I have to agree with W2PDX. Usually Chirp works. Sometimes it doesn't. The upside of that is that it didn't cost you anything. Between my personal radios and the ones I use with the regional SAR task force, I've used 8 different software versions from RT systems on mostly Kenwood and Yaesu radios. The software always performs flawlessly, it's intuitive and it does exactly what it's supposed to. The downside? It costs money. It comes down to "You get what you pay for."
Can't upload using Chirp... I'm running Chirp on a MAC. Any thoughts
... On the flip side from CHIRP is RT System... RTS is also not free like CHIRP but I doubt you'd have any problems with it.
...I've used 8 different software versions from RT systems on mostly Kenwood and Yaesu radios. The software always performs flawlessly, it's intuitive and it does exactly what it's supposed to. The downside? It costs money. It comes down to "You get what you pay for."
You can program the radio without a computer. Or you could get an older laptop. It doesn't have to be powerful or fancy.
I program all my radios from a little Acer netbook that's probably 6-8 years old. It runs on Windows 7. The battery last more than 7 hours and works great. If you could find something like that, it shouldn't cost more than $60.
It doesn't have an internal CD drive. To install the programming software, I copy the CD to an SD card.
Just so you know, I also have Chirp on that computer.
The trend I like is that Yaesu—and maybe others, I'm not sure—are now equipping their radios with MicroSD card slots and enabling the radio to be programmed using a card. Makes it much easier changing the programming on the mobile.
I just bought a Yaesu FT-8900D and, unfortunately, it doesn't have it.
The 8900 as a model is at least 10 years old , it used to be the flagship of Yaesu mobiles, the 1900 , 2900, 7800, 7900, 8800 and the 8900 being top dog .each one basicsly added a little something that the next rig down did not do .
I could be wrong but I belive Icom started the micro sd cards in radio's , I use the card in my 74 A to record my QSO'S for quick review if I miss something , but I know newer hams who record all QSO'S and store them on CD for permanent later review . The trend has caught on and even scanners have sd's these days, the problem I have with Yaesus implementation of the SD is how proprietary and restricted use they have , the FT 1 cards can not be dropped into the FT 2 , hopefully they will change this in future models, it would be real nice to get a new radio and just pop a card in and have all your settings files done and transferred so your new rig fits just like the old one did.
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