-
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.
BT/Wi-Fi programming?
- Thread starter wd8chl
- Start date
NX Options. Kwd5002BT, If it's not enabled, need to be purchased.
Viking, called OTIP, again an option, needs to be purchased.
Viking, called OTIP, again an option, needs to be purchased.
wi-fi comes free, OTIP is $235 LIST PRICE, BORADBAND DATA SERVICE/VPN $120 LIST.
Josh, I will get with you on that, GOOD TO KNOW, as I have not gotten my VP8k yet, but added that to my mental notes.
For VP8K: You don't need broadband data service/vpn unless you are using armada server and have a data registration server. If you don't have either there's likely little utility in adding Broadband Data Services/VPN (though both features seem pretty reasonably priced @ list). You'd also need a server to run the VPN that has access to the same LAN segment as the DRS/Armada Server. It's a really amazing feature once it's all pieced together. It just works.
How do you do bluetooth programming on the VP8000?
Is there a guide on how to setup OTIP? I tried setting up the server, but it never really worked or launched.
You have to be on the same layer 2 network for armada to reach out to the radio. OTIP while it suggests "over the internet" is really over the local network. Make sure you go in and check the box in Armada settings to allow OTIP/Bluetooth. Of course, now that I write this it sent me down a rabbit hole reading the help file only to learn I'm wrong and some radios allow Bluetooh programming.
The manuals/guides that come with the software are pretty good and when all else fails the EFJ support is fantastic. If you are hitting roadblocks reach out to them. They are very good and welcoming unlike a lot of other vendors.
So after enabling OTIP in Armada and having it as a feature in the radio, it just works? No other setup required?
Yup! Make sure the radio is on the same wifi network and you are good to go. It just works.
Similar to other radio vendors you will find that they use Multicast DNS as a way for the computer to find the radio. This means you have to ensure that your network is setup to properly handle MDNS. Most typically do - but if you have an enterprise network or are on the more professional stuff you could unintentionally block these packets.
The nice thing about the VP8K is you can add any WIFI - at any time - from the keypad. Including typing in the WPA credentials. You couple this with Broadband Data Feature plus armada server and a VPN endpoint..... You will be cooking with gas. It's an amazing solution to a problem that is very well put together.
Similar to other radio vendors you will find that they use Multicast DNS as a way for the computer to find the radio. This means you have to ensure that your network is setup to properly handle MDNS. Most typically do - but if you have an enterprise network or are on the more professional stuff you could unintentionally block these packets.
The nice thing about the VP8K is you can add any WIFI - at any time - from the keypad. Including typing in the WPA credentials. You couple this with Broadband Data Feature plus armada server and a VPN endpoint..... You will be cooking with gas. It's an amazing solution to a problem that is very well put together.
I’m a bit idiot/savant, the ratio being hotly debated between me and everyone else, I of course had a hard time making this work. I gave up months ago. Internet protocol is of the devil so my ignorance is well received among the righteous, not so much the tech crowd.
I eventually succumbed to temptation and tried again: Success. On my home network it didn’t work (AT&T fiber router) possibly due to some evil setting being wrong. Out of desperation/boredom (I know, unlikely pairing for normal people) I decided to use my android phone hotspot for the network and then it worked! I cleaned up the pee and decided to try with a virtual machine on my MacBook. USB connection had never worked on my newest Mac (M4 Apple Silicon-Win11) due to no usblan driver and more so I was resigned to only editing templates on it without ability to shoot the radio(s). Disappointing but anticipated when I bought it. Well let’s see what evil Wi-Fi can do— It worked! It worked better than my toughbook, being able to more effortlessly read radio while toughbook often wouldn’t light up read button.
Observation- If you have more than one network in the radio it prefers the topmost present one; you can’t really select one on the fly. When I initially put in hotspot radio kept going to home network. I put hotspot on top to remedy situation. I forced hotspot to 2.4ghz since I wasn’t sure what radio could handle.
Now, how do I do BlueTooth?
I eventually succumbed to temptation and tried again: Success. On my home network it didn’t work (AT&T fiber router) possibly due to some evil setting being wrong. Out of desperation/boredom (I know, unlikely pairing for normal people) I decided to use my android phone hotspot for the network and then it worked! I cleaned up the pee and decided to try with a virtual machine on my MacBook. USB connection had never worked on my newest Mac (M4 Apple Silicon-Win11) due to no usblan driver and more so I was resigned to only editing templates on it without ability to shoot the radio(s). Disappointing but anticipated when I bought it. Well let’s see what evil Wi-Fi can do— It worked! It worked better than my toughbook, being able to more effortlessly read radio while toughbook often wouldn’t light up read button.
Observation- If you have more than one network in the radio it prefers the topmost present one; you can’t really select one on the fly. When I initially put in hotspot radio kept going to home network. I put hotspot on top to remedy situation. I forced hotspot to 2.4ghz since I wasn’t sure what radio could handle.
Now, how do I do BlueTooth?
the Viking series does not offer BTSPP (bluetooth serial port programming)
Now I wish Kenwood/EFJ would put a default wi-fi network setup in it like harris does (and maybe M) so that then we could setup a wifi at the shop to that, then all you have to do is shove a battery on them and turn them on. Armada should then see them (with the otip key-we could try to get customers that want more than say 20 radios to buy it). Then you don't have to try to enter your wifi into each radio, then take it back out again before they go to the customer...
Project25_MASTR
Millennial Graying OBT Guy
You don't need the Broadband Data Services/VPN option to program the radio over the internet. It's the easy button for it but any competent IT team or radio system manager could very easily create a Layer 2 tunnel between your Armada Server and local network using GRE, VxLAN, L2TP, etc and low cost hardware.
For example, on the Motorola side I currently do this for the WiFi enable portables to push updates via RM. Mikrotik hEX at the department sitting on the same VLAN as the radios normally subscribe to creates a VxLAN tunnel back to the rack my RM Server's Device Programmer sits in. Keeps me from having to spin up a Windows machine with RM Device Programmer on it and burn my more costly VPN licenses since we are all county departments with a common routed core network. A hEX runs $60...if I need to create a wireless SSID at the department I use a hAP ax Lite instead...same price.
For example, on the Motorola side I currently do this for the WiFi enable portables to push updates via RM. Mikrotik hEX at the department sitting on the same VLAN as the radios normally subscribe to creates a VxLAN tunnel back to the rack my RM Server's Device Programmer sits in. Keeps me from having to spin up a Windows machine with RM Device Programmer on it and burn my more costly VPN licenses since we are all county departments with a common routed core network. A hEX runs $60...if I need to create a wireless SSID at the department I use a hAP ax Lite instead...same price.
Similar threads
BCD325P2/BCD996P2:
Questions on what to do when I first get my BCD325P2?
