Radio Tech 2018: Difference between revisions

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|West NH NOAA weather broadcast.
|West NH NOAA weather broadcast.
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== Chirp Files ==
If you'd like to program your own radio, Chirp files are available [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PlIu6-tycExciWRIn8SQ3xykEvWl3LQ8?usp=sharing here]. This is entirely at your own risk -- Radio Core does not offer support for personally owned radios.


= Radio Hardware =
= Radio Hardware =

Revision as of 19:48, 29 June 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 -- Radio Core does not offer support for personally owned radios.

Radio Hardware

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

BF-888s

Bf-888s.jpg
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

UV-5R diagram
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

TYT MD-390

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})

Chirp.png

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: