Not doubting that others can clone F21GM's with CS-F11V1.2 but my inside contact at Icom says they've never been able to do it, and not for lack of trying. The F21GM was built as a simple it-is-what-it-is radio, whose firmware allows for alignment but did not include cloning upload/download capability.
I asked Icom about a firmware flash either to a different F21GM version, or a Standard F21. There is only one known US release of both firmwares (not saying that there aren't other releases that DO allow F21GM cloning that didn't get sent to US tech support). That earlier firmware may exist, but is different in the radio I'm playing with (SN 02019xx).
That begs the question: Those of you who can clone F21GM's with CS-F11 V1.2 have something different than a standard new out of the box F21GM and standard V1.2 cloning software.
The question of the day: If you can, what is different? What serial number radio, firmware and/or software combination makes it possible? Are you sure it is a factory condition F21GM?
Did some Geek somewhere develop a hack?
Or, are some serial number ranges different from others?
Or, the radios being cloned are actually regular F21's with a GM-emulation program loaded. Those radios may still be able to be field programmed for talkaround and CTCSS changes... or not. (CS-F11 "Clone | Info" screen does not show serial numbers, and anything in the comment field is programmable in CS-F11.)
Or earlier-than V1.2 CS-F11 software can talk to some F21GM's.
Or, there is a hex-edit and loading program out there that unlocks the F21GM and changes the whole picture. That could be an individual, or a distributor applied package.
Or, something else entirely.
So, bottom line is that some of us can't, and would really like to know, IN DETAIL, how those of you who can are doing it.
WHAT IS IT??
Again, this is not a connection or port issue. I CAN access my F21GM using the CS-F11ADJ Rev1.0 program.