• 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).

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New Member - Looking for Advice

ak7an

Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2023
Messages
59
Location
Indianola, UT
Speaker was a Motorola mobile speaker, excellent speaker if you can find one, and the radio was a Yeasu Ft1500 2 meter radio. I see your radio is a Kenwood TK-8180, so I would recommend the Kenwood KES-5 mobile speaker. I have a NX700 with that speaker in my Gladiator and it work superb.
 

nokones

Newbie
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Feb 19, 2011
Messages
618
Location
Sun City West, AZ
Actually, I have two Motorola speakers in this location. This picture was taken sometime before I installed my VHF radio. The two speakers are bolted to the roll-bar trim behind the driver's seat in my 23 Wrangler "IZARUBI" 2 Dr. One speaker is for my Motorola XTL5000 UHF radio and the other is for my Motorola XTL2500 VHF Highband Radio.

The cord you see zip-tied is not part of the speaker. It is my AC electrical cord for my refrigerator.

20240825_073550_resized_1.jpg
 

drummer12345

Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2024
Messages
12
Location
Clover, SC
Speaker was a Motorola mobile speaker, excellent speaker if you can find one, and the radio was a Yeasu Ft1500 2 meter radio. I see your radio is a Kenwood TK-8180, so I would recommend the Kenwood KES-5 mobile speaker. I have a NX700 with that speaker in my Gladiator and it work superb.
Something like this Motorola MLS-100?


Actually, I have two Motorola speakers in this location. This picture was taken sometime before I installed my VHF radio. The two speakers are bolted to the roll-bar trim behind the driver's seat in my 23 Wrangler "IZARUBI" 2 Dr. One speaker is for my Motorola XTL5000 UHF radio and the other is for my Motorola XTL2500 VHF Highband Radio.
How is the sound quality in those locations? I hadn't thought to mount one behind the seat.
 

nokones

Newbie
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Feb 19, 2011
Messages
618
Location
Sun City West, AZ

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
25,160
Location
United States
I've been looking at the Kenwood KES-5A (5" tall), Kenwood KES-8K (looks to be 2.6" tall), Rugged Radios XTREME Waterproof Speaker with 15 Watt Amplifier with Volume and Power Control (EX-SPK-XR, 5" tall), and Rugged Radios Mini External Speaker for Mobile Radios (EX-SPEAKER-MINI, about 3" tall). I am not 100% sure that each of these will work yet, just my initial list.

You don't need the XTREME amplified speaker. Just a regular speaker will work fine and be much easier to install (don't need to run power for it).

The Kenwood KES-5 is a good speaker, big and loud, will give you nice clear audio even with your windows down.
The KES-8 would work pretty well, but not as well as the KES-5.
The standard Motorola remote speakers are really good, also.
Not saying you should buy this exact one, but this is what you would be looking for:


If it was me, I'd go with either a Motorola speaker or the KES5. Just be aware, it'll put out enough sound to hurt your ears. On the flip side, if you get out of your jeep, you can roll down your windows and crank the volume. You'll be able to hear the radio from a few hundred feet away, no problem. I run the Motorola speaker in a UTV, while wearing a full face helmet and running down the trail at 40 mph, I can still hear the radio plenty loud and very clear.

The KES-5 usually comes with Molex pins on the end of the cable. The KAP-2 Horn Relay/PA option for the radio makes hook up pretty easy. Or you can just solder on an 1/8" plug on the end and plug it in the external speaker jack. You can do the same thing with the Motorola speaker.
 

nokones

Newbie
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Feb 19, 2011
Messages
618
Location
Sun City West, AZ
The Midland 21-406 Speaker is the same identical speaker and probably made by the same supplier just with the Midland label as the Motorola HSN4031B Speaker. The Midland comes with the 1/8" phono jack plug instead of the Motorola Molex style connector. I have a few of these along with the identical Motorola speakers and they have worked very well over the years with very clear audio.

 

drummer12345

Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2024
Messages
12
Location
Clover, SC
My order from The Antenna Farm arrived this week. The TK-8180K and radio mount are out for delivery today. I have the magnetic mic and mic mount set for delivery on Monday.

I am looking at the programming cables now. I am seeing two cables that are listed for the TK-8180K, the KPG-46 (with computer adapter FTDI) and the KPG-46p (w/ prolific). Both have USB-A and RJ45 ends. I have tried searching for the difference in the computer adapter, but have been unable to locate information.


Does anyone know the difference and which one I need?
 

nokones

Newbie
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Feb 19, 2011
Messages
618
Location
Sun City West, AZ
My order from The Antenna Farm arrived this week. The TK-8180K and radio mount are out for delivery today. I have the magnetic mic and mic mount set for delivery on Monday.

I am looking at the programming cables now. I am seeing two cables that are listed for the TK-8180K, the KPG-46 (with computer adapter FTDI) and the KPG-46p (w/ prolific). Both have USB-A and RJ45 ends. I have tried searching for the difference in the computer adapter, but have been unable to locate information.


Does anyone know the difference and which one I need?
I am not an expert on this subject and my knowledge is enough to be dangerous. The Prolific Cable has the Prolific Chipset, thus requires the Prolific driver to be installed on your computer. The FTDI cable has the FTDI chipset and requires that the FTDI Driver to be installed on your computer.

FTDI is the better chip to use over prolific because it’s a more robust and system friendly controller on 32 and 64 bit operating systems. Prolific works but can sometimes have issues during installation.

If you are using the Windows 11 Operating System, I would go with the FTDI Cable and install the FTDI driver. I believe most Windows 11 Operating Systems may have that driver installed.

Also, you can't go wrong with Bluemax49ers cables

I hope this is somewhat close to being accurate.
 
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