Posted: 10/24/2009 12:19:34 AM EDT
|
So I bought a nice cable to program the radio VX170, but am looking for software. I have done some searching, and downloaded a few trial versions. I am wondering if there are any free ones out there? or if there is any that can be greatly reccomended. So far I found that I like the FTB2070 that I found here http://www.g4hfq.co.uk/ftb2070.htm Anyone have any reccomendations, The price is cheap at $15. But I was wonderinf if there are any free ones out there, or better ones that I can be turned towards. KE7*** |
|
Quoted:
So far I found that I like the FTB2070 that I found here http://www.g4hfq.co.uk/ftb2070.htm Anyone have any reccomendations, yes –– my recommendation is to stop looking; you found the best SW available for the VX170. 
ar-jedi |
|
Some time back, and it may be in the stickies at the top of this section, ar-jedi posted (and well done, sir!) a method whereby you can go to a repeater site, http://k5ehx.net/repeaters/qrepeater.php, download the repeater list along a particular route, or in a certain area, as *.csv (comma separated value) files, import those into the g4hfq programs, and then program into the radio. I have done this and it is easier than it sounds. The trick is to limit the areas as much as possible, perhaps breaking the trip into smaller segments, and importing, editing as you go.
The only problem I had was getting the program to link with the radio by selecting the correct COM Port. There is a com port program on Bob's site that will help with this called Comm Test Setup. It will tell you which ports are available on your computer, and by selecting the correct port, you should be able to link with the radio easily. Bob called me... yes, called me on the phone from the UK, to talk me through this. While it can be very laborious to enter in frequencies, label them (for example, Smithville Repeaters as "SMVLR1" and "SMVLR2"), putting in all the tones, etc, it is very easy to do this in the program. It is like using an Excell spreadsheet. There are even dropdown lists to select power settings, PL on/off, PL tone freq, etc. And the dropdowns will be appropriate to your radio. For example, my Yaesu FT-2800M has power settings on the radio labeled High (65w), Mid (25w), Low2 (10w), and Low1 (5w), and that is just how the dropdowns read, High, Mid, Low2, Low1. So, you can fill in the blanks or edit, and it will literally take longer to boot your computer than to open the program and load it into the radio. |
|
Quoted: I did notice the drop down menus and I like the way it works. The Com port thing took me a few trys whilest switching ports, I have the USB adapter I found on EBAY for a decent price and So far It seems the consensus is pretty straight. Few questions though... is the software good only on one computer, or is it for all of them in my house? Some time back, and it may be in the stickies at the top of this section, ar-jedi posted (and well done, sir!) a method whereby you can go to a repeater site, http://k5ehx.net/repeaters/qrepeater.php, download the repeater list along a particular route, or in a certain area, as *.csv (comma separated value) files, import those into the g4hfq programs, and then program into the radio. I have done this and it is easier than it sounds. The trick is to limit the areas as much as possible, perhaps breaking the trip into smaller segments, and importing, editing as you go. The only problem I had was getting the program to link with the radio by selecting the correct COM Port. There is a com port program on Bob's site that will help with this called Comm Test Setup. It will tell you which ports are available on your computer, and by selecting the correct port, you should be able to link with the radio easily. Bob called me... yes, called me on the phone from the UK, to talk me through this. While it can be very laborious to enter in frequencies, label them (for example, Smithville Repeaters as "SMVLR1" and "SMVLR2"), putting in all the tones, etc, it is very easy to do this in the program. It is like using an Excell spreadsheet. There are even dropdown lists to select power settings, PL on/off, PL tone freq, etc. And the dropdowns will be appropriate to your radio. For example, my Yaesu FT-2800M has power settings on the radio labeled High (65w), Mid (25w), Low2 (10w), and Low1 (5w), and that is just how the dropdowns read, High, Mid, Low2, Low1. So, you can fill in the blanks or edit, and it will literally take longer to boot your computer than to open the program and load it into the radio. I have been thinking about buying a new reg so I can have a vehicle rig, and the aspect of making a direct copy sounds very nice. I already have all of teh excell sheets with the programs. I think this may be a win/win situation. |
|
I suppose you can put it on more than one computer, but I can't easily carry a desktop pc to my radio, whether in the shack or vehicle. I have the program only in my laptop. If you were just doing HT's it wouldn't matter.
Another thing... you can export the data, say, from your HT and import it into the program for a mobile unit. So you can have your vehicle's radio programmed similarly to your HT's, same labels, channel numbers, etc. I have both my mobil and base 2800's programmed similarly, but edited power settings of the base unit to take into account having a higher antenna and that I am not moving, using the minimum power required for full quieting on the local repeaters. In the vehicle, less efficient antenna, and I will be driving around, higher power settings. Also for the mobil, I'll be using addition repeaters in other towns as I travel about, but those won't be needed for my base as I'll never be able to hit them, so I just deleted them from that list. The program makes it easy to tailor your freq. list for each unit. |