On Wed, Mar 9, 2016 at 12:40 AM, Larry Hook lhook0387@gmail.com wrote:
I read somewhere, to turn the radio off...then depress the 3 key and turn the radio on, and the firmware number will display in the radio's led display window. Anyway that's how I found my firmware number. It worked for me. Whether it is correct or not is yet to be determined.
And thanks for the link to the firmware .img files. I'm far from getting the radio programmed. I'll send you an email Jim and you'll see why.
W0NQF Larry
Powering the radio on with the [3] key pressed stopped being a method for determining the firmware of this style of Baofeng radio over 2 years ago with the release of BFB299 firmware. Powering on your radio with the [3] key depressed only accurately identifies the firmware version if it displays from BFB231 through BFB295.
All UV-5R radios (and variants) since BFB297 all masquerade as BFB297in this power-on message even though the "real" firmware version continues to change. The exception is BFS313 firmware which displays BFS297. I believe it is up to N5R240A now.
Using CHIRP is the only method that I know of that will allow you to determine the actual firmware version of these Baofeng radios.
Jim KC9HI