CHIRP

Your radios don't report and actual firmware version to CHIRP. And what it does report is not the same for each radio. When the firmware version is unknown and the "image" being uploaded is not from the same radio that it came from, the settings in the "Aux Memory" area are intentionally skipped by CHIRP. In other words you should not swap images between these radios. And if you do anyway, CHIRP avoids uploading any regions of memory that could cause unwanted side affects.

To change things stored in upper memory (such as band limits, squelch thresholds, welcome message, etc) you will have to download from one radio, make the wanted changes and upload back to the same radio. Then repeat the process for the other radio.

As far as the "FM preset not importing", Baofeng has began leaving the FM chip out of many of their models as a cost cutting/chip shortage measure. If the radio doesn't have the chip, then the radio isn't able to store the value that CHIRP sends to it. I would expect that is may be the issue. You can read about it "here":https://baofengtech.com/blog-why-isnt-my-baofeng-fm-radio-working/.

As far as the "can not transmit", the majority these radio are now shipping with the transmit locked to only the 2 meter (144-148 MHz) and 70 centimeter (420-450 MHz) Amateur Radio Service (aka "ham") bands. Any programmed frequencies outside of those ranges are RX only (TX disabled). This is usually mentioned in the vendor's listing (but it isn't always conspicuous).

You don't have any channels programmed frequencies that are within either of these 2 ranges. If you temporarily program in one of these frequencies (you have to be a licensed ham to use them), does it transmit?

Jim KC9HI

Jim Unroe wrote:

As far as the "can not transmit", the majority these radio are now shipping with the transmit locked to only the 2 meter (144-148 MHz) and 70 centimeter (420-450 MHz) Amateur Radio Service (aka "ham") bands. Any programmed frequencies outside of those ranges are RX only (TX disabled). This is usually mentioned in the vendor's listing (but it isn't always conspicuous).

You don't have any channels programmed frequencies that are within either of these 2 ranges. If you temporarily program in one of these frequencies (you have to be a licensed ham to use them), does it transmit?

Jim KC9HI

Jim, I programmed frequency 146.655000 with an -0.6000 offset on both radios manually and neither of the radios were able to transmit. The old radio was purchased back in 2016 whie the new one was purchased this month. But were from the same vendor.

Did you happen to save original "backup" images when you got the radio's? If yes, would you attach them to this issue as well?

Jim KC9HI

I do not have those original "backup" images. I wish I did as I would have been able to troubleshoot further with those. I didn't think I would need them since I have programmed over a dozen of these radios before and never had an issue.