what is the advantage of PC programming for Ham radios?

[e9999]

read here that several folks said that programming mnually a ham radio, like a 2m mobile, is a real pain and that PC programming is so much better, so one should look for a radio with the PC prog capability.

Of course, will take that advice to heart, but I don't know what in practice it is exactly that has to be programmed or that is so difficult. Surely, it's more than just the frequency and a memory name, then. Do you have to put in offsets and various settings for each and every memory slot?

Somehow, I had imagined that one can just dial a frequency and hit Xmit, maybe kicking another button for repeater offset, but that was about it to get going.

Is it that you just can't use the radio without serious programming, or is more something that helps for more advanced use?

 

[FJ40_owner]

If you are well versed in pushing button after button in the correct order and reading Japanes/English operators manuals then go with the non PC radio. I am not video game proficient, in fact I have never played one hence my preference for a large screen menu with all my frequency options in large fonts on one page.

Most of my radios have a real squelch knob. The newer radios have a software value that must be set, requiring a button push, knob turn, button push, knob turn and button push. Just to change the freekin squelch level! IMO these type of radios are a pain in the ass. I am not an appliance operator.

 

[dfmorse]

Yea, like FJ40_owner said. I have an FT530 yaesu hand held. Its not programable, but it would be nice if it was. Yaesu has the worse manual [ICOM is the best] and there are scores of commands to do much things. It is nice to get it set up on ur pc and then just dump the data. There is now a complete software ham radio on the market - prolly the future; I, of course, am old school.

...

 

[george_tlc]

If you have more than one radio (e.g. mobile and HT and...) you will go nuts trying to program each one via the radio buttons.

If you travel and want to load different repeaters (with alpha tags - i.e. names) you will go nuts trying to program each one via the radio buttons.

If you .... go nuts trying to program each one via the radio buttons.

If you love to enter in multiple waypoints, routes etc via the front buttons of a GPS then you will LOVE to program your radio via the radio buttons

cheers,
george.

 

[CDN_Cruiser]

The way to think of it, is picture programming 400 memory locations (e.g., repeaters and, with many radios, Weather, EMS freq, etc). On my radio, since there is no keyboard, you have to turn the dial for every number, letter, offset, - hit an enter key, etc. So, one memory location may look like:

145.410 -
VE3TWR
103.5 (for CTCSS)

So, 12 alphanumeric entries, noting that it's a negative offset, selecting the 103.5 "tone" from the menu, selecting an open memory location, etc. Then, do this 400 times (or more). Trust me, it's a major pain. As others have noted, it's worse if you travel and want to enter additional things. I can tell you that it's not intuitive enough (with either my Kenwood or Yaesu) to do without a manual.

With my mobile, I can download a file from a repeater program (eg AARL repeater list) that provides a list of all repeater freqs, offsets, names, etc in one file by selecting the area from a map. I then press a button and this is automatically loaded into my radio. I can basically do this on the fly with my laptop and software in the truck. I can also control the radio with the laptop (haven't done this) if I wanted to.

Basically, you are looking at an investment of a cable. If you have the skill, you can make one. The programming software may be free, or you may be able to use freeware, shareware, etc.

Cheers, Hugh

 

[e9999]

OK, thanks.
So for a wheeling trip, say, I would usually just have to set the frequency for truck to truck simplex and then maybe a repeater or 2 if needed, right?
That does not seem that bad. Guess I would give it a try manually first, and then go PC if I become more ambitious.
The interface is just a cable from the PC to the mike connector, I assume?
So any radio that has a mike connector could be programmed if there is a mike emulator for it?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

E-

I would suggest you buy a monoband radio and try programming it to a couple of frequencies. You will understand instantly why every says it is a PIA. Trust me, it is a major PIA.

The software lets you program the radio by filling out a spreadsheet on your computer. It is easy and intuitive. Then you down load the info into your radio and you are good to go.

There is no need to re-program before every trip. Just program the places you are likely to go, look up the repeater coverage and programe everything you might want and put an alpha tag on it so you can remember what it is. The other advantage is that we set up a bunch of radios the same way, so everyone in our posse has the same access and capability.

So for me, I have the local repeaters here in the valley, the Norcal simplex frequency, foothill repeaters with Rubicon coverage. Next time I reprogram, I'm going to add everything on the way to Death Valley, Pismo, Las Vegas and everythig between Norcal and Moab. To do all of this manually would take hours, and you would likely screw it up. On the PC, it's a 15 minute job at most. Leaving the info stored in the memory costs nothing and then is there when you need it.

Don't overthink this. People are telling you the PC software is better and easier because they have tried it both ways. You should heed they say.

 

[e9999]

yup, will make sure to get a radio that can be programmed by PC.