This is a very useful thread, thanks to all for sharing their expertise.
Thanks man.
Question on setting up local repeaters on the Baofeng using Chirp.
What I want to do is use a list of frequencies set up for Chirp in a spreadsheet format/csv file, and add 10 or so local repeaters to that list.
Ref images #1, #2: These are part of a "SHTF" .csv frequency file set up for import into the Baofeng with 99 channels covering FRS through HAM, Marine, Weather etc, from this site
https://radiofreeq.wordpress.com/2015/01/22/survival-channels-for-baofeng-programming-shtf-ham-frs-pmr-gmrs-murs-marine-weather-business/
It includes info on doing the Chirp import, which is also explained in more detail here
http://www.miklor.com/COM/UV_CHIRP.php
Ref image #3: This is the data provided at the "Repeater Book" site which appears an excellent database of local repeaters. If I lived in Salem AL I would use this info to access the repeaters.
From here
https://www.repeaterbook.com/repeaters/location_search.php?state_id=01&type=city&loc=Salem
Problem: The Repeater Book data in the third image is much more limited than what is used in the .csv file to import using Chirp.
I understand that I have to manually set Location in Column #1 and give a Name in Column #2, but do I need to know the other stuff in order to set up a repeater from the Repeater Book data?
Follow up question: That SHTF frequency list is from 2013 and appears in a lot of places on the Web. Are there any other good lists of basic frequencies to program into an HT?
Ok well that is good to know, anon.
I did buy the $20 USB cable which as you know approaches the prices of the lowest price Baofeng HT, but I had read that Chirp was far superior to any of the factory-supplied software so planned to use that instead of what comes with the radios.
Thanks for the advice.