My UV-21R (cough) arrived today and I was able to connect and program it with Chirp and an FTDI cable. I'm using a Mac laptop but was also able to do this from a Windows virtual machine running on the Mac. I also have a UV-5R MK3X that I access via the Radioddity model of the same name. To connect to the UV-21R I used the Baofeng UV-17Pro (no gps). I first downloaded the programming from the UV-5R and copied it to the clip board. I closed that and downloaded the channels from the UV-21R (via the UV-17Pro profile) and overwrote all the channels with the clip board contents. It then uploaded just fine, and I was able to save the lineup to a .dat file. It properly recorded all the channel data including the ISS split channels in all the dopler-adjusted frequencies, and the 1.25 meter repeaters I have channels for. I used today's release of the Chirp software (11/27/23).
@@petter5721 Yes - it is performing fine. The antennas that came with it have better curves on my NanoVNA than what I got with the UV-5R and 3-band after-market antenna I got on Amazon.
I have several UV-5Rs and bought the UC-21R and bought it as much for the expanded accessories as the extended range. I plan to use it in home, rather than outside as the manuel states rain will damage it - also, Amazon says it is not waterproof as are the UV-5Rs. This UV-21 are good for auto or home - keep her dry.
Hiiiii😀 I have a set of UV-21 Pro V2. They have the black background screen. 1.8AH battery with USB C port on the battery. I have no idea what the transmit power is. Use T6UV software.
It has good reception and transmitting , great audio. I bought the UV 21R so how do you know if it has 1.25 band? All I see is 2meter and 70cm. Where do you find the 1.25 band?
Go to the vfo and dial in 223.500. Thats the 1.25 meter national calling frequency. Technically 1.25 meters is still vhf like 6 meters and I think even 10 meters. I have been able to get non “tri-band” uv5rs to go to 1.25 meter by changing the maximum frequency to 260 in chirp
With most budget level Baofeng's, they are pretty similar. The big difference in the two you mention are the UV-21's larger channel count, color screen and the UV-9's LCD screen and water resistance rating. If you're often outdoors and in or around water, the LCD screen will be easier to read and the UV-9s will survive dunks in the water. If not, the UV-21 is newer and has nice styling.
@@GadgetTalk4U I have Three Baofeng radio's. I've been licensed since 2016. And I have found out one interesting thing. If you test your Baufeng radios, on 146.000, either on a dummy load or a good antenna, you should see 1.0 SWR and full power, what ever that is for said radio. I have the TYT UV8000D 2m/70cm, 10 watt radio, and yes it is ten watts on 146.000. Try it. That's what I meant by what frequencies you where using.
I've just got one of these today, I'm a complete novice and I've somehow managed to give it a password and it won't let me get past that to do anything, it says voltage on start up, that was the only change I made not that I understood what it would do...help please, Tia 🙏🏽
Better is very personal. If having open source firmware and radio experimentation is important to you, then no. Otherwise it's mostly style and slight variantions in features. Cheers.
New Baofeng radios such as this one will not transmit in the UK on or above 480mh because they have been blocked by the manufacturer to comply with UK law.
You're showing the wattmeter but not showing what you're doing on the radio... 99% of us have no idea what you're talking about. I just want to simply use my radio so I look for videos showing me how, so I don't have to read a 100 page manual. I just want to know if I can use it to communicate with my friends on marine radios on channel 16
This question comes in many forms. When making a video, I have to assume the typical viewer has a certain amount of knowledge. In a video called going deeper, the assumed knowledge is higher. Otherwise, the videos would be very long and to many, very boring. It's likely you aren't in the target audience. To answer your questions, when measuring output, the radio must output a signal. Therefore, I'm pressing the press-to-talk button. Since this is a ham radio, not a marine radio, the short answer about talking to you friend on Marone Ch 16 is no. At least not legally. Ch 16 is not a chit chat channel, and like GMRS and other classes of radios, they must be FCC type accepted for that service. Cheers.
My UV-21R (cough) arrived today and I was able to connect and program it with Chirp and an FTDI cable. I'm using a Mac laptop but was also able to do this from a Windows virtual machine running on the Mac. I also have a UV-5R MK3X that I access via the Radioddity model of the same name. To connect to the UV-21R I used the Baofeng UV-17Pro (no gps). I first downloaded the programming from the UV-5R and copied it to the clip board. I closed that and downloaded the channels from the UV-21R (via the UV-17Pro profile) and overwrote all the channels with the clip board contents. It then uploaded just fine, and I was able to save the lineup to a .dat file. It properly recorded all the channel data including the ISS split channels in all the dopler-adjusted frequencies, and the 1.25 meter repeaters I have channels for. I used today's release of the Chirp software (11/27/23).
Are you happy with it?
@@petter5721 Yes - it is performing fine. The antennas that came with it have better curves on my NanoVNA than what I got with the UV-5R and 3-band after-market antenna I got on Amazon.
I confirm that the upgraded chip using the uv-17r pro does connect to the uv-21r
I have several UV-5Rs and bought the UC-21R and bought it as much for the expanded accessories as the extended range. I plan to use it in home, rather than outside as the manuel states rain will damage it - also, Amazon says it is not waterproof as are the UV-5Rs. This UV-21 are good for auto or home - keep her dry.
Yep, Ive noticed the same anomoly's. Especially the screen timeout you cant tell if its on or off..
can this model be unlock to allow more bands like the uv-5r?
I'm currently getting a uv 21r pro and it's coming with the Bluetooth microphone
Mine is a uv21 pro v2 and it was listed as a tri band
Hiiiii😀 I have a set of UV-21 Pro V2. They have the black background screen. 1.8AH battery with USB C port on the battery. I have no idea what the transmit power is. Use T6UV software.
It has good reception and transmitting , great audio. I bought the UV 21R so how do you know if it has 1.25 band? All I see is 2meter and 70cm. Where do you find the 1.25 band?
Go to the vfo and dial in 223.500. Thats the 1.25 meter national calling frequency. Technically 1.25 meters is still vhf like 6 meters and I think even 10 meters. I have been able to get non “tri-band” uv5rs to go to 1.25 meter by changing the maximum frequency to 260 in chirp
thank you for the information and advice
how does the 21r compare to the uv-9r pro? im new to ham this will be my first radio
With most budget level Baofeng's, they are pretty similar. The big difference in the two you mention are the UV-21's larger channel count, color screen and the UV-9's LCD screen and water resistance rating. If you're often outdoors and in or around water, the LCD screen will be easier to read and the UV-9s will survive dunks in the water. If not, the UV-21 is newer and has nice styling.
What frequencies did you test on?
Published band calling frequencies. Cheers
@@GadgetTalk4U I have Three Baofeng radio's. I've been licensed since 2016. And I have found out one interesting thing. If you test your Baufeng radios, on 146.000, either on a dummy load or a good antenna, you should see 1.0 SWR and full power, what ever that is for said radio. I have the TYT UV8000D 2m/70cm, 10 watt radio, and yes it is ten watts on 146.000. Try it. That's what I meant by what frequencies you where using.
I've just got one of these today, I'm a complete novice and I've somehow managed to give it a password and it won't let me get past that to do anything, it says voltage on start up, that was the only change I made not that I understood what it would do...help please, Tia 🙏🏽
Some have reported success with 000000 or 123456. If that works, carefully clear the PW in the CPS or menu item.
@@GadgetTalk4U thank you so much the zero's worked, now to clear it 🙏🏽☺️
is this better then the uv-k5
Better is very personal. If having open source firmware and radio experimentation is important to you, then no. Otherwise it's mostly style and slight variantions in features. Cheers.
@@GadgetTalk4U i like that look of the BAOFENG 5RM but you said its not good at all?
New Baofeng radios such as this one will not transmit in the UK on or above 480mh because they have been blocked by the manufacturer to comply with UK law.
Lots of overreach and communistic authoritarianism over there, such a shame when a gov't has no fear of the people. Stay well guy.
Any idea how to unlock it?
Mine does not transmit on freqs higher than 480 ghz
Many Baofeng radios don't unlock. Just curious, what above 480 do you plan to transmit on?
@@GadgetTalk4U I use this radios for airsoft... Here in Costa Rica the use of radio is not that regulated...
So under 520 GHz
please note : BaoFeng UV 21R comes in a BaoFeng UV 21 pro v2 - maybe thats the wider version?
Could be. Version control and naming is not one of Baofeng's strong points. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Hey when I get some money I'll join your community very good very good video very good video TH-cam❤
It this water proof?
IP54. Resistant, not proof. Cheers.
I can’t for the life of me figure out how to get it to scan the channels
Lower right button that looks like a z on it is the scan button. You might have to hit the menu button first
@@imillerthanyou Thank you sir!!
You're showing the wattmeter but not showing what you're doing on the radio... 99% of us have no idea what you're talking about.
I just want to simply use my radio so I look for videos showing me how, so I don't have to read a 100 page manual.
I just want to know if I can use it to communicate with my friends on marine radios on channel 16
This question comes in many forms. When making a video, I have to assume the typical viewer has a certain amount of knowledge. In a video called going deeper, the assumed knowledge is higher. Otherwise, the videos would be very long and to many, very boring. It's likely you aren't in the target audience. To answer your questions, when measuring output, the radio must output a signal. Therefore, I'm pressing the press-to-talk button. Since this is a ham radio, not a marine radio, the short answer about talking to you friend on Marone Ch 16 is no. At least not legally. Ch 16 is not a chit chat channel, and like GMRS and other classes of radios, they must be FCC type accepted for that service. Cheers.
My uv5r out talks $600 radios🤣👍🎙
Baofeng. Slap sum new plastics on it and call it a brand new modell ;)
It's actually not too bad. In the UK they kinda suck because they aren't allowed to transmit on or above 480mh so are blocked.
Thx & 73 de KK6IPR
@@rossradford5767 December 2013 for me. I just renewed until December 2033.