Quansheng UV-K5(8) firmware modding

• Quansheng UV-K5(8) firmware modding
  Posted by radiolistener on 23 Apr, 2024 10:30
• just bought Quansheng UV-K5-8 radio.
  I want to play with custom firmwares with AM/SSB and spectrum view.
  But first I want to backup factory firmware and calibration data. But it's not clear, how to do it on linux?
  
  I read that on windows it can be done with k5prog-win which is designed for Windows and is based on k5prog which is available on linux.
  
  Tried k5prog:
  

  Code: [Select]

  $ ./k5prog -r -v
Quansheng UV-K5 EEPROM programmer v0.9 (c) 2023 Jacek Lipkowski <sq5bpf@lipkowski.org>

k5_prepare: try 0
cmd: 15 05 ok:1
******  Connected to firmware version: [2.01.32]
Successfully read EEPROM

  It wrote k5_eeprom.raw file with size 8192 bytes. But I'm not sure is that eeprom file contains calibration data, or is it needs to be read with different command?
  
  
  And I don't see the option in k5prog to read exiting firmware from radio. In documentation it has option -b to write firmware, but I want to read it from the radio. Is it possible?
• #1 Reply
  Posted by radiolistener on 23 Apr, 2024 11:28
• According to source code, it seems that the EEPROM size is 0x00002000 (8192) bytes.
  And the last 0x00000200 (512) bytes is a calibration data block. Is it correct?
  
  So, if I understand correctly, k5prog -r reads all EEPROM include factory calibration data and it is enough for backup. Is it correct?
• #2 Reply
  Posted by mag_therm on 24 Apr, 2024 18:58
• In case you have not already,
  search "Chirp" and "Quansheng UV-K5-8 firmware"
  They might get you to a forum with users
• #3 Reply
  Posted by radiolistener on 25 Apr, 2024 14:05
• I was used Chirp on windows. But now I'm on linux and looking for linux software which is open source. Chirp is more general software, I want some specific for the radio to avoid a bunch of unwanted code and data.
  
  At a glance it looks that k5prog is good enough for all modding stuff. I saved backup of EEPROM calibration data.
  
  But I still didn't tried to flash custom firmware, because I don't know how to backup existing firmware.
  
  It looks that there is no way to read existing firmware through baofeng cable. Is it correct?
• #4 Reply
  Posted by pienari on 25 Apr, 2024 19:51
• Hi.
  I backupped old fw of my K5.
  But never going to back, new modded works so well.
  There is 2 different programs, fw updater and other to add frequency etc.
  I have heard Chirp works but havent tested yet.
• #5 Reply
  Posted by radiolistener on 25 Apr, 2024 20:53
• Quote from: pienari on 25 Apr, 2024 19:51

  I backupped old fw of my K5.
  

  
  How?
  
  According to source code research, I can backup entire EEPROM with this command:
  

  Code: [Select]

  ./k5prog -r -v
  it reads 8192 (0x2000) bytes, the last 512 (0x200) contains calibration data.
  
  At offset 0x1F40 there are 8 uint16_t values which define battery indicator values:
  

  Code: [Select]

  [0] - 0 bar value
[1] - 1 bar value
[2] - 2 bar value
[3] - 3 bar value it equals to ADC value for 7.6 V
[4] - 4 bar value
[5] - always 0x2300 ???
[6] - always 0xFFFF ???
[7] - always 0xFFFF ???
The battery voltage can be calculated as V = (760 * ADC) / [3] / 100
  
  
  
  And I can write new firmware to the radio with this command:
  

  Code: [Select]

  ./k5prog -F -YYY -b firmware.bin
  Still looking for a way to get current firmware from the radio
• #6 Reply
  Posted by dobsonr741 on 26 Apr, 2024 00:01
• Instead getting FW from radio you can always go the official firmware as posted on http://qsfj.com/products/3268