Quansheng UV-K5 (6) Mods and programming
Updated: 3/3/2024

You should buy this radio it's totally insane, when you modify the software you can receive from 18MHz to 1.3GHz. 200 channels for UHF/VHF ham frequencies. It has a frequency counter, they call it "frequency copy" (F+4 on the keypad). You can program a default frequency by pressing F+9. Make sure you increase the mic gain to +12.0dB, Menu+31. Menu+33 allows Channel number, Name, and frequency to be displayed. You can create two scan lists programmable in Chirp or from the radio. It has a FM radio with scan and 20 programmable stations.
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Buy the radio here:
Aliexpress $20.66 with options or with no options $15.82. Need a programming cable?
I paid for it with PayPal and a credit card to protect myself.
Or...
Amazon search page.
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This page allows you to modify the radio for 18MHz to 1.3GHz, plus other options. You modify the radio straight from the web page using a Kenwood standard programming cable. Make sure the cable is "completely" installed in the radio, it requires an extra push. To mod the radio, press the PTT and turn on the radio, the light on the top of the turns on.

Read these help pages. It will help you a lot with the radio.
Read first! How to flash the radio with the /uv-k5-firmware-custom FM broadcast radio receiver
Radio-operation Menu locations and definitions
Radio operation, scan frequency range function Yes, it has a Spectrum-analyzer
Custom Button Functions
UV-K5 spectrum analyzer functions Go to this page and click the Help links at the bottom of the page. Helps you navigate the entire radio.
Learn how to use Frequency Copy (4 FC) and save it to a radio channel or VFO.

Update the firmware here/uv-k5-firmware-custom, release v0.21.
Watch this Youtube video for a review of the new Menu.
 

This was the old Mod.
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Instead of entering a scan channel one by one, you can do it with "Chirp Next."
At the bottom of the page it tells you how to tag the files for scanning.
Follow the instructions on this page.
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How To Add Channels In A Scanlist Using Chirp Next On A Quansheng UV-K5 (6).
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Do not use the Windows program after modifications it will disable the modifications.
This page has the Windows program and the manual in PDF.
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Buy 2- SMA Female to BNC Female
Buy 6 each $10.99 - 5%

 This antenna is for receive ONLY! Bingfu Police Radio Scanner Antenna 20-1300MHz 7 Section Telescopic BNC Male Antenna 2-Pack Ham Radio Handheld CB Radio Antenna for Uniden Whistler Police Radio Scanner Two Way Radio Frequency Counter, $11.99

Buy this antenna to transmit on 2m/440.
 $9.99 HYS Dual Band Telescopic/Rod Soft Antenna VHF/UHF BNC
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Observation, to date, Chirp will not write any frequency to the radio below 108.000 MHz.
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Read the FCC ID for the Quansheng UV-K5, Part 15 (Listen Only).
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Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) frequencies for LAFD CERT Members.

When adding "Out of normal limits" of frequencies, make sure you are on-line, Go to the help menu and click on "Load module from issue."

Then enter the number "10478" into the issue number box.

Click on OK.

Then load the current codeplug from the radio using "UV-K5 (modified firmware) nolimits".

Now, you can enter or paste frequencies that were out of range. i.e. copy the LAFD frequencies and paste into your current codeplug.
Save the codeplug to your computer and write the codeplug to your radio. After doing this you can load the codeplug into the radio without having to go through this process. Just use "UV-K5" as the radio.

Or, download this ZIP Chirp file that you can program directly into the radio after unzipping.

New: This Zip file contains LACOFire2024 LA RICS, VHF - Fire Ground Tac Configuration, LAFD, & TV For CERT.
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Enjoy!
Created by Bernard (kg6fbm at bflocks dot com)