there are three settings for the siren.
one is just a local, that is, only sounds on the radio and doesn't transmit, 
another will tx the siren sound over the air, and the third is some other 
setting involving a code or something...perhaps it is so that when the radio 
receives a dtmf code the siren sounds an alert.
Set the siren to "site" to make sure it doesn't tx over the air by accident.
And no, you can't turn the damn thing off.
It's chinese, what can I say lol.

73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jed Barton" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2012 8:04 AM
Subject: Siren on the baofeng uv-5


> Hey guys,
>
> Anyone know the purpose for the siren on the uv5?  Not that you'd wanna
> trnasmit it over the air, I would guess it's just a loal thing?
>
> Thanks,
> Jed it