This is nothing more than an accounting of how I was made aware of the term “code plug” in what obviously may be called my very sheltered life.
My introduction to the term “Code Plug” came to me during a conversation I had with another ham over how to set up DMR on a DMR capable ham radio. I believe this conversation went something like this; “…and then you either create your own code plug or someone will give you one they have created to install. Code Plug? I’m just asking if you would share your configuration file.” So, very late in (my ham and scanner) life I learned a term that’s been around for decades. What I knew as a programming file is also called a code plug. I googled the new-to-me term and learned it (amoung other things) referred to something such as a crystal that was plugged into a socket within the radio, something I used in my old Regency 4 or 8 channel scanners that replaced my Radio Shack Patrolman tunable 30-50 MHz receiver. Ok… now I knew what a code plug is, it’s history and how it’s used. But why I hadn’t heard of it until Ham DMR became popular in the states bothered me. But being somewhat embarrassed over not knowing the term was something I got over quickly. I’ve heard people say things like “I don’t have a programming file but I do have a code plug.” I surmised they thought a programming file was the software programming that made it easier to enter all the parameters in today’s trunking systems, And the two terms could cause some confusion. So naturally, I discarded my “program file” terminology and replaced it with “code plug”. I state that I got over it quickly, but the fact I posted this causes me some concern… it’s probably just old age, set in my ways, not wanting to bother with change and I do apologize for wasting you time.
Respectfully submitted,
A 76 yr old ham and scanner enthusiast
My introduction to the term “Code Plug” came to me during a conversation I had with another ham over how to set up DMR on a DMR capable ham radio. I believe this conversation went something like this; “…and then you either create your own code plug or someone will give you one they have created to install. Code Plug? I’m just asking if you would share your configuration file.” So, very late in (my ham and scanner) life I learned a term that’s been around for decades. What I knew as a programming file is also called a code plug. I googled the new-to-me term and learned it (amoung other things) referred to something such as a crystal that was plugged into a socket within the radio, something I used in my old Regency 4 or 8 channel scanners that replaced my Radio Shack Patrolman tunable 30-50 MHz receiver. Ok… now I knew what a code plug is, it’s history and how it’s used. But why I hadn’t heard of it until Ham DMR became popular in the states bothered me. But being somewhat embarrassed over not knowing the term was something I got over quickly. I’ve heard people say things like “I don’t have a programming file but I do have a code plug.” I surmised they thought a programming file was the software programming that made it easier to enter all the parameters in today’s trunking systems, And the two terms could cause some confusion. So naturally, I discarded my “program file” terminology and replaced it with “code plug”. I state that I got over it quickly, but the fact I posted this causes me some concern… it’s probably just old age, set in my ways, not wanting to bother with change and I do apologize for wasting you time.
Respectfully submitted,
A 76 yr old ham and scanner enthusiast
