Since I have never personally taken an x80 radio out of band, I'm not going to tell someone else that it's easy.
exactly, you haven't done it, so why comment on it to begin with? I have programmed many a x80 series (280 and 380) on both 2m (280) and 440 (380) and never had a problem. So I speak from first hand experience which I was just trying to share with the OP.
As for the KPG-49D, that's great. Since I program radios as part of my job, I'm never going to recommend that someone use a bootleg copy of software.
I program radios for my job too. None of this has anything to do with the OP, who desires to use these radios for AMATEUR radio use, I would certainly have taken a different stance if he were intending on using them for PROFESSIONAL applications, but that clearly was not his intent (at least so his post indicates)
I'm not going recommend someone else take that route, but neither will I scold them for doing it. My own personal principals and part of me keeping my job is not breaking copyright rules. I have a budget that covers things like purchasing programming software and cables, so I'm not going to take a shortcut and risk getting a bad piece of bootleg software or a crappy aftermarket cable and potentially brick a radio. Neither will I tell someone else to do that. If they chose to do that on their own, fine by me.
I always get a kick of out posts like this. I'll bet 99 percent of every "radio programmer" has unlicensed software as much as most people have bootleg MP3s on their PCs. Does it make it right? No. But the reality is the software IS out there. Does one get a warranty, technical support and manufacturer support if said software bricks a radio? Of course not. This is where they get the pleasure of laughing in your face and telling you "it's time and materials if you want your radio fixed. Next time buy software from us".
You get what you pay for. If you pay nothing for your software, you get exactly that: nothing if something goes wrong. Being that the OP stated he acquired these "from a friend" one can assume he/she has about that much invested in the radios to begin with.
In respect to the 80 series, these are pretty hard to brick unless you hose up a firmware refresh, which most users should not be doing anyway.
For less than $150 you can get a 2 meter Yaesu, Kenwood or Icom radio that won't require finding software or programming cables. It's already going to work in the proper segment of the band without any questions.
But the OP did not state he/she wanted to spend $150 for a new radio. They asked if the ones they have could be programmed into the ham bands, and the answer is YES.
The big benefit to a new amateur is that other hams will likely be able to help with programming and troubleshooting. I've helped out more than a few new amateurs, and nothing is more painful for them than not being able to figure out their new radio. Sometimes keeping your first step a small and easy one is a good way to get started. Jumping into the commercial radio field without any experience is no small step.
And another big benefit of using a recycled commercial radio, especially one that you have minimal investment in, is you get a MUCH SUPERIOR product versus some turdy ham radio that has a wide front end, squelch crashes on PLs, flimsy plastic housings, garbage audio and pricy accessories. You made it a point to bash Chinese radios, in all fairness, some of them are pretty good compared to the average "ham" radio. At least most of them do proper squelch tail elimination, don't have wide mouth CB radio TX audio, and most even do proper splinter channels. Sure they are cheap, but what does one expect for $40?
and your "experienced hams" such as you and I can Elmer the new blood into the realms of QUALITY radios and WHY these rigs are better, explaining HOW radios work, and allowing them to learn on quite frankly what is much better gear than just running out to HRO/AES and spending hundreds on some new toy radio. After all, most of the repeaters that your new ham will be talking through are LMR units, why not complete the circle?
Remember the days when getting an HT220 or Micor on frequency was a great way to get started on 2 meters? Do we always opt for the easy way out now? Jeez. Give the guy a break. He's got the radios, at least let's not get all high and mighty about software and stuff. These aren't XTS5000s or APXs, they are 10-12 year old Kenwoods that are pretty robust and will serve him/her well.
