Kenwood TK-2180 Field Programming

[jrw14493]

I know the 2180 isnt a scanner, but their isn't a forum on here for discussing Commercial equipment. So here it goes.

Anyone field programmed a TK-2180? I'm getting one, and I've been told to do some research on the full-keypad model since that's the one I want. Is is really that hard to program in the field? Or should I just save a few $$ and get the regular 2180? Any input appreciated!

 

[loumaag]

I know the 2180 isnt a scanner, but their isn't a forum on here for discussing Commercial equipment. ...

Moved to the appropriate forum.

 

[kingpin]

I haven't heard anything on field programming the TK-2180. In the other models I've seen, you don't need the full keypad model to field program it. I have a full keypad 2180 and it's the best ht I've ever had. best bang for the buck!

I'll contact my Kenwood rep and find out the dealio on the field programming. I think there was an option in the software to enable it but how to do it on the radio is beyond me.

I'll let you kniow what I find.

 

[jrw14493]

Hey thanks, e-mail me jrw14493@charter.net if you find out.

 

[kg4uad]

TK-2180 Field Programming

Its not gonna happen. I have been trying since the 2180 was released to get kenwood reps to listen and make this radio Field Programmable. Kenwood has always made that option available but starting with the 2180/7180 series Im told its over.....forever. To many wackos kurchunking in the night or doing things i guess there not supposed to, perhaps Kenwood feels comfortable now with there increased market share and we are starting to see alittle of Motorolas marketing practices seeping through (aka, now your forced to buy the programming cable and software). Ive giving up on it as of about 6 months ago and I think the last glimmer of hope that was given was that the State Dept. was considering buying a heap of the 2180's for embassy use and a requirement for that purchase was that the radios had to be field programmable. So maybe somewhere in the basement of Kenwood a programmer is making the Firmware upgrade (and yes that is what its gonna take) to make the radio do it. Expect the dealer cost to be around $1000.00 so if it happens buddy up with other 2180/7180 users to offset the cost. As I said previously though im not holding out much hope, I think it would have happened by now.

P.S. a further excuse given to me about why kenwood wasnt crazy about creating this firmware was that it might adversly affect the storage capability of the VGS-1/GPS. I dont know if that holds water or not.

 

[SkipSanders]

To be fair to Kenwood, understand that the FCC severely frowns on commercial type accepted gear being 'field programmable' without extra equipment kept out of the hands of 'users'. They don't want end users fouling things up with incorrect (or illegal) programming of the radios, resulting in interference to other users or systems.

O'course, as a government bureaucracy, they've been known to let a few such field programmable radios slip through the type acceptance unsquashed...

 

[kg4uad]

To be fair to Kenwood, understand that the FCC severely frowns on commercial type accepted gear being 'field programmable' without extra equipment kept out of the hands of 'users'. They don't want end users fouling things up with incorrect (or illegal) programming of the radios, resulting in interference to other users or systems.

O'course, as a government bureaucracy, they've been known to let a few such field programmable radios slip through the type acceptance unsquashed...

So whats the diffrence between "fouling things up" by programming the radio in the field or doing it with a $100.00 programming cable and $100.00 programming software? Cables and Software are almost effortless to get-- its just nice as an amateur to program stuff in on the fly when on a beach trip and/or a Public safety professional to have that same ability when they deploy to somewhere like Katrina without having to lug a Laptop and cable.

73's

Kg4uad

 

[jrw14493]

Or firefighters who as dispatched to state mob fires and want to use their radios at the fire...