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| Reviews Summary for ADMS-2I Software by RT Systems for Yaesu FT-8800R |
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Reviews: 9
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Average rating: 3.0/5
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MSRP: $39.95
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Description: Programming software sold by HRO and others for programming the Yaesu FT-8800R
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More info: http://www.rtsars.com
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You can
write your own review of the ADMS-2I Software by RT Systems for Yaesu FT-8800R.
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N4CDB
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 20, 2006 06:00
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No problems yet
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I was concerned when I bought this after reading the reviews, but I went ahead with the purchase just because it was cheaper than buying the cable and FTB8800 separately. I have to say that I haven't had any problems yet, though.
I will admit that I'm much more familiar with Excel so I tend to create a data file with that and then import it into RT. I do the same with my FT-60 software (also from RT) and it's worked very well with that radio. One thing I don't like about either RT package is the copy behavior. It seems to only work on the row level, not the cell level. I've had a couple of times where I wanted to copy a setting to another cell and ended up with a duplicate row because it copied the whole thing. Aside from this annoyance it's been fine.
I haven't tried things like sorting by alpha tags so I don't know if this is an issue. My usage at this point is admittedly limited, but I don't have any reason to complain for the time being.
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KX7KXT
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 29, 2005 09:23
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Great product
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased the ADMS-2I software when I bought my FT-8800. I have had none of the problems that others have written about. I am extremely pleased with the way the program operates and its features. I have the program installed on my Dell laptop and an old gateway 2000 that I use in the Shack. The installation went without a hitch on both computers. There was no need to download a template as some have said because when the software starts each time an untitled file with one entry is loaded. I have set up a number of different frequencies for both the right and left radios, plus the hyper memory I have not experienced any difficulty uploading or downloading to the radio or sorting the frequencies. I think the software is great and would recommend it to anyone who has an FT-8800. The version of the software is the newest which was release in July 2005. I have no qualms giving the program a 5 rating.
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N5TXN
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Rating: 2/5
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Jun 6, 2005 11:45
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Don't try to sort
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I programmed in 118 channels into my FT-8800. Then I wanted to sort them by Alpha Tag. The option to do this exist. Upon trying three times using different parameters, the program just vanished each time. Finally I exported the file into a tab delimited file. Imported the tab delimited file into Excel, sort my records, save the Excel file as tab delimited and imported back into the radio. A 30 minute process for something the software proclaims it will do.
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KC4UEB
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Rating: 0/5
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Jun 6, 2005 11:17
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Just Terrible
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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For software you have to pay for, this is the worst junk I've ever used. Full of bugs, and the issue of having to first download even a blank configuration from your radio is the absolute dummest thing I've ever heard of.
I bought the software prior to having received the radio and proceeded to at least perform the programming ahead of time so I could just hook the radio up to the PC and program it up the day the radio arrived. But no sir, you ain't gonna do anything without first downloading a profile from the radio. Who ever heard of any hogwash like that? Why write software with the limitation of having to have a download from the radio BEFORE you can do anything the first time? Kenwoood doesn't do this. Icom doesn't. Heck, even the el-cheapo radio's that are PC programmable don't incorporate a bullcrap limitation like that in their software.
Yaesu loses out again by continuing to permit RT Systems to write and provide their programming software. RT Systems will continue to give Yaesu a bad name and a bad reputation by allowing them to do anything for them. And writing software that MUST have an original profile download from the target radio is the absolute dummest limitation anyone could have ever put in their software.
RT Systems is the LAST place you should buy your software from, and I'll never buy any of their limited, worthless software again no matter who sells it. Instead go with FTB8800. Real software without all the bugs, installation problems, and REAL support. Meanwhile RT's support consists of limited response (if you get any at all) by people who obviously don't know what they're talking about, and merely tell you what you want to hear in order to end the conversation.
Stay away from anything RT makes, period.
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K9KJM
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Rating: 2/5
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Jun 5, 2005 00:33
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Poor at best
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Well, I gave it a 2, "Needs help" anyhow, As it does do somethings OK........
This software does NOT allow you to program your FT 8800 to "skip" scan on memory channels......
After repeated emails back and forth with ADMS/RT Systems and getting bogus answers on how to make it work, I gave up.
It also is full of glitches that take some getting used to to make it work at all...... Like having to download your radio BEFORE you can upload any new info to it.......... etc etc.
The Yaesu FT8800 is a great radio. Too bad this software does not do it justice.
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K5RWS
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 2, 2005 08:24
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Works great for me
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I just read the review about not getting the software to upload to the radio. The one step he didn't mention is the most critical. When you hook the cable to the radio you must FIRST download the current configuration from the radio to the computer, even if it has no programming, then close that download window and upload your program. If I didn't do that step first I got the same TIMEOUT ERROR message. It took me several tries to figure this out but once I got it it has worked without fail every time. Same story with the FT-60. That having been the only thing I needed to figure out the rest of my experience with this software has been excellent. Very powerful and I found the tech support from RT Systems to be great. I bought this software from them as soon as it came out.
Hope this helps.
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W9THD
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Rating: 4/5
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May 20, 2005 06:42
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Works for me
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I don't begrudge WF6O's low rating because we've all had situations where we've wanted to put a S&W to the side of the computer and pull the trigger. Just went through a similar situation with AGWPE software that turned out to be a sound card problem.
Anyway I just wanted to chime in and say I've had the ADMS software for my FT8800 and encountered no problems whatsoever with the com setup or the software. Worked for me as expected. Maybe not as intuitive as I'd wish for, but this radio is probably the most complex mobile I've owned, and even though I've owned it for almost two years I still haven't mastered it. It was easier for me to understand my TS-2000 and the Kendwood MCP software than it was the 8800.
As with anything involving humans and computers, your milage may vary.
73
Tim
W9THD
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K6LCS
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Rating: 5/5
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May 19, 2005 09:56
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Does the Job!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Getting communications/serial port programs to work on some computers can be a hassle. I find if I perform my radio programming sessions AFTER going through and eliminating a lot of "Windows Startup" utilities and programs, that that makes my system "cleaner" and much less prone to comms errors.
With that said, I own and trust the software package from RT Systems for my FT-8800 (and MANY other radios, too). Like any reliable programming software offering, it allows not only the programming of frequency and alpha characters, but also intimate Menu items.
Their hours for voice support are posted on their Web site. My email inquiries get answered in a reasonable amount of time. Updates to the main program are posted on their Web site - making upgrading painless.
Clint Bradford, K6LCS
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WF6O
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Rating: 0/5
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May 18, 2005 20:13
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JUNK!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have 2, yes 2 FT-8800's - one in my truck and I just got another one for the home station. Great radios! However, the RT Systems software for programming this radio is pure, absolute JUNK! After 3 days of trying to get it to work on my first FT-8800, miracle of miracles, it worked! I did nothing different, it just choose that one particular instant to actually upload to the rig. So, the 2nd radio arrives and I plug the cable in and try to upload the SAME memory setup as the first radio... No Joy!!! It READS the radio just fine, but uploading is another story. I get a constant "COMMUNICATIONS TIMEOUT" error - every time. I read another product review of the RT Systems software for another radio and a guy had said "Most Communications Timeout errors are caused by a poor cable connection." Well, I was dumb enough to by TWO programs from RT Systems. One for my FT-7100's I used to own and the current model. So, I have TWO cables to play with... again, no joy!!! I downloaded the FTB8800 software and will write a review of that program when I use it. If you need a cable, the RT Systems cables are very nice. Don't buy the software, though!
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