F33GS Programming Software-Help with Setup

[Fatman2]

Hi everyone,
I am the newly appointed communications manager for our Fire Department. The department currently uses the ICOM F33GS VHF Handheld portables...The department purchased programming software and cable for me to be able to update/reprogram the units. I just received everything and installed it on my laptop Following the supplied directions to setup the software all went well. I am having problems reading from the radio to see what is currently in there. I keep getting a COM port error...I have tried changing com ports and have found a new error on the COM port 4 setting..."no answer from the transceiver". This is the only software I am experiencing problems with. The Vertex Software for the mobiles and the Motorola software for the pagers all work fine. Can anyone shed some light on this?
Thank you,

 

[lucas2121]

Hi everyone,
I am the newly appointed communications manager for our Fire Department. The department currently uses the ICOM F33GS VHF Handheld portables...The department purchased programming software and cable for me to be able to update/reprogram the units. I just received everything and installed it on my laptop Following the supplied directions to setup the software all went well. I am having problems reading from the radio to see what is currently in there. I keep getting a COM port error...I have tried changing com ports and have found a new error on the COM port 4 setting..."no answer from the transceiver". This is the only software I am experiencing problems with. The Vertex Software for the mobiles and the Motorola software for the pagers all work fine. Can anyone shed some light on this?
Thank you,

Are you using data port or USB connection?

 

[Fatman2]

I am using a usb connection, that is the cable that came with the software when it was ordered.

 

[stagnuts]

What version of Windows? Maybe your USB cable isn't installed correct. Haven't had any issues with mine. I use XP for all my programming.

 

[Fatman2]

I am using XP also...should I uninstall and reinstall everything?

 

[stagnuts]

Well you can try that. But the next question is what version of the software are you using. Could be that it is an older version than the one currently on the radio and that's why its not working. Let me know.

 

[Fatman2]

I received revision 2.3 Software...it is unknown what version the portables were programmed with. Noone in the department seems to know what was used to do them...they were originally sold and programmed by a former member; that's why they decided to buy their own this year. I am trying to get everything updated for them.

 

[stagnuts]

Fatman2, I just sent you a private message.

 

[lucas2121]

Theirs a way to check the version on the radio but I'm not sure how right off the top of my head. Try Icom tech support their for the most part helpful.

 

[Fatman2]

To all that offered assistance. I did a little investigating and found that the drivers didn't install correctly the first time. So I went through the process of installing the prolific drivers again and it assigned COM port 6. I set that in the software and I was able to read the radio the first time I attached it. Now, hopefully I can make the necessary changes and write the new program to the units. Thank you for all your help and I am sure I'll be asking you all more questions as I get familiar with ICOM.

Stay safe everyone!

 

[Duster40]

Now that you can READ the program that is in the radios,
go through every single page, then PRINT the page, and
make yourself a folder.
Even though you may not understand the WHY of every
setting, you will have a 'base' to fall back on, should you
ever need it.

 

[lucas2121]

Best of luck to you, I'm not so computer savy when it comes to that kinda stuff. If theirs anything else I could probably help, just let me know. The F33g is a good radio I think you will be happy with them, mine works better than our Ht1250s.

 

[L0gical1]

a bit off topic on the radio model i have an ic-f50v just got the usb cable for it that came with a cd with drivers but still no luck on connecting the radio to the soft. =( any one has drivers for the cable they would be able to email me. any help would be appreciated i'm new to icom =\

 

[lbfd09]

Glad to hear you solved your problem.

I sometimes am not able to do an upload, I found that if when this happens, I do a down load (after the propper saves and back ups, I can then pull up the new data and the upload will take. (I think Icom advised me of this some years ago.)

 

[Fatman2]

OK all...new question to the ICOM gurus...I got the software to function and I was able to "READ" the portable. I them created a new program, created the banks, lists, freqs, and settings. Everything went well, I was even able to get the Call feature to operate properly. I am having a problem though...I currently have the P3 button set to "BANK" thinking this would switch banks, but all it does is display the name of the current bank. I have 6 banks programmed, how do I get the radio to change banks either up or down? I am sure that I am overlooking something here, can anyone shed some light on this? Any help would be appreciated...Thanks!

 

[stagnuts]

Ok, that is easy. You need to set one of your other buttons as an up or down button. So you hit your P3 for the bank feature, than you need a button to go up or down. You do that and your all set.

 

[Fatman2]

Ok, that is easy. You need to set one of your other buttons as an up or down button. So you hit your P3 for the bank feature, than you need a button to go up or down. You do that and your all set.

Should it give ma a group up/down option from the menu in the key/display section?

 

[grumps96]

Hi, The only way I see to change Banks, is to set the Rotary selector to "Bank" In the program, Key and Display, double click on MR Chan and you will be given the option of Bank.

 

[Fatman2]

Ok, that is easy. You need to set one of your other buttons as an up or down button. So you hit your P3 for the bank feature, than you need a button to go up or down. You do that and your all set.

Got it...That worked!
Now, I have yet another question...The portable functions perfectly as it should with one exception...the unit remains quiet until the speaker icon is displayed (this is done by hitting the button used for "Moni") Is there any way to set the unit so that it receives audio transmissions without having to press the "Moni" key first?
As always...thanks for any help!

 

[lbfd09]

There was a question as to navigating between groups and channels. I am a local fire department and have my ht loaded with the groups on them selector dial. I use the 2 side buttons below the PTT for selecting the channel within a group. I can also do this via direct entry on my keypad. This allows my grous to have more than 16 channels in them.

Several groups will have duplicated channels, for example in our state the white channels. As well as out city load, county load, ranger unit load, adjacent dept load, and so on... I will use the tac and command channels from the other groups as they are duplicates and can simply switch with my top knob. when responding on mutual aid I use that agencies group and adjust from there. This makes it very simple especially in the fireground.