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Read and write from/to CSV files, import frequencies from external sources such as Repeaterbook; copy, paste, channels like working in a spreadsheet. RT Systems does all that too. Also, save a file with the OEM software, then change the frequency ranges of the radio and try to write the software to the radio, even though the channels you’ve programmed are well within the range you chose. It won’t work. It will with RT Systems and I bet it will with Chirp. The OEM software is worse than simple; it’s bad.

This^^^ I like to program my radios so they are the same. Being able to copy and paste is very useful.

Does it do it if you program in the DCS split tone through the OE software? If so, then it might be something weird with the radio. if not, then it'd be worth reporting the issue to Chirp so it can potentially be corrected/

UPDATE: Start time was accidently omitted in the above announcement: Net will take place Wednesday June 11th starting at 8:00 PM

It's simple, but it's clunky as hell. Being able to copy and move entire lines (or hell, an entire table of channels) at once, instead of doing them cell by cell, is nice. But if you don't screw around with your config much and just set it up once and use it, then there's no reason the OE software won't work.

Chirp is quirky for DOS/Windows users. Be sure to read the online help page.

The Retevis RA25 and the Anytone 779UV are also listed. I noticed that all three are separately listed as well and not the typical “see this or that model”. I for one am glad to see these added being a Mac guy.

Fortunately, since I retired I will never have to deal with Mac again. I'm an old DOS dinosaur (like DOS 1.0). I lamented the origin of Windows. Then again I really hate the two, three and four step delete processes that have come about because folks did stupid duff like deleting all the files on an entire hard drive.

It works on a Mac.

I didn't see anything major at first glance. I mentioned one thing, regarding ch. 8-14, that might be different (don't know yet). One thing Chirp is typically better at compared to most CCR software is copying channels and moving channels in a block rather than one at a time. But the DCS split problem could be important as more of the private repeaters are likely to go to split tones, though not necessarily DCS. No, and I'm not getting specific as it is by permission.

Fair enough. I can see the advantage of being able to use one software for multiple manufacturers radios. I'll probably get it and play with it. One thing for sure the instructions have got to be better than the OEM software (really lack of instructions) for this radio. But I'm sort of used to everything from no instructions to chinglish to well written ones.

Use whatever software you like friend. I was just letting others know it was available on Chirp now, as this has been asked about for a very very long time and it’s a popular radio. does Chirp do anything that the oem software doesn’t? Probably not, but if we are all being honest about using all the different software iterations Chirp is by far the most straightforward and not finicky when it comes to device hardware and driver compatibility with different computer operating platforms. Try installing the oem software from a few other mfg’ers (wouxon being one) on an old windows or really new windows version and you have to do a lot of computer fiddling. Just my experience as I’m not a real computer savvy guy.

The DB20 OEM software is pretty simple. What does CHIRP software do with this radio that the OEM software won't? I spent years programming control equipment. Every manufacturer had their own proprietary software. But once you learn the software none were significantly easier than the rest. So far it seems the same way with radios.

Ah darn. I’ll see if I can test it out tonight. I haven’t tried it yet.

Is that the Redman1 repeater?

@amaff Very Nice. The bright colors were a great choice for such a setup.

There is a problem that will prevent me from using Chirp to write to the DB20-G. After downloading channels, there are 2 channels (22 and 38) highlighted in red which have a mouse-over notice that says list index out of range. Both of these are set to .725 with split DCS tones. Other channels with same frequency but CTCSS tone are OK, and so are channels with DCS same on both in and out. I'll have to stick with the company software until Chirp developer(s) fix this. There are no frequency range settings for GMRS mode (not surprising). The channel list shows that TX Disable can be set to Enabled for 8-14, but whether the radio will actually transmit I can't test until I can write to the radio after the above issue is fixed. Update: I added a fake channel (.625 simplex on 44) with split DCS tones (1N, 2N) and Chirp read that OK. So I don't know exactly what combination triggers the error. Update2: Added another fake channel (.725 simplex on 46) with split DCS (773N, 1N) and this one does generate the error. And, tried a couple more combinations... doesn't appear to be related to frequency, just DCS split.

"Stealth" wasn't so much a consideration as "easily finding it when 1 of the kids accidentally drops it down a ravine"

All the fire fighters in my community have the green Motorola's.. I was joking with one of the firefighters at Panda Expfress last week,, "Can you accidentally forget that thing on the table" .

That is only for the base load coil minus the antenna element. Without the antenna element, the base load coil is essentially useless. The actual price including the antenna element is $84-$88. That is like buying a brand new car at an advertised price, but if you want to drive it out the driveway, you will need to pay extra for the engine and tranny. Who in their right mind would buy just the base load coil. Arcadian (Arc Antenna) price for the complete antenna, Larsen NMO27C, is $72.47. Buying from most discount warehouse operations that specializes in cheap and counterfeit products is not always the best deal. Buy from a reputable radio electronics outlet.

Man, those green one sure do stand out LOL

I dig it Here's mine:

Showing respect for another person’s life is not weird. Now if you start fixating on it, that’s another story. One thing about the Anytone; if the call sign is just used for the splash screen that’s okay, but if you use the radio on DMR you’ll want/need to change the DMR ID to your own before transmitting.

Many people equate Morse Code and CW. Some of us protest that they are different when people use the terms interchangeably, sometimes because we are being pedantic. I’m guilty of that, but because you asked I hope you’ll forgive me for trying to explain it in a way that is hopefully interesting. I’m on the road, woke up early, and I think the difference is interesting. A radio signal, at its most basic form is just an electromagnetic wave at a particular frequency, with almost no bandwidth. The simplest transmitter is an oscillator driving electrical power of a single frequency into a wire. That single frequency of RF contains absolutely no information. It’s just there when it’s on and not there when it’s off. But because it concentrates all that RF power into a single frequency, it’s easily transmitted by a very simple device and easily received with yet another simple device. That is the “Continuous Wave” or CW, a pure frequency of a single frequency that can travel far with very little power. And although you hear tones at the transmitter and receiver ends, there is no actual audible tone being transmitted. The audible tone is created just for the convenience of the operators at the transmitter and receiver. Samuel F. B. Morse had already developed a way to use DC electricity to transmit messages on the telegraph by turning current on and off in the familiar pattern that’s now called Morse Code. By applying that same code to turn on and off the continuous wave the earliest actual form of radio communications was implemented. So to pedantic purists like myself there truly is a distinct difference between CW and Morse Code. One is the medium. The other is the encoding that allows us to communicate the message. But because CW is almost never used for anything other than conveying Morse Code, the two terms have become interchangeable for most people.

Yep, there are other brands that are way more expensive.