ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 พ.ค. 2024
- With a custom firmware this radio can send off grid messages at very long distances and receive a far wider frequency range than intended. This is the Quansheng UV-K5(8). It is an extremely cheap dual band handheld radio, but unlike similar radios before it, this might be the most hackable radio.
Update: There is an even better firmware available by kamilsss655, which has all the same features as the ones described in this video, but also retains vox, fm radio and even includes message encryption, options for what encoding to use and lots more. Get it here: github.com/kamilsss655/uv-k5-...
Link to the firmware I've used in this video JOAQUIMORG: github.com/joaquimorg/uv-k5-f...
Get the latest version available in the folder and download the "packed" bin.
You can install it using the online flasher: egzumer.github.io/uvtools/
EGZUMER firmware (can be flashed directly from browser): github.com/egzumer/uv-k5-firm...
Custom version of CHIRP: github.com/egzumer/uvk5-chirp...
UVMOD online patcher: whosmatt.github.io/uvmod/
0:00 Intro
0:53 Physical properties
1:47 Modded frequency range
2:32 Off grid messaging
4:22 JOAQUIMORG and EGZUMER firmware
5:02 Amateur Radio Licence
6:24 More Quansheng functionality
6:57 Programming with CHIRP
7:23 More custom mods
7:36 Normal radio operation
8:07 Outro - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
I got a boafeng long before I got a license. But getting a license gave me a good foundational understanding of RF which changed everything for me. Now I'm learning YSF finally
The best thing about these radios is the big top quality companys are going to need to start producing good stuff at cheaper prices to stay competitive, or else they will start fading.
Ill bet they prefer to go bankrupt, no sign off anything less expensive from them, the most basic ht from any of the big brands gets you like, 5 quansheng at least, and the top models are meh and cost 500$
Yeah, they won't care.
@@justawfulgamer7738 on top of that, this, that a Chinese brand can produce a very good ht for less than 20 usd, is proof that the "big ones" are charging whatever they want for the equipment, if Quansheng can make an sell this to you st 16usd and still profit, well it's not so hard to figure it out, Yaesu, Icom and Kenwwod are a bunch of thieves, they are gonna end like the swiss watch market when the quartz movement changed Paradigm and they got screwed.
@@Lagomosaone great big tax deductible fire sale
That's like saying Audi should stop producing vehicles because you can get a ford fiesta.
Wait... Have I just stumbled upon a DECENT amateur radio channel?! Great video and editing. A pleasure to watch and take in the info.
I gave up the hobby a good while ago but like to keep my eye on things so it's good to be subscribed.
I am interested in the messaging. Fortunately, Quansheng sent me two of the earlier version of these radios, so I should be able to give this a go.
Cheers 🤘
I also am getting back into amateur radio after a 30 year break ! We need more videos like this one. My second Quansheng is about to arrive and I am ready to flash the firmware 🙂
@@fotografm nice!
I'm definitely not getting back into the hobby in the 'traditional' sense and probably never will. I've been put off for life with my local use in the UK.
I do still enjoy the experimental side of RF and comms etc. I like Andy Kirby's channel too, great fun.
I am also more experimental and enjoy messing around with home built antennas. FT8 is a great way to check antenna coverage for me. What "put you off for life" ? I would be interested to know if you don't mind my asking.@@gbamck
Same filing. Nicely done 10min.
Excellent video. Great quality great useable and demonstrable information presented concisely. I’ve been having fun with those radios for a few months now. Cheers
I enjoyed your video production. Very professional! I look forward to more of your work.
Fantastic video! So many amateur radio channels I've watched tend to shy away from modern tech, and won't cover very cool geeky things like exploring firmware mods etc. I look forward to more great content like this from you 😁
Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed your video! It gave me a taste of all the possibilities of this small radio. The messaging function is very appealing, as is the spectrum analysis. I had no idea you could do so much with these units!
Really cool video 😊👌🏻
Have 2 of these and the firmwares just keep coming!
You’re absolutely right about these mesh and off grid capabilities bringing more people to amateur radio.
Yes, agreed. The hobby really needs something more interesting, technical, challenging AND rewarding than FT8 😉
@@gbamck 😂
Your videos always teach me something new, thank you! About to look into the amateur radio license.
th-cam.com/video/2nkSZd_UKIg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=HfD-sdiOWQ7rLy71
I got my amateur license years ago and have finally started to get back into the hobby. Great video!
Me too !
Gaining an amateur radio licence is just the beginning. I’ve had mine nearly 40 years and I’m still learning, lifelong. Great video! 73s
Please more content like this - very enjoyable to watch.
Just ordered 4 of these for myself and family..now we got to figure out how to use them! ..going to get license and see where that goes..great vid thanks!
Great intro to this radio and the hobby!
Great video!! II dig everything about your content from topics to editing. Whole video felt like i was watching The Matrix
i feel like i need one of these radios now... hahaha
Tinkering with various firmwares and software like nicsure has produced (PC docking) is worth the miniscule price for me. Airband reception much improved with the ezgumer firmware. Good overview!
Be carefull with the usb charging only, it wont stop charging when the battery is fully charged, if you charge this way then time the charging or you will degrade the battery.
The AM on custom firmware has been fixed, it's a fantastic piece of kit.
Oh that is unfortunate, but important information.
I have this little radio for playing around and it is just great. what the display shows with the egzumer firmware is just awesome. also I am currently learning for my license mainly via an online course on YT and it is all very interesting and fascinating, definitely worth doing it if you are interested in all this and want to be able to transmit with your own sign.
You forgot the link of the online course on YT. Link ?
Very nice edited video-expression. Perfact narration. Thanks. I got 2 of them. 2024.
Excellent video ! I like the educational aspect too. We need to encourage more young people into the communications area. I hope that PMR446 might be an entry into this aswell as general shortwave listening. You mentioned "detect the frequency of nearby strong signal". I would be interested to know more about this.
If you hold button 4 labeled "FC" (it's called frequency copy in the manual but I think it should be frequency counter) it will scan for strong signals. If you transmit on another radio nearby, it will find the frequency and if any ctcss/dcs tone is used it will find that too. Not sure what the range is. You can then hit the M button to save that frequency.
Oh my goodness that is a really useful function which I had no idea about. Thank you 1@@sn0ren
BTW is that using the factoy stock firmware or using Egzumer ?@@sn0ren
Both, it's included in the stock firmware. Although you will need to press F and then 4 to use it.
I fully agree with your comment, especially the first part. Don't know if I'm still consindered young with 26 but I am REALLY into radio. Currently just on CB, mostly running digimodes and experimenting with different antennas but besides that I'm also learning for the HAM exam to (hopefully soon) get my HAM radio license.
just went and watched all your videos! great quality and rly entertaining, pls make more :)
Love your editing and the look n feel of b roll and demo stuff. Behind the scenes and studio/workshop video some day?
Perhaps 😀
Wow I just ordered the uvk5 for this firmware but this killer app takes it up another notch!
I love radio of all shape and size, I should get a ham radio license.
You should!
finally a cool video about Ham radio ... well done 👏, M0IVI
Best video for this radio that i've found.
Great video, and great production! And thanks for promoting amateur radio!
Nice video ! And yes, I love my quansheng(s) :D
Great video something else I can experiment with if my UV-K5(8) ever gets here... Subscribed and liked!
Mine took about 10 business days from China.
Super video! Thanks.
Good job on explaining amateur radio. Short and to the point! :)
Fantastic video!
Loved your video!
This is the most informative explanation of this radio I have seen. I have the UV-K5 and it is as it arrived.
The best $35 aust I have ever spent. My favourite radio.
VK3KZ 73,s
This is pretty slick. I’ll be buying a few of these radios to mod
I got my drivers license and still bike 95% of the time but you have convinced me to get my amateur license
th-cam.com/video/2nkSZd_UKIg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=HfD-sdiOWQ7rLy71
Now that I have it I'm finding the miniscule letters impossible to read and I'm looking through 2.5+ bifocals. Why aren't they similar in size to the letters in the "Messenger" header?
Beautiful Video!
amazing videos man ! keep em coming. btw would this messanging app work if have another baofeng and this exact radio you have?
It only works with other quansheng radios that have the same firmware installed. Not a baofeng.
Do you know what kind of digital encoding the radio uses for messaging?
yes, your channel is very professional
Fedt nok søren og wow en del visninger du har fået på den Tillykke
som du moske ved så prøver jeg på dansk jeg har godt nok ikke fået det helt vilde ud af det i nu men jeg prøver stadig 😀
I understand that the modulation is AFSK, what is the protocol however? POCSAG?
Does anyone know if there is some type of manual for the JOAQUIMORG firmware available online?
Do you know if its possible to hack a UV-K5(8) to use an external keyboard (while out in the field not the computer dock) for the messaging function? Bluetooth to phone, K pin to mini keyboard, etc? Would be a big improvement over the current T9 input. Thanks for the very informative videos!
There is currently in development a custom firmware, that allows controlling the device through the USB programming cable and a custom piece of software called QuanshengDock. Since it's possible to do that, it shouldn't be too much of a stretch to imagine a combination of software and firmware, that would turn the radio into a software controlled modem - and possibly a phone app and otg connection. Someone just have to make it ;) So no, it's not possible at the moment as far as I'm aware.
now if someone could figure out a way to shoehorn meshtastic in this that would be amazing
Oh yeah ! Great idea ! Plus M79 of course...
How is the range of this messaging mode compared to regular voice mode ?
thank you bin file worked great many thanks
What's the name of the soundtrack at the end?
The most compelling explanation on why to get an amateur radio license I have ever heard, well done! It's a no brainer for anyone with an interest in exploring new and fun communication possibilities.
The Detail is great , figuring out anything from Shortcuts , and to the very clever , amazingly (fact) 2 guys ,well one for definite , 1 guy who ain't even interested in Ham Radio , I'm talking about the SU who on GitHub wrote the hack and I'm pretty sure Retevis/Quansheng CEOs ain't moaning about ,but ain't exactly sent him 1% of sales lol, he'd definitely be in emergency Tax if so , .But the irony of this is where you said detail ,,The Devil sadly is in it , not so much across the pond , US Ham Radio is fun , it's not a Feeling you've been "Mickey Finned"like here in Britain , I think I'm not alone here when I say, in 28 years of being licensed ,1996, Windows had got my attention , and how unless you are established as either a popular repeater user to the fastest CW Keyer it takes years to feel you belong .Hierarchy has never gone away , and I love it when a new mode is being moaned about , a bit like "Local Shop" in Royston Vasey ,,"Hello Hello what's all this posting , we'll have no Quansheng here, this is a local hobby for local people , strangers doing devil's work on radios that cost less than my PL259 aren't welcome ere 😂,,this little radio could after years be on the way to an infamous change in the pricing of radios that we used to buy over 3 years at 50 quid a month ..I'd welcome the Harmonics being addressed soon ,apart from that * which lets face it , I'd pay Twelvty pounds 😂more on top of this radio that's the price of 2 Beers,,, Love it ....
Novice license is multiple choice that a dice throw can pass 1/4 of the time
th-cam.com/video/2nkSZd_UKIg/w-d-xo.html
The trans SONG at last part 😂🎉❤ Is fkn Awesome 😅
Mindblown!
Can you use analog FM repeaters to extend the messaging functions range?
Technically I suppose so but I think the other users of the repeater would be a little annoyed 😅
Hello from the Philippines, thank you for your very informative video 😊 one question though, what best external/aerial antenna you would recommend. TIA
Get a good Nagoya or Diamond 2m/70cm
Do you know of a way to turn off the second radio so that only A is in operation and the display also does not show the channel that B is on ? I get confused, especially when using a headset with the radio in my pocket.
You can set RxMode in the menu to "Main only" - then it only listens to the currently selected channel.
Am using the stock firmware. Main menu on the radio plus also in the CPS and Chirp software do not have an entry called "RxMode". Am I looking in the wrong place ?@@sn0ren
Ah I thought you we're using egzumer/joaquim. Not sure if it's possible on stock firmware.
Look like it is not. I will be installing Egzumer as soon as my second radio arrives ! Thanks for all your help 🙂@@sn0ren
I would like if Quanheng would make CB radios with hardware made for CB radio frequencies and with hackable firmware
Firmware I use at the moment allows me listen from 10 mhz up to 1300 mhz and ssb mode too
yeah it's pretty good. I tried the IJV one but i'm only starting to get used with the egzumer one, also no spectrum analyzer yet which is a pretty neat stuff to scan a large range of frequencies.
@@SilverSpoon_ I can hear China International Radio on 17.650 and a lot on 27 MHz. I would like if Quansheng would make cheap and hackable CB radios
Great tutorial. Any idea why I am getting "WARNING: CRC CHECK FAILED! FIRMWARE NOT VALID!" on Egzumer web updater when I attempt to use this firmware?
Figured it out. Downloaded wrong file.
Amazing that the Quansheng UVK5 radio is only US $18 on aliexpress. Great channel BTW !
Thanks, I really enjoy your content too 🙏
Still too high. They were about $10 max most of last year
Is there any way of encrypting the message, I assume everyone in range with the same software will read your messages?
Take a look at the NuNu firmware from kamilsss that I’ve linked in the description. It features message encryption.
Thanks 👍
Great presentation 2E0UKH
I wonder if there is a way to use an SDR to decode the text transmissions from this radio?
That shouldn’t be too difficult as it is a regular AFSK encoded message. However I just saw another firmware which has built in encryption as well!
@@sn0ren Interesting! I'm looking forward to hearing more about that FW as well :)
@@sn0renAFSK is the modulation, I wonder what the modulation is?
I am very interested in what the firmware is with encryption, can you please share?
2 Questions - is the FM Radio deactivated on this version ? If not how do I get there? Is the flashlight deactivated? I can not switch it on.
Fm radio and flashlight is deactivated on this version. If you need it you will have to compile it yourself with those enabled.
@@sn0ren thanks. Not necessary- the messenger and spectrum analyser are more superior functions and I still have old boafengs and a better flash light. 🫣
Can you do a tutorial on flashing kamilsss655 onto this radio?
I just received my 2nd radio today. I tried the test messaging and it does work, however, I don't get the little + sign indicating that the message was received, even though I verified it is being received. Is there a setting in the menu that I need to change to enable this?
Well, I solved my own problem :) I was using v0.3.1 firmware, I had to go back to v0.3.0 on both radios, then it worked.
Glad to hear you made it work! 🙏
Does the current joaquim firmware disable fm? V3.5?
I haven’t tested it but probably. If you want fm and even better messaging check out kamilsss firmware I’ve linked in the description.
@sn0ren oh im sorry i should have read that before commenting lol. Wish i woildve flashed that before coming to work 😂 looks like its a am day today.
Sweeet! 🎉
FTDI with Kenwood K1 plug for USB programming, I hope. Saved mine even though I sold all my Baofengs.
I read that the FM radio is disabled in this firmware, but can I still receive FM stations if I just imput the frequency? For example 093.300mhz?
No. The modulation width of the commercial FM broadcast stations is far wider than the regular narrow fm used for communication. So the signal would sound very distorted if you tried to just tune to the frequency. There is a completely different receiving circuit used specifically for the broadcast FM stations. You could however try and compile the firmware by yourself and enable the feature if you want it.
@@sn0ren I have no idea how to even come close to that 🥺, but I think the FM radio function is pretty important in some sort of disaster, good source for information..and the radio can run even without a battery from the USB-C plug.
Can you please make a guide on this firmware?
What's the difference between the compatible radios? K5 or K6?
They are nearly identical, although the k6 has an amber screen backlight (k5 has a white/blue screen backlight) and k6 has a better speaker. And the outer casing looks a bit different.
I love the software. but my radio ( fm F 0 ) mode do not work anymore. Bug or feature?
The FM radio mode has been disabled in this firmware, you need to compile it yourself to enable it.
@@sn0ren any tutorial for such?
Nice video! Best 73 from Germany. DK2PK
Thank you very much for your nice presentation. I'm a beginner of licensed ham, so could you show me how to install the firmware of messaging communication. I am using UV-K5(8) with EGZUMER v.0.21 Thank you in advance.
Download this file: github.com/joaquimorg/uv-k5-firmware-custom/blob/main/firmware/cfw_joaquimorg_oefw_V0.3.1.packed.bin
Use this flasher to install it: egzumer.github.io/uvtools/
There has to be a connection to get the docker to working with firmware so you can type on a computer and communicate to a distant radio using the same configuration. This technology is advancing so fast!
The developer of this firmware seem to have already included docker support!
What laptop is that around 0:29?
It’s an old thinkpad x201
Where can I get the Joaquim firmware from?
You can get it from this link, but I recommend the kamilsss NuNu firmware (there is a link in the description) because it's better than joaquims. github.com/joaquimorg/uv-k5-firmware-custom
@sn0ren oh ok. Where can I get that one from. I just wanted the full frequency range and the sms feature.
@@Wittez-ej2iy There is a link in the description
Cool add-on would be an app for a smartphone to send/receive messenges from it😅
21.000Mhz broadcasting reception rate, IJV 2.9R1 = -98 ,this is -118. ijv 2.9R1 is more capable of receiving.But I chose this because of the more powerful messenger function
This will be tweakable im eeprom settings that are not totally understood yet
I can't seem to figure out how to compile my firmware. Does anyone know of a good tutorial on how to do this?
There are precompiled binaries in the firmware folder on the github
While I am really liking the JOAQUIMORG firmware, it does have one major drawback, once it is installed the radio can no longer be programmed via CHIRP. If anyone has found a workaround to this I would love to hear how!
I’m using the egzumer custom version of chirp and it works 90% on joaquim
Interesting. I tried the egzumer version (linked in description) and CHIRP would not read from the radio. I get the error "Firmware JAOQUIM V0.3.4 not supported.@@sn0ren
I downloaded the egzumer CHIRP program linked in the description, unfortunately when I try to read from the radio I get an error that says "Jaoquimorg firmware V0.3.4 not supported". Am I missing something? Thanks@@sn0ren
Oh maybe something has changed since I tried it. I haven't tried using CHIRP since the initial setup.
It would be nice to have a GMRS version of this radio, with this same messaging capability firmware.
Program all the gmrs channels and thats it, but you must get the license
I have GMRS on both of mine and the messaging works there as well as VHF and UHF. My disappointment is with the miniscule text being hard to read. Oh well, maybe Joaquim will improve that. I've put in a request to him on github.
was wondering when someone might attempt to do a messaging with this radio.... Wouldn't that be something if you could do APRS from an HT for well under $40.00 ....
APRS is one of my favourite things about amateur radio and unfortunately not many radios have a great implementation of it. I fear the firmware memory size is too limited on this radio to implement it, but I would gladly loose a bunch of the other features, spectrum analyser included, to gain APRS.
Subbed.
73 from VE4 land
Seems obvious but when will we get a radio with a companion app from your phone via bluetooth. Bypassing T9 on the handset.
need external hardware since it's doesn't have Bluetooth hardware
@mikhailsimon9027 yea thats what I mean. Bluetooth addition seems obtainable here..
I just want to see one that has a good proper superheterodyne receiver. But yeah I’m only 19 and already becoming a radio hoarder. I have 5 Motorola CDMs (2 in a repeater), 2 cheap Chinese mobile radios, a good part 90 DMR mobile radio, and 4 HTs. I’ve just started a 2 way radio business and am looking for customers.
👍
Egzumer is very good...!
After trying to get the bin file to load on the egzumer browser flasher it only loads his v.21. Did you actually verify that your suggestion would work, or just guess that it would? If you actually know the procedure, then why wouldn't you post or video how easy it is. I'm quite disappointed after hours of failure.
Download the file name cfw_joaquimorg_oefw_V0.3.1.packed.bin from github.com/joaquimorg/uv-k5-firmware-custom/tree/main/firmware
and use this flasher to install it (click the browse button to select the bin file you downloaded) egzumer.github.io/uvtools/
I've tried it several times, so I know it works.
Thank you. It worked.
@@sn0ren Hi, thank you for the details. When I select the firmware on the flasher-website, I got an error: "WARNING: CRC CHECK FAILED! FIRMWARE NOT VALID!
Make sure to choose a flashable bin file. Error while loading firmware, check log above or developer console for details."
Doesn´t matter which firmware-file bin I try to use. Do you have an idea ?
Sounds like the file didn't download correctly or that you've clicked on the wrong file. Maybe you have some antivirus software that's preventing you from downloading it?
You have been right. I had to download the hole project as a zip-file and extract the .bin file. Just download die file from the link, did not work for me.
Those clever mothers.
It is actually way more difficult to get a ham radio license in my country that a car license. More than double, as you get similar amount of questions, but you get to make half of the mistakes than for driving stuff. Also there are no courses here and there are no literature to learn, which is a bummer of massive proportions, as now my wife wants to get for emergency prep, and she is not a radio person at all (loved to do the contacts though, the instructor we hired enetered her into a contest).
Very hard sometimes for people bad with english, she is having way harder time than me and this is for category B, A category exam is no easy stuff even for me, comming from engineering background, as the not updated questions there and many you just have to remember by heart type of stuff (for example band frequencies exactly , with very similar a b c variants) or convoluted rules questions that try to confuse yoi with wording, confuse themselves and you have to select obviously wrong answer
I have found that with the joaquimorg firmware the entire 2 meter band is not usable via the VFO. The firmware thinks that it is in AM and thus will not let you transmit. Seems like a pretty big bug. Even after unlocking the frequencies in the "secret menu" the radio still thinks 2M is AM and will not transmit. Frustrating because the rest of the firmware is great.
Interesting. I don’t seem to have this issue on the version 0.3.1. Haven’t tried the newer versions yet.
Strange, i just flashed the v0.3.1 and had the same issue. Huh@@sn0ren
Can you not just change the modulation in the menu? I’ve bound one of the side buttons to toggle between the modulations.
I have two of them... 😊
I'm just waiting for an external keyboard mod for this firmware now
Is isn't that what the new dock software does? I've been seeing it all over TH-cam with radio plugged into computer
Please make more ham videos!
Frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) and wide spectrum data transfer would be awesome features
what is a waydio?
A wery cool waydio. Weally!
Amateur means "the one who loves".
Radioamateur loves radio related themes.
It is not an hobby.
It is a techno-cientific non comercial activity.
It provides an advancement in radio technical aspects.
An hobby would not get bandwith worth billions from the Countries.
Do the models matter at all? I can buy either one based here in Thailand. All available. Around $20 bucks i want buy a pair and have fun with my son.
The UV-K5 has a slightly worse speaker and a white/blueish screen and a slightly different design. But otherwise they are identical.
Thanks. Ill get the UV 6 @sn0ren