Solved: Baofeng UV5R-8W programming /Model menu in Chirp Next= use model BF-F8HP as an alternative.

[CoffeeTime]

Just an FYI

Since the UV5R-8W  was not listed in the Chirp Next drop-down menu today...

I tested/used the BF-F8HP selection. That allowed all 3 Power settings to be selected during programming,  instead of the 2 power settings as recognized for the UV5R drop-down model choice.

It's alive!

I hope this helps someone.

 

UPDATE Today 03-31-25:

RE:  Programming change - UV-5X

HX: I purchased two of these radios together/ same purchase, but never opened the 2nd UV5R-8W until just today.

The #1 unit above has been/is still working great. Unit#1  has been updated with several new channels numerous times. Unit #1 is always updated using that saved BF-F8HP Chirp code plug--since the beginning.

However, I just tried to copy that same working code plug into my Unit#2 and discovered a minor issue.  A trial of full factory resets and numerous edits in Chirp did solve this issue. 

Everything else transferred correctly to Unit#2 and the radio worked well ---except the Power-up Message--- it would not display my call signs to match Unit#1 and always reverted to WELCOME.

Thus, I found a Baofeng page that advised me to use UV5X for Chirp.  I then read the radio (Unit#2) as a UV5X, then entered the call signs in this new UV5X Chirp code plug,  and uploaded it to Unit #2.

All is now working as desired. 

I hope this helps someone.

Update 4/18/25

I reverted to using the  BF-F8HP selection in Chirp again to access all the power (1-5-8) levels this radio supports. The UV-5X selection limits the radio to Low and High only. 

 

 

[WRXB215]

I've been using chirp for my UV-5R8W for a few months now. I can't remember what I chose in the menu but it wasn't the BF-F8HP. If I have time during lunch today, I'll open chirp and get the radio out of the truck and see if I can figure out what I used. I haven't messed with it in a while.

[Guest]

I’ve been using a few uv5r-8w radios for a year or so.  I just use uv5r. No muss no fuss.