PC for updating HT's

[Guest kmonroe99]

I'm a Mac person but it looks like I need a PC to update some brands/models of HT's (Wouxun KG-904G, etc).  Looking for suggestions for a minimal configuration for Wouxun software and any other brands, CHIRP and maybe a SDR dongle.  Budget laptop reviews show me a nice ASUS Core i3, 128 Gb storage, 8 GB, with Windows 10 Home - I assume that would work?

I've borrowed a big ASUS ROG gaming laptop to try to work with a Wouxun KG-904G and I'm having a terrible time trying to get the red cable to work.  Yes I've seen the instructions at various places on the Web but still can't get COM1 assigned to the cable, actually can't even find COM1.

[MichaelLAX]

I have been a "Mac" person since before there were Macs in 1979 with my Apple ][+ and thereafter!

I have used Windows XP in Parallels Desktop ever since the Mac switched to the Intel CPU chip in 2006 (before that I ran Windows XP in Virtual PC).

I find that ALL of the codeplug software that I need for my use and I need to help others out with their programming of Wouxun's, DMR, etc. will run in Windows XP.

I have Windows 10 installed as well, but I have never found a reason to use it.

If you are willing to purchase Parallels (retail $49 for first users), I can direct you with tips on getting Windows XP inexpensively now that it is so hold and how to install it.

My Macs could run Windows in the Bootcamp environment natively, but with Parallels running it in emulation, I can have both environments running side by side and use "cut and paste" and/or Chirp running at the same time.

Do you mean the Wouxun KG-905G?  My understanding is that Chirp which will run on the Mac does not work with Wouxuns.

Drivers are the problem with certain USB cables; read this article:

Miklor article on cables and drivers

[kmonroe99]

13 minutes ago, MichaelLAX said:

I have been a "Mac" person since before there were Macs in 1979 with my Apple ][+ and thereafter!

I have used Windows XP in Parallels Desktop ever since the Mac switched to the Intel CPU chip in 2006 (before that I ran Windows XP in Virtual PC).

I find that ALL of the codeplug software that I need for my use and I need to help others out with their programming of Wouxun's, DMR, etc. will run in Windows XP.

I have Windows 10 installed as well, but I have never found a reason to use it.

If you are willing to purchase Parallels (retail $49 for first users), I can direct you with tips on getting Windows XP inexpensively now that it is so hold and how to install it.

My Macs could run Windows in the Bootcamp environment natively, but with Parallels running it in emulation, I can have both environments running side by side and use "cut and paste" and/or Chirp running at the same time.

Do you mean the Wouxun KG-905G?  My understanding is that Chirp which will run on the Mac does not work with Wouxuns.

Drivers are the problem with certain USB cables; read this article:

Miklor article on cables and drivers

I've got an old version of Parallels on my Mac.  It would certainly be cheaper for me to upgrade that as opposed to a Windows PC.  No issues with port/cables for updating I assume?

 

 

[MichaelLAX]

Well, since you will be running Windows, there will be driver issues, especially with the "cheaper" Chinese USB cables that used the counterfeit Prolific chip.

I solved the problem by purchasing one of the $22 FTDI USB cables that now works will all of my K-1 style (Kenwood-style) HTs and Windows installs the FTDI driver.

What version of Windows do you run in your old version of Parallels?  "Old" is usually not a problem with Parallels so long as you are still running the version of Mac OS X that works with that version of Parallels.

[kmonroe99]

31 minutes ago, MichaelLAX said:

I have been a "Mac" person since before there were Macs in 1979 with my Apple ][+ and thereafter!

I have used Windows XP in Parallels Desktop ever since the Mac switched to the Intel CPU chip in 2006 (before that I ran Windows XP in Virtual PC).

I find that ALL of the codeplug software that I need for my use and I need to help others out with their programming of Wouxun's, DMR, etc. will run in Windows XP.

I have Windows 10 installed as well, but I have never found a reason to use it.

If you are willing to purchase Parallels (retail $49 for first users), I can direct you with tips on getting Windows XP inexpensively now that it is so hold and how to install it.

My Macs could run Windows in the Bootcamp environment natively, but with Parallels running it in emulation, I can have both environments running side by side and use "cut and paste" and/or Chirp running at the same time.

Do you mean the Wouxun KG-905G?  My understanding is that Chirp which will run on the Mac does not work with Wouxuns.

Drivers are the problem with certain USB cables; read this article:

Miklor article on cables and drivers

You post triggered a thought and I started messing around on t he PC and figured out I needed the driver for the "CP 210x USB to UART Bridge" driver first!  Installed that and finally got my COM port assigned for the KG-905G.  Thanks

 

 

[MichaelLAX]

4 minutes ago, kmonroe99 said:

You post triggered a thought and I started messing around on t he PC and figured out I needed the driver for the "CP 210x USB to UART Bridge" driver first!  Installed that and finally got my COM port assigned for the KG-905G.  Thanks

 

 

That's why "I don't do Windoze" unless I am forced to do so! 

[wayoverthere]

2 hours ago, Guest kmonroe99 said:

  Budget laptop reviews show me a nice ASUS Core i3, 128 Gb storage, 8 GB, with Windows 10 Home - I assume that would work?

That should have no problem. Have run the 805g's software in Wine/Linux mint on an atom powered gateway netbook (circa 2010), as well as the Linux version of Chirp. I also have a variety of cps running fine on an atom powered Intel compute stick running win10.

[IanM]

I'm with you, nearly lifelong Mac user and avoid anything Windows related. But I have a few niche applications that require it, and they're pretty lightweight so I don't need a full BootCamp install. 

But no need to buy a whole new computer. VMware Fusion Player works if you have Catalina, but I don't (long story short, I'll lose a lot of compatibility if I update), and Oracle VMBox is also free and runs Win10 just fine. With either, just install the software, download a copy of Windows, and install it while telling it you don't have a product key. 

Alternately, if you have a public library nearby, chances are they also use virtual machines that wipe themselves clean after use, and sometimes will allow software installs. I've had no issues doing that at my local branch. 

 

As for a cable, FTDI chipset based ones are the way to go (Wouxun's own, for example) but I have the Retevis that seems to be an authentic Prolific chip. (Believe me, I know, I had one heck of a headache connecting a serial printer through a counterfeit one once.)