Baofeng Tech Programming Cable for Mobile Radios

I've been manually programming everything in to the UV-2501+220 and I plan on doing a short video tutorial of the process. However, I am really glad my BTECH PC04 FTDI USB Programming Cable arrived yesterday.

Baofeng Tech UV-2501: 220 Relay Noise

I was playing with the dual watch/TDR functionality and 220 on the UV-2501+220. I noticed this sound (video):

I made the connection with this post:

"Radio is sturdily constructed and amazingly small. Programmed it with the software from the miklor site and tried it out on my comet triband antenna on local repeaters in all 3 bands. Good audio reports although was noted as slightly muffled on highs. Power output is around 20 watts or a few under.

One odd behavior I did notice is TDR enabled or scanning from UHF/VHF to 220 results in relay noise.

Side a/side b noise (TDR on) 

Uhf/uhf no 

Vhf/vhf no 

Uhf/vhf no 

220/220 no 

Uhf/220 yes 

Vhf/220 yes"

And this explanation sounded reasonable to me:

"I suspect the 220 MHz band antenna lowpass filter is switched with a relay and the 2 meter lowpass filter and 70 cm highpass filters are switched with PIN diodes. A relay that completely isolated the 220 MHz RF filter is easier to do this than design a more complicated bandpass filter and the relay likely has less insertion loss and won't impact the RF performance of the 2 meter/70 cm bands. Based on that I would say the sound you are hearing is normal."

I e-mailed the Baofeng Tech guys and they confirmed this is normal behavior for the dual watch flipping between 440 or 2M and 220.

Baofeng Tech UV-2501+220: A wee tiny radio with a lot of capability

Some initial impressions from someone that's picked up the UV-2501+220:

"a wee tiny radio with a lot of capability"

I agree with several of the comments there - especially about the size. It is small, but I didn't feel like the buttons were too hard to access. Using the mic to program in a repeater was not especially painful as those things go - I don't think manually programming 100 repeaters would be high on anyone's list. Getting the programming cable will make life much easier.

Baofeng Tech: Antenna Connections

A commenter wanted "to know if that antenna has any kind of O-ring or seal between the antenna and NMO adapter." Here are some close-ups of all the connectors for both the Nagoya TB-320A tri-band antenna and the Nagoya RB-35 5/8 NMO Mount. I don't see any o-rings/seals - just the insulators, but the fit was very good on everything and all the connections locked up nice and tight.

Ground Plane - Old PC Side Panels

I've appropriated cookie sheets from the kitchen in the past, but that always gets me in trouble. When I was going to recycle some old computers, I realized I could keep the side panels to be my ground plan. Here I've connected up the UV-2501+220 using the Nagoya TB-320A tri-band antenna and the Nagoya RB-35 5/8 NMO Mount.

Baofeng UV-2501: It's alive!

Powering up the UV-2501+220... it barely moves the meter.

(It's nice to have the cigarette lighter plug for quickly getting these radios going.)

The display looks better than these pictures show - it's very bright and overwhelms the camera.

Baofeng UV-2501+220: Unboxing pictures.

A few pictures of the UV-2501+220 unboxing... initial impressions of the build quality are favorable. For example, the mic feels substantial in my hand. I know you can't tell everything by holding a radio, but it is a good start.

Baofeng Tech UV-2501+220: Size Comparison

I'm amazed at how small the UV-2501+220 is. I used to think the Leixen VV-808 was small. The UV-2501+220 is on the top and then the left in the photos below.

Baofeng Tech: UV-2501+220 has landed!

Woo hoo! Thanks Baofeng Tech! What a great way to start the week-end:  UV-2501+220, Nagoya TB-320A tri-band antenna, and Nagoya RB-35 5/8 NMO Mount!

Baofeng - TV Darling

The UV-5R makes another TV appearance.

Baofeng Tech: Nagoya TB-320A Antenna

I got a delivery from Baofeng Tech yesterday, so I'm one step closer: Nagoya TB-320A tri-band antenna!

Baofeng Tech: Nagoya TB-320A Antenna

Baofeng Tech has shared some results of the testing with their Nagoya TB-320A tri-band antenna:

Baofeng Tech UV-2501+220: Software

I always like to review the software to get a sense of the options. Here is a snip of the UV-2501+220 software. You can download it from the Baofeng Tech website.

Baofeng Tech UV-2501+220: Tri-band Antenna and Mount

I really like it when it appears that companies think things through. So if you are going to offer a tri-band mobile like the UV-2501+220, you should probably sell an antenna to go with it. And that's just what Baofeng Tech is doing. They are offering the Nagoya TB-320A tri-band antenna ($57.95) and Nagoya RB-35 5/8 NMO Mount Magnet ($22.99) - details of each below.

(EDIT: So apparently all the antenna and mount links go to the same place. You'll have to select antenna or mount on the Amazon page to see the details for each.)

Nagoya TB-320A - Fold-Over 39-Inch PL-259 Mount Triband 2m/1.25m/60cm (144/220/430Mhz) Antenna:

The Nagoya TB-320A is a 39 inch tri-band UHF (PL-259) mount antenna with up to 5.5 dB of gain. It is designed to be used with your mobile or base radio. An included SO-239 to NMO Adapter allows for flexible installation to both UHF and NMO set-ups.

Fold over design allows the Antenna to Fold-Over which allows you to easily put the antenna down in parking garages or in other places where height matters.

The Nagoya TB-320A triband is a 2 meter, 220 MHz (1.25 meter) and 440 MHz mobile antenna. It is a 1/4 wave on 2 meters providing 2.15 dB gain and a 1/2 wave on 220 providing 3.8 dB gain and a 2 5/8 wave on 440 MHz providing 5.5 dB gain. This antenna can handle up to 200/100/200 watts.

Included in the package is a SO-239 to NMO adapter.

Package:

1x Nagoya NB320A Antenna (PL-259 Base)
1x SO-239 to NMO Adapter

Nagoya RB-35 5/8 NMO Mount Magnet, 18' RG-58 PL-259, Includes Rain Cap:

Nagoya Antenna magnet NMO mounts are premium quality magnetic antenna mounts with very good holding power. They are a heavy 2 lb magnet mount (durable hold) with a 3 5/8" diameter base, and are recommended for antennas up to 45 in. tall.

Package:
RB-35 NMO Magnet (18 Feet RG-58)
Rain Cap

So add the UV-2501+220 radio, the antenna, the mount - and you are ready to rock and roll mobile!

Baofeng Tech: UV-2501+220: CTCSS

A question about CTCSS on the UV-2501+220:

"John,
Do you think that the phrase:
>>refined our audio and changed our RDA chip set placement to improve performance to audio filtering.

is referring the CTSS audio "picket fencing" issue that requires us to disable CTSS decode on all channels?"

 And the reply:

"Lorrin,
I know that the RDA chip was changed and there were some major firmware changes.
I did several hours of test driving with the +220 and I could not make it fail. 

R-CTCSS has no adverse impact on the receiver. 

The pulsing/chopping that is prevalent in some of the other similar models is not in my beta radio. 

John
http://www.miklor.com"

Baofeng Tech UV-2501+220: Site Updated

Baofeng Tech has updated their site with the full details and specs of the UV-2501+220. You can also pre-order it on Amazon for $139.89. Amazon shows an in stock date of February 9.

In the box:
Mounting Bracket and Hardware
Remote Speaker Mic and Mic Bracket
Inline Fuse and DC Connectors

FEATURES
25KHz/12.5KHz Switchable (Wide/Narrow Band)
FM Radio (65.0MHz-108.0MHz)
Large Tri-color LCD Display (3 Selectable Colors)
High /Low RF Power Switchable
50 CTCSS/ 104 DCS Tones
5Tone Support
2Tone Support
Voice Inversion (Scrambling) Support
Tone searching/scanning
Dual standby
PC programmable
Transmitter time-out timer(TOT)
Busy channel lock-out(BCLO)
Remote Stun/Kill

UV-2501+220 MINI SPECIFICATIONS

Frequency range:
[TX] 136 - 174MHz, 210 - 230MHz, 400 - 520MHz
[RX] 136 - 174MHz, 210 - 230MHz, 400 - 520MHz, 68-108MHz (FM Broadcast)

Channel Capacity:
200 Channels

Channel Spacing
25KHz (wide band)12.5KHz (narrow band)

Sensitivity
≤0.25μV (wide band) ≤0.35μV (narrow band)

Operation Voltage
13.6V DC ±20%

Frequency step:
2.5-25KHz Selectable

Antenna:
Antenna Connector: SO-239

Stability:
±2.5ppm

Output power:
25W / 10W

Audio Power Output
2500mW/10%

Baofeng Tech: UV-2501+220 Picture and More Info

So in addition to 220 MHz, the Baofeng Tech UV-2501+220 will...

"...still have the full UV-2501 enhancements: 

- Display Sync
- Scrambler
- The wider coverage range (up to 520mhz)
- Menu and Programming lock-out
- The larger HD mic (not the low end mics shipped with QYT / Juentai variants)"

And...

"...more tweaks not seen in the UV-2501: 

- H/L power switching from Mic (adjustable in VFO and MR modes)
- Audio Out Jack
- Built in Cooling Fan (allowing the mobiles to now be installed in tight spots)"

Based on the all the posts on the interwebs about the similar radios, the addition of the cooling fan is a huge improvement!

As if I wasn't excited enough, it sounds like they've got a few more things coming soon.

Baofeng Tech: UV-2501+220

Great news for everyone that has been looking at the Baofeng Tech UV-2501 (or variants) and wishing it actually supported 220 MHz:

"This month [Baofeng Tech] will be introducing the UV-2501+220. The name says it all - also we have refined the firmware to allow easier power switching, refined our audio and changed our RDA chipset placement to improve performance to audio filtering."

So 220 MHz and a few more enhancements as well! More info will follow as I get it.

Baofeng UV-5RZ: The End

Guess we are done... Baofeng UV-5RZ. They've run out of letters, so no more radios. Sad face goes here.

Thanks to Nate for the link.

No Throat Mic - Not an operator

Image via reddit - love the comments.