Extreme
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Posts posted by Extreme
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WRAK968, on 16 May 2018 - 12:50 PM, said:
Hey everyone,
So, I recently picked up a Kenwood TK880. I've heard quite a few good things about these radios, however when I powered it up for the first time, it displayed Ver: 1.5209, beeped, then showed yyyyyyy
From research, I learned this is likely a firmware issue in that it should be Ver2.xxxx as per the sticker, but was flashed to Ver 1.5xxx for passport use. Does anyone know how to obtain the FPro software and Ver2 firmware?I have the same problem suddenly. Powered up several times with no issue then today (installed 2 days ago) powered up normally with "Y04HFU". Tested simplex with HT and it worked great. Powered down, then back up to test repeater between 880 and HT. Display came up "yyyyyy" as described above. I see here that the OP resolved his issue with an upload but I'm not seeing details on where you got the firmware, etc.
I should have the correct cable in my mailbox right now and have downloaded 49D software. Is that what I need or is there more to it?
Details appreciated. And it's fine to talk to me as if I'm green.. because I am.
Reposted this as a new topic since it didn't seem to show up as unread topic for all to see.
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Hey everyone,
So, I recently picked up a Kenwood TK880. I've heard quite a few good things about these radios, however when I powered it up for the first time, it displayed Ver: 1.5209, beeped, then showed yyyyyyy
From research, I learned this is likely a firmware issue in that it should be Ver2.xxxx as per the sticker, but was flashed to Ver 1.5xxx for passport use. Does anyone know how to obtain the FPro software and Ver2 firmware?
I have the same problem suddenly. Powered up several times with no issue then today (installed 2 days ago) powered up normally with "Y04HFU". Tested simplex with HT and it worked great. Powered down, then back up to test repeater between 880 and HT. Display came up "yyyyyy" as described above. I see here that the OP resolved his issue with an upload but I'm not seeing details on where you got the firmware, etc.
I should have the correct cable in my mailbox right now and have downloaded 49D software. Is that what I need or is there more to it?
Details appreciated. And it's fine to talk to me as if I'm green.. because I am.
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Last TK-880 I bought didn't cost much more than a PL259-SMA adapter. In fact I passed on some just last week that were $15 each.
If I were you I would put the 880 in the UTV, get another one for the truck, and probably a couple more as backups. But that's just how I roll!
I was actually thinking awhile back that I had several TK-880s. But I started looking for them and could only find one that wasn't already in a vehicle. So I looked around for some cheap ones and bought three more for just over $20 each.
You're gonna need two for your repeater! What repeater, you ask? Just wait!
I'm skeptical about buying off Ebay but it sounds like lots of folks have good luck there. Assuming that's where you get them. I spend the extra to get a 90 day warranty and to be sure it works out of the box. I have no interest in getting 2 or more to 'make' one good one. If you find one you're passing on, pass it on to me if from a reputable seller and I'd consider it.. kidding, sort of..
Regardless of where I buy, I am leaning toward another 880 in the pickup. The UTV install turned out well IMO so will see how much use it gets this summer on the trails, etc.
Yeah, repeater. Don't need one at home, there's already two within easy reach of both my HT. I have a piece of dirt in Montana that would be close to ideal @ 5600', open with no trees or big buildings, looking over a good size town several hundred feet below and a couple valleys that stretch a long way. Closest repeater to that area is well over 100 mi. LOS and behind a few 10k ft. mountain ranges. Also happens to be at the junction of two major interstate highways. But I don't live there, visit a couple times a year only, so it would be more of a GMRS community service, if there's even a GMRS "community" in the area. Build it and they will come.
..and I know squat about requirements, as in enclosures, tower/pole, batteries with solar I'm assuming would be the ticket. Maybe I could find someone to maintain it for their group or such. Anyway..
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Personally, if I had already bought that I still wouldn't use it on the UTV. I would just save it to use at the house, cabin or whatever. The 13" of angle iron or aluminum will be enough ground plane.
Yup, I've put that one out of my mind for this application. The installation is complete on the UTV and I think it will be fine.
Waiting on software and cable to arrive so I can go through and verify programming on the 880 to be sure everything it correct and maybe change some button assignments (same thing, different hard and software for the 3170 HT).
Hopefully, I won't stumble around too much with the software.
Or.. I could move the 880 to my pickup and just use PL259 - SMA jumper for HT in the UTV on the mobile antenna.. I'm actually liking that idea - (attribution for that idea to WREN301).
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Got it. More good stuff. Thanks.
In effect, even if by mistake or dumb luck, the positive was hooked up last since the radio is grounded through the coax before installing the fuse.
Had I done it properly, the radio would not have powered up w/o ground connected to the battery, I would have thought nothing of it, I wouldn't have asked the simple question about negative fusing, or learned all I have in this thread. I could have assumed that Kenwood knows what they're doing by having both sides fused, and by having instructions to wire to positive and negative battery terminals.. and with my luck could have burned down my brand new UTV or pickup. That's why we ask questions..
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Probably used the coax shield as its ground path. Shows the antenna has a good ground plane.
Wow. Would never have thought of that. Yes, I tried hard to get a decent ground plane, otherwise, why bother..
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A bit surprised when I installed the 880 in my Yamaha SxS today. Last thing I did of course is put fuse in. Connecting positive first as always. Ground had not been connected yet. Radio powered up as soon as I installed a fuse in the B+, red, hot.
Is this an issue? Floating ground? Hmm..
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You can down load the Kenwood programming software for your radio from the location below:
http://www.radioscanner.ru/files/kenwood/file8416/
The download link is near the top of the page. The file you want is "kpg101d.zip"
The zip file should also have the license key you need to enable the software install. I have it running on Win 10 Home. I used this software to load a test code plug in to a used TK-2170 I picked up.
The radio uses the Baofeng type programming cables. If you buy one make sure it doesn't have a fake "Prolific" serial to USB chip in it. This site has the info about the cables:
http://www.miklor.com/COM/UV_GettingStarted.php
Sooner or later you are going to want to make changes or load the code plug up into another TK-3170. No point in paying somebody when you can do it yourself.
Thanks for that. Ordered FTDI cables from bluemax49ers for both TK3170 and TK880.
Did I read on the forum that the software for the 3170 is the same as for the TK880? Not finding that post but will continue searching.
Downloaded the software as well. Is the license key the box that pops up asking for name, company and S/N (is that Kenwood S/N?)?
Forgive my ignorance, but is all I need to do is double click Setup, fill in that form and rock on? I quit before filling in the form since the radio is out in the shop.
I'm awful good at not getting software type stuff right first try...
880
Kenwood KPG-49D RSS Programming Software from Hamflies.
Version 4.20 for Windows
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Appreciate the enlightenment. I'm installing a Kenwood TK-880 into my new Yamaha Wolverine (side-by-side) tomorrow. Got it mounted tonight and will wire tomorrow, fish the antenna cable, etc. I expect to have it up and running by Sunday latest. Ford pickup is next for the same radio.
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Looks like 12ga.
Looked it up and they say 18a max if for that gauge if I remember.
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Welcome back Corey. I filled everyone's time with endless questions, like this one.
15a fuse in both ok?
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Thank you sir! Interesting tidbit to stash away.
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New Kenwood mobile power harness has inline glass fuse holders (old school) on both positive and negative wires (red/black). Gotta be something to do with RF? But I'm not finding the answer in searches or in the Manual. Please explain.
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These radios have 90 day warranty and guaranteed to work properly. Programming was free with the purchase so a no-brainer. I already knew what I wanted - channels and repeaters, having bought a new Wouxun 805G HT and programmed that. So it was a matter of sending the vendor the spreadsheet for them to program.
I do intend to get the software & cable for future use on the Kenwoods if needed. Have links for that. Ya, from what I gather here, the Kenwood is less painful for programming compared to Motorola, as you say. Lots of help from fellow myGMRS members choosing the radios I ended up with. 3170 for the Li battery and a bit smaller size than some HT.
Both Kenwood HT and mobile will arrive tomorrow. Have a leg up on the installation into my side-by-side already, got the antenna and NMO with cable so need to route and get the antenna on the kayak rack. The pickup install will be next (a different thread).
I do want to get an SWR/Pwr meter but not break the bank. It will be for initial setup/test and little more than that. Could have gotten my hands on a Bird some years ago (decommissioned and sent away).. sure wish I'd done that. Complete with 460-ish pucks.
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Yay! Persistent application of cognitive energy pays off finally!
I think I'll invoke the blind squirrel idiom..
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I've bought several dozen programming cables from "bluemax49ers" and had no problems with any of them.
More to the point I buy cables that use FTDI instead of Prolific whenever available.
Finally! After umpteen attempts with the ebay cable I finally got it to work. Hopefully I'll have 1st time success with the Kenwood cable(s).
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Did you read the product description on Ebay?
Not as closely as maybe I should. Got the link from a fellow member who said it worked perfectly on his new 805G so went with that.
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http://www.miklor.co...tingStarted.php
takes me nowhere.
So, elementary I'm sure..
When I get the cable, plug it in and Windows should load the drivers, correct?
Downloaded the software
Open zip.
There are 2 Setup Files inside: 1. Application and 2. Configuration settings. Do I just need to run both of those files and follow instructions?
This is where I seem to lose it.
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If you look around on the Internet you can find PDF copies of the radio user guide and service manuals. Useful to have.
Have done this for all 3 radios. And have actually read a lot
Also if you get the FCC ID off the back of the radio you can search the FCC database where you will find the test reports and the FCC grant, Part 90, 95 etc. for example, the radio is certified.
Did this as well, before ordering a used radio.
Will be interesting to see on the cable and software. Supposedly the ebay seller is the best (recommended here). Will have to keep playing but it can get frustrating when things do go as advertised.
Thank you.
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The radio uses the Baofeng type programming cables. If you buy one make sure it doesn't have a fake "Prolific" serial to USB chip in it. This site has the info about the cables:
Are you saying the "Prolific" serial to USP chips are fake? Or that there are "fake Prolific" cables labeled as Prolific but not genuine?
I have one (ebay) for the Wouxun 805G (serial - USB is where my laptop put it). It's from the recommended ebay cable seller. His reply to my question on why it wouldn't work for me was, "I cannot find any software for that radio.".
I also have the Wouxun cable and CD from the dealer but the software won't work with either the Wouxun cable or the ebay cable. It tries to read from the radio then gives the dreaded "Connection Fail". Thankfully, I got the 805'G' so it's programmable with the keys, the 805 is not.
I was under the impression the ebay cable was plug 'n play, no software required. First off, the drivers didn't load automatically so had to go online for them. .zip files, and that confuses me at the git-go but I did my best until successfully loaded drivers. Same "Connection Failure". Verified COM Port, etc. But it is in there as serial - USB.
Again, I can take this up on another thread later on. I did comment to my wife that folks tend to write instructions for people who 'know stuff'.. poor assumption in my case.. lol. But for now all my radios should be programmed to my needs.
Thanks again gang!
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Similar description of OST in the 3170 manual that I read before posting above. I guess my question is: will OST allow me to modify PL tones?
Not real clear for this layman.
Actually it's moot now, since I had the dealer program a button for OST (free programming with purchase) along with the PL tones for repeaters in 3 states that I expect to at least try (8 total, a few 'redundant', and a few with unique PL/CTTSS, as in not 141.3). I have a handy spreadsheet for reference if necessary. A few repeaters in the wide area are identical but hundreds of miles apart so all I need to do is pull up the myGMRS App on my phone to confirm them and fire away. I've already obtained permission for them, regardless of whether that was required - all have been very accommodating and a few very encouraging.
Whether OST does what I hope with PL tones is not a big deal but would be nice. Thanks for the software/cable links. I've had zero luck with programming another radio so suspect it's the operator.. that's a topic for another thread.
Thanks to all.
Kenwood TK-3170
OPERATOR SELECTABLE TONE
You can change the preset encode and decode tones for the
selected channel. Your dealer can program up to 40 tones on
your transceiver.
To turn OST ON or OFF, press the key programmed as OST.
•
The OST indicator (
this function is activated.
To change the preset encode/decode tones:
1 Press and hold the key programmed as OST for
approximately 1 second.
•
The OST name appears on the display this function
2 Press the <B and C> keys, rotate the selector, or enter an
appropriate number using the DTMF keypad to select your
desired encode/decode pair.
3 Press the Side 1, S, or
and return to normal operation.
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There are available NO GROUND antennas. They work fairly good price is good too https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/pctel-maxrad-muf4502-839
used on on my camper and my utv
Yes, that's been discussed. Seems the 1/4 wave will work best as far as RF goes and has the added benefit of it's 6" length. The NGP antennas are much longer and would be a pain for overhead clearance on a UTV, would require spring loaded base, etc.
I'll probably run the 6" on the kayak rack with an extension bracket for starters to see how it works then move to the ground plane listed above if I think it will help.
The antenna will be on a 2" flat of angle aluminum that is tied to a 1" wide piece of steel, in turn tied to 1.5" steel roll bar.. all above the UTV plastic roof. Not as complicated as it sounds.
Expecting my Kenwood 880 (and a 3170) Friday so will probably get the install done over the weekend. I'll post pictures if allowed and we can tear into it then. Nothing will be done that can't be undone or modified (bolts, not welds), and done with stuff I had laying around.
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thank you for the info.
I am looking forward to getting my wife on a radio and start hitting local repeaters.Although in Nevada I travel your area a couple times a year and have the .550 repeater in your area programmed into my radios. Will be interesting to see how far out I can hit it (Howe, maybe?). Will try from Dubois and the top of Monida (doubtful)
TK-880 Displays 'yyyyyyy' New Post
in Technical Discussion
Posted
I'll let you all know the response I get from the vendor when I call Wednesday. It was ordered as V2 but I neglected to look on the tag so will verify that tomorrow.
My preference will be to return it for them to update since it should have come V2, but I might hit you up for the firmware if/when the time comes. On first glance I don't see FPRO in the software but haven't yet run Setup yet (waiting on the cable).
Seemed odd to me that it took several cycles on/off before it reared up 'yyyyyy', but hey, it's all new to me.
FYI, RCM recommended you to me if I need help, so thanks for the support folks.