FAQ

When will I get my radio?

Fair question and the most commonly asked one. I try to keep stock of radios but they sell through quite fast. If there is a run and I have to order them in that can take four days. Then there is the programming phase which has to be fitted in around my day job, but normally two or three days. Finally the courier can add a few days to the process. At a normal time the process from start to finish is about a week but can be slightly longer. Christmas and New Year do tend to up the turnaround time a little.

Is my radio boxed?

Usually yes, however sometimes my suppliers dont send stock in boxes. They sometimes include a jiffy type package to protect the radio. If your radio didn’t come boxed then obviously I wont have one to send you. But non-boxed radios are always new and well packaged.

Does the radio come with a power supply?

Baofeng do not generally include a power supply. Although there are always exceptions to that rule, for instance if theyy havent included a USB cradle. Usually what you recieve is a desktop charging stand which has a USB plug on the end. Just plug that into any USB socket and voila!


The following information was included with a second sheet in your radio package. I have put it here now to save paper.

If you have asked for your local repeaters to be programmed in, then I will have programmed in up to three repeaters that are up to 15 miles away. They will be analogue repeaters that use FM only and will be in the 2 metre and/or 70 centimetre bands. Sometimes your local repeater may use a system called Fusion, which allows FM and Digital.

You will have noticed that the manual that comes with a Baofeng is pretty useless. If you are new to the hobby, it is well worth finding some resources online that help you learn what the radio does. Also, Baofeng packaging isn’t the best so if the plastic tray in your box is split this is very common. Furthermore, sometimes my suppliers tape the boxes together for transit. This can leave the boxes looking less than pristine. Please be assured that they are brand new.

The charging cradle you will receive is the later version made by Baofeng as they have moved away from the power adapter version. It is fitted with a USB3 plug but any USB socket will work fine.

Basic controls.

To find your memory channels, press the VFO/MR button. This toggles between frequency mode and memory mode. Once in memory mode, simply use the up and down buttons to get to the pre-set channel that you require.

VFO = Variable Frequency Oscillator / MR = Memory Recall

The radio is capable of monitoring two channels at the same time. These are known as A and B. A is on the first line of the display and B is on the second. To transmit on the B channel, simply press the A/B button to highlight the channel you want.

To transmit, press the PTT button on the side of the radio. Speak at a distance of three inches from the front of the radio.

Remember, DO NOT transmit on channels that you are not licensed to use unless it is an emergency.

Helpful Resources

www.essexham.co.uk

www.ukrepeater.net

PrepComms UK Facebook Group

Amateur Radio is a hobby, it is for you to educate yourself on the operation of radio equipment. We will happily point you in the right direction, just ask.

Please join us on the PrepComms UK group on Facebook.

The reset option in the menu will delete the contents of your radio. I have not disabled it. If you accidentally wipe your radio, just contact me and we can get it sorted out with you.

PrepComms UK is a Veteran owned business and we are proud to support….