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

review

The UV-B series receiver does not overload anywhere as easily as the UV-5R.

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.

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.

External Resources

• [Miklor Programming Baofeng UV-B6 http://www.miklor.com/UVB5/UVB5-ProgMem.php]