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Reviews For: RT Systems radio programming software all models

Category: Ham Software/Apps - Other than logging

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Review Summary For : RT Systems radio programming software all models
Reviews: 314MSRP: Varies
Description:
Radio programming software & cables for a wide variety of manufacturer and model radios.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.rtsystemsinc.com/index.cfm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
104.23143.6
W9MT Rating: 2023-03-05
Quality varies depending on radio to be programmed... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Pro's:

The software for programming my Yaesu FTM-7250DR works great. All memory channels and radio settings go in and work just fine.

It's also true what others say about needing a custom cable just to be able to use their s/w while jacking up the purchase price.

My Kenwood D74 programming software works great with just a regular A to mini-B cable.

My s/w and custom cable for programming my existing FT-2600m and FT-90R (combo pack) also works good.

So, I've been a satisfied customer on a lot of RT Systems' offerings.

Cons:

My s/w for programming my Yaesu FMT-100DR has a function in it that the radio DOES NOT SUPPORT (according to Yaesu). There is a grid in Radio Settings that indicates that five sets of 20 each table columns can be programmed with "category names" and WiresX talk room/group numbers, like almost all more recent WiresX capable radios support. This grid replaces a simpler single column list that Yaesu's own s/w for the radio will save as entries of up to 16 digit DTMF number streams. These, however, are only used for autopatch dialing or OTA repeater control DTMF streams on ANALOG FM ONLY. So the function being programmed is INVALID and not accepted by the radio. No error is flagged when this fails.

A call to RT Systems never resulted in a call back or email answer. Even a "sorry this won't program" would have been an honest answer, although disappointing.

A call to Yaesu Tech Support revealed what I just described and that the FTM-100DR does NOT support any storage of saving even the #xxxxx five digit talkroom or group number like even the FT-70DR or FTM-7250DR do, nor descriptive alpha names like their higher tier WiresX radios do. The 100 will, however, remember the last room visited (or possibly few rooms visited), but no direct programming of these is possible.

So this hit-or-miss s/w from RT, albeit low in incidence, does occur...and you won't find out until you have "paid your money, and take your chances".

So, this lack of good verification and validation on the part of RT, although not occurring often, requires me to only give a "Needs help" rating.

I also don't understand why the FT-817ND and the FT-818 need one to buy two different RT Systems s/w's while Chirp will "do both".

Like I said..."a paid, hit or miss".
AB4KA Rating: 2023-02-11
The best solution I've found Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It started with needing to program a radio I picked up and I had neither the software or cable. A friend of mine programmed it for me and he used RT Systems software. Since I had another radio I had picked up that would use the same cable I bought the software for both of them and a cable. I have since bought the software for two more radios.

The bottom line is it works, and while the radios may come with software from the manufacturer, in ever case I've seen the RT Systems software is definitely easier to use, and if I have to buy their cable to use it, it's worth it.

As a bonus I'm able to use it on an old computer running Windows 7!
KC6D Rating: 2022-12-12
Runs fine in Win11-S Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I recently picked up a low-end laptop that came with Windows 11-S. (The "S" version is stripped down to run on low-end devices.) MS warns that not all apps that worked in earlier versions of their OS would run in Win11. My RT Systems software (for an Icom ID-800H) ran perfectly in 11-S.
2E0TKT Rating: 2022-10-28
Used for IC7100 & FT5D Time Owned: more than 12 months.
As mentioned manually programming radios is a PITA.
After some trials with various software I found RT systems to be the most user friendly. Anything I use now has the RT systems software to keep things simple.
Some say its expensive when considering these systems are built on the back of Excel files, but I don't understand why these people aren't making their own if its that simple??
Considering the wasted time and frustration of struggling I'm happy with what it costs. Also, the support is second to none.
When a new radio comes along so will RT systems to match. It makes the whole new to me transceiver experience a happier one.
NR9V Rating: 2022-10-19
Overpriced! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Works well but way overpriced for what it does, and to top it off they often then require you to buy an unnecessary cable when you already have a perfectly good COM port and cable.

I have numerous V/UHF radios of various mfrs and models and a list of about 75 SoCal repeaters I like to download into them. My IC-7100 and TH-D74 came with the RT Systems software so I used it and it worked well to easily edit and download the same memory channels to both.

I recently picked up a TS-2000, which has a DB9 serial port and which hooks up fine to my standard Win 7 PC COM Port with a standard DB9 F-F serial cable. I emailed RT Sys to confirm if that would work (their site says their cable is required) and they confirmed that no, they will not support the perfectly good existing COM Port, I'd have to buy their $30 USB to serial cable instead, plus shipping plus $25 more for the program.

I then used CHIRP and it does all the same things, is totally free and open-source, and works just fine with any serial or USB Port. And if CHIRP had not supported the radio I would sooner code up a serial port script to parse my CSV file and send the Kenwood 'MW' serial port commands to the TS-2000, than pay $60+ to RT Systems – who are making way too much money off hams for what is very simple software that should not cost more than $5.
NJ4I Rating: 2022-10-10
Recent Tweaks Improve Useability Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
New update (I discovered it on 9 Oct 2022) adds a few nice touches and presumably much more than I noticed...
Hide columns you never use, change fonts, open with a blank file rather than the last saved file.

A nice improvement over the free programmers, IMHO.
WM4RB Rating: 2022-10-10
GREAT SOFTWARE! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Used RT Systems software for all my radios. Never had any problems. Best programming software out!
N4MJG Rating: 2022-10-09
AWSOME SOFTWARE ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
best programming software for most of the Yaesu radio but easy setup !
G4VRR Rating: 2022-10-09
Good Once It's Working Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The first thing to remember is that leaving aside buried PC menus strangling, there are two sides to radio programming- the software "package" and the data YOU have to feed into it. Acquiring the "best" software doesn't necessarily help with the data crunching part of the task. Of course there are some pretty good attempts to automate the data but they invariably fall over here and there. No software can ever anticipate your own specific geographic requirements and will not do any hand holding. If you have to get your hands dirty then the much vaunted RT Software is always going to lose a percentage point or two of its declared USP "It Just Works".

I have RT Systems software for an Icom IC-7200, a Yaesu FTM-7250 and an Icom IC-E91. I've only "broken the seal" on the latter and I have to relate that "It Just Works" is not how I'd describe it. First off the website shop facility fell over with the IC-E91purchase, but RT Systems were quick to remedy that once I'd eMailed them. Now, I have used Chirp with at least a dozen radios and thus far (and crossing my fingers ...) it has never missed a beat. I know enough to work around all the Prolific Chipset woes produced by M$ in collusion with Prolific, so I've been around the block more than once with the various settings. I'm well aware of the principles behind intellectual property, but to penalise fare paying passenger doesn't chime with me.

I had a three days long battle with RT Systems getting the Icom handie to converse with Windoze 10. Don't get me wrong- the RT Systems' folks were beyond great and bent over backwards to try and resolve the problem, but ultimately they failed even though I seem to recall they were able to reproduce the problem. I tried so many of my tricks in a scatter gun approach that I cannot remember what it was I did that fixed it. A more deliberate and tabulated approach would have been better but who does that? Sheesh. I'd take it on the chin with Chirp, but with this?

My take on this is at around £50 for any RT Systems' package here in rippoffe Britain balanced against the free Chirp, even with a fake Chinese "Prolific" cable where required? --as good as RT Systems undoubtedly is, I'll take Chirp thanks very much. I'll admit that I share the blame because I was unwilling to allow remote assistance. It's an instinctive thing after enduring employers sniffing at your work flow on the QT. No (known) backdoors on my PCs here.

When I did finally get the IC-E91 chatting to the PC, the amount of FM repeaters I actually needed added to the steep learning ramp of the needed D-Star program settings means that I may as well have put in the couple of dozen repeaters manually and called it a day. That's what I did with my Yaesu FTM-7250. It certainly didn't take / wouldn't have taken three days. After the aforementioned IC-E91 experience, the other two programs have remained in their boxes. I will give them a go ond day, but only when I identify a need or drum up some enthusiasm.

How about needing to purchase RT Systems' software again because you bought an FT-818nd either to replace or augment an FT-817nd? That's shameless gouging in my view. Why? Bob Freeth's FTBasicMMO software does both as well as the '857 and '897 (and others too I believe?) As does Chirp. I'll bet FT Commander would too.

I have awarded four stars because I believe that RT Systems' software must be every bit as good as the vast majority of folks say it is, so to depress the average ratings with a knee-jerk under the belt score seems inappropriate. Certainly it worked very well once it was up and running, but you know so does Chirp- I tried Chirp with the IC-E91 on FM repeater channels programming, good as gold.

Let's not forget that the real villains of the piece are the hardware manufacturers who either choose not to support their product with software at all, or provide totally rubbish software, for example Yaesu with the FTM-7250 and Anytone with the UV779, but that only scratches the surface.

I feel that slating Chirp as part of an RT Systems review is non productive, and part of the reason why I have structured this review in the way that I have. It's in the interests of "balance".
KK2DOG Rating: 2022-10-08
Simply the BEST! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
When you get tired of froggin' around with Chirp or any other programming software, get the RT Systems version...you'll be glad you did. The simplicity of the program is second to none and it works every time. I have four versions of their software and it is nothing short of excellent!