When I got the phone (9500 Pro), the "Intercom" was set to 400-470 Mhz (70 CM) range. I tried to enter a new frequency in the 146 Mhz range (2-meter), but was unsuccessful.  The pop-up would say "error - must be in the 400-470 M range."  How do you switch from (U) to (V) range (or 5.25 Ghz) to program 2-meter frequencies?  there is no indication in the included instructions and I have searched the menus with no success.  And yes, I am a licensed HAM.

The phone is UHF only. I expected that when I bought it because I never saw any ad material to the contrary (though other phone models did show both bands). Still I was a little bummed, too.

I'm curious, where did you get the impression it could do 5 GHz in any way other than WiFi?

Also, I've had mine on an swr/power meter and saw it only put out a maximum of 1.3 watts if memory serves. I was able to make a contact using a repeater some 15 miles or so away using a Yagi, but it was very poor quality. I've had FAR better results with a ~$25 Baofeng.

Good luck with the radio.

In the instructions and on the spec page it discusses optional (V) band and switching between them.  Also in the instructions it warns to only use 5.25 Ghz indoors.  If I could insert images from my desktop I would.  I have a model supposedly for the US market. (I'm in the Midwest.)

I recall the instructions and mine are around here somewhere... I recall that they were not BV9500 Pro specific, but my memory isn't what it used to be; the screenshots were of the Intercom app but that's nothing unique to Blackview (Ulefone Armor 6T uses the same app), and I don't recall seeing anything identifying the BV specifically in the Intercom app instructions. You've got me curious now, though, I'll have to go check.

I don't remember anything about the 5GHz but that's got to be WiFi. Use only indoors? :confused:

I'm in the southeast U.S. myself, so I should have the same thing you got. I'll look in a bit....

Whelp, I'm wrong.... Very clearly shows the 9500 in the pics. Interesting. Like I said, my memory ain't what it once was...

Huh.... Maximum 48 channels... I know I had more than that.

I have the "optional V section" remarks in mine too, but I've never seen any VHF option for the 9500. I suspected once that the chip might be capable of the band, but I vaguely recall looking it up and finding no evidence to support this belief. I'll have to watch through my teardown videos on YouTube to recall what chip it was because I've already screwed those components back together and can't easily get to it right now.

But I see nothing about 5.25 GHz. This was in the Intercom leaflet, or in the phone manual?


You know... I find it ironic.... The two-way radio is not FCC type certified (unless I've missed it) for any of the services it can operate on (FRS, GMRS, MURS?, etc), so really, the only ones legal to use it are hams like us, and only for a smallish 30 MHz swath in the ham band out of the 70 MHz wide chunk it can use.

So how would one go about getting (or getting access) to the "option"?  I have had several restricted radio licenses in the past.  But, truth be known, I just got my Tech-class license just last Summer.  The other "licenses" have been retired, done-away with, or expired.  I can't say I have any good knowledge in the 2-meter / 70 cm world.  I only know most of what I read.  On page 7 of the multi-lingual familiarization guide, at the top of the page, there is the statement about 5.25Ghz.  I could care less about that.  I bought this "brick" for the advertised VHF band capability and the all weather phone.  I found the "ruggedized IP-68" qualities are not without exceptions.  It sounded fine till I skipped it across a small wading pool on the 4th.  Now the speaker sounds like ... well, it is almost not intelligible.  A friend in my local emergencies services group wanted to see if he could talk to me last Sunday, and that is where I discovered the deficiency with the 2-meter function.  Does Blackview have the answer?  Is there a service or app to load?  Have all us HAMs been duped into buying a a can-n-string?  Enquiring minds want to know.  I appreciate your expertise in replying to my dylema.

Well, I'll be... Right there on page 7. I must have glazed over that recognizing it as a misprint or other error. The only thing I can figure is they meant to refer to 5GHz WiFi. It's absolutely not the walkie-talkie radio using that band.

The speaker is a weak point with this device. There have been other complaints about it being among the first parts to be damaged. It's easily replaced but requires opening the case and soldering, voiding your warranty if you handle it yourself.

I don't recall this phone being advertised as VHF. When I was shopping, I did see other phones that were VHF capable, but I didn't chose them because they all were older versions of Android (really not a problem to be honest but I wanted newer) or less capable hardware. There were one or three blurbs about VHF that I do recall having found, but they were by people like those YouTube "reviewers" who don't really know Jack abbot what they're talking about and basically just regurgitate what they've seen online. I don't remember anything from Blackview stating anything about VHF (and back several months ago, I looked, because like you, I was hopeful that it was possible.

If it is possible, though, it will require knowledge of the chip, the driver, and the software to (re)write the app to make use of it. And BV ain't likely to do it if they haven't already because the majority of that work has already been done and it would only benefit them (as an added feature could be advertised for the device) to include it, so they would have if they could have.

I don't feel duped into this as a ham. I knew in the beginning I wasn't buying an FT-60.

The 5ghz blurb has to be referring to unii-2 and above seen on this page:

https://www.maketecheasier.com/best-wif ... frequency/

I don't necessary agree with the contents of the page, only skimmed it (got to get to work), but the restriction to being indoors just doesn't make sense.