Programming TK-880: How to start?

[fremont]

Have a cable, a transceiver and v4.21 software CD.

 

Should I print something out first or just fire up the CD and see where it takes me?

[WRAK968]

The 49D software is rather straight forward. hook the cable up, install the software and run. You need to read from the radio (Make sure your com port settings are correct) then you'll have a screen where you can start entering channel information and stuff. Remember for repeater frequencies, the 462 frequency goes under receive, and the 467 goes under transmit. You have a choice of CTCSS (PL) or DCS (N and I) tones. Just enter the info in, keep everything wide band and you should be good.

[SteveC7010]

The first critical rule of radio programming is to immediately save a copy of the codeplug to your hard drive or a flash drive after you have read the radio for the first time. That way, you can always go back to a working codeplug if things go sour.

 

If you create a good working codeplug, save that, too.

 

I maintain an inventory of over 50 radios. I meticulously save codeplugs as I update or change them.

[fremont]

The first critical rule of radio programming is to immediately save a copy of the codeplug to your hard drive or a flash drive after you have read the radio for the first time. 

Sounds like MY first critical rule of radio programming should be to know what a codeplug is and where to find it. 

[WRAK968]

Sounds like MY first critical rule of radio programming should be to know what a codeplug is and where to find it. 

A code plug is the programing file of the radio (When you read from the radio you are downloading the code plug.) While Steve is correct you should save a code plug, I've found thats only really a thing with Motorola, as the code plug saves a copy of the radios SN. If you try to load a code plug from another motorola radio it causes an error, thus if you mess up the code plug, you run the risk of bricking the radio (making it unusable.) Kenwood radios do not save or check the radios SN, instead confirming the model number for compatibility. Thus one file can be loaded to several radios. This is why I prefer Kenwood or Icom radios over motorola, that and the software and parts are cheaper.