Baofeng AR-5RM

[WRXB215]

1 hour ago, WRPL700 said:

that there are two versions. M version and L version.

That's interesting and certainly worth investigating.

 

1 hour ago, LeeBo said:

Just having my thumb on the plug did the trick.

That too.

[LeeBo]

1 hour ago, WRPL700 said:

I did not see this covered in previous posts:  I remember seeing in the 5RM manual (toward the back of the manual-page 36) that there are two versions. M version and L version.  Could this be the problem?

Both of mine are the M version and so far, (knocking on wood) I've had no issues with Chirp or listening to air band channels.

[WSAA635]

Mine is the "M" version because it has the Scramble function in the menu and I can monitor Airbands if I use VFO mode. 

[WSAA635]

The UV-5RM Plus has the same issue, no go with CHIRP but it'll read with factory program. Oddly enough I can't write the program I hand wrote and saved for the AR-5RM into the UV-5RM Plus even though it technically be the same radio. I'll have to read the UV-5RM Plus then delete each channel and rewrite the new channels into it.

I did test the power level of the AR and it's not too bad, I need to check the UV now.

[WRXR255]

20 hours ago, WSAA635 said:

I just ordered a UV-5RM Plus, it'll be here tomorrow and I'll see if it responds differently to CHIRP than the AR-5RM. It'd probably going to be the same radio just with different stickers but you never know. Either way it'd be good to have 2 of the higher powered radios. 

I'll post the results.

I could be wrong, but I was thinking the UV-5RM could not RX airband like the AR-5RM.

[WSAA635]

I know it wouldn't TX on MURS but the AR does. I had the same issue with CHIRP so I'm going to return the UV-5RM Plus. I may get another AR-5RM at a later date because I do like the power level and it's nice having a large battery that'd usb-c chargeable. 

[WSDU214]

Hi folks, interesting to ready all this with CHIRP/this unlock radio. It worked fine with the 2 I got. Then again, I just programmed them in October & I did download a CHIRP update that included this model. No issues onprogramming. The reception is great!

[WSDE760]

Thank you for your comprehensive review.

Question: I did not receive a model specific manual and cannot seem to find one online, can anyone post a link?

[WSEZ645]

Has anyone noticed a change to transmitting wattage once you program the radio with chirp? Out of the box my wattage output was as it should be. After programming through chirp my wattage increased, pretty significantly.

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, WSEZ645 said:

Has anyone noticed a change to transmitting wattage once you program the radio with chirp? Out of the box my wattage output was as it should be. After programming through chirp my wattage increased, pretty significantly.

Usually we hear reports of it going the other way or swapping low and high power. 

[dosw]

2 hours ago, WSEZ645 said:

Has anyone noticed a change to transmitting wattage once you program the radio with chirp? Out of the box my wattage output was as it should be. After programming through chirp my wattage increased, pretty significantly.

It hasn't happened to me. You're using the "5RM" profile, and have a code plug from the same model of radio?

Last time I heard a report of this happening I hooked mine up to a power meter to confirm that things were as they should be, and they were.

[WSDE760]

On 11/12/2024 at 2:18 PM, WSDE760 said:

Thank you for your comprehensive review.

Question: I did not receive a model specific manual and cannot seem to find one online, can anyone post a link?

bump..........

[SteveShannon]

19 minutes ago, WSDE760 said:

bump..........

It looks like it’s just the same as a UV-5RM.  Here’s its manual:

https://baofeng.s3.amazonaws.com/BAOFENG_UV_5RM_PLUS_User_Manual_EN_20240304.pdf

[WRXB215]

14 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

It looks like it’s just the same as a UV-5RM.

Sounds like they may finally be getting embarrassed about all the re-labeling they do. 

[dosw]

3 hours ago, WRXB215 said:

Sounds like they may finally be getting embarrassed about all the re-labeling they do. 

Part of the success of inexpensive overseas brands is a lack of embarrassment that would otherwise hinder them from bringing products to market. And sometimes it works out fairly well for them; they sell a ton of radios, the radios are reasonably acceptable to use, and cheap enough for everyman.

[WSDE760]

19 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

It looks like it’s just the same as a UV-5RM.  Here’s its manual:

https://baofeng.s3.amazonaws.com/BAOFENG_UV_5RM_PLUS_User_Manual_EN_20240304.pdf

Thank you, as an absolute novice, I sincerely appreciate your assistance.

However, I already found both a UV-5RM and the UV-5RM PLUS manuals online.
The problem is both manuals document only two transmit power levels where AR-5RM has three.

So, I wonder what else in these manuals might be different?

[UncleYoda]

2 hours ago, WSDE760 said:

Thank you, as an absolute novice, I sincerely appreciate your assistance.

However, I already found both a UV-5RM and the UV-5RM PLUS manuals online.
The problem is both manuals document only two transmit power levels where AR-5RM has three.

So, I wonder what else in these manuals might be different?

You could try Baofeng K5+ ... they seem very close and it is 10W tri-power, aircraft ban RX.  I can't tell what if anything is different.  The extra battery being sold for AR fits them both.  It has 5RM as part of the ID #s on the inside back label.

https://www.baofengradio.com/pages/download

[WSDE760]

18 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

You could try Baofeng K5+ ... they seem very close and it is 10W tri-power, aircraft ban RX.  I can't tell what if anything is different.  The extra battery being sold for AR fits them both.  It has 5RM as part of the ID #s on the inside back label.

https://www.baofengradio.com/pages/download

Thank you as well, always appreciate kindly avuncular advice!

Amusingly, the linked K5+ manual also only shows two Tx power levels, so I will assume for now that this is a persistent typo across several manuals.

I should note that the 5RM CHIRP (legacy) profile works fine as far as I can tell and does show three power levels for my AR-5RM.

Thanks all.