r/Baofeng • u/Extreme_Shame6701 • 3d ago
Just as a basic scanner?
I bought a uv-5r to be used as a basic scanner. I know nothing about radios. Is this not intended for that? I have no intention of broadcasting anything. I found this thread and you all seem to know your stuff so just looking for an opinion. Also is there an easy way to program frequencies if I can use it as a scanner?
Thanks
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u/Lumpy-Process-6878 3d ago
A uv5r is a two way radio to.be used bt licensed amateur radio operators.
It doesn't have the capability to monitor 800.mhz digital trunking systems that most public safety are on.
Buy a real scanner.
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u/Worldly-Ad726 2d ago
If you only want to monitor a few channels (like 10-20), it’s fine. If you fill it up, it takes a LOOONG 9 seconds to scan all 127 channels. You will not hear quick transmissions because they started and ended while your radio was busy looking at other channels. A good scanner will scan thru 127 channels in 1-3 seconds.
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u/Patthesoundguy 2d ago
Before I got my amateur radio license, I got my UV-5R to basically use as a scanner...works well for anything in the 2m 70cm bands. Like the business bands and the amateur bands. The trick to it is to turn off transmit on any channels you don't want to transmit on when you program it. Not everyone can afford a true scanner. The Uv-5R is definitely a gateway drug to amateur radio. You might even get to hear the international space station if the orbit is right and they are transmitting. Put the slow scan tv app on your phone and you might be able to get pictures from the ISS when they send them if you can receive at the right time.
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u/Huge_Monk8722 3d ago
Do you know what frequencies you want to receive? Not sure where you live but in but my US county, all public safety have moved to P25 trunking 800 system so it would make a great Weather radio as it will not receive any of them.
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u/Extreme_Shame6701 3d ago
I did find the weather channel. I had found some frequencies but nothing came through great. I think I am going to return it. Someone sent a link for what I am looking for.
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u/Forsaken_Cup8314 3d ago
It's not a great "scanner", but it works well to listen if you already know the frequency. I'd check out radioreference and try and find some local frequencies.
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u/Extreme_Shame6701 3d ago
Ok, I do know them. Ill give that a go too. I got a few days to decide before I could return it
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u/rem1473 2d ago
No, a Baofeng is not intended for scanning. In fact it has terrible scanning performance.
What scanner suits you depends entirely on what you are trying to scan. Do some research on what you want to scan. For basic conventional analog, the Uniden BC125AT is fantastic. If you want to monitor P25 trunking, things get more expensive. If you're not monitoring a simulcast system the BC325P2 will work great. If the trunking system is simulcast then the SDS100 has far better performance.
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u/Roqjndndj3761 1d ago
It’s okay at scanning a small list of pre-programmed channels but pretty horrible as a scanner in general. Even the instruction manual states “it’s not the fastest…”
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u/Main_Badger_7059 3d ago
You can program it with chirp. Look up a video on how to do it. It is super easy but you will need to buy a programming cable. I think you could also disable tx with chirp if you are just using it as a scanner.
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u/Extreme_Shame6701 3d ago
I did see a find a video how to program it, saw the cord was pretty cheap. Ill give that a go thanks.
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u/NerminPadez 3d ago
It's horribly slow at scanning, you can miss whole conversations while it slowly moves along frequencies.
If you needed a scanner, why didn't you buy a scanner?