How to manually program Memory Channels

into Baofeng (Bŏw-oh-Fung) HT Radios

(UV-5R / UV-6R / BF-F8 / GT3 and all variants of the UV-5R including the BF-F8HP, UV-5X3 and UV-82 series)
These instructions begin with the BuyTwoWayRadios.com website content then my two cents on the subject.
Below Is A Link to The YouTube Video Recommended By BaoFeng Tech Support
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrG0El1KkIM&feature=youtu.be
Link to miklor.com Programming Flow Charts - http://www.miklor.com/uv5r/UV5R-ProgFlow.html
Link to miklor.com Change Channel Data Hint - http://www.miklor.com/uv5r/UV5R-ProgHint.html

This work is a combination of information collected from multiple sources. This author does not hold any responsibility
or liability for any damage or injury, direct, indirect or otherwise caused as a result of following the instructions and
procedures herein.

The Baofeng UV-5R is one of the most popular dual band handheld two way radios on the market worldwide. It's
compact, feature packed, and very inexpensive. For many users who are new to programming portables, it is also one of
the most challenging to program, primarily due to a poorly written user manual and an all but complete lack of support
from its manufacturer, Baofeng.

Fortunately, there are some helpful resources available from a global community of UV-5R enthusiasts, including an
easier to read and understand owner's manual and an excellent software application designed to program the UV-5R from
a computer. The programming software is called CHIRP, and it is freely available online.

Of course, CHIRP is a great solution, provided you have a computer, an easy to install programming cable and the time to
input all the data for 128 channels. But, what if you are on the road or out in the field and don't have a computer handy?
What if you need to add in a frequency or program a channel on the fly?

My Two Cents - So, here's how I learned to do it. Follow the instructions below to manually program your Baofeng HT
radio (and a few other HT radios manufactured in China) using only the keypad on the radio. A .pdf file of this document
is available from the Tri-County Amateur Radio Club website at WC5C.org under the “Ham Radio” tab.

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 Baofeng HT Radio
Manual Programming Pattern
See Appendix B. – Menu Definitions start on Page 9 below for all 40 Menu Action Number settings.

Launches Type the Enters Either Enters EXIT

The MENU the MENU Select the Action MENU
Menu Action Action a Menu Setting
Important!
Number Number. Action number.
between Radio will Setting Radio will
1 and 40 announce Using announce
or use the Action or “Confirm!”
or if Voice or use if Voice
(see all
Prompt is keypad Prompt is
MENU
Action
“On” to Type “On”
Number the
Definitions Action
starting on Setting
page 9) Number

Note - One of our “Test Team” members highly recommended that the Voice Prompt be turned “On” before
manual programming. Even though the Voice Prompt can be annoying during general use of BaoFeng HT
radios, Randy (KF5RRF) highly recommended that the Voice Prompt be turned “On” before manual
programming.
“Without the voice activated, there is no feedback on what you're entering into a memory channel as to whether it
is a receive frequency or a transmit frequency. That little bit of extra feedback while entering information into the
radio could be the difference between getting a memory channel successfully programmed or not.”

To manage the Voice Prompt (0=Off, 1=English, 2=Chinese)

Press 14 [0, 1 or 2]

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 How to manually program a Simplex channel

• Step 1. Press to enter Frequency mode (UV-82 Press and turn the radio on).

• Step 2. Press or and/or otherwise choose the A Display (upper display). The upper
display must be used to program channels into the radio. Programming data entered on the B Display
(lower display) will not be saved. Note – This is not true for some models that can be programmed
using the lower B Display.

• Step 3. Press [BAND] for the frequency band if the BAND key is on your radio (unnecessary for some
variants). Toggle [BAND] to choose 136 MHz (VHF) or 470 MHz (UHF).
If the incorrect band is chosen for the frequency entered in Step 6, the radio will cancel the operation.
Note – This is not true for some models.

It is highly advised to turn TDR off when manually programming directly with the radio.
• Step 4. Disable TDR – DualWatch, Dual Reception.
Press 7 [type -0-] .

• Step 5. Delete any existing data on the channel you plan to program. Menu item 28 deletes all
information in a memory channel (i.e., empties all of the Channel’s data). Skip this step when setting up
the channel for the first time. http://www.miklor.com/uv5r/UV5R-ProgHint.html
Press 28 [type the channel number XXX]

• Step 6. Enter the frequency. Use the keypad to enter the frequency into the radio [XXXXXX].

• Step 7. Optional - Enter the Receive CTCSS code.

o CTCSS – Receive Press 11 [enter/choose code XXXX] .

• Step 8. Optional - Enter the Transmit CTCSS code.

o CTCSS – Transmit Press 13 [enter/choose code XXXX] .

• Step 9. Turn frequency Offset Direction Off (this will cause the radio to ignore any residual Offset
frequency.
Press 25 [type -0-] .

• Step 10. Assign the frequency to a channel.

Press 27 [enter channel number XXX] .

• Step 11. Enter Channel mode

Press to enter Channel mode (UV-82 - Press and turn the radio on).
Note – CTCSS and DCS Tones are typically not used for Simplex HAM radio operation so
(unless you want to use a Tone for Simplex operation) be sure to set them to -0- (Off) for
Simplex channels just in case you programmed a Duplex channel with a CTCSS or DCS
(Tx and/or Rx) Tone the last time you manually programmed your radio.

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 How to manually program a Duplex (repeater) channel

• Step 1. Press to enter Frequency mode (UV-82 Press and turn the radio on).

• Step 2. Press or and/or otherwise choose the A Display (upper display).

Like the simplex channels, the A side must be used to program the repeater channels into the radio.
Programming data entered on the B Display (lower display) will not be saved. Note – This is not true
for some models that can be programmed using the lower B Display.

• Step 3. Press [BAND] for the frequency band if the BAND key is on your radio (unnecessary for some
models). Toggle [BAND] to choose 136 MHz (VHF) or 470 MHz (UHF).
If incorrect band is chosen in Step 6, the radio will cancel it. Note – This is not true for some models.

It is highly advised to turn TDR off when manually programming.

• Step 4. Disable TDR – DualWatch, Dual Reception.
Press 7 [type -0-] .

• Step 5. Highly recommended - Delete the channel to be added. Menu item 28 deletes all information in
a memory channel (i.e., empties all of the Channel’s data). Skip this step when setting up the channel for
the first time. http://www.miklor.com/uv5r/UV5R-ProgHint.html
Press 28 [enter the channel number XXX] .

• Step 6. Enter the repeater Output Frequency Use the keypad to enter the frequency [XXXXXX].
Note – Several Baofeng
• Step 7. Optional - Clear any CTCSS/DCS codes previously entered
when the radio was last in Frequency Mode. If no previous codes exist or Manuals have an error in
when setting up the channel for the first time and no codes are needed, “Procedure 11.1 Repeater
set the menu items listed below to OFF. setup” that reversed the
o RX DCS ---- 10 [enter 0 (OFF)] . Step 4 [25] and Step 8 [26]
o RX CTCSS - 11 [enter 0 (OFF)] . Menu values.
o TX DCS ---- 12 [enter 0 (OFF)] . Also, if the Reverse button

o TX CTCSS - 13 [enter 0 (OFF)] . is used as the User

manual states, some BF-F8
o Step 4. Input the repeater frequency offset. HP and variant radios will
Press 25 [enter the offset for the repeater] . erroneously add .001550
• Step 8. Enter the Transmit Frequency Shift. MHz to the Offset value
Press 26 [type 1 for + shift or 2 for - shift] . entered using
26 .
• Step 8. Optional - Enter the repeater’s CTCSS/DCS code.
13 So, instead of using Steps 4
• CTCSS Transmit --- [enter code XXXX] .
11 or 8 and the Reverse
• CTCSS Receive ---- [enter code XXXX] .
button to enter the repeater
• DCS Transmit ------ 12 [choose code XXXXX] .
Frequency Offset value,
• DCS Receive ------- 10 [choose code XXXXX] . use Steps 10 and 11 below
Note – Most (not all) HAM Repeaters require a
Transmit Tone from your radio but most (again, not
to directly enter the
all) do not require a Receive Tone on your radio. 4 repeater’s Input frequency.
• Step 9. Assign the radio’s Receive frequency to the channel number deleted (now empty) in Step 5.
Press 27 [enter channel number XXX] .

• Step 10. Enter the repeater’s Input frequency [XXXXXX]. This will be equal to the repeater’s Output
frequency plus or minus the repeater’s Offset frequency.
If the repeater’s Offset Shift direction is + then the repeater’s Offset is added to its Output frequency
or
If the repeater’s Offset Shift direction is – then the repeater’s Offset is subtracted from its Output
frequency.
• Example:
If the repeater’s Output frequency is 147.160 and the repeater’s Shift direction is + and the
repeater’s Offset is 0.600 MHZ (i.e., 6.000 KHz default offset for 2M), then the Transmit
frequency you would apply to your radio would be calculated as follows:
147.160 + 0.600 = 147.760. Use the keypad to enter the repeater’s Input frequency to save as
your radio’s Transmit frequency [XXXXXX].

• Step 11. Assign the Transmit frequency to the Memory Channel.

Press 27 [enter the same memory channel input in Step 9] .
(After returning to Channel Mode in Step 12 below, go to the new Channel and punch the
button to activate Reverse Mode to display the Transmit frequency to verify that it is correct.
Punch the button again to exit Reverse Mode.)

• Step 12. Press and/or otherwise enter Channel Mode to test your new Channel.

Done!

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 Channel Mode Display Option Settings
(i.e., display the Channel Number, Name or Frequency
Note – One of our “Test Team” members, Mike (KE5NCS), made a great suggestion to include the
Channel Mode Display options.

• Channel Mode Display options: [0]=Channel Number, [1]=Channel Name and [2]=Channel Frequency
(Channel Names cannot be manually programmed and can only be entered using software - CHIRP or
the BaoFeng software).

For upper Display A, press 21 [0, 1 or 2]

For lower Display B, press 22 [0, 1 or 2]

Done!

Note – On my BF-F8 HP I set the upper A Display to Name and the lower B Display to Frequency. That
way, if I need to see what frequency is assigned to a particular Channel, I can quickly jump to the B display,
bring up that same Memory Channel number and the B Display will show me that channel’s Frequency.

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 Compressed Instructions For Printing Wallet-Size Hard
Copies To Laminate For Durability

Manually Programming A Baofeng HT Radio Simplex Channel

1. Enter Frequency mode ----------- (UV-82 press turn radio on)

2. Activate the Upper display -------
3. Select the correct BAND [only if necessary for your radio]
4. Turn TDR off ----------- 7 --------- [-0-] --------
5. Delete channel ---------- 28 -- [number XXX] ----
6. Enter Frequency ------------------------------- [XXXXXX]
7. Receive CTCSS tone -- 11 --------- [-0-] ----------
8. Transmit CTCSS tone 13 --------- [-0-] ----------
9. Offset direction Off ---- 25 --------- [-0-] ----------
10. Save to channel --------- 27 --- [number XXX] ---
11. Enter Channel mode -- or (UV-82 press turn radio on)
Note – CTCSS and DCS Tones are typically not used for Simplex HAM radio operation so
(unless you want to use a Tone for Simplex operation) be sure to set them to -0- (Off) for
Simplex channels just in case you programmed a Duplex channel with a CTCSS or DCS
(Tx and/or Rx) Tone the last time you manually programmed your radio.

Manually Programming A Baofeng HT Radio Duplex (repeater) Channel

1. Enter Frequency mode ---- (UV-82 press & turn radio on)
2. Activate Upper display ----
3. Select the correct BAND [only if necessary for your radio]
4. Turn TDR off ---- 7 --------- [-0-] ----------
Step 8 is not 5. Delete channel --- 28 ---- [number XXX] ----
necessary 6. Enter repeater Output frequency ------- [XXXXXX]
unless
multiple
7. Tx CTCSS tone -- 13 --- [enter/select tone] --
repeaters 8. Rx CTCSS tone -- 11 --- [enter/select tone] --
using the
same output 9. Save to channel -- 27 ---- [number XXX] ----
frequency 10. Enter repeater Input frequency ------- [XXXXXX] (Output + or – Offset)
are nearby.
11. Save to channel -- 27 ---- [number XXX] ----
12. Enter Channel mode -------- or (UV-82 press turn radio on)

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 BF-F8 HP Radio’s Offset For A Duplex (repeater) Channel (like the User Manual describes)
(Note – When using the Reverse Mode key during manual programming, some models will add
.001550 MHz to the Offset Frequency entered during the 26 process at Step 9 below)

1. Enter Frequency mode -------- (UV-82 press & turn radio on)
2. Activate the Upper display ----
3. Select the correct BAND [only if necessary for your radio]
4. TDR off -------------- 7 --------- [-0-] ----------
Step 8 is not 5. Delete channel ------ 28 ---- [number XXX] ----
necessary
6. Enter repeater Output frequency ------- [XXXXXX]
unless
multiple 7. Tx CTCSS tone ----- 13 --- [enter/select tone] --
repeaters
using the
8. Rx CTCSS tone ----- 11 --- [enter/select tone] --
same output 9. Offset frequency ---- 26 - [check/change offset]
frequency
are nearby.
10. Offset direction ----- 25 --- [set + or –] ---
11. Save Rx to channel - 27 ---- [number XXX] ----
12. Enter repeater Input frequency --------- [XXXXXX]
13. Save Tx to channel -- 27 ---- [number XXX] ----
14. Enter Channel mode ---------- or (UV-82 press turn radio on)

On my BF-F8HP radio, using the Reverse Mode key during manual programming as
the User Manual describes will incorrectly add 0.001550 MHz to the Offset Frequency value
that was entered during the 26 Offset Frequency in Step 9. This error is
visible only after downloading the Radio’s data into the CHIRP software that displays the
Offset Frequency with six digits to the right of the decimal point. Set Offset to 000.000 in
Step 9, skip Step 10 and manually type the Repeater Input Frequency at Step 12 instead.

Repeater Input Frequency = Repeater Output Frequency + or – the Repeater Offset.

Channel Mode Display Options

Channel Number [0], Name [1] or Frequency [2]

For upper Display A, press 21 [0, 1 or 2]

For lower Display B, press 22 [0, 1 or 2]

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See Page 2 for the Manual Programming Pattern to apply to manually program the Menu options into the radio using the
radio’s keypad. Link to Menu Definitions - http://www.miklor.com/uv5r/UV5R-MenuDef.php

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