Unlocked UV-5G?

[TerriKennedy]

On 6/13/2025 at 5:34 PM, WSIK532 said:

Has the UV-5G been unlocked and what's the advantages to doing so?

I'm just wondering.

The original UV-5G or the new UV-5G Plus? If it's the UV-5G Plus, it is the same hardware as the UV-5RH and you can flash 5RH firmware to it to turn it into an amateur radio. There's no known firmware file to flash back to a 5G Plus, so this is a one-way trip out of GMRS land.

If you press and hold the [8] key while turning on, both a 5G Plus and a 5RH will say "5RH" at the top, some version, and one of "GMRS", "General" or "Part 97" on the bottom. The UV-5RM will say "5RHBK" at the top.

AFAIK, switching General / Part 97 is a "magic salute" on these, except for the 5G Plus which seems to have custom firmware that ignores that. 

[WSIK532]

4 hours ago, TerriKennedy said:

The original UV-5G or the new UV-5G Plus? If it's the UV-5G Plus, it is the same hardware as the UV-5RH and you can flash 5RH firmware to it to turn it into an amateur radio. There's no known firmware file to flash back to a 5G Plus, so this is a one-way trip out of GMRS land.

If you press and hold the [8] key while turning on, both a 5G Plus and a 5RH will say "5RH" at the top, some version, and one of "GMRS", "General" or "Part 97" on the bottom. The UV-5RM will say "5RHBK" at the top.

AFAIK, switching General / Part 97 is a "magic salute" on these, except for the 5G Plus which seems to have custom firmware that ignores that. 

Mines says 5R-M8 GM-V02

[WSIK532]

I'm not going to try any unlocking I was just curious.

[TerriKennedy]

20 hours ago, WSIK532 said:

Mines says 5R-M8 GM-V02

That may be the original 2-line display model. The ones I was referring to are the new full-color screen models.

[WSIK532]

5 minutes ago, TerriKennedy said:

That may be the original 2-line display model. The ones I was referring to are the new full-color screen models.

You are correct it is the two lined version.

[UncleYoda]

On 6/21/2025 at 9:22 PM, WSIK532 said:

You are correct it is the two lined version.

By "two lined version" are y'all both referring to plain UV-5G?  Holding down "8" while turning on does nothing on my plain UV-5G.  Holding 3 still works though to give the firmware number (and it isn't what Chirp shows).

[bscabl]

On 6/14/2025 at 9:26 AM, OffRoaderX said:

Yes - All the newly manufactured ones destined for the U.S. are locked and cannot be unlocked. 

I must have gotten lucky. the two UV5Rs i received yesterday came full unlocked. [I own straight GMRS equipment too.. I bought the 5r's on the cheep for educational reasons]

[OffRoaderX]

25 minutes ago, bscabl said:

the two UV5Rs i received yesterday came full unlocked.

I've been hearing that more and more.. Either they are not locking the new ones or they are "accidentally" shipping the non-U.S. models into the U.S.

[bscabl]

30 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

I've been hearing that more and more.. Either they are not locking the new ones or they are "accidentally" shipping the non-U.S. models into the U.S.

makes sense. I contemplated the uv5r plus ones but i cant find anything reliable that says they come unlocked. im not trying to "use them in an unauthorized manner," and i am smart enough to use chirp to code out tx on emergency bands and such to prevent accidental transmitting, but i want the freedon to tinker how i see fit with gmrs simplex and such while using my uv5g plus's for actual communication. yes I picked the lowest possible barrier to entry in case I get bored with the entire thing and throw them in a drawer... I can always upgrade as I grow more if i keep with it. I plan on studying for HAM as well and if I stick with it, getting that license as well.

[WRUE951]

1 hour ago, OffRoaderX said:

I've been hearing that more and more.. Either they are not locking the new ones or they are "accidentally" shipping the non-U.S. models into the U.S.

Some sellers are actually selling unlocked versions on Ebay..  I saw a few couple weeks ago on Ebay. I messaged the seller and they said they would ship me an unlocked uv5r on request.   

[WRUE951]

Just now, WRUE951 said:

Some sellers are actually selling unlocked versions on Ebay..  I saw a few couple weeks ago on Ebay. I messaged the seller and they said they would ship me an unlocked uv5r on request.   Shipping would take 10-15 days.  So i guess these are coming direct from China rater than a local warehouse 

 

[OffRoaderX]

1 hour ago, WRUE951 said:

I saw a few couple weeks ago on Ebay

A den of thieves and liars with iniquity run amok..

[WSEL330]

On 6/16/2025 at 6:32 PM, OffRoaderX said:

 the AR-5RM 

Does it need to be unlocked. I realize this is a simple question. This is a 'specific info' example...

[UncleYoda]

55 minutes ago, WSEL330 said:

Does it need to be unlocked. I realize this is a simple question. This is a 'specific info' example...

My 5RM variant came open and I use it for ham but there's no way to lock it to only those frequencies.  If you only have a GMRS license you would need a GMRS version to be strictly legit and these models are typically for HAM.

[WRUE951]

2 hours ago, OffRoaderX said:

A den of thieves and liars with iniquity run amok..

i ordered one, i'll let you know..   Shhhhhhh..   

[WSEL330]

48 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

My 5RM variant came open and I use it for ham but there's no way to lock it to only those frequencies.  If you only have a GMRS license you would need a GMRS version to be strictly legit and these models are typically for HAM.

I do have both licenses. It would be nice to have it do both freq's

[bscabl]

53 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

My 5RM variant came open and I use it for ham but there's no way to lock it to only those frequencies.

if you use chirp you can turn of tx for channels.. but if youre just frequency hopping....true it will tx anytime you key up.. 

[UncleYoda]

14 minutes ago, WSEL330 said:

I do have both licenses. It would be nice to have it do both freq's

Convenient, but FCC says we can't have them transmit on the same radio.  Of course you can break the rules if you want.

[bscabl]

2 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

but FCC says we can't have them transmit on the same radio

i mean.. if you block out the .5w freqs from the ham and program the rest properly [chrip is good for that] no one will ever know.. honestly.. no one would even likely know if you step on the .5w stuff either unless they have....issues...

*not legal advice, i am not a lawyer. 

[UncleYoda]

I'm tired of seeing this "you won't get caught" type advice all over this site.  Go outlaw mode at your own risk just like CBers (but at least have enough sense to not post about it).

[OffRoaderX]

32 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

I'm tired of seeing this "you won't get caught" type advice all over this site.

Exactly! Because this advice is WRONG!!

To "get caught" someone must first be looking for you.. and for someone to go looking for you, they must first care... 

TL;dr: You can't get caught by the FCC because the FCC isn't looking for you because the FCC does not care.

SOURCE: The record of enforcements over the last 15 years as reported in the FCC's public enforcement database

[bscabl]

13 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

I'm tired of seeing this "you won't get caught" type advice all over this site

I have a uv5g plus and a uv5r. unless you are literally standing next to me you would not know which i was keying up from when i talk to people on grms because i literally copied my config in chirp. 

that being said.. i am studying for ham and going to grow my knowledge and in the hobby so i can enjoy both use cases.. if i continue to enjoy it i will raise my "barrier for entry" and buy more expensive gear... but sticking with CCRs until i decide if im going to get bored and toss them in a drawer... but i am having fun so far and people have been,...over all pretty nice. 

[WSEL330]

32 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

Convenient, but FCC says we can't have them transmit on the same radio.  Of course you can break the rules if you want.

Heavens to betsy, I am upstanding member of society....Asking for a friend.

[amaff]

12 hours ago, UncleYoda said:

I'm tired of seeing this "you won't get caught" type advice all over this site. 

It's not advice. It's a statement of the current reality. So long as you're not egregiously breaking the rules and interfering with others (...and even then...), they don't seem to give a care. 

On 6/14/2025 at 9:34 AM, WSAQ296 said:

are we honestly worried about only having one 30 dollar radio for both ham and gmrs?  nobody is going to hear you with it anyway

hey quick question:

..........what?

[GreggInFL]

14 hours ago, WSEL330 said:

I do have both licenses. It would be nice to have it do both freq's

Yeah, this. Since the FCC's enforcement operation responds to complaints, the effect is that it operates in a "No harm, no foul" mode. As a taxpayer, I'm fine with that. I would be nice if the rules were formulated to regulate the results, not the process, but that's not where we are.