Some background 1st. We have a small Radio network for the farms in my area, (South Africa so licences are not the problem) using Baofeng 888s, because they are cheap. Problem is the terrain and the power output means that not everyone can hear everyone, if that makes sense. Now, we have been getting around this setting up “cells” of people who can hear each other, which doesn’t always work so well.
I Have a QYT 8900 which I have programmed into the same channel that we are using but, while I can now hear everyone else, I can’t transmit. Well, it actually does transmit, the green light shows up on the Baofeng, but no sound.
I am a farmer and the intricacies escape me. Would appreciate any help.
If you buy a few radios in one go you probably find that the channels that you are using have tone squelch - It is a specific tone that your radio sends on top of your speech. You don’t hear it, but the other radios only allow the received signal to be heard if it is present. In the menu system you might see CTCSS or tone as a menu item. If you see something like 100.3 or 98.5 this is the tone frequency. You just need to find what the baofengs are using and enter that into the QYT - it should work fine.
Also from South Africa here and I have programmed a couple of B888’s and a QYT’s
What Paul says I agree with and think this is your problem. The frequency that you transmit on is probably without the tone that all the BF888’s have on them.
Unfortunately neither of the two models you mention are legal for commercial use in South Africa, only for sale to Radio Hams. We have served many “Boere Unie” radio sites in SA, particularly in the North West & Northern Cape.
What is meant by ‘Commercial’ use is actually if the radios are used by any one other than a licenced Radio Ham - in other words, they are not legally available for any other usage in SA at all.
Their price naturally is very attractive and they present good value for money, no question about that. But this is purely for your information - ICASA does have inspectors out visiting various areas for illegal radio usage and although the likelihood of them actually catching persons operating such is low, it does bear heavy penalties when they do actually succeed in this.
Indeed, from my very young days I had always aspired to getting my Ham licence, I used to attend all the Ham gatherings, braais and even meetings on a regular basis. But then CB Radio became commonly available and I never did. I did obtain a ZR listener’s licence but somehow then I started into the radio business and figured I don’t really want the same hobby as my career . So I then started to delve deeply into the bottomless pit of my other hobby - Audio. I have built many amplifiers, both valve & solid state, and still have five of my Mullard 5-20 Audio amplifiers. They have been standing idle for a number of years now so I really should start giving them some love & attention.
Haven’t been on a trail lately either, my SFA is loudly calling my name !
. So I then started to delve deeply into the bottomless pit of my other hobby - Audio. I have built many amplifiers, both valve & solid state, and still have five of my Mullard 5-20 Audio amplifiers. They have been standing idle for a number of years now so I really should start giving them some love & attention.
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