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've been programming my 5000 for a little while just made the purchase of a 3000 purchase the software now looking for the hardware interface. I see quite a bit of stuff on eBay but don't wish to waste my time buying junk. Does anyone know where I can get the correct rib box and the cable? I've already purchased one off of eBay it doesn't seem to work I keep getting an error message that is not communicating with the radio, so I'm thinking may be a bad boxer cable any suggestions
Update I want to thank all you guys for the help. Someone here suggested what type of computer to get running Windows XP I got one for about $39 it was able to program the unit in the matter of seconds once again I want to thank everybody who offered help and advice 73 s
Dell Latitude laptops like the D620, D630, D830, etc. are ideal for radio programming. They sold truckloads of them and they're cheap, plentiful, reliable, nearly bulletproof, and if they do have problems, spares are cheap and plentiful, too.
Thank you very much for your help. Because of your suggestion particular on what type of computer to get I was up and programming in a matter of minutes