Baofeng not transmitting...

[Abbot]

So my baofeng was programmed and everything, and it worked fine the day it was programmed, but now, when I'm on the right channel, I can receive everything just fine but when I hold down the button, I don't transmit... Is it just that my radio is a lemon, is my button broken, is there something technically wrong with it? If so, what should I do?

[Legionnaire]

I was having the same problems with mine. Couldn't figure it out for the life of me. I just reset the whole thing and it worked perfectly again. There probably is a way of fixing it without the reset, but if your lazy like me, its a quick way to find out if your radio is a lemon.

[VooDoo]

Try plugging in a PTT and recheck it. There were several people having the same issue at Homeland and it ended up being the button. So see if it works with the PTT.

[Troubadour]

Try plugging in a PTT and recheck it. There were several people having the same issue at Homeland and it ended up being the button. So see if it works with the PTT.

Can confirm, I have this issue. A external source is needed for communication.

[Abbot]

I'll have to give it a go... If the handmic doesn't work, I'll reprogram it.

[Priest]

Does the radio by chance make a chiming noise when you transmit? I had the same issue when I was programming our radios at Homeland. I realzed I had a setting flipped by accident.

If that's the case you'll have to wipe all the channels and correct the setting. Then you will need to reprogram every channel. It sounds like a lot of work...but it really only takes maybe 15 minutes to do by hand. I'll check my radio after work and let you know the exact setting. I can't remember it off hand, but I'll know it when I see it.

[Zzan]

Baofengs have an a/b function.  It could be that when you transmit it is transmitting on the second channel.  Check the little arrows next to the frequencies and see if it switches when you press the transmit button.

[Beast]

It's a common problem with the Baofengs.  To fix it spray some WD40 in the plug-in holes. Then plug in the headset several times, as the pin that cuts off the internal mic tends to stick in when headsets are plugged in.  Work the lube in and it should start to work again.  I usually have to do it once a year on my Baofengs.