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. |
Chirp Files
If you'd like to program your own radio, Chirp files are available here. This is entirely at your own risk -- neither Radio Core nor Rangers offer support for personally owned or programmed radios.
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
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). 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. For users, its operation is the same as the others: push to talk.
We may expand our use of DMR in the future depending on how 2018 goes.
Links
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
Digital radios
Hoo boy. Best to get someone who knows how to help you with this for now. Better instructions to come.
Additional resources
Radio Reference Card 2016-print version
Burning Man Radio Training:
- Video: https://vimeo.com/101945669
- Document: http://tinyurl.com/ArtOfRadio