• 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.

Kenwood 7160k and 8180k software upgrade. Is it worth it?

3

30319

Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2010
Messages
241
Location
Atlanta GA
I have both a Kenwood 7160k and 8180k. The 7160k has version 1.55 KPG-99d (from 2011) software and the 8180 has version 1 KPG-92d (from 2004). Is it worth upgrading to newer software? Would I have to upgrade the firmware using Kenwood FPRO before upgrading the software? Thank you in advance for all the help!
 
mmckenna

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
24,994
Location
United States
Unless you are specifically having an issue, I wouldn't mess with anything.

Some of the newer firmware/software combinations will force you to narrow band. If you are using the 8180 for amateur/GMRS, you'll regret that. On the other hand, depending on exactly what you have now, it may give you MDC1200 capability. But I'd not upgrade just for that.

On the 7160, it only forces you to use narrow band above 150.1MHz. so fine for amateur radio.

General rule of thumb is to not mess with that which is not broken.
 
W

wd8chl

Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2007
Messages
376
Especially since older radios like that aren't so firmware/software dependent as new radios are. It might add some features, but as was said, it may also restrict you to narrowband.
Newer radio firmware usually fixes bugs as well-things that could relate to audio, decoding (especially digital modes), and so on.
 
3

30319

Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2010
Messages
241
Location
Atlanta GA
mmckenna said:
Unless you are specifically having an issue, I wouldn't mess with anything.

Some of the newer firmware/software combinations will force you to narrow band. If you are using the 8180 for amateur/GMRS, you'll regret that. On the other hand, depending on exactly what you have now, it may give you MDC1200 capability. But I'd not upgrade just for that.

On the 7160, it only forces you to use narrow band above 150.1MHz. so fine for amateur radio.

General rule of thumb is to not mess with that which is not broken.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much!
 
3

30319

Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2010
Messages
241
Location
Atlanta GA
wd8chl said:
Especially since older radios like that aren't so firmware/software dependent as new radios are. It might add some features, but as was said, it may also restrict you to narrowband.
Newer radio firmware usually fixes bugs as well-things that could relate to audio, decoding (especially digital modes), and so on.
Click to expand...
Thank you!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Kenwood NX-5700 K Issue
2
Replies
33
Views
1K
jasej
J
S
NX-3320 still says "Unprogram"
Replies
4
Views
484
salem_c13
S
Hectomilan
LMC 300 Stole My D1N Key ?
Replies
4
Views
664
Hectomilan
Hectomilan
C
SDS100/SDS200: SDS100 noobie questions
Replies
12
Views
671
captshaq
C
B
TRX-1 upgrade error
Replies
9
Views
652
B-Parker
B
Top