. This information is a summarized version of the Miklor page on the subject. Go there for more detailed information

Common Errors¶

- Radio Did Not Respond
- Unable to Program
- Radio did Not Ack Programming Mode
- Radio did Not Ack first command
- Radio Radio refused to enter Programming Mode¶

This is a very common problem. Slightly offset audio jacks could be the problem. Make sure the connector is snapped in all the way. Some cables require a really hard push to snap in that last 1/16 inch. One indication is that the transmitter may be keyed. A slight trimming of the cable's plug side and edge may be required.

The GT3 and similar radios with optional case designs may require a slightly different approach to trimming the cable. The cable cannot seat properly, not because it is misaligned, but rather the ridge on the case may be protruding out too far.
The cable may still need to be trimmed, but from the cable tension area. Here is a Graphic and Possible Solution

- Error has Occurred, Could not open Com Port x¶

Each USB slot is connected to a separate com port to avoid conflict. Changing your USB slot will change the com port number.
After making this change, you must unplug and replug your USB programming cable for the new com port number to be effective.

- Run-time error 8020: Error reading from comm device.
- Cannot Start (Code 10) in Windows 8¶

Error occurs if Prolific driver version is higher than v3.2.0.0
You need to Downgrade to v3.2.0.0

Uv-5r

- CHIRP does not support my (Model Radio)
- Radio Version Not Supported
- Failed to communicate with radio: global name 'vendors' is not defined¶

These messages are generated if you are running a much older version of CHIRP. You must upgrade to CHIRP's Latest Daily Build.

- Fail Connect with Transceiver (UV5R / UV82 series)¶

This message is generated by the Factory Software. It can occur when:
1. (UV-5R) Incorrect software version for your firmware release. BFB290 and_prior, and BFB291_and_later require different software. They are not interchangeable.
2. Your radio is not turned ON when trying to program.
3. You are receiving a signal while trying to connect.
(tune to a quiet channel or remove antenna.)
4. Your cable is not plugged in all the way. (See above)
5. This can also occur if other software is running on your PC that may be loading down the CPU. Close ALL unrelated software and try again.

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- Store the file name in nullity¶

Baofeng Uv-5r Driver Mac

Occurs when trying to save a data file using the Factory Software.
This error occurs when you don't have a valid filename for the file being saved. The filename entered MUST include the .dat suffix. filename.dat

- Cable without Echo Loopback¶

This indicates that the RX and TX serial lines have not been connected together with a loopback device (a plug that connects the RX and TX lines of a serial port connector for testing) so the characters being sent on the TX line are not being echoed back on the RX line.

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- - Driver Issues¶

Baofeng Uv-5r Driver Machine

Many of the inexpensive programming cables are not the bargain they appear.
Due to Prolific USB/Serial chip 'clones' found in generic USB programming cables, an older driver is required in lieu of the driver now automatically supplied by Windows. for more detailed information