Experimental Baofeng RD-5R version

ok1pt
Posts: 167
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2020 3:38 am

Re: USB cable does not install as COM port

Post by ok1pt » Wed Mar 17, 2021 4:32 pm

The firmware loader uses different protocol than CPS, so it doesn't want COM port, it's happy with HID device. So you can use tha cable which you have and if you start the radio in bootloader mode, it will find it and flash it. I'm using a separate flasher available for GD-77, possibly the same will work for BF-5R, but you can start the flash from CPS, it will work as well, even if CPS itself doesn't communicate.

VK3KYY
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Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: USB cable does not install as COM port

Post by VK3KYY » Wed Mar 17, 2021 8:42 pm

Firstly the model of radio (BF-5R) is not on the supported list.

Is it a Tier 2 DMR radio?

If it is the same as the DM-5R V2 or the RD-5R, but if it's the same as the original DM-5R ( version 1) then it won't work as that radio has different internal hardware, using the Tier 1 DMR chip ( HR-C4000 )

Assuming it is the Tier 2 version, sold under a different name, then the firmware loader in the CPS should install onto the radio without a driver being required.

However just because the CPS detects and uploads the firmware to the radio, does not guarantee the firmware is compatible with that radio

oh1fss
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon May 04, 2020 11:53 am

Re: USB cable does not install as COM port

Post by oh1fss » Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:47 pm

I have a Baofeng DM-5R PLUS. The original firmware displays BF-5R when starting. Some versions displayed RD-5R. Maybe this can even be changed via the original CPS?

To install OpenRD5R firmware, you have to boot the radio into firmware upload mode. That is, press the two buttons around PTT and power up. Then the radio appears as a HID device, not a COM port. You can then use the Baofeng firmware uploader or OpenGD77 firmware uploader to upload the OpenRD5R .sgl file to the radio.

After the firmware upload, power the radio down and then normally up. The radio should now appear as a COM port. Now you can use the OpenGD77 CPS to backup the calibration, flash, EEPROM and MCU of your radio. After that you can build a codeplug with OpenGD77 CPS and upload it to the radio.

In addition to the above mentioned tools there are Python scripts for firmware upload, backup and codeplug upload.

VK3KYY
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Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: USB cable does not install as COM port

Post by VK3KYY » Wed Mar 17, 2021 11:48 pm

oh1fss wrote:
Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:47 pm
I have a Baofeng DM-5R PLUS. The original firmware displays BF-5R when starting. Some versions displayed RD-5R. Maybe this can even be changed via the original CPS?

To install OpenRD5R firmware, you have to boot the radio into firmware upload mode. That is, press the two buttons around PTT and power up. Then the radio appears as a HID device, not a COM port. You can then use the Baofeng firmware uploader or OpenGD77 firmware uploader to upload the OpenRD5R .sgl file to the radio.

After the firmware upload, power the radio down and then normally up. The radio should now appear as a COM port. Now you can use the OpenGD77 CPS to backup the calibration, flash, EEPROM and MCU of your radio. After that you can build a codeplug with OpenGD77 CPS and upload it to the radio.

In addition to the above mentioned tools there are Python scripts for firmware upload, backup and codeplug upload.
Some DM-5R plus radios are actually the Tier 1 version.
I checked with someone who has an old DM-5R and it is not at all compatible with the OpenGD77 firmware. He tells me that the programming cable for his radio has a Prolific RS232 chip in it. Hence is RS232 only and its impossible to install the firmware onto the original DM-5R Plus.

However, it sounds like the radio that kc2ovx has is probably the new DM-5R which is the Tier 2 version, and may probably be compatible

VK3KYY
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Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Experimental Baofeng RD-5R version

Post by VK3KYY » Mon Apr 26, 2021 10:53 pm

uKK2Vebu wrote:
Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:05 am
I have similar frequency calibration problems with my RD-5R, but I presumed it was just bad calibration of my radio.

I don’t have an accurate freq counter. I think it’s resolution is only 1kHz , but I will try to compare the Tx freq on FM with the official firmware. I buy this module from marine equipment suppliers in UAE with few months vearty
Last edited by uKK2Vebu on Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
There was a bug fix to to resolve a calibration problem which I found on my DM-1801. But that fix was done several months ago

So if you are still experiencing a problem, the the calibration could be wrong in your radio.

1kHz counter resolution isn't really accurate enough. You need around 100Hz accuracy to be totally accurate.

To work out the correction offeset on my DM-1801, I had to make a special version of the firmware where the VFO step frequency was 1/100th of the displayed value, so I could then fairly easily keep stepping the frequency until my radio would communicate with my hotspot.

After I got the frequency to match the hotspot, I used a SDR dongle to visually look at the transmission frequency, and then adjusted the calibration data, to that the radio would be on that frequency without needing the offset I was applying to the VFO freq

W7ML
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Location: Los Angeles, CA USA

Re: Experimental Baofeng RD-5R version

Post by W7ML » Sun Jul 18, 2021 4:36 am

I am a RD5R user since 2018 and recently discovered the OpenGD77 discussion.

Is there a link to a primer on using it with the RD5R?

I notice that download links for the firmware and the CPS to GitHub no longer work; where do I download?

Thank you!

G4EML
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Re: Experimental Baofeng RD-5R version

Post by G4EML » Sun Jul 18, 2021 10:32 am

All downloads are now at www.opengd77.com/downloads

The user manual is here. https://github.com/LibreDMR/OpenGD77_UserGuide

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EA3BIL
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Re: Experimental Baofeng RD-5R version

Post by EA3BIL » Thu Jul 22, 2021 2:33 pm

MichaelLAX wrote:
Sun Jul 18, 2021 4:36 am
I am a RD5R user since 2018 and recently discovered the OpenGD77 discussion.

Is there a link to a primer on using it with the RD5R?

I notice that download links for the firmware and the CPS to GitHub no longer work; where do I download?

Thank you!

I suggest you to download and install the most recent CPS.
Once done, download the OpenGD binary file for your radio
Both them can by found at www.opengd77.com/downloads (as G4EML previously pointed...)

And.... Follow these directions:
https://www.opengd77.com/static/firmwar ... lation.php
Also available here:
http://opengd77.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1770


I hope this helps.

And... btw: Welcome to OpenGD !!


Enjoy and have fun...


NOTE:
Michael, it will be nice you to update your profile to show your CALLSIGN.
Thanks'

W7ML
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Re: Experimental Baofeng RD-5R version

Post by W7ML » Tue Aug 17, 2021 3:43 pm

Thank you for your generous reply; I did not receive email notification of it, so I am delayed in responding.
I posted my Amateur Radio and GMRS call signs, hopefully in the correct place.
Please advise me the main benefits of Open firmware other than Hotspots.
I have access to 3 DMR repeaters in my local area, so at this time, a Hotspot is not my priority.
But what other benefits would I glean from this Open Firmware?
Thank you

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EA3BIL
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Re: Experimental Baofeng RD-5R version

Post by EA3BIL » Tue Aug 17, 2021 4:02 pm

OpenGD firmware benefits are easy to sumarize:

It makes those walkies to change their performance and way to use them from professional to amateur way of doing.


Adjusting squelch, mic gain, swap between TSs, backlight level, key enter TG...
It's a really long list that makes target equiment to become hamradio friendly.

Obviously those benefits are sometimes dificult to evaluate if you haven't been "grapped" by original firmware.

I suggest you to have a calmy a long look to the manual available in here:
https://github.com/LibreDMR/OpenGD77_UserGuide/


I hope this information is usefull to all new users to evaluate OpenGD benefits vs original FW.


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