On Sun, Sep 23, 2018 at 4:24 PM, Peter ptlambert@sbcglobal.net wrote:
Some BaoFeng radios include a "6+Power-On Message" which can be displayed by holding down the 6 key while powering on the radio. These message strings are stored in "6+Power-On Message" lines 1 & 2 as displayed by CHIRP in "Settings" > "Other Settings".
Line 1 of the "6+Power-On Message" is apparently included (in parentheses) in the filenames of some of the CHIRP recovery images maintained at Jim's site, here:
http://kc9hi.dyndns.org/uv5r/programming/CHIRPrecovery/
For example, "N82-33 US2S35(150602N)(factory).img" includes "(150602N)" in the filename.
I started including this "date" in the file name when I realized that in some cases there were different "dates" associated to the same firmware version. I always recommend using the matching "date" when both are available.
I believe this image applies to the BaoFeng UV-82HP, and one of these units I own did include "150602N" in line 1 of the "6+Power-On Message". I say "did" because apparently this string is cleared by resetting the radio to factory defaults via MENU > 40 > RESET
ALL.
I don't think this is true. The [6] key + power-on messages are stored in "aux" memory. I have never seen a "RESET" affect anything "aux" memory (welcome message, 6+power-on message, band limits, etc.).
They will only be blank if they came from the factory that way or someone uploaded a CHIRP image where they were set to be blank.
Anyway, these strings look suspiciously like manufacturing date codes. For example, 150602N would decode to 2015-06-02, which is just a few months before the "Last modified" file date of 12-Oct-2015 (as displayed in the CHIRP recovery image listing in the web browser).
Yes they do. I've always considered them as being some sort of date code ever since I got my first UV-5R back in early 2012.
As far as I can tell, for *all* of the files in the CHIRP recovery images directory which include such a string , that string decodes to a date that is a few days to a few months prior to the "Last modified" date. And in no case does any such string decode to a date that is later than the "Last modified" date.
Can anyone confirm that these strings do indeed represent manufacturing date codes?
Yes. BaoFeng (the radio manufacturer in China) could.
Also, does anyone have a radio that still displays this "6+Power-On Message" after resetting the radio to factory defaults?
Every one of mine. Just to be sure, I just performed firmware RESET my UV-82 and the 6+Power-On message was not affected.
Thanks...
(Peter)
Jim KC9HI