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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
G8FXC Rating: 2020-07-12
Depends on the target radio! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used the RT Systems software with various radios over a period of several years. The user interface is pretty much the same for all versions and it works well enough. The criticisms tend to focus on the connection between the radio and PC and the potential need for a special (and expensive) cable. This is not always the case - I use RT Systems programmers with an ICOM IC-E92D, ICOM IC-7300 and ICOM IC-7100 and in all cases the RT Systems software works with the cable that was supplied by ICOM.

RT Systems try to support virtually every programmable radio on the market and this is a bit of a tall order. Some radios do require a special cable - you really have to do some research before purchasing if you want to avoid purchasing an RT Systems cable.
KI4UYA Rating: 2020-07-11
Great Value Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have had used RT Systems programmers for several years and recommend them. Considering the multiple manufacturers and the many different ways you have to program them, RT Systems makes tedious job extremely easy. There is a learning curve if you haven't used a programmer before. Plus the fact that you may have to purchase a different cable than what the manufacturer supplies. The software more than makes up for the extra purchase. I am a MAC user and had a problem with my computer recognizing a new driver to program a Yaesu FTM-100 and 1 phone call to RT Systems tech support and he walked me through using the Terminal to install the driver. That wasn't the fault of the programmer. It was my computer. All that being said, I would recommend RT Systems for all your programming needs.
VE6BGM Rating: 2020-07-11
RTFI Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Started with RT to program IC-T2H for different regions. Never a problem. Since then have programmed a number of ICOM and Yaesu radios HT, mobile and base without a problem.

Since 2012 I am still using RT software for many different radios. Never any problem. For the price can't be beat and now that a lot of radios can be programmed by SD cards, no cables are required. Have been using since 2000 with absolutely no problems.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by VE6BGM on 2012-12-30

First used with the IC-T2A with no problems. Also use on a number of Yaesus as well without any problems.
GM7NZI Rating: 2020-07-11
never again Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
i was excited when i found "rtsystems software" for my new ic-9700, so i went to the website and read all about it
they made it all sound so easy and any fool could use it because it was so simple, you can copy and paste, you can import and export files , just the thing i need so i pressed the button paid the amount asked and waited for a download link which arrived in a very quick time indeed.
so next i install the program , first thing i do is get the driver and set up the usb cable, here we go ... first i read from the radio ... radio goes into clone mode and reads fine and puts all the data from the radio on to my screen , so i save that and start a blank file then spend an hour filling it up with all the memories i want and some repeaters then when im happy i try to send this file to my radio it goes into clone mode once more and proceeds to send , just as it gets to the end i get an error msg and screen says turn off radio and turn on again which i do ... the radio starts and has been reset to factory defaults? ... i have tried 6 different usb cables and i have the latest driver but still i cant write to the radio although it will read from the radio? the driver appears in my device manager as it should and theres no sharing so im stuck.. then i go and check out copy and paste so i have csv file made in microsoft excel that
ive used on numerous occasions co i copy this file and go to rtsystems and past ....error this is not the correct file type? ok so i'll import it then , i hit impot in rts a box comes up to allow me to choose a file and when i choose the csv file i have and i have to make a bunch of choices and im not even sure what it wants me to do , asking me which file or headers to ignore in the import?? eventually i manage to get past this to find that when it imports the file nothing appears on my screen.
im not new to working with pc's and i simply dont get how this software wants to do stuff it anything but simple, needless to say i have had this software now for over a week and have not yet managed to import or export a single file for error and not the correct file type errors , this software is not operating the way we have come to expect working with csv files for instance they are standard and should be imported or exported from anywhere to this program ...this is not the case as it wont accept my file from excel? im done , i give up , im not that stupid ...6 usb cables cant surely be faulty?? beware and speak to someone who runs this program before you throw your money away as i did and get nothing for it... i did think i would be ordering more copies for my other radios but no chance of that now ,
i feel duped as it is not as easy as was stated in the advertising oh i forgot to mention drag and drop ,it says in the ad that you can drag and drop i tried this from excel but it didnt want to know, never again ive been robbed but only once , this software sucks.
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE CHECK THIS I FOUND IT ON THE RTS WEBSITE

"The current version RT Systems software works only with the RT Systems USB cable. Failure of the software from use of other cables does not qualify the software for a refund."

THIS IS SHOCKING SO I DONT QUALIFY FOR A REFUND
FOR NOT USING THEIR CABLE EVEN THOUGH THEY STATE IT WONT WORK ...NO MENTION OF THIS SMALL FACT WHEN YOU ARE PARTING WITH YOUR CASH , IS THAT EVEN LEGAL? TO ALLOW ME TO BUY THE PRODUCT WHILST THEY KNEW IT WOULD NOT WORK WITHOUT THEIR CABLE , ... WOW WHERES THE INTEGRITY IN THAT. IVE TRULY BEEN SCAMMED

P.S. NO RESPONSE FROM THE TECH GUYS IVE EMAILED THEM 3 TIMES NOW OVER 4 DAYS ...NO REPLY.

UPDATE UPDATE......
THE TECH GUYS GOT BACK TO ME TECH CALLED
CONTACTED ME AND ARRANGED A REMOTE ACCESS TO MY PC , THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS
HE ASKED ME TO DISCONNECT MY IC-7300 CAT LEAD WHILE HE SORTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE IC-9700 ,AFTER 5 MINS IT WAS RUNNING FINE .... HERES THE KICKER AND THIS IS STRAIGHT, IF I WANT TO USE RTS SOFTWARE TO PROGRAM MY 9700 I MUST FIRST DISCONNECT MY 7300 AS I CANT RUN BOTH AT THE SAME TIME , SO NO CAT ON THE 9700 THEN CANT HAVE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME ACORDING TO THE TECH GUY , WHEN I SAID IT MAY HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT AT THE POINT OF SALE , HE HUNG UP GONE FINITO?? ..... SHOCKING BEHAVIOUR SO THE SOFTWARE GOES TO THE BIN , I WANT TO HAVE MY HAM RADIO DELUXE RUNNING WITH MY 7300 ALL THE TIME, IF ANTONE DISAGREES WITH WHAT IVE SAID PLEASE TAKE IT UP DIRECTLY IM OFF TO TO THE TRASHCAN , .
N4SJW Rating: 2020-07-10
IC-9700 install works well Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Bought an IC-9700 as my birthday present, downloaded the RTS program, worked well right from the start, no problems in a Win10 laptop. I own RTS software for the ICOM 880, 7100, ID-51A, and 7610 all work without any problems. For DSTAR in particular this software is a real help over programming by hand.
W6UXB Rating: 2020-07-09
Works well Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.

RT Systems software for my FT-817 works well very easy to program the radio, but already having a CAT cable I did not like buying another one, their cable works for CAT control so if you don't have a cable it is a good deal, just wish they had a version that you can use a non proprietary cable with, maybe for a few more bucks. Software also defaults into the C drive and not program files folder but you can change that.
KD2TTM Rating: 2020-06-15
Easy, trouble-free and well thought-out. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After struggling with factory programming software that was troublesome and limited in its performance, I decided to try the RT Systems products. I'm tight with my money, but I won't hesitate to purchase suitable RT Systems software and cables in the future... well worth the money spent.
NX0E Rating: 2020-06-14
Works well and great support Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have 5 of their programmers now. Each works very well. Sometimes I think they understand the radio features and the radio menus better than the manufacturers who write the manuals!

RT Systems answers questions quickly, and they even respond to comments and suggestions. FB!
KD0LAV Rating: 2020-06-02
What a Joy to use. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I’ve had RT for other radios and been very pleased. Recently purchased FT-3 and also got the software. Had problems downloading it from their site. Called Karen at RT for help and she breezed right through it. We screen shared and she also showed me a couple things. Great happy, cheerful customer support. I’d recommend them.
M5KVK Rating: 2020-06-02
Got stung once, won't let it happen again Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I needed to re-program my IC-E92AD radio. I previously used CHIRP, but it's clunky and unreliable, so I opted to purchase the dedicated programming software from RT Systems.
I know I have a perfectly good ICOM programming cable so I (stupidly) said I had the cable and just wanted the software. $25 later, I have the software, but it refused to install because I didn't have THEIR programming cable.

Not using their special (no doubt secretly wired) cable is not an option. $25 down the drain and a lesson learned.