1. PC Programming Your Radio
Cables/Connectors/Interface
Drivers
Software
Radio Manufacturer
RTSystems
CHIRP 
Repeater lists
Files
Don't Panic! Slides contain much more complete info than I can cover in 20 minutes -
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

2. Why PC program your radio?
Take control of your radio - your Ham experience
How many repeater frequencies, offsets, tones, can you remember?
Speed and convenience
Scan for activity
Almost all manufacturer software is Windows
Once you get over “hump”, fairly easy
Many radios very ..challenging.. to program from keyboard
Big picture of hundreds of memories
All your radios programmed similarly
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

3. Cables/Connectors
HTs Base Stations Mobiles
USB w/ Serial Adapter USB
Cables/Drivers much tougher issue than actually programming
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

4. Cables/Connectors Driver issues!!
Most radios want to talk over this – RS COM port
Most newer computers only have USB
USB/serial chips
Prolific – vast majority of radio cables
Prolific clones – Chinese copies with driver issues
FTDI
Driver issues!!
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

5. Programming Cables/Connectors
Kenwood “standard'
1/8 in 3 cond phone - speaker plus
3/32 in 3 cond phone - mike and PTT
Most Chinese (and other HTs)
$6.00 for “Baofeng Programming cable” Amazon
$3.09 Ebay
Yaesu waterproof
Screw in 4 conductor 1/8 in “phone plug”
USB Micro
Kenwood TH- D74 and some Chinese mobiles
Now world standard for cellphones
Hopefully will become standard for HTs.
USB B
Yaesu FT991
and some Base Stations
1/8 in phone 2 conductor
Some Chinese mobiles
1/8 in phone 3 conductor
Some Chinese mobiles
1/8 in phone 4 conductor
Some HTs
RJ-45 Microphone – Same connector as Ethernet
Showing 2 because they can be wired very differently!!
Incorrect wiring CAN DAMAGE RADIO!!
Most mobiles
“DIN” pin
Some ICOM mobiles
Also data
“DIN” tab 6- 8 pin
Some Yaesu mobiles
Also data
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

6. Programming Connections Kenwood TH-D74
Micro USB
Bluetooth
Micro SD card
Microphone connector - “Kenwood” type
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

7. Drivers - Windows
Most cables come with a driver – on mini CD – USE IT!
Generally – install driver before connecting cable
Problems arise when wanting to program more than one radio/cable/serial adapter on same computer
FTDI chip – not commonly used and seldom has problems
Prolific and clones by far most common serial adapter
Prolific drivers once supported all Prolific adapters including clones
Prolific tired of supporting clones so made drivers “true” Prolific specific
Last 64 bit “universal” Prolific driver - " " dated 09/24/08
Last 32 bit “universal” Prolific driver - " " dated 11/20/07
Programs included with this presentation replace installed 32 or 64 bit Prolific drivers with “generic” ones – !use at your own risk!
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

8. Drivers Following is from:“
Use at your own risk!
Prolific USB-to-Serial Fix (Official Solution to 'Code 10 error')
Posted by Alex E. on 11 March :37 PM
Purpose of this article is to guide you on how to FIX the "Prolific USB-to-Serial" driver issue with common cheap units.
In summary, this article is for: Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10! Works on 32/64-bit.
And it addresses issue of: Prolific PL-2303 Driver Fix (VID_067B&PID_2303)
Driver issue will show inside your Device Manager like this:
(Notice in above pic, yellow triangle next to "Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM X)". That means correct driver version is not installed.)
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

9. Drivers Following is from:“
Use at your own risk!
And if you double-click on it, you will see:
(Notice in pic, Code 10 error. This confirms you need to install correct driver file.)
Issue will also may show messages like this:
· "This Device cannot start (Code 10)"
· "No driver installed for this device"
· "Device driver was not successfully installed")
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

10. Drivers Following is from:“
Use at your own risk!
Internet is filled with pages discussing this problem — but no one seems to know what causes it. Even companies selling these USB to Serial adapters are confused.
Main cause of this issue is because the device contains a counterfeit "Prolific" chip (made in China).
The counterfeit chip use the same Vendor ID (VID_067B) and Product ID (PID_2303) as the authentic Prolific chips.
To combat this, original Prolific company made changes to their newest drivers to render the counterfeit adapters unusable. Unfortunately this decision also renders all earlier adapters inoperative.
The Prolific 64-bit drivers that Microsoft supplies via Windows Update, Versions , , , and will not work with most adapters and therefore issues the generic "Code 10" error.
Or you may get no error at all, but your device will still not work.
If your adapter was working prior to going to Windows Update, you can "roll back" to the previous installed driver and all will be well once again.
However, if you didn't have a previous driver installed that worked, you'll have to go through the process of removing any PL-2303 driver installation programs,the actual driver files, and the information (.INF) file, BEFORE you are able to successfully install the correct driver.
What aggravates this issue is that there are many "Prolific Driver Removal Tools" that do not work properly!
And Windows 8, 8.1, and Window 10 are set by default to automatically update your drivers without your permission or even notifying you of the update. So no matter how many times you remove the driver files and reboot, the next time you insert the USB-To-Serial adapter, Windows installs the newest non-working version again. Yes, it's frustrating.
Only 64-bit driver I have ever found that works with all the "Prolific" adapters is Version
Below installer program will remove all of the incompatible drivers — make a change so that Windows can never update the driver without your approval — and install the Version compatible drivers.
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

11. Drivers Following is from:“
Use at your own risk!
Windows 64-bit Fix for:
· All Windows 64-bit operating systems including Windows 10
· Prolific USB to Serial Adapter .
· Device using PL-2303 H/HXA/HX/X version chips
· Driver Version:
· Driver Date: 09/29/08
· Supported device ID and product strings: . VID_067B&PID_2303 for "Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port"
Download and Save the "PL2303_64bit_ Installer.exe" by clicking here. You can just Save it to your Desktop to make things easy.
Unplug all USB-To-Serial adapters from your computer — and Double click on the installer "PL2303_64bit_Installer.exe"
When it prompts you, plug in one (1) of your USB-To-Serial adapters and click "Continue".
Reboot your computer. That's it!
Trouble Shooting:
You must follow ever step in the process precisely. If you still receive an error after running the PL-2303_64bit_Installer.exe and your device is plugged in, go to the Windows Device Manager.
Scroll down to Ports (Com & LPT) and Double-Click on "Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM#)".
In the Properties Window, Click on "Driver".
The "Driver Version" must say " " dated 09/24/08.
If not, then the correct driver is not installed. Unplug the USB-To-Serial adapter and run the "PL2303_64bit_Installer.exe" again, following the directions precisely until the correct driver appears.
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

12. Drivers Following is from:“
Use at your own risk!
Windows 32-bit Fix for:
· All Windows 32-bit operating systems from XP up
· Prolific USB to Serial Adapter .
· Device using PL-2303 H/HXA/HX/X version chips
· Driver Version:
· Driver Date: 11/20/07
· Supported device ID and product strings: . VID_067B&PID_2303 for "Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port"
Download and Save the "PL-2303_Driver_ Installer.exe" by clicking here. You can just Save it to your Desktop to make things easy.
Run the installer program. If it offers a choice to remove the driver, then select to remove the current "bad" driver. Then run the installer again to install the correct driver.
Trouble Shooting:
If you still receive an error after running the PL-2303_Driver_Installer.exe and your device is plugged in, go to the Windows Device Manager.
Scroll down to Ports (Com & LPT) and Double-Click on "Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM#)".
In the Properties Window, Click on "Driver".
The "Driver Version" must say " " dated 11/20/07.
If not, then the correct driver is not installed. Unplug the USB-To-Serial adapter and run the "PL2303_Driver_Installer.exe" again, following the directions precisely until the correct driver appears in the Device Manager.
Removal of this tool:
The Prolific 32-bit PL-2303_Driver_Installer is a "Program" file and therefore installed to your computer and must stay. If you want to delete it, use the Windows "Uninstall a Program" or "Add or Remove Program" feature, however this will also uninstall the driver itself.
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

13. Programming Software Radio maker supplied
Totally radio specific
Often allows programming of features not otherwise accessible
Often dubious quality, support, Chenglish
Generally does not support import/export so all data must be entered manually
May have unfriendly repeater entry methods – offset or split frequency input
User interfaces can be .. just weird
More makers skipping own SW and paying Chirp
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

14. Programming Software Kenwood TH-D74
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

15. Programming Software RT Systems
Totally radio specific – mostly includes features plus memory
Purchased SW - $49.00 for SW/cable for Yaesu FT-8500
RT Systems cable and SW tightly locked – must use their cable with their SW, except for USB cables
Generally NO cable/driver issues – just plug and play
Good support
Excellent user interface
Generally good import/export capability
Lots, and lots of radios supported – especially older radios!
Good radio to radio transfer
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

16. Programming Software RT Systems
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

17. Programming Software RT Systems
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

18. Programming Software CHIRP - http://chirp.danplanet.com
FREE, open source, donations accepted and very deserved
MAC, LINUX supported
Must get cable/drivers working yourself
Limited formal support, great community support
Excellent user interface
Excellent memory programming – spotty feature programming
Generally good import/export capability
Many radios supported – select com port, maker, model in program
Updated almost daily – supported by many radio makers
Good radio to radio transfer
- Go to site, Windows download, follow instructions – Demonstration!
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

19. Programming Software CHIRP - http://chirp.danplanet.com
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

20. Programming Software CHIRP - http://chirp.danplanet.com
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

21. Programming Software CHIRP - http://chirp.danplanet.com
From previous slide – clicking on “Get latest Windows version” brings you here.
“chirp-daily-installer” click brings up run/save window below
“Run” starts installation – click “yes” on security check, “install” on install window, “Close” when finished.
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

22. Programming Software CHIRP - http://chirp.danplanet.com
Click “Radio”, “Download from Radio” before writing to radio
Must select correct port, Chirp will only display available ones
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

23. Programming Software CHIRP - http://chirp.danplanet.com
“Open stock config” accesses a plethora of preprogramming!
Be aware of FCC regulations!!
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

24. Programming Software CHIRP – Radio Memories
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

25. Programming Software CHIRP – Radio Settings
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

26. Repeater lists – How do I find repeaters??
RepeaterBook
- Now the ARRL listing
- W0TLM's list
My list
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017

27. Files you may want This presentation as a PDF and .ppt
HTML of the Prolific driver discussion
64 and 32 bit programs to fix and install Prolific driver
My Colorado frequency file
K0CHP
Radio Programming - W0TLM Tech Field Day 2017