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.
I have a TK-3180 ( pretty much the same exact radio except that its in UHF form.) I love it. It has a huge channel capacity and the ability to trunk off of both LTR, and MPT1327 systems, I wouldnt program trunked networks into it, but its a great piece of hardware, programming is a piece of cake as well, I love the kenwood software.
Sweet thanks...What kind of programming cable does it have ...I got the programming kit for my vertex and the cable it came with was not compatable with my lap top?
If you by the USB programming cable, It will come with software to convert a USB port to a Serial port so that It will work with the radio software, but you will have to find the software for programming the radio (KPG-89D) seperately.
You probably wont be able to use another radio brands cable for the Kenwood radios... not to mention any other radio- if thats what you are asking. If you got a cable for your vertex and it didnt work, its probably because your laptop is too new- Dont worry about the Kenwood Software for the TK-2180 or 3180 being to old- it works fine with vista for me.
You can get it off ebay at some radio shops I think, but the problem is, they are directly from the US which makes them come in the 80 or 90 dollar range. Its best to buy it off ebay.