Radio Tech 2018

This page provides technical information about the Firefly radio setup. If you're just using a radio, you probably don't need it.

Radio Channels

Firefly Radio Channels 2018

See this sheet for the latest version of the 2018 radio channels. This version is current as of 2018-06-29:

Channel	BF-888 Channel	MD-390 Channel	UV-82HP UV5R Channel	Rcv	Xmt (if different)	Tech	Tone/Isolation	Description
MURS1			0	151.82		VHF Analog	None
Safety1	1	1	1	464.5	469.5	UHF Analog	127.3	Primary Safety Core channel. Repeater-enabled
TAC1ICS	2	2	2	469.55		UHF Analog	114.8	For use when ICS is activated
Sanctuary	3	3	3	456.8		UHF Analog	100	Sanctuary-only
Board	4	4	4	451.8125		UHF Analog	88.5
DPW	5	5	5	456.8125		UHF Analog	94.8
LNT	6	6	6	456.8		UHF Analog	203.5
GGGP		7		451.8		UHF DMR	Group Call 1	Gnome Gate Greeters Parking Security
GTFO		8		451.8		UHF DMR	Group Call 2	Get The Freaks On/Off (the hill). Digital only.
Accessibility		9		451.8		UHF DMR	Group Call 3	Digital radios only!
WAKE			7	151.505		VHF Analog	123
TAC2			8	151.625		VHF Analog	114.8
TAC3			9	151.7		VHF Analog	100
WX W VT			10	162.5	---	VHF AnalogWide	None	West Vermont NOAA weather broadcast.
WX E VT			11	162.475	---	VHF AnalogWide	None	East Vermont NOAA weather broadcast.
WX W NH			12	162.525	---	VHF AnalogWide	None	West NH NOAA weather broadcast.

Radio Hardware

Firefly uses several variants of commercially-produced, commonly-available amateur handheld transceivers (HTs).

BF-888s

Name	BF-888s
Channels	16
Bands	UHF only
Frequency Range	400 - 470MHz
RF Power	~3W
Operating Voltage	3.7V
Users	Dirt Rangers, other Safety Cores, anyone who doesn't need a different radio

Links

• Web "manual" for the BF-888

UV-5R

Name	UV-5R (also UV-5Rv2, UV-5R+, etc.)
Channels	128
Bands	UHF/VHF
Frequency Range	136-174MHz, 400-520MHz TX
RF Power	~4W
Operating Voltage	7.4V
Users	Khaki, anyone on a long shift

The UV-5R has several ~identical-looking variants. When programming the radio, it's important to look at the model plate on the front and see what you have. If it's not "UV-5R", you likely have one of the custom variants -- see Baofengtech's compare chart for more info on the differences. They all have basically the same capability, with the exception of the RD-5R, which is a digital radio.

Links

• Annotated user manual -- extremely useful!

TYT MD-390

Name	TYT MD-390
Channels	lots
Bands	UHF
Frequency Range	400-480MHz
RF Power	~4W
Operating Voltage	7.4V
Users	For 2018: GGGP, GTFO, Accessibility

This is a DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) and its operation is different than you might be used to. It can be used on the analog UHF channels in a similar fashion to the other radios, but its primary use is on the digital channels.

Programming Radios

Analog radios

Preparation: (Open CHIRP, load files: BF888, UV-5R- {307, 311, 313})

BF-888: just flash it

• Select BF-888 file tab
• Turn on radio
• Plug in programming cable
• Upload to Radio → Alt-U or Radio→ Upload
• Wait for upload to complete
• Unplug and turn off

Firefly UV-5R (no +, E, V2, etc.): flash with care

• Select UV-5R 311 file tab
• Turn on radio, volume up, plug in
• Upload to Radio
• IF OK: unplug, turn off
• IF ERROR (firmware mismatch)
  • note version of firmware (in error message)
  • if 307 or 313, open that file, retry flash
  • otherwise, see procedure below

Firefly UV-5R V2+, E, U, etc., Other Radio, or Privately Owned Analog Radio

• Download from Radio: Alt-D or Radio → Download
• Plug in cable, turn on, wait 5 seconds
• Select correct radio type in dropdown (All UV-5R variants use “UV-5R” option)
• Press enter, wait for download
• Open new file (tab all the way to the right, may need to scroll using little arrow in upper right)
• File → Import → Select type “.csv” in dropdown → open FF2018.csv
• Leave 1-7 or 1-8 checked (include MURS1 = 0 if there)
• Press Enter
• Upload to Radio, unplug, check/test freqs

DEBUG

"Error: Radio did not respond"

• Is it on?
• Check cable -- fully plugged in?
• Turn volume up
• Wait 5 seconds, retry
• Recharge, retry

Other error:

• Write down error on post-it
• Stick it in dead radio bin

Radio Docs

Firefly Radio Basics

Radio Reference Card 2016-print version

Burning Man Radio Training:

• Video: https://vimeo.com/101945669
• Document: http://tinyurl.com/ArtOfRadio