Baofeng UV-B6

BAOFENG UV-B6 136-174/400-480Mhz MENU 27 with FM radio

• Dual band, Dual Display, Dual Standby
• Priority Channel Scanning
• Li-ion battery pack with high capacity
• CTCSS/DCSS PTT ID

Retail: $40 - $60

This is a discontinued model.

review

The UV-B series receiver does not overload anywhere as easily as the UV-5R. The UV-B6 receiver is more sensitive and selective than other similar inexpensive Chinese radios. The UV-B5 has a rotary selector knob where the LED light is on top of the UV-B6, which is the primary distinction between the two models.

There are some trimmed down or missing features on this model compared to the UV-5R, such as fewer channel memories, smaller LCD display, and no 2.5kHz minimum frequency step.

Weird thing, I am able to enter 1.25-Meter band frequencies and transmit with my UV-B6. I discovered this by accident when I was experimenting. This may not be good for the radio, however, it is capable of doing it. It has been said that on this band the receiver is not as sensitive. It is also said that when transmitting in this band there will be harmonic noise generated on the 70cm band, which is likely why the radio was never certified as function on 1.25m.

programming

Field program menu:

1. STEP - frequency step in VFO (5, 6.25, 10, 12.5, 20, 25 kHz)
2. SQL - squelch level between 1 - 9
3. SAVE - battery saver reduces xmit power when strong signal detected
4. TXPR - transmit power low or high
5. ROGE - roger beep should be off for ham repeater use
6. TOT - transmission timeout
7. VOX - voice activated transmit
8. BEEP - keypress beep
9. VOICE - voice prompt english, chinese, off
10. TDR - Enable dual watch
11. R-CODE - sets tone squelch frequency, offers no way to disable!
12. T-CODE - sets transmit PL tone frequency, offers no way to disable!
13. ABR - LCD brightness
14. PTTID - transmit signal ID code
15. ANI - automatic number ID of radio
16. PTIDM - signal code mode
17. DT-ST - audible DTMF tone
18. MDF 1 - top displays frequency, channel, or name
19. MDF 2 - bottom displays frequency, channel, or name
20. BCL - busy channel transmit lockout
21. SFTD - repeater shift + or -
22. OFFSET - repeater offset
23. SCRNM - scanning resumes based on timer, carrier, halts on signal
24. REV - reverse frequency
25. STE - eliminate squelch tail
26. NAME - channel name
27. W/N - wide or narrow band, 5 KHz or 2.5 KHz

save simplex channel to memory

This model programs channel different than the BF-F8HP/UV-5R because the channel memory is not accessed though the [MENU] button.

Enter and Save to channel

1. key in desired frequency such as 442.400 for example
2. Press and hold [VM/SCAN] until voice says MEMORY CHANNEL and/or channel number flashing
3. Select desired channel number with up/down and press [AB/ENTER] to save to memory

NOTE: If channel number is blinking, that channel has been previously programmed and will be overridden.

repeater offset and CTCSS

In this example will enter a 70cm repeater with PL and +5Mhz offset.

offset + or -

1. Enter the VFO Mode
2. Set offset [MENU] and arrow to item 21 (SFTP)
3. Press [AB/ENTER] use arrow to select + and press [AB/ENTER] and [MENU], [MENU] to save

offset amount

1. Press [MENU] and arrow to item 22 (OFFSET)
2. Press [AB/ENTER] then enter the offset
3. Press [AB/ENTER] and [MENU], [MENU] to save

PL / CTCSS

1. Press [MENU] and arrow to item 12 (TCODE)
2. Press [AB/ENTER] then enter the frequency in Hz
3. Press [AB/ENTER] and [MENU], [MENU] to save

Enter and Save to channel

1. key in desired frequency such as 442.400 for example
2. Press and hold [VM/SCAN] until voice says MEMORY CHANNEL and/or channel number flashing
3. Select desired channel number with up/down and press [AB/ENTER] to save to memory

NOTE: If channel number is blinking, that channel has been previously programmed and will be overridden.

Technical Support

Firmware Update

The firmware in these radios cannot be updated. The microcontroller is an OTP type. (One Time Programmable) Once 'flash' programmed at the factory, it cannot be changed.

CTCSS Squelch Stuck On in VFO Mode

The presence of the letters "CT" in the top of the display indicates CTCSS or "tone Squelch" is active. This is a toggle that cannot be found in the HT program menu. When the radio is glitched, the OFF option which should appear in the tone select menu does not appear. Only a new tone can be selected, however, it is not possible to remove the tone when glitched.

Workaround: Reset the VFO mode.

1. With the radio off press and hold the MENU button and power on.
2. On the reset menu, do NOT choose reset all, choose reset VFO

You will not lose your channel memory by resetting the VFO, however, it will remove the PL tone receive. This will resolve the issue. You can set the options for the frequency and save into channel memory with no PL tone on transmit or receive.

Receive Tone 114.8Hz Bug

To receive a station using a CTCSS tone of 114.8Hz, the Rx must be set to 118.8Hz. When Rx is set to 118.8Hz, both 114.8Hz and 118.8Hz will open the Rx squelch.

1.25m Ham Band (222MHz)

The back story I have on this HT is that the designers had the intention of making it a tri-bander. However, on the 1.25m ham band the output was lower and emissions on the harmonic frequencies is too strong. Basically, the output on 222 is very dirty. With that being said, it does work on 222 and will allow communication on repeaters.

Power output testing will be shared here...

Usage with CHIRP version 20160215

CHIRP version 20160215 (and I assume all later versions) will read from and program to the UV-B6. From the menu select

• Radio
• Download From Radio
• Choose VENDOR: Baofeng and MODEL: UV-B5

The data will download correctly. When programming upload, the process may complete with an error, however, be advised the program will still load correctly into the radio.

External Resources

• Miklor Programming Baofeng UV-B6