Lol I am NOT good at programming but I do have a Baofeng and a Quansheng. They're both running custom firmware but despite a selection of antennae, I still struggle to pick up anything of any interest.
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I’ve used this both at home and in the mountains. I’ve enjoyed listening to the various repeaters around here (public lands agencies, SAR ops, mining operations, backwoods prospectors on walkies, all kinds of things). Little kids with walkies are pretty damn funny most of the time
aug 26, 2025, 1:06 am • 2 0 • view
Antenna-wise, what do you use?
aug 26, 2025, 1:10 am • 1 0 • view
I mostly use an assortment of screw-in whip antennas
aug 26, 2025, 1:32 am • 0 0 • view
I’ve got an assortment, mainly because I live and recreate where line of sight and geology can make things weird. I was lucky enough to work with a guy who programmed radios for parks and forests. He tried to educate me well and I have not retained as much as I would like. I do want to be licensed
aug 26, 2025, 1:32 am • 1 0 • view
Kids on walkie talkies are always a hoot
aug 26, 2025, 1:12 am • 2 0 • view
They bring a spark of joy to my cold, dead heart.
aug 26, 2025, 1:27 am • 1 0 • view
Antennas attached to radios which are wired to power sources (vehicles) can be really impressive but I am not set up for anything like that now
aug 26, 2025, 1:36 am • 0 0 • view
I'm in DFW minutes from the airport, so tons of radio traffic. The SDS 100 picks up plenty of audio even with the antenna removed, but it seems like antennas for specific different frequencies still all pick up the same chatter. Haven't yet tested it away from all the civilization and concrete.
aug 26, 2025, 3:35 pm • 1 0 • view
The programmer I posted yesterday actually allows you to easily load aviation & railroad traffic pretty easily
aug 26, 2025, 8:24 pm • 0 0 • view
Have you come across folks using that on a Quansheng radio? The listing says it works for Quansheng, but I'd found some reddit ppl saying it didn't work for them.
aug 26, 2025, 8:50 pm • 0 0 • view
I think many people mistakenly pair Bluetooth thru their phone screen instead of first switching on airplane mode on their phone settings. It was frictionless for me each time I used it but I am big on following directions as stated
aug 26, 2025, 10:04 pm • 0 0 • view
Hehe, I'm a stickler, too 😁 Are you using third-party firmware on the radio or just whatever came with it?
aug 26, 2025, 10:12 pm • 0 0 • view
I use the firmware that was loaded when I unboxed the device. I have to say that the $14.99 price tag for this makes up for the admittedly clunky smartphone app. I wonder if folks with different versions of Android phones are more likely to have problems connecting 🤔
aug 26, 2025, 10:16 pm • 0 0 • view
Since I can't remember how I programmed the radios initially and hear barely anything with them, I'll give this a shot. Have you tried the Odmaster browser interface?
aug 26, 2025, 10:22 pm • 1 0 • view
I am somewhat surprised that searches for Baofeng and Quangsheng actually pulled up more than one post here on BlueSky
aug 26, 2025, 10:29 pm • 0 0 • view
I have not. There are a couple of reviews on Amazon that mention it (I think). I bought this purely because I needed something to try to simplify programming (especially in the field) because I haven’t had a laptop or desktop for years now.
aug 26, 2025, 10:25 pm • 1 0 • view
The Odmaster phone app lists the following models but I think as long as you verify compatibility using the most current list (below), you should be fine.
aug 26, 2025, 9:59 pm • 1 0 • view
I managed to find a plug & play programming module for my Baofeng.
aug 26, 2025, 1:02 am • 1 0 • view
TBH, my Baofeng has been packed away for 2 years. But I didn't want to unpack it and read about Quansheng firmware tweaks so I got a pair of those. Actually want to use them as walkies--with proper licensing, ofc 😉--but can't figure that out.
aug 26, 2025, 1:06 am • 1 0 • view
Ham radio is a nearly impenetrable world but I feel like getting a ham license and some solid understanding of radio hardware and protocols might become very important with the way our world is going. The lack of really solid English language instruction makes the relatively inexpensive hardware
aug 26, 2025, 1:10 am • 0 0 • view
That was the reason I got the Baofeng! But then the house flooded, stuff got packed away (and much has stayed packed).
aug 26, 2025, 1:12 am • 1 0 • view
Ahhhh. My house and my extended family members’ homes all flooded in Katrina and that was part of my desire to learn about ham radio. Here in Colorado there are actually clubs that meet and so forth. In the mountains you can always tell the ham vans (massive whip antennas mounted outside & ride low
aug 26, 2025, 1:25 am • 0 0 • view
because of all the equipment mounted inside.
aug 26, 2025, 1:26 am • 0 0 • view
a bit of a mindfuck though NGL
aug 26, 2025, 1:10 am • 0 0 • view