Manual programming of the Wouxun Handy Talkies (HT’s) can be confusing. This is a simplified procedure to manually program the HT.

Overview;
To program the Wouxun HT you must understand that you must program the numerical information (the Channel – Frequency – Freq. Offset & direction – tones) in the Menu 21 “Frequency” mode and then save it, you then change the mode of menu 21 to “name” mode and then enter the (Repeater’s Name) and save it.
Notes: when you are programming the HT in menu modes you have approximately a 4 second time window to make a change, if change is not made in that time window, the HT times out and you will have to re-do the entry, usually by pushing the red “menu” button twice takes you back to where you timed out. You may also use the Frequency knob nearest to the antenna, in place of the arrow up/down to change the parameters once in the programming mode.
Procedure;
First thing is to have the programming data avaiable. I would suggest make a programming sheet that has the following programming data.
1. Frequency in 6 digits (XXX.XXX)
2. PL / CTCSS Tone frequencies (if used)
3. Repeater frequency offset and direction (if used).
4. Name of the programmed frequency in 6 characters or less (repeater name etc.)
5. Assignment of the the Wouxun memory position number for the display.
Power on the HT and press the green “TDR” button. Press the red “Menu” button and then the 1 (menu 1), then the red “Menu” button again, using the arrow up/down until “STEP” “5.00” is indicated on display, then press red “menu” button to save it.

Menu 21 (frequency mode) Press the red “Menu” button and then the 2 and 1 (menu 21), then the red “Menu” button, press the arrow up/down until “FREQ” is indicated on display, then press red “menu” button to save it and then the “Exit” button (you should have a upper display with a frequency number on it (XXX.XXX). Using the HT’s key pad input the desired “repeaters” frequency using all six digits (XXX.XXX) and verify on the display.

Menu 16 (PL Tone mode) Press the red “Menu” button and then the 1 and 6 (menu 16), then the red “Menu” button, using the arrow up or down buttons until “the desired tone freq” is indicated on display, then press red “menu” button to save it.
If you are using CTSS, tone encoded squelch, repeat the tone mode above, using menu 15 in place of menu 16.

Menu 24 (Frequency offset DIRECTION) Press the red “Menu” button and then the 2 and 4 (menu 24), then the red “Menu” button, using the HTs key pad to enter the repeaters frequency offset direction “SHF-D”(+ / – / off), then press red “menu” button to save. The display should now display the offset direction.

Menu 23 (Frequency offset) Press the red “Menu” button and then the 2 and 3 (menu 23), then the red “Menu” button, using the key pad enter the repeaters frequency offset, then press red “menu” button. The display should now display the offset frequency (XX.XXX).

Menu 27 (Saving (MEM-CH)) This saves your entered data, Press the red “Menu” button and then the 2 and 7 (menu 27), press the red “menu” button, then using the UP/Down arrow buttons select the memory number you would like to save the data in, and once selected push the red “menu” button to save. NOTE: If the numbered memory location is used the “CH-“XX is displayed and if you push the red “menu” button you will over write that channel. If there is only the memory number displayed (NOT the “CH-“), that memory location is unused and available for storage.

Menu 21 (NAME mode) Press the red “Menu” button and then the 2 and 1 (menu 21), then the red “Menu” button, press the arrow up or down until “NAME” is indicated on display, then press red “menu” button. After 5 seconds, the display should now display a six digit name (CH-XXX).

Menu 26 (Channel Name) Press the red “Menu” button and then the 2 and 6 (menu 26), then the red “Menu” button, for this function you use the channel/frequency KNOB, nearest the HTs antenna. When the knob is rotated clockwise (CW) the digits advance (A-Z and 0-9) and then repeat, then you rotate the knob counter clockwise (CCW) the “space” advances. If you over advance, it will wrap around. Once you have the name spelled out, you must quickly save it (4 second time out) or you will loose it.
The above is for repeater setup, for simplex operation the menu 24, 16 & 15 =”OFF”, Menu 23 = “00.000”.

The basic procedures for manually making programming changes to handheld radios.

Let’s start in alphabetical order. First the BaoFeng:

The first thing you must know is what menu items you wish to program.

Let’s say we want to set up to communicate through a new repeater that our radio is not currently set up to use. In this example, we are going to use frequency 146.985 as our repeater frequency with a minus offset of 600KHz, a 100Hz tone utilizing all 4 watts the handheld is capable of and store the entry into an empty channel. For our purposes, we will assume that channel 10 is empty.

The menu options we will be using are as follows:

MENU 2: Transmit Power

MENU 5: Wideband/Narrowband

MENU 13: CTCSS Transmit

MENU 25: Direction of Frequency Shift

MENU 26: Offset (Frequency Shift in MHz) 600KHz would be .600MHz

MENU 27: Memory Channel Programming

Okay, with all of that information, how do we begin? The first thing we need to do after we turn our radio on is to note whether we are in Frequency or Channel mode. If you have your radio set to provide voice prompts, it will tell you when you turn the radio on, or when you press the [V/M] button. That is the little orange button (color may vary depending precise model) on the face of the radio.

If you are in channel mode, press the [V/M] button to change to Frequency mode. Next, make sure A entry has the little triangle to the left of it. If the bottom or B entry has the little triangle, press the [A/B] button so the triangle is to the left of the top entry. Now on the keypad press all six digits of the frequency we want to work with. In our example that is 146.985, so press [1]-[4]-[6]-[9]-[8]-[5]. You will hear the radio repeating each number. Now press the [MENU] button and then the [2] and then [MENU]. Press the up or down triangle buttons so the display shows HIGH. Press [MENU] to confirm. I am suggesting the high power setting because with our handhelds the choice is either LOW – 1 watt, or HIGH – 4 watts. The 4 watts will give us a better chance of communicating with a repeater. Although a lot will depend upon your antenna.

Next we want to set the bandwidth. In this example we are going to select WIDE. Press [MENU] button and then [5] and then [MENU]. Press the up or down triangles until WIDE is displayed. Press [MENU] to confirm. Press [MENU] and then press [EXIT].

Next we want to set the Transmit CTCSS, so press [MENU] and then [1]+[3] and [MENU]. Use the up or down triangles until 100 Hz is displayed and then press [MENU]. Press [MENU] and then press [EXIT].

Now we want to define the Direction of Frequency Shift

Press [MENU] then [2]+[5] and then [MENU]. The default if OFF, so press the up or down triangles until a minus sign [-] sign is displayed. Press [MENU] to confirm. Press [MENU] and then [EXIT].

Next we want to define the amount of the Frequency Shift. As noted above we want .600 MHz, which is the default, but lets make sure.

Press [MENU] and then [2}+[6] and then [MENU]. If the setting is correct then you can press [EXIT]. If the setting is not correct, simply use the keypad to enter the correct offset. It should display as 00.600. When correct, press [MENU] to confirm. Press [MENU] and then [EXIT].

Now our final step is to store this new information in an unused channel. If you remember, we are using channel 010 as our unused channel.

Press[ MENU] and then [2]+[7] and then [MENU]. Press [MENU] and [Exit]. This stores the receive frequency. The radio will prompt that the receive frequency has been stored.

Enter [1]+[4]+[6]+[3]+[8]+[5], which is the transmit frequency.

Press MENU and then [2]+[7]+[MENU]+[MENU]+[EXIT] The radio will respond that the Transmit Frequency has been stored.

Okay, I know that seems like a lot of trouble and you are right. Setting up your channels through a computer interface is so much easier, but it is important to have a least a basic understanding the manual programming process if we need to make some kind of change on the fly.

Just remember, once a channel is programmed, it cannot be changed, except by deleting it and re-creating it. Please see my previous post on the Difference between Frequency and Channel mode for more information.

What is the difference between Frequency Mode and Channel Mode?

The important difference for those of us using handy talkies to remember is that whatever is loaded in a channel is basically unchangeable. To change something loaded in a channel, you must delete that channel and reload it with the changes you want.

Now at first blush, this seems overly cumbersome, but wait, there is a benefit to this. Let’s say we have our SVLARC repeater properly programmed into a channel, but we want to talk to someone on that frequency in simplex mode. In other words, we want to use the frequency without an offsett or tone. We certainly would not want to change our correctly programmed channel to do this.

There are basically two ways to achieve the desired result. First, we could create a new channel entry either by manual entry or programmed entry through a computer interface that would have the frequency we want to use in simplex. In other words, the frequency would be stored in an available channel without the offset and tone. For example, if my channel 112 contained the frequency, offset and tone data to reach the repeater, one might set up channel 012 (just an example) with the same frequency with no offset or tone for simplex operation. By using a one hundred series number for the regular operation through the repeater and the zero starting channel number it would be fairly easy to remember which channel to switch to for simplex operation. Another good way is to assign channels in a consequtive fashion. For example, you might have the frequency with offset and tone assigned to channel 112, while the simplex frequency with no offset or tone could be assigned to channel 113. That way you could simply move up or down one channel to achieve the desired result. When using this method, you would probably want to use a slightly different name that would allow you to easily see whether this was simplex or duplex.

So we discussed two options above for having two channels for the same frequency that would allow us to use both simplex and duplex. What if you do not want to take up a second channel, or maybe your channels are full? Well, let’s talk about that little button (usually orange or yellow) that is labeled V/M). It stands for VFO or Memory mode, or more commonly Frequency or Channel mode. Press that little button to put your radio in Frequency mode. Select the desired frequency, then using your menu button, you can set the offset and tone settings to off. In frequency mode, these new settings will be remembered by your radio while all the original settings will be retained in the channel mode. At some future time, if you are talking over the repeater in channel mode, but you want to go to that frequency and talk using simplex, you would simply select Frequency mode. Enter the frequency and you are ready to talk in simplex.

Come back for my next article where I will discuss the basic procedure for maually changing settings in your handheld radios.

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