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write your own review of the FTB8800.
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KC0KBC
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 23, 2006 01:37
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Can't imagine owning an 8800 without it
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I bought this software shortly after I bought my 8800 and have used it nearly exclusively for all the programming since. The user interface doesn't *quite* follow typical Windows standards (although it's close), but is well done nonetheless.
I like knowing that if my radio gets zapped somehow, or must be reset, or heaven forbid is stolen, I don't have to manually re-program it. Like any data, if it's worth having, it's worth backing up - and this program allows you to do that very easily.
I had been trying to accomplish a complicated scenario using the hypermemories but could not get it to work. I e-mailed Bob with a simplistic description of what I was trying to accomplish. He very quickly replied with a clear description of how to do what I needed, and it worked perfectly on the first try.
I also own ARRL's "Travel Plus for Repeaters." On a recent trip halfway across the country, I used Travel Plus to build a list of repeaters along my route, saved them to a text file, imported that file into FTB8800, and downloaded them all into my 8800. With a few swipes and keystrokes, I had every repeater along my route completely configured and loaded, in the order they would be encountered along the way. All I had to do was hit the "Up" button occasionally on the mic to follow the repeaters all along the trip.
If you own an 8800, you SHOULD also own this software.
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KA5NXT
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 2, 2005 11:24
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Good Stuff!!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have 2 FT-8800s and this software works great.
Just a word to those you that might use this and are also considering modifying/expanding the transmit section: You will have to re-download the baseline from the radio after the automatic reset/initialization following the mod. I suspect the mod re-creates the rado in eyes of the software such that it doesn't recognize the old configuration. It is a very minor inconvenience to re-download etc. but certainly not enough to deter me from the "5" rating that this software deserves.
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N3ATS
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 13, 2005 13:47
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A MUST for any FT8800 owner!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I use this software with a homebrew cable that I adapted to my OPC-478 programming cable for my Icom radio.
Works flawlessly. Easy to understand, easy to use, and problem free. At $18, it is very reasonably priced. The writer has also been known to offer assistance in the FT8800 Yahoo group as well.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FT-8800R/
Top notch! Thanks Bob!
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N1BD
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 18, 2005 05:13
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Top Shelf!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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For a mere 10 British shilling (about $18 US), you get a truly outstanding programming package from fellow ham Bob Freeth. Easy to order, easy to download easy to program, easy to upload to your rig and to disk. Bob is easy to reach via e-mail, too, if you have a question. He replies almost immediately! The thoughtful programming comes with multiple dropdown menus for such items as CTCSS tone, power setting and alpha/frequency.
Note that you will need a cable like that supplied with the RT Systems ADMS-II or, if your savvy enough, construct your own.
First time users like me: Be reminded that you ARE first required download an "image" of your rig to Bob's program before you begin enter memories but that procedure is easily accomplished in less than fifteen seconds by clicking the appropriate box. Nice job, Bob!
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WF6O
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Rating: 5/5
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May 18, 2005 21:15
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WOW!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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So much better than the crappy RT Systems ADMS-2I! Had it up and running in less than 5 minutes. Read the memories from my first FT-8800 and wrote the same memory setup to the second FT-8800 on the first try! A huge improvement over the ADMS-2I software. Try it, you'll LOVE this program!
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W0IPL
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 20, 2004 11:15
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Works well
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I received the information to activate the FTB8800 software in, to me at least,
near record time. I then installed the software without incident and proceeded
to upload the frequencies from my FT-8800 I had entered by hand. Works fine.
I started to do some "investigating" of the features of FTB8800 and was a bit
disappointed until I happened to hit an alpha key. At that point a drop down
window opened for the data element the cursor was over, and I said "AH-HA, now
I see." Bob wrote the software for those that are "key-board challenged", i.e.
those that do "point and click" best. If you keep that in mind, the software
works quite well.
I did find one bug that I reported to Bob and I'm sure he will correct in the
next release. Once you have over half of the total memory positions filled
(that's more than 512 entries - total - in both "Left" and "Right") and you
attempt to import more information, an error message appears telling you that
you have xxx memory positions filled and there is not enough room for yyy more
(xxx being the number you have in and yyy being the total you are importing).
If you remembered to click "Clear all before input" AND "Use imported mem numbers"
you have only to click "Yes" to the question "Do you wish to continue?" to have
everything work as you would hope.
This is where I wish the rating scale was 1 to 10 rather than the 1 to 5. With
a 1 to 10 scale I would rate this software as a 9, so with the 1 to 5 I must
say a 4.5
Not poor enough to rate a 4 but not quite a full 5 (even if I did enter a five
on the header for this evaluation).
Pat, W0IPL
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N1KSN
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 9, 2004 16:44
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I am impressed
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased the RT Systems cable and software for my FT-8800R. The cable works fine, but the software had very frustrating problems on both computers into which I attempted to install it. (I'll spare the reader that litany of woe, but I will mention that after attempting a download my FT-8800R locked up so bad I couldn't even turn it off.)
On the other hand, I downloaded and registered for FTB8800 (a whole $15) and was able to install it on both my old Windows 95 shack laptop and my Windows ME desktop. It worked perfectly on both machines and is very easy to use.
My RT Systems software for my Icom handhelds works fine, but as for the FT-8800R, forget it! Get FTB8800 and be happy.
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N0JS
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 26, 2004 00:06
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Works great!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I bought the FTB8800 right after I bought four Yaesy FT-8800s in October 2003. The FTB8800 works great!
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KB9OND
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 25, 2004 21:23
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Wonderful!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Like the others, I bought the RT software for the cord only, and downloaded FTB8800 instead. A lot of thought went into the design of this FTB8800 software, obviously, and it works so well. One has to wonder aloud why Yaesu wouldn't contact the author to ask about a joint venture, but who knows... In any event, consider me a totally satisfied consumer who is typically difficult to please. Try it: it will revolutionize the way you use your radio, and for the price you'd be nuts not to take a look!
73
Mark
KB9OND
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KB4LP
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 20, 2003 21:25
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Great!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I did the same thing as the other review, bought the 8900 software to get the cable. THis software is very high quality. I could not be more satisfied. Bob Freeth done a great job on this programmer. I was prepared to wait on RT, but, I am sure glad I didn't. Don't know when they will have it anyway.
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