socotran st980pluse

[weward]

anyone know of software to program st-980pluse radio

[Radioguy7268]

Here's what Google says:   https://www.rtsystemsinc.com/ST-980Plus-Radio-Programming-Software_ep_419-1.html

 

In 25+ years of Commercial LMR experience, I have never heard of the Socotran brand - or RT Systems.

 

Update:

 

Well, that was an interesting little trip down the rabbit hole. Seems that QYT also makes an ST-980plus, and it's probably the same unit. You could probably try programming with Chirp - and select the QYT version to see if that allows read/write access to the Socotran.

 

There's also a well-written write up done on the Socotran ST-7900 radio here: https://ka7oei.blogspot.com/2019/02/a-hiliariously-bad-multi-band-radio.html

 

The guy does a very complete and thorough job testing the radio, and points out some of it's flaws - but also explains why it's happening, and why it's bad. It's a good write up for anyone who wonders why so many of us rail against the CCR radios that have come to dominate the lower end of the market.

[axorlov]

There are good news too: the radio is small enough to nicely fit into normal-sized garbage bin with space left for other rubbish one might have laying around in the house.

[wayoverthere]

Here's what Google says: https://www.rtsystemsinc.com/ST-980Plus-Radio-Programming-Software_ep_419-1.html

 

In 25+ years of Commercial LMR experience, I have never heard of the Socotran brand - or RT Systems.

 

Update:

 

Well, that was an interesting little trip down the rabbit hole. Seems that QYT also makes an ST-980plus, and it's probably the same unit. You could probably try programming with Chirp - and select the QYT version to see if that allows read/write access to the Socotran.

 

There's also a well-written write up done on the Socotran ST-7900 radio here: https://ka7oei.blogspot.com/2019/02/a-hiliariously-bad-multi-band-radio.html

 

The guy does a very complete and thorough job testing the radio, and points out some of it's flaws - but also explains why it's happening, and why it's bad. It's a good write up for anyone who wonders why so many of us rail against the CCR radios that have come to dominate the lower end of the market.

Hardware wise, it looks like a clone of the btech 50x2, and closely related to the gmrs 50x1 (which isn't exactly confidence inspiring). That said, I have huge doubt this one is part 95 aapproved.

[n4gix]

Good grief! That is the absolute worst transceiver I've ever seen. And that's saying something!

[WRQY206]

I can confirm that the SOCOTRAN 980PLUS will work with CHIRP using the QTY 980PLUS setting, so there is no need to BUY the "RT Systems" proprietary programing software.  As an aside, the second-hand radio was purchased for "the right price" so expectations are low enough that I should still be happy with it as my first foray into mobile rig setups.