How to program the Baofeng GT-5R RADIO

[Guest Lee]

New to the GMRS family and did not know you had to program the Boafeng radio. Will only be using for local family usage not for repeater usage.

Do have my FCC GMRS license WSGU 866. I go back so far with 2 way radios that when CBs became popular in the early 70s a license was needed but shortly after i got mine they were discontinued.  Will be using this radio if any major things happen in this country .   

Thank you Lee   USMC 1965.

[Socalgmrs]

It would have helped to research before buying the radio.  A gmrs radio will not need programming for basic channels 1-22 only for inputting repeater tones.  So at this point you’re gonna need to read the manual, watch you tube videos, personally I much prefer to program with a cable and a computer.  It’s 1million times easier. Or just keep that one for scanning and buy some already programmed gmrs radios.  I know that since you read all the information before agreed to it with the fcc you know you really should have a gmrs radio to use on Gmrs frequencies?   

[UncleYoda]

15 minutes ago, Guest Lee said:

New to the GMRS family and did not know you had to program the Boafeng radio.

Unless they changed it since I got mine, the GT-5R is made and marketed as a HAM radio.  It was made to only transmit on HAM frequencies.  The UV-5G is essentially the same radio in a GMRS version.

[HHD1]

28 minutes ago, Socalgmrs said:

personally I much prefer to program with a cable and a computer.  It’s 1million times easier.

I agree 100%

 

CHIRP is a great free program.

[SteveShannon]

38 minutes ago, Guest Lee said:

New to the GMRS family and did not know you had to program the Boafeng radio. Will only be using for local family usage not for repeater usage.

Do have my FCC GMRS license WSGU 866. I go back so far with 2 way radios that when CBs became popular in the early 70s a license was needed but shortly after i got mine they were discontinued.  Will be using this radio if any major things happen in this country .   

Thank you Lee   USMC 1965.

Hi Lee,

Although I have a GT-5R for ham radio, I don’t really know if you can unlock it to program in GMRS channels. I’ve never tried to unlock mine. One of the radios that has been designed to be a GMRS radio would be slightly easier to use.

Whichever way you go, I also recommend getting a radio that uses Chirp (freely available) or RT Systems if you ever want to download and program the frequencies of nearby repeaters, public services, and other important transmissions.  
Welcome!

[HHD1]

34 minutes ago, Socalgmrs said:

you really should have a gmrs radio to use on Gmrs frequencies

I totally agree with you on this SoCal.   However, in the event of a break down in society and or government, FCC rules won't mean squat.  But until then, it's always best to learn why the rules are there, and how everything works.