Wait a minute...v 1.06 is old already/ I did not notice-mine was shipped dated March 2025 with c1.06 on both. Maybe I'm just misreading these posts? And if there are newer firmware versions, I'm having enough trouble already! I really can't detect glitches, but I haven't transmitted yet-and won't but can test transmit on the family radio network frequencies, to see how these work at least short-range. I think many times my failure to understand a particular function is what is causing the few difficulties, not firmware glitches. I still cannot quite understand how to program channel mode vs. zone mode with the CPS software-requires more studying on my part, the few good Youtube video tutorials have been very helpful-but still can't quite understand how to software program from channels into zones. Again-it is the Chinese terminology that is confusing to me I think I am not completely computer ignorant after using software for the Whistler scanner. A little off-topic but if anyone can clarify this channel/zone programming in particular. I am about to take at least one of these out to Cape Cod with me for a few days-seems appropriate as I will (as I have for many years) visit Marconi Beach! I'v also visited the Marconi Museum in Chatham-very interesting stuff in there for any ham or tech/comm hobbyist or pro. Hoping to pick up some maritime off-shore-maybe even a pirate station or 2 (are these still around?)
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Radtel RT-880 programming
- Thread starter EAFrizzle
- Start date
Channel mode is like most CCRs, X number of channels with no bank divisions. Zone mode is like a favorites list on a scanner. You assign the frequencies you want into each zone, giving you quick access to a group of frequencies.
Zone mode makes scanning more useful with the slow speed as you can easily limit the number of channels in a zone. I have all the railroad channels in one zone, then zones by county and type.
Zone mode makes scanning more useful with the slow speed as you can easily limit the number of channels in a zone. I have all the railroad channels in one zone, then zones by county and type.
EA-thanks again. you solved another problem for me. I misunderstood-as if channels were zones. So for example-on the Whistler, there are separate "search' ranges for a specific range of frequencies-public service, marine, GMRS, etc for its band coverage ranges. These are "zones" with the Radtels.
What confused me-and I am too lazy to put up a screen capture for the software to show this-is how the software is laid out. The 880 software has "add" and "remove" in Chinese, all else in English. The 860 software has all labels in English! Good thing I have both installed. More importantly-the file tab labeled "FM radio" with the software program-in reality-this is showing frequency ranges when in "radio" mode-for SWL, as opposed to being in the mode for monitoring and transmitting ranges in the upper frequencies-the only frequencies this is programmed to transmit legally-such as a typical 2 meter, 70cm handy-talkies used for short range comms or bouncing off repeaters, correct? In the legal ranges allowed for say a HAM with a tech or above ticket.
So the "FM radio" file sheet in the Radtel software program as specified by these Radtels-is really showing SWL bandplans down to LW (at least when I upload my Radtels) and to 30.00MHz/10 meters but that Radtel is calling "FM"-as if it is a "mode" which is not labeled correctly in the software. If I am transmitting on 2 meters, or 70cm or any other tech allowed bandplans-this is either "FM" or SSB/CW. My Icom 751 is a "general coverage" receiver. My Whistler only covers "FM" technically-in the range above 28 meters-although it does pick up the CB 27MHz channels as do these Radtels. So to use these as a true budget handy-talkie for transmitting (legally) I cannot be in radio mode, I need to be in the other mode, which accurately should default to FM as my mode!!!! I really need a good Elmer-but only for these Radtels! I guess something has gotten muddled up as far as accuracy of descriptions, in relation to actual correct HAM terminology.
What confused me-and I am too lazy to put up a screen capture for the software to show this-is how the software is laid out. The 880 software has "add" and "remove" in Chinese, all else in English. The 860 software has all labels in English! Good thing I have both installed. More importantly-the file tab labeled "FM radio" with the software program-in reality-this is showing frequency ranges when in "radio" mode-for SWL, as opposed to being in the mode for monitoring and transmitting ranges in the upper frequencies-the only frequencies this is programmed to transmit legally-such as a typical 2 meter, 70cm handy-talkies used for short range comms or bouncing off repeaters, correct? In the legal ranges allowed for say a HAM with a tech or above ticket.
So the "FM radio" file sheet in the Radtel software program as specified by these Radtels-is really showing SWL bandplans down to LW (at least when I upload my Radtels) and to 30.00MHz/10 meters but that Radtel is calling "FM"-as if it is a "mode" which is not labeled correctly in the software. If I am transmitting on 2 meters, or 70cm or any other tech allowed bandplans-this is either "FM" or SSB/CW. My Icom 751 is a "general coverage" receiver. My Whistler only covers "FM" technically-in the range above 28 meters-although it does pick up the CB 27MHz channels as do these Radtels. So to use these as a true budget handy-talkie for transmitting (legally) I cannot be in radio mode, I need to be in the other mode, which accurately should default to FM as my mode!!!! I really need a good Elmer-but only for these Radtels! I guess something has gotten muddled up as far as accuracy of descriptions, in relation to actual correct HAM terminology.
Yeah, it's confusing, but once you translate the translation it kinda makes sense. Once you get used to "FM Radio" being something similar to an Eton Elite Executive in receiver coverage, and the other section being the transceiver it starts to become more intuitive.
It's two separate radios in one package: an amateur HT, and an AM/FM portable.
It's two separate radios in one package: an amateur HT, and an AM/FM portable.
I just got the RT-880G in the mail according to the manual , in the radio menus it says RT-880 and the Firmware is V1.15 2025-06-12 .
Well APRS does not work .. the header is wrong , you will show up in Pinpoint when running it but your packets will get dropped because the
header is wrong .. RT-880G BUG! "APID98/V,qAR,MYCALLSIGN:!" FIX ME!!! .
it will not transmit your your callsign correctly .. X@XYX-1 will be X@YX -1 ... if you have a callsign like X2X-1 all that get sent is the -1 ..
now if your the lucky one with a long callsign .. X@XXXX-1 then it works .. but the header is still fouled up ..
Programming Software .. cant delete , cant insert a row , CANT IMPORT A CSV file !!! ..
At least the radio turned on ..
Well APRS does not work .. the header is wrong , you will show up in Pinpoint when running it but your packets will get dropped because the
header is wrong .. RT-880G BUG! "APID98/V,qAR,MYCALLSIGN:!" FIX ME!!! .
it will not transmit your your callsign correctly .. X@XYX-1 will be X@YX -1 ... if you have a callsign like X2X-1 all that get sent is the -1 ..
now if your the lucky one with a long callsign .. X@XXXX-1 then it works .. but the header is still fouled up ..
Programming Software .. cant delete , cant insert a row , CANT IMPORT A CSV file !!! ..
At least the radio turned on ..
