• To anyone looking to acquire commercial radio programming software:

    Please do not make requests for copies of radio programming software which is sold (or was sold) by the manufacturer for any monetary value. All requests will be deleted and a forum infraction issued. Making a request such as this is attempting to engage in software piracy and this forum cannot be involved or associated with this activity. The same goes for any private transaction via Private Message. Even if you attempt to engage in this activity in PM's we will still enforce the forum rules. Your PM's are not private and the administration has the right to read them if there's a hint to criminal activity.

    If you are having trouble legally obtaining software please state so. We do not want any hurt feelings when your vague post is mistaken for a free request. It is YOUR responsibility to properly word your request.

    To obtain Motorola software see the Sticky in the Motorola forum.

    The various other vendors often permit their dealers to sell the software online (i.e., Kenwood). Please use Google or some other search engine to find a dealer that sells the software. Typically each series or individual radio requires its own software package. Often the Kenwood software is less than $100 so don't be a cheapskate; just purchase it.

    For M/A Com/Harris/GE, etc: there are two software packages that program all current and past radios. One package is for conventional programming and the other for trunked programming. The trunked package is in upwards of $2,500. The conventional package is more reasonable though is still several hundred dollars. The benefit is you do not need multiple versions for each radio (unlike Motorola).

    This is a large and very visible forum. We cannot jeopardize the ability to provide the RadioReference services by allowing this activity to occur. Please respect this.

How to find what freqs used ICOMs run?

RenoHuskerDu

RenoHuskerDu

Longtime VFD, rusty old scanner
Premium Subscriber
Joined
May 25, 2002
Messages
175
Location
Bertram TX
A non-technical friend bought 25+ HTs from a school district. The FCC ID (link below) indicates that they run in 450-520 MHz. I checked all GMRS freqs but they are not transmitting there.

I'm concerned that he may be in violation of FCC regs if he runs these HTs. FCC says they trx either 1 or 4 watts. They have integrated rubber duckies, many of which are broken leaving only a bare coil wire. So that may be harmful also in terms of RF exposure.

I am shopping for a freq counter, but don't own one yet. Trial and error would take forever. Is there another way to find freqs?

 
mmckenna

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
25,823
Location
United States
Those are not GMRS radios.

They are analog/NXDN capable 450-520MHz 1-4 watts.

Likely the school had their own coordinated and licensed frequencies. Reading the programming from the radio would be the right path forward, and then reprogramming them to frequencies your friend is licensed for.
 
K

kny2xb

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
337
Location
North Clearwater, FL
If you have a scanner, or have a friend with a scanner, the Close Call feature will work in a pinch
Key the radio VERY briefly, just long enough to get the frequency readout/result

I just purchased a pair of used Icom F2000T's & used my scanner's Close Call to see what they're programmed with just for curiosity

I looked at the model of his radios, I think that the rubber ducks are removable/unscrewable

They could be replaced with new Icom ducks, for a little more $, I would go with Smiley antennas with the MX connector instead
 
Last edited:
RenoHuskerDu

RenoHuskerDu

Longtime VFD, rusty old scanner
Premium Subscriber
Joined
May 25, 2002
Messages
175
Location
Bertram TX
I was off air for years living in yurrup, and my only scanners are Radio Shack PRO-2067. They are slow so would probably not pick up the ICOM signal. I do have a ham buddy with a freq counter. Guess I'll make that trip someday soon.
 
RenoHuskerDu

RenoHuskerDu

Longtime VFD, rusty old scanner
Premium Subscriber
Joined
May 25, 2002
Messages
175
Location
Bertram TX
mmckenna said:
Those are not GMRS radios.

They are analog/NXDN capable 450-520MHz 1-4 watts.

Likely the school had their own coordinated and licensed frequencies. Reading the programming from the radio would be the right path forward, and then reprogramming them to frequencies your friend is licensed for.
Click to expand...

The programming cable for ICOM F-4021S seems to be available. Looks like a Baofeng programming cable would even fit.

I'm checking for CHIRPability now. I doubt he will accept my advise to not use these. At least I could move him onto GMRS freqs.
 
mmckenna

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
25,823
Location
United States
Other option would be to find out what school/school district he purchased them from and see if they have/had an FCC license. May or may not be accurate, but it would be a starting place.

I'm always amazed by agencies that will sell their old radios with codeplugs still loaded in them. I make sure to flush all our old radios to remove programming info, encryption keys and any trunking system info. I replace it with a single RX only personality.
 
RenoHuskerDu

RenoHuskerDu

Longtime VFD, rusty old scanner
Premium Subscriber
Joined
May 25, 2002
Messages
175
Location
Bertram TX
kny2xb said:
I looked at the model of his radios, I think that the rubber ducks are removable/unscrewable

They could be replaced with new Icom ducks, for a little more $, I would go with Smiley antennas with the MX connector instead
Click to expand...

You're correct. They can be removed. And the rubber duckies go for a low price from Bezos. Thank you.
 
RenoHuskerDu

RenoHuskerDu

Longtime VFD, rusty old scanner
Premium Subscriber
Joined
May 25, 2002
Messages
175
Location
Bertram TX
mmckenna said:
Other option would be to find out what school/school district he purchased them from and see if they have/had an FCC license. May or may not be accurate, but it would be a starting place.

I'm always amazed by agencies that will sell their old radios with codeplugs still loaded in them. I make sure to flush all our old radios to remove programming info, encryption keys and any trunking system info. I replace it with a single RX only personality.
Click to expand...
He found them on the same government auction site where he buys vehicles to flip. So info on that school district is probably masked or lost. Gubbmint efficiency ...
 
K

kny2xb

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
337
Location
North Clearwater, FL
RenoHuskerDu said:
I was off air for years living in yurrup, and my only scanners are Radio Shack PRO-2067. They are slow so would probably not pick up the ICOM signal. I do have a ham buddy with a freq counter. Guess I'll make that trip someday soon.
Click to expand...
RenoHuskerDu said:
The programming cable for ICOM F-4021S seems to be available. Looks like a Baofeng programming cable would even fit.

I'm checking for CHIRPability now. I doubt he will accept my advise to not use these. At least I could move him onto GMRS freqs.
Click to expand...
I looked at an online manual for your PRO-2067, it doesn't have Close Call:(
I'd give your ham friend a buzz & see if he'll help you out

I don't know if a Baofeng cable would work or not, the Icom uses a single jack/port, the bottom/lower port, not the dual for programming
My F4GT, F21GM, & I presume my F2000T's are all the same jack/port as they use the same cable

bluemax49ers.com

ICOM IC-F4021S FTDI Programming Cable OPC-i478

Buy the BlueMax49ers ICOM IC-F4021S FTDI Programming Cable OPC-i478 for . Use our Software Advisor to find the best applications and and Driver Downloads for your computer hardware and operating system. Over 46,000 cables sold with 100% customer satisfaction.
bluemax49ers.com

bluemax49ers.com

ICOM IC-F4021T Prolific Programming Cable OPC-i478p

Buy the BlueMax49ers ICOM IC-F4021T Prolific Programming Cable OPC-i478p for . Use our Software Advisor to find the best applications and and Driver Downloads for your computer hardware and operating system. Over 46,000 cables sold with 100% customer satisfaction.
bluemax49ers.com

I believe that the FTDI is preferred over the prolific

The software is available there also for free

I don't think CHIRP works on any Icom commercial rigs, I think that all the Icom rigs listed on the CHIRP site are ham rigs, I could be wrong on that
If he tries using those, interferes with a licensed user.....that could be bad
$18.00 or $27.00 + free software + a bit of time to reprogram would be an inexpensive investment vs getting into trouble, risking fines.....

These would make very nice GMRS rigs
 
K

kny2xb

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
337
Location
North Clearwater, FL
mmckenna said:
Not good ones, but I'm betting your friend doesn't care.
Click to expand...
I see the 5-pack for $19.95, actual Icom ducks are $14.95 each

Stock ducks are too broad-banded for my taste

Personally, I'd replace the stock ducks with higher quality like the Smileys
That's just me

IF he's going to flip any of the radios, preferably after wiping the programming, then yeah, the 5-pack would do
I'd go for a better antenna for any that he keeps
 
W

wd8chl

Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2007
Messages
459
Plus school districts do NOT belong on GMRS! They are not, and cannot be, licensed for it, unless they have a VERY old license from back in the late 80's-early 90's when the rules were changed. Then they would have been grandfathered in, but there isn't a lot of that any more.
But regardless, they need an FCC license for where ever they are.
 
rescuecomm

rescuecomm

Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2005
Messages
1,525
Location
Travelers Rest, SC
I hear quite a few around here on FRS usually at let out times when I'm passing on the main roads. Schools in SC are funded at the county level so I guess nobody wants to buy APX or VP stuff.
 
P

Project25_MASTR

Millennial Graying OBT Guy
Joined
Jun 16, 2013
Messages
4,431
Location
Texas
rescuecomm said:
I hear quite a few around here on FRS usually at let out times when I'm passing on the main roads. Schools in SC are funded at the county level so I guess nobody wants to buy APX or VP stuff.
Click to expand...
Most of the school's in the OP's area use TRBO or NextEdge (either sold by CTS/Bearcom or S&P/Bearcom) with some extra stuff on GATRRS. Burnet CISD uses UHF TRBO radios (I think the elementary in Bertram still runs analog) and GATRRS specifically in terms of the radios. How do I know? I programmed most of Burnet CISD's radios at one point or another...
 
rescuecomm

rescuecomm

Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2005
Messages
1,525
Location
Travelers Rest, SC
Considering the local schools are winging it on FRS, I was interested as to the funding for the radios. Were they state level grants or federal?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top