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Programming the radio

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Emanuele Gissi edited this page Dec 6, 2024 · 2 revisions

This wiki page describes how to buy, set up, and program the Quansheng UV-K5 radio.

Buy the hardware

First of all you should buy the right hardware.

This handheld radio is called Quansheng UV-K5. Currently there are several variation/derivatives of the original UV-K5 model: UV-K5(8), UV-K6, and UV-K5(99). These radios are all equivalent for rescue operations.

Each rescue operator needs a radio and a waterproof speaker microphone.

You also need only one programming cable for quickly setting up the radios.

Radios and accessories

We choose the following hardware:

  • Quansheng UV-K5(99) handheld radio, red model here at ~€25;
  • Baofeng UV-5R waterproof speaker microphone here at ~€5
  • Baofeng UV-5R programming cable at ~€5.

The best source of detailed information on these radios is this: Quansheng_UV-K5_Wiki

Replacement batteries

All UV-K5 variants use the same specific battery type.

The original battery has a capacity of 1600mAh, voltage 7.2 V (two Lithium Ion cells).

On the market you can find larger batteries from 2000 to 3500 mAh.

Antennas

The new antenna should have a female SMA connector. The radio has a SMA male connector.

Any antenna for the very popular Baofeng UV-5R radio fits the UV-K5 radio.

Certificates

The UV-K5 is correctly certified and marked.

Install the firmware

After receiving the radios you should flash on each of them the open source firmware F4HWN from Armel Fauveau.

Here is the procedure:

  1. switch off the radio;
  2. put the UV-K5 into programming mode by holding the PTT button while turning on the radio; if all went okay, the radio flashlight lights up, the screen stays off;
  3. insert the programming cable firmly into the radio audio plugs;
  4. insert the programming cable in a USB port on your computer;
  5. switch on your computer (Windows, Linux or Mac OSX are okay) and launch the Google Chrome browser, other browsers will not work;
  6. browse to the F4HWN firmware releases page;
  7. click on the 🚨 RescueOps version link, the firmware version dedicated to rescue operators professionals, the flasher page appears;
  8. click on Flash firmware and select the USB port you attached the programming cable to; image
  9. the white flashlight starts blinking until the end of the process;
  10. wait for the Succesfully flashed firmware message and then disconnect the programming cable. image

The new firmware is flashed and the radio is rebooted.

See an updated and more detailed explanation here.

If your are using Linux, remember to open the permission of the /dev/ttyUSB* devices for the user before attempting to flash the firmware.

Do not forget to send a thank you message to Armel for his incredible work!

Program the radio

The radio can be programmed with CHIRP, an open-source software.

Download and install CHIRP for your computer, according to the instructions.

After installing CHIRP, here is the procedure to set it up:

  1. download the updated CHIRP module for the F4HWN firmware from the driver release pages. Get the latest uvk5_egzumer_f4hwn_ver_*_*_*.py file;
  2. run CHIRP on your computer and set Help > Developer Mode from the menu; then confirm your choice and quit CHIRP;
  3. restart CHIRP and load the just downloaded driver with the File > Load Module... menu.

CHIRP is now ready to talk to the radio firmware.

At this point, you connect the radio to the computer with the programming cable and you can:

  • download a programming file from the radio with the Radio > Download from radio... menu;
  • modify and upload a programming file to the radio with the Radio > Upload to radio... menu.

Rescue operation settings

Here are the main setting of the handheld we program with CHIRP:

  • Ptt Mode (SetPtt): CLASSIC
  • Set TX Timeout indicator (SetTot): OFF
  • Set end off trasmission indicator (SetEot): OFF
  • Invert display (SetInv): OFF
  • Lock PTT key (SetLck): KEYS
  • S-Meter display (SetMet): CLASSIC
  • Display TextStyle (SetGui): TINY
  • Set Timer (SetTmr): OFF
  • Set OFF (SetOff): 0h:30m
  • Set NFM (SetNFM): NARROW
  • Set KEY (SetKEY): MENU
  • Set RescueOps: ON
  • Squelch: 4
  • RX mode (RX MODE): MAIN TX DUAL RX
  • Auto lock keypad (KeyLck): OFF
  • Max TX timeout (TxTOut): 1 min
  • Battery saver (BatSav): 1:1
  • Battery level display (BatTXT): PERCENT
  • Mic level bar display (MicBar): False
  • Channel display mode (ChDisp): NAME

Here are the programmable keys settings:

  • F1 short: FLASHLIGHT
  • F1 long: POWER HIGH
  • F2 short: NONE
  • F2 long: REMOVE OFFSET
  • M long: MAIN ONLY

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