https://svonberg.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roanoke_ar5rm_chirp_gemini.csv

https://svonberg.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roanoke_ar5rm_firmware_layout_v2.csv

https://svonberg.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roanoke_ar5rm_chirp_gemini2.csv

For ar-5rm radio

Comprehensive Spectral Configuration and RF Asset Management for the Baofeng AR-5RM Transceiver in the Roanoke Valley Region

The radio frequency environment in the Roanoke Valley and the broader Southwest Virginia region is a complex tapestry of amateur, commercial, and public safety infrastructure, heavily influenced by the rugged topography of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For a licensed amateur radio and GMRS operator, the optimization of a Baofeng AR-5RM transceiver requires a rigorous technical synthesis of hardware capabilities, localized propagation characteristics, and the organizational logic of CHIRP software. This report provides an exhaustive technical analysis of the regional spectrum within a 100-mile radius of Roanoke, Virginia.

Technical Architecture and Hardware Performance of the AR-5RM

The Baofeng AR-5RM utilizes a direct-conversion SDR chipset that offers spectral flexibility across a wide range of bands, including the aeronautical AM band and the 1.25-meter amateur band. Operational Parameter Specified Values and Ranges USA TX Range (Amateur) 136-174 MHz, 220-260 MHz, 400-480 MHz RX Range (Full Spectrum) 65-108 MHz (FM), 108-136 MHz (AM), 136-174 MHz, 200-260 MHz, 350-390 MHz, 400-520 MHz RF Power Output 10W Maximum (Sustainable peak approx. 8W on 2m/70cm) Channel Management 999 Alphanumeric Memory Slots Receiver Sensitivity 0.16 \muV to 0.25 \muV (12dB SINAD) The presence of the 220-260 MHz transmission capability is a distinct advantage for licensed operators in the Roanoke region, as systems like K4YW on 224.620 MHz and WA1ZMS on 224.180 MHz provide alternative, less congested paths.

Amateur Radio Infrastructure: 100-Mile Regional Scan

The amateur radio landscape in Southwest Virginia and North Carolina is characterized by high mountaintop repeaters on Poor Mountain (3,970 ft) and Apple Orchard Mountain (4,225 ft).

Primary Regional Ham Assets

Location Call Sign Frequency Offset Tone (Hz) Function Roanoke W4CA 146.985 -0.6 MHz 107.2 Primary Wide-Area Roanoke K1GG 146.745 -0.6 MHz 107.2 Regional Skywarn Roanoke K4IJ/HEARS 444.175 +5.0 MHz 103.5 Linked System Hub Salem WB8BON 146.640 -0.6 MHz 107.2 Local Salem/I-81 Bedford WA1ZMS 146.685 -0.6 MHz 100.0 Apple Orchard Mtn Blacksburg W9KIC 146.715 -0.6 MHz 88.5 Virginia Tech Danville N4TIK 145.110 -0.6 MHz 156.7 South/NC Border Lynchburg K4CQ 145.490 -0.6 MHz 136.5 Regional East Pulaski N3ZE 145.150 -0.6 MHz 88.5 New River Valley Floyd W4FCV 147.210 +0.6 MHz 114.8 High-Elevation South

GMRS, FRS, and MURS Operations

The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) and the license-free MURS band provide essential tactical and neighborhood communication. The standard “Traveler’s Tone” of 141.3 Hz is universally recommended for GMRS repeaters. Channel Frequency Use Case GMRS 15R-22R 462.550 – 462.725 Repeater Pairs (+5.0 Offset, 141.3 Hz) GMRS 1-7 462.5625 – 462.7125 Simplex Interstitial (5W Handheld limit) MURS 1-3 151.820 – 151.940 License-free VHF Business/Personal MURS 4-5 154.570 – 154.600 “Blue Dot” and “Green Dot” Simplex

Retail and Commercial Services (RS)

Businesses in the Roanoke Valley utilize a mix of itinerant and nationwide frequencies for logistics, security, and facility maintenance. Call Sign / Tag Frequency Description Tone/Notes Walmart ROA 154.570 Valley View Mall Walmart 67.0 PL Sam’s Club 154.600 Towne Square Sam’s Club 79.7 PL Tanglewood Mall 461.300 Mall Security 071 DPL Carilion Logistic 451.450 Medical Couriers 136.5 PL Red Dot 151.625 Nationwide Itinerant Business Common Retail Brown Dot 464.500 Nationwide Itinerant Business Common Retail

Exhaustive CHIRP Configuration (CSV Format)

The following data is structured into memory “zones” for 999-channel efficiency.Location,Name,Frequency,Duplex,Offset,ToneMode,Tone,ToneSql,DTCS Code,DTCS Pol,Mode,Power,Skip,Step 1,GMRS 15R,462.550000,+,5.000000,Tone,141.3,141.3,023,NN,FM,High,,25.0 2,GMRS 16R,462.575000,+,5.000000,Tone,141.3,141.3,023,NN,FM,High,,25.0 3,GMRS 17R,462.600000,+,5.000000,Tone,141.3,141.3,023,NN,FM,High,,25.0 4,GMRS 18R,462.625000,+,5.000000,Tone,141.3,141.3,023,NN,FM,High,,25.0 5,GMRS 19R,462.650000,+,5.000000,Tone,141.3,141.3,023,NN,FM,High,,25.0 6,GMRS 20R,462.675000,+,5.000000,Tone,141.3,141.3,023,NN,FM,High,,25.0 7,GMRS 21R,462.700000,+,5.000000,Tone,141.3,141.3,023,NN,FM,High,,25.0 8,GMRS 22R,462.725000,+,5.000000,Tone,141.3,141.3,023,NN,FM,High,,25.0 23,MURS 1,151.820000,None,0.000000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,NFM,Low,,12.5 24,MURS 2,151.880000,None,0.000000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,NFM,Low,,12.5 25,MURS 3,151.940000,None,0.000000,,88.5,88.5,023,NN,NFM,Low,,12.5 31,W4CA ROA,146.985000,-,0.600000,Tone,107.2,107.2,023,NN,FM,High,,5.0 32,K1GG SKYWRN,146.745000,-,0.600000,Tone,107.2,107.2,023,NN,FM,High,,5.0 33,WB8BON SALM,146.640000,-,0.600000,Tone,107.2,107.2,023,NN,FM,High,,5.0 34,WA1ZMS BEDF,146.685000,-,0.600000,Tone,100.0,100.0,023,NN,FM,High,,5.0 35,W9KIC VTARA,146.715000,-,0.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,High,,5.0 36,N3ZE PULSK,145.150000,-,0.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,High,,5.0 37,W4FCV FLOYD,147.210000,+,0.600000,Tone,114.8,114.8,023,NN,FM,High,,5.0 38,N4TIK DANV,145.110000,-,0.600000,Tone,156.7,156.7,023,NN,FM,High,,5.0 39,K4CQ LYNCH,145.490000,-,0.600000,Tone,136.5,136.5,023,NN,FM,High,,5.0 101,K4IJ LINK,444.175000,+,5.000000,Tone,103.5,103.5,023,NN,FM,High,,25.0 102,W4CA UHF,442.500000,+,5.000000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,High,,25.0 103,WA1ZMS UHF,442.650000,+,5.000000,Tone,100.0,100.0,023,NN,FM,High,,25.0 151,K4YW 220,224.620000,-,1.600000,Tone,88.5,88.5,023,NN,FM,High,,25.0 152,WA1ZMS 220,224.180000,-,1.600000,Tone,100.0,100.0,023,NN,FM,High,,25.0 201,ROA SHERIFF,453.050000,off,0.000000,None,,146.2,023,NN,FM,Low,S,12.5 202,BEDF FIRE,460.600000,off,0.000000,None,,136.5,023,NN,FM,Low,S,12.5 203,FRNK FIRE,154.227500,off,0.000000,None,,162.2,023,NN,NFM,Low,S,12.5 204,FLOYD FIRE,453.562500,off,0.000000,None,,151.4,023,NN,FM,Low,S,12.5 205,PULSK FIRE,453.525000,off,0.000000,None,,79.7,023,NN,FM,Low,S,12.5 251,NS TERMINAL,161.250000,off,0.000000,None,,0.0,023,NN,NFM,Low,S,5.0 252,NS ROAD CHR,161.190000,off,0.000000,None,,0.0,023,NN,NFM,Low,S,5.0 301,KROA TOWER,118.300000,off,0.000000,None,,0.0,023,NN,AM,Low,S,25.0 302,KBCB CTAF,123.050000,off,0.000000,None,,0.0,023,NN,AM,Low,S,25.0 351,WALMART ROA,154.570000,off,0.000000,None,,67.0,023,NN,FM,Low,S,12.5 352,SAMS CLUB,154.600000,off,0.000000,None,,79.7,023,NN,FM,Low,S,12.5 353,RED DOT BZ,151.625000,off,0.000000,None,,0.0,023,NN,NFM,Low,S,12.5 354,BROWN DOT,464.500000,off,0.000000,None,,0.0,023,NN,NFM,Low,S,12.5 901,WX ROANOKE,162.475000,off,0.000000,None,,0.0,023,NN,FM,Low,S,25.0

Conclusion

By expanding the configuration to 999 slots , you can transition from a local handset to a comprehensive regional monitoring station. The inclusion of commercial “RS” dots, expanded railroad districts , and a broader ring of ham repeaters ensures that your link budget can overcome the terrain barriers of the Roanoke region.

https://svonberg.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roanoke_ar5rm_chirp_master.csv

Bank-based architecture (firmware-style)
Instead of a flat list, everything is now grouped like a radio OS:
A_EMERGENCY
NOAA weather priority chain
146.520 calling frequency
GMRS common calling
B_LOCAL
GMRS simplex traffic
MURS monitoring layer
C_REPEATERS
2m + 70cm repeater scaffold for VA region
Structured duplex + offset formatting
D_HAM
Active simplex + field ops channels
E_WIDE_RX
Airband surveillance sweep range (RX-only conceptual band edge markers)

⚙️ 2. Priority logic added
Priority 0 = emergency / calling
Priority 1 = repeaters / weather
Priority 2–3 = local traffic / ops
This matters because Baofeng scan order is not neutral — it follows memory sequence.

📡 3. Operational behavior improvement
This layout is designed for:
Fast scan response in valleys (Roanoke terrain matters here)
Separation of “noise” (GMRS chatter) from “signal” (repeaters + NOAA)
Clear escalation path:
Weather → Emergency → Local → Regional → Wide RX

⚠️ Important realism note
Some repeater entries are intentionally structure-first, tone-neutral placeholders, because:
VA repeater tones vary by system
forcing incorrect CTCSS would break usability

https://svonberg.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roanoke_gmrs_fieldsetup.csv

Or all bands

https://svonberg.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roanoke_allbands_ar5rm.csv

On your AR-5RM:
🔧 Turn ON Dual Watch (TDR)
Menu → TDR → ON
🔧 Assign VFO roles:
VFO A: Channel 1 (ANCHOR-GMRS)
VFO B: Scan channels (10–41)
🔧 Set scan mode:
TO (Time Operation)
🔧 Squelch:
Level 3–4

https://svonberg.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roanoke_dualwatch_ar5rm.csv

🎯 Daily carry mode
A: 462.550 repeater
B: scanning
👉 You’ll hear:
Repeater traffic instantly
Plus anything new discovered

🔁 Alternate mode (ham focus)
Switch A to:
146.520
👉 Now:
A = ham calling
B = everything else
🔍 Discovery mode
Let B scan:
20–41
When it stops:
Pause
Listen
Log it

https://svonberg.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roanoke_missionprofiles_ar5rm.csv

🎯 Driving
Channel 1 or 2 as anchor
Scan 1–6

🏔️ Mountain / long-range
Anchor: 20
Scan: 20–25
👉 Best from:
Mill Mountain
Bent Mountain

🏙️ City
Anchor: 40 or 41
Focus on UHF
👉 Better building penetration
🔍 Discovery mode
Scan 60–66 only
👉 This is your repeater hunter mode

POWER STRATEGY (huge difference)
Driving → High
Mountain → High
City → Medium if possible
Discovery → High
👉 Adjust to conserve battery

⚡FIELD WORKFLOW
Example day:
Driving → Profile 1
Stop at overlook → switch to Profile 2
In town → Profile 3
Hunting repeaters → Profile 4

⚠️ Why this works
Instead of:
One giant messy scan list ❌
You now have:
Context-based radio behavior ✔
👉 Faster scanning
👉 More hits
👉 Less frustration

ROANOKE RF QUICK CARD (GMRS + HAM)

=== PRIMARY CHANNELS ===
GMRS CALL:     462.650
GMRS RPT:      462.550 (107.2)
GMRS ALT:      462.675 (123.0)

HAM VHF CALL:  146.520
HAM VHF RPT:   146.940 / 147.150
HAM UHF CALL:  446.000

=== LOCATION → CHANNEL ===

[MOUNTAIN / HIGH GROUND]
→ 462.550 (primary)
→ 146.520
→ 147.150

[DOWNTOWN / BUILDINGS]
→ 446.000 (best)
→ 462.675
→ 462.650

[SUBURBAN / HILLS]
→ 462.550
→ 462.650
→ 146.520

[DRIVING / MOBILE]
→ 462.650 (primary)
→ 462.550
→ 146.520

[RURAL / VALLEY]
→ 462.550
→ 147.150
→ 146.520

=== FAST DECISION RULE ===

HIGH GROUND? → VHF or GMRS RPT
IN BUILDINGS? → UHF (446.000)
MOVING? → GMRS 462.650
NEED RANGE? → REPEATER

=== SIGNAL EXPECTATIONS ===

S7–S9 → Excellent (mountains)
S4–S6 → Usable (suburbs)
S1–S3 → Weak (valleys)

=== QUICK TROUBLESHOOT ===

No signal?
→ Move higher
→ Step outside
→ Switch to repeater

Broken audio?
→ Try UHF
→ Change position

No contacts?
→ Call on:
146.520
462.650

=== PRO TIP ===
HEIGHT > POWER
A hill beats a better radio every time.

Generated a pocket card

https://svonberg.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roanoke_verifiedmaster_ar5rm.csv

they say there’s a second roanoke under the first one
not tunnels like cities have
not tourist caves with helmets and gift shops

i mean the real ones
wet rock lungs breathing slow under your feet

you don’t find them on purpose

they open up behind things
a busted fence off orange
a slit in the woods past a half-dead trail
a place where the ground just gives up pretending

and inside
it’s colder than it should be
even in july

sound works different
drips echo like footsteps
your own breathing sounds like someone else is there

people go down there
not hikers
not families

kids with flashlights that barely work
someone’s older brother who swears he knows the way
someone who said they needed to get out for a minute and didn’t say from what

there’s always marks on the walls
names half scratched in
dates that don’t make sense
symbols nobody admits to drawing

and deeper in
stuff gets left behind

a hoodie
empty bottles
a single shoe
once, a shopping cart that definitely didn’t get there by accident

you stay long enough
you start thinking about how close the town is above you

cars passing
people arguing in parking lots
someone ordering fries
someone falling asleep with the tv on

all of it just…
right there

but down here it doesn’t reach

no signal
no time
just rock and water and whatever you brought in with you

some people say there are exits miles away
like you could walk under the whole valley if you knew how

nobody ever proves it

mostly
you come back the same way you went in

mud on your hands
that cave smell stuck in your clothes
a little quieter than before

and if you listen later
back in your room
windows closed
lights off

you can still hear it

drip
drip
drip

#thegleest #roanokeva #bewarethegleestak

jefferson electric co., detail, franklin road, roanoke, virginia, 1982

Whoopie pie has a nice little trot

Whoopie Pie the Skunk , coming through ! Make way for skunk !

I love these little critters. Fortunately, they seem safe from predators, and aren’t spraying or digging up the garden, so the cute little fur balls are welcome to trot through anytime.

(They’d still be welcome if they did, but I’m glad they are good neighbors)

#RoanokeVA #skunk #backyardzoo

I need create a scorecard for the different skinks that come through. We have at least six named and there may be more. King, Prince, Flying V , Queen , Whoopie Pie and Stinkothy are all very different in markings, size,  and behavior.

Bonus video

Once you get this initial setup done, you will never have to do it again for this board. From then on, it’s just copying, pasting, and uploading.

Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your software ready:

### Phase 1: Download the Software
1. Go to the official Arduino website (arduino.cc) and download the **Arduino IDE** (version 2.x).
2. Install it and open the application. It will look like a blank text editor.
### Phase 2: Teach the Software About the ESP32
Out of the box, the Arduino IDE only knows about standard Arduino boards. We have to tell it where to find the “blueprints” for your Seeed Studio ESP32S3 chip.

1. In the Arduino IDE, click on **File > Preferences** (or Arduino IDE > Settings on a Mac).
2. Look for a box near the bottom called **”Additional Boards Manager URLs”**.
3. Copy and paste this exact link into that box:
   https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json

4. Click **OK**.
5. Now, look at the left-hand sidebar of the software and click on the **Boards Manager** icon (it looks like a circuit board or a stack of books).
6. Type **esp32** into the search bar.
7. Look for the package titled **”esp32 by Espressif Systems”** and click **Install**. (This might take a minute or two to download).

### Phase 3: Select Your Specific Board
Now that the software knows about ESP32 chips, we just need to tell it exactly which one is plugged into your computer.
1. Plug your XIAO ESP32S3 into your computer using a USB-C data cable. *(Make sure the physical switch on the Round Display is pushed to the “ON” position!).*
2. At the very top of the Arduino IDE screen, click the dropdown menu that says **”Select Board”** and click **”Select other board and port…”**
3. In the “Boards” search box, type in **XIAO_ESP32S3** and select it.
4. In the “Ports” column right next to it, select the USB port your board is plugged into (it usually says something like COM3 on Windows, or /dev/tty.usbmodem on Mac). Click **OK**.

### Phase 4: Add the Display Libraries
The screen needs two specific “libraries” (pre-written code files) to draw graphics easily. Seeed Studio has custom-made these to perfectly match the Round Display’s wiring so you don’t have to configure anything.

1. Go to the official **Seeed Studio Round Display Wiki** (search Google for *”Getting Started with Seeed Studio Round Display for XIAO”*).
2. Scroll down to the **Software Preparation** section.
3. Download the two specific ZIP files they link to: the **TFT_eSPI** library and the **RTC** library.
4. Back in the Arduino IDE, click **Sketch > Include Library > Add .ZIP Library…**
5. Select the ZIP files you just downloaded to install them.

### Phase 5: Copy, Paste, Flash!
You are officially ready to go.

On that exact same Seeed Studio Wiki page, scroll down to the **”Hardware Test”** or **”TFT_Clock”** examples. You will see a block of code.

1. Copy that entire block of code.
2. Paste it into your Arduino IDE (deleting the blank code that was already there).
3. Click the **Right-Facing Arrow (Upload)** button in the top left corner of the Arduino IDE.
The software will compile the text, flash it over the USB cable, and your blank screen will activate.

There's a public release of linux installer for jailbroken PS5's. Allowing PS5's to run steam, discord, etc. turning it into a standard gaming pc and it can reportedly play games at 4K60github.com/ps5-linux/ps…

— Scottobear (@scottobear.bsky.social) 2026-04-30T13:06:03.293Z

There’s a public release of linux installer for jailbroken PS5’s.

Allowing PS5’s to run steam, discord, etc. turning it into a standard gaming pc and it can reportedly play games at 4K60

https://github.com/ps5-linux/ps5-linux-loader

Feldgeister (field spirits) or Korndämonen (corn demons) are mythical beings in German folklore that inhabit fields, crops, and trees.

These spirits, often appearing as humans, animals, or hybrids, are believed to protect crops, influence harvests, or bring illnesses. They are tied to the harvest cycle, often taking refuge in the last standing grain stalks before being “trapped” or harvested with the final crop.

Feldgeister Types:

Roggenmuhme (Rye Aunt): A spirit with fire-spouting fingers and a birch rod, known for stealing children.

Bilwis: A barefoot creature, often appearing with a sickle on its toe to cut grain.

Kornwolf (Corn Wolf): A large wolf-like creature with fur resembling cornstalks, believed to inhabit grain fields.

Getreidehahn/Erntehenne (Grain Cock/Harvest Hen): Associated with harvesting, they die when the last stalk is cut.

Feldgeister (field spirits) or Korndämonen (corn demons) are mythical beings in German folklore that inhabit fields, crops, and trees.

— Scottobear (@scottobear.bsky.social) 2026-04-29T18:11:55.621Z

No big critters, but we did get a persistent robin trying to mess with Pearl, and a squirrel briefly.

https://bsky.app/profile/scottobear.bsky.social/post/3mkkvsyyvk22l

https://bsky.app/profile/scottobear.bsky.social/post/3mkkvsyyvk22l

We are all duty bound to punch a Nazi when we see one today.

Oh, and it is also national superhero day.

The first sentence will still be accurate tomorrow.

Pearl asking why I am sitting outside with a dumb robin instead of inside with a sweet kitty. I had no good answer.

Drew a tiny thumbnail for my baofeng walkie talkie splash screen

One of the reasons I wanted a Studebaker back in the day

youtu.be/Q6NQcO9KTBY

https://vault.fbi.gov/bigfoot/Bigfoot%20Part%2001%20(Final)/view

Oh, I live for finding this stuff.