Easiest two-way mobiles to program?

[Gilligan]

I have been looking to purchase some used commercial mobiles off eBay, but I don't want to buy any that are going to be hard to program. Basically I'd like to get VHF-hi gear that I could program for 2-meters or UHF business-band to 70cm. Please don't just respond that I should buy amateur gear.

What are the easiest commercial mobiles to program? Specifically, I am looking for dated equipment (80s/90s) because most of the newer stuff requires too much software/cables etc. I know there's Midland, Kenwood, Uniden, Relm, Motorola, and others. Which brand would normally be very easy to program w/o spending a fortune or even a particular model would help. I'm definately looking for more than one channel (preferably 8-100 or more). Thanks.

 

[icom1020]

I've programmed older non Motorola models but it usually requires a slower processor computer, like a 486. I keep one just for this, most of the older models I've encountered are dos based programming. Most 2way shops still have them for such purposes. I wouldn't say one is easier than the other, software and cables are easy to obtain but each model can still give fits when programming. I purchased a new Icom UHF mobile last year that needed a serial port to usb converter, that was about the only hard part. I own 2 icom 1020's (1990's)and 1 new Icom F221 mobile, 1, 24 ch Vertex 7011(1990's) which isn't too bad to work with.

But... I had someone nearby to coach me when something went wrong or was beyond my knowledge. It would be my advice to have the same plan. Otherwise, they are kick-ass radios and really loud and sensitive. good luck.

 

[Gilligan]

The sensitivity of commercial radios sometimes seems better than amateur -- one reason why I want to go this route. But I'm afraid if I buy a radio off eBay that I won't be able to program it and I don't want to pay someone $5/channel to program it. I want to be able to change freqs often as well. Yea I know VFO is nice, but I am interested in a commerical rig.

 

[icom1020]

Mine hasn't always responded well to the software, or cables. It sometimes becomes necessary to turn the radio on and off more than once just to 'read' the radio. Having the program "read" the radio is nec. before you start programming. It's surprising how easy this is to forget (this is where a local or good contact for info becomes a must) So, I tend to plan on keeping everything current for as long as possible to avoid re-programming. Having 160 channels helps but you'd be surprised how quick it fills up.

 

[rpgbigman]

Kenwood makes a TK 805D they are easy to program. right through the front on the radio.
once you shut it off and turn it back on it can not be changed. I had one loved it.
if 16 chans is enough thats the Radio to get.

 

[kingpin]

I program both Kenwood and Motorola geand and Kenwood is by far the easiest to do. You can get an aftermarket cable from Ebay for less than $30 and the software can be found on the net or PURCHASED LEGALLY for about $100 from yourlocal Kenwood Dealer. There is WIndows software for many models and the DOS software works just fine in XP.

I can't speak for ICOM or Vertex commerial but Kenwood is the way to go. As far as used stuff goes, I recommend the X80 series. You can get a 50 watt VHF TK-780 for about $225 and a 45 watt UHF TK-880 for about $200 used all day long on ebay. THey both use the same software and cables. I have owned the whole fleet of X80 series radios and I love them. PM me for more help.

 

[mancow]

Easiest is the Bendix/King LMH3142 old slant faced mobiles. You program them right from the keyboard. To get them to 2 meters there's a simple resistor mod for an older processor version or the simple software mod for the -02 processor equipped units.


The newer EMH and EMV units are very easy too. The software is simple. They too can be keyboard programmed with a smart mic. They will do 2 meters or 70 cm too.

 

[jparks29]

Spectra if MOT , Orion if Ericsson.

 

[zz0468]

Define "easiest" to program.

Does that mean you don't have to think much about it? Does it mean you don't have to spend an arm, three legs and a testicle for a rib and software? Does it mean just pushing buttons? There are pros and cons with all, and depending on what your definition of "easiest" is, that would dictate your choice. Is sensitivity the only requirement you have driving you toward a commercial radio, or are there other considerations?

It's quite easy to plug the laptop and rib and program a Motorola radio. Looking for simple? The Maxtrac is about as easy as it gets. Good luck getting the software, though. BTW, programming the Spectra can get pretty cumbersome. It'll do 128 channels, though. I LOVE my UHF Spectra! A rib can be purchased on eBay for $30-$40, and the cables for the older radios, you can those make yourself.

If easy means "keyboard programmable", well, maybe. There are a few out there. The GP68 series of Motorola portables are keyboard programmable and do the ham bands nicely. They're hard to get, though. The keyboard programmable radios often only have 16 or so channels. You want 100? That's a LOT of awkward button pushing, and falls outside of MY definition of "easiest". I don't know of any non-pc programmed radios with 100 channels. But that doesn't mean they don't exist.

Getting the software for ANY of the pc programmable radios can be a pain in the neck if you don't deal with the stuff on a regular basis. Motorola, you HAVE to buy it from them. Period. I understand the same is true of M/A Com. I don't know about Kenwoods or Icoms, since I have no need to touch their commercial gear. But I will tell you this - the performance of their commercial stuff is about the same as their amateur gear. That's not a dig. Don't buy a Kenwood or Icom commercial radio and expect a huge performance boost over a Kenwood or Icom amateur radio. They may be BUILT tougher, but the performance is about the same.

Uniden (and others) had some diode programmable radios back in the 80's. No software, no awkward keyboard sequences. Easy, right? Hmmm... programming binary codes with diode matrix's. Yuck.

There is some after market software for a few of the Motorolas, particularly the Syntor and Syntor X. The radios are cheap, are EXCELLENT performers, and you may not be locked in to buying the Motorola software.

So... this is all very complicated. I'd be asking myself what I'm trying to accomplish with all this, and see where that leads.

 

[Gilligan]

Define "easiest" to program...Does it mean you don't have to spend a fortune for a rib and software?

Yes. I'd love to find something keyboard programmable or with the software/cable package fairly cheap.

The keyboard programmable radios often only have 16 or so channels. You want 100? That's a LOT of awkward button pushing, and falls outside of MY definition of "easiest".

Actually it doesn't bother me. I'd spend the time programming once and then be able to update on the fly. A keyboard programmable mobile or mobile with cheap software/cables would be ideal.

Uniden (and others) had some diode programmable radios back in the 80's. No software, no awkward keyboard sequences. Easy, right? Hmmm... programming binary codes with diode matrix's. Yuck.

Yea I agree with you. No, I don't want to go back that far.

There is some after market software for a few of the Motorolas, particularly the Syntor and Syntor X. The radios are cheap, are EXCELLENT performers, and you may not be locked in to buying the Motorola software.

Thanks for your help. I will look into Syntor as well.

 

[BaLa]

already mentioned...
but the Kenwood TK x80 series is pretty easy to program.

I bought a cheap cable of e-bay. ($20-$30)
And software (KPG49D) for about $50.

I found some older DOS Software Online, that wouldn't read the 880s we have. So I ended up buying Windows Ver. 4.02.

I've used mine only for the TK880s, but tested on the 380s.
and I assume Kenwoods other radios are probably not much harder either maybe different software needed.

 

[mcema699]

If you find ICOM U/H 400, (I think thats the model) Those can be cloned from the H/U16 channel handheld commercials which are keyboard programmable and will go into Ham frequencies with no mods.
They will do PL but not DPL. No alpha tags but with just 16 channels, don't think its that important. They were among the earliest wide band units.