RT Systems vs ADMS vs CHIRP: Ham Radio Programming Software Battle

[@KA5IVR]

If you can run MS Excel, you can run the RT Systems right out of the box. The Cut & Paste ease of the RT Systems makes it worth the cost.

[@tienmou68]

Great video. The Chinese characters in the top left are translated as follows: Characters: 基本設定 Pinyin: Jīběn shèdìng English: Basic Settings Enjoy!

[@digitaldreamer5481]

Funny, Bob, I don’t use any software at all for programming. As an EmComm operator, I do read the owners manual and I program all my radio’s manually as if I was out in the field without computers, without any software. I will make a cheater card, a 3x5 card, to help me remember steps in programming. The only software I have ever used was for my Icon 880H but have since learned to program that manually also for my MMDVM Zumspot. I have a QB25 that has been giving me fits. I have learned to step away and then try again later. You learn a lot about radios when you manually program, it’s part of the fun in this hobby. 73

[@tribulationprepper787]

Sounds like you appreciate all of the comforts that the Stone Age had to offer and have a lot of extra time on your hands... LOL & 73

[@Tallhorse89]

My problem is I keep misplacing my cheat card, lol I'm moving to software.

[@kthompson2155]

Congratulations and kudos to you for knowing how to program your radio from the face. Yes, Karin from RT Systems a true believer in what you're saying. You MUST know how to at least tune to a frequency, set and offset, turn on and set a tone from the face of the radio if you are going to be effective in an emergency!! Yes, the programmers are great to learn more about what the radio can do and to keep you from having to push buttons 1000 times. That is what the program is for. It was never meant to replace the knowledge of programming from the radio's face for quick fixes. Good luck and God's blessings to you in all you do in your emergency situations. May you always be safe.

[@robertheintz8017]

Do you wash your underwear by the river with 2 rocks?

[@Caprica-Approaches]

Thank you for great comparisons - was using Chirp and Kenwood software, and I am now sold on RTsystems - if only because of common format of representation of radio data, which can be cut/pasted. Thank you!

[@lyfandeth]

Being able move copy the same channel list from one rig to another makes the RT software for my other radios a buy it now". That's something invaluable, I must have missed it in th RTFM. Thanks, Bob.

[@K6UDA]

Thats a big reason I spring for RT Systems with every radio I buy.

[@ericpattersonk8eep953]

And with some of RT cables can be used for rig control as well.

[@nickl3872]

You can do this with chirp free

[@shastaham7630]

OMG, he said he didn't know something. How utterly refreshing! I am tired of know-it-all channel hosts who cannot admit they could be wrong - and denigrate anyone who suggests they might have made a mistake. That's one of the reasons this is such a great channel. N6###

[@K6UDA]

Thanks.

[@geraldgardner7684]

Very very good information. Probably the best videos on radio education on youtube.

[@TheGhostfaceKLR]

Dude - set your volume levels! Your intro music blasted me out at about 10x the volume of the first 30 seconds.

[@sobpolta3328]

Lol! Exactly. I was yelling at the video dude, check your levels.

[@anonymous_friend]

THIS IS SOME BS. dont be an amateur

[@alantaylor2162]

RT Systems for me, I have an Ft3d and icom 2730 so I’m able to copy memory locations between the two. “How to” video on RT Systems would be good.

[@rejphotography]

Good job as always. Going with the RT solution for my ID 52, & Baofeng HT’s. If I end up liking them, I’ll grab the software for the IC 7100, IC 705, and may even get the one for the 7300 (but don’t really know what HF use this will give me. I guess I’ll find out when I mess with the 705 programming).

[@myballwilson]

I've always wondered if RT Systems software was worth the money vs CHIRP and if the format was consistent across radios. Thanks for showing me that it is worth it and it is consistent. You just cost me some money , buddy.

[@monvelmaskewjr.4821]

Great video thanks for presenting it!

[@slackleashdogtraining3598]

I don’t have a lot of money and yet the utility of RT systems for the Y FT5D. Where has this been all my life. There is a lot functionality I can’t yet figure out. but I have loaded repeaters whose data was imported into RT systems software through a customizable search. That is powerful and fascinating in what that implies as far as grouping and sorting repeaters say on the basis of a travel path.

[@christominded4726]

Good video. I liked the way you put them side-by-side. 📻🎧

[@jessiewright1053]

Yeah but you're paying between 25 and 50 bucks per radio on RT systems. If you're working with 5 different radios that's between 125 and 250 bucks just in software. That's a major drawback.

[@moshelehmann7539]

Here is my comment for the algorithm. Welcome back!

[@michaelroberson7055]

Nice review. Thank you.

[@marcpilotte9583]

RT Systems is definitely the best. Just disappointed you did not spend more time on it. Explanation could have been more detailed. Not even interested in the other 2... What u did show was well thought out. Thank you!👍🏻 de WB9DBD Marc Franklin , GA.

[@murphybrown32216]

It looks like you would have to buy a different version of software for each radio you own with the rt systems.

[@sobpolta3328]

Exactly! If I can buy the software one time and use it with all my radios, it would be a much better deal than having to fork out 25 bucks for each version of the software… that can get expensive but I guess that’s the trade-off if you had four radios, it would be 100 bucks. They probably have to charge you at least 100 bucks for it but I want a buy once cry once solution oh well.

[@Hamradio54730]

Good info from knowledgeable guy. Thanks

[@genebodenberger]

Bob thanks for the content.

[@ag1382]

If I remember correctly the Yaesu cable worked just fine with RT Sys. Program and FT3.

[@andybonneau9209]

Nice to see you again Bob. Please consider posting your videos to Rumble or Odysee.

[@K6UDA]

I started to post on rumble. I forget and thanks for reminding me.

[@Capecodham]

And QRZ

[@greggbenshoof2626]

I have used the factory software, chirp and RT Systems software.

[@K6UDA]

I have too.

[@TheBigdutchster]

I use the RT-Systems software on a Mac for a VX-6 and a FT5D. I like it, but I have a whole lot of suggestions for for better usability. Try to turn the tone squelch and and set the tone for a bunch of rows to the same values? Can't do it. Find and replace, can't do it. It should be more like a proper spreadsheet that has those features. That aside, it's the only sane way to program multiple radios to the same basic setup.

[@louisjy6345]

I use RT Systems on my FTM-400DR and FT3DR. ✔️

[@BerrieSleijster]

thanks 4 comparison!

[@electechyt]

RT systems every time. Cables and software work perfectly. Only issue I had was with TH-74DE - the RT Systems isn't compatible with the European sets. It does work after a lot of messing with getting rid of 220 MHz . But RT Systems were great in support.

[@ScanFan_Ed]

I love RT Systems. Great products, great support. I will be purchasing their Kenwood TH-D75A software when it is released - hopefully soon after the radio is released! 😊

[@echo-hotel]

What are banks? Got RT Systems the day before they released the official software. ADMS isn’t working on my Windows PC, won’t read correctly. Maybe because I used RT Systems first. Idk. But I’m very happy to have it on my Mac!

[@JeepnJohnny]

Nice video. Did you use the USB-68 cable from RT Systems for all three programmers (Chirp, ADMS, RTSystems), or did the supplied data cable with the FT5 work for any of them? Thanks

[@seaningram3285]

I mainly use RT Systems for my FTM 400 XDR and it works. You can check for updates and if there are updates listed, I click on update. But you have to exit the program for the updates to happen. I have seen usage of the ADMS-7 Software in other videos, but I am weary of "bricking" my own 400xdr. I have ADMS-7 software downloaded and installed and I have "read" from the radio. I have not "uploaded" my settings due to the concern for my radio. Has anyone experienced issues using ADMS-7? Tnx and have a Happy New Year from Wb4ur.

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

CHIRP works great on the Mac & my Yaesu FT-1D. The only problem I have is that it doesn't like going through a USB hub. I forget that sometimes.

[@K6UDA]

You & I may have dodged a few bullets. John Kruk from Yaesu told me shortly after I posted the video that CHIRP has been known to brick Yaesu radios.

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

@@K6UDA Bricking Yaesus? Really? I’ve heard about a lot of bricked Baofeng radios on CHIRP’s email list. Can’t recall seeing anything like that about Yaesu radios.

[@joearcuri3377]

great vid, thanks for demystifying this

[@ericgallardo8895]

I can get CHIRP to program my TH UV8000D. However, when I open the TH 8600 software, it WILL NOT communicate with the radio. I am confused. My brother has the same issue with laptop, radio and same software. Help!!??

[@thekaderick]

Thanks for the info

[@steveg601]

At the 12 minute mark I use my android phone with a great app called "Camera Translator" and the oriental text translated as "Basic Settings."

[@nr3rful]

Always RTSystems....assured of problem free programming

[@sobpolta3328]

I like the RT systems and the fact that they support Mac… That would usually be reason enough to fork out the money to support a Mac developer, however at 25 bucks per radio (and one of the advantages being that you would use it for multiple radios that use a common programming interface) that could get expensive

[@ricdonato4328]

Oops, i is not $25 per radio, it is $25 for each different brands' individual models. Thus, having numerous same models from brand X radio we use the same software cloning all those same radio models. It is the radio model which makes the difference, not each radio of the same brand and model. Very good for the same $25 software. As for Mac, after over twenty-two plus years of Apple only, Apple everything, and eleven plus years iPhone only, we switched to Windows and Samsung. Within a week we absolutely knew it was the correct decision to leave Apple. My main reason is Apple's Mac holds 10% market share only, the rest of the computing world is 90%-ish Windows. With Apple there were too many compromises working with the 90% of the computing world. Apple's incompatibilities, connectivity issues, server issues, router hubs switches Interglobal connectivity issues, software issues, frustrations and hinderances, and the like, finally took its toll. We banished all Apple products. Although I own plenty of Apple stock never again will we purchase any apple devices. So, if you love Apple, please continue purchasing them, it helps our financial bottom line. thank you.

[@Mxyzptlk21]

Meanwhile, Yaesu Tech support says to never use Chirp with their radios….

[@K6UDA]

Yep. John Kruk told me that shortly after I posted this video. I guess I dodged a bullet on that one.

[@lancevandermeiden5599]

Glad to see this was brought up. Hopefully people read the comments before they brick their Yaesu digital radio using chirp.

[@daveward1484]

My first problem with RT Systems was, the programming cable won't install.

[@bruceenterpriseriskservice9752]

Totally agree that RT Systems is superior. Some of the free software has read/write issues.

[@lyfandeth]

Ok, Bob. You've used GPS before? Backtrack is a mode that will give you reverse bearings to take you home on the same route you came in on. More or less, because you need to be automatically saving your position frequently enough on the way out, to have accurate positions to follow back.

[@SimonTemplarVK3XEM]

As far as I am aware CHIRP will not support any DMR radios. My preference is RT Systems for Icom and Yaesu, DMR Radios use the stock software is normally the only option.

[@kthompson2155]

RT Systems has come into the DMR world. Check out our site for availability and ease of programming.

[@hazmatca]

Good Job!

[@BenButler1]

Will Chirp write to a sd card?

[@KE8ODY-WV-Ares-Ham-Dad-3O4]

So RT systems has all the frequencies already added

[@K6UDA]

Not exactly. I’ve programmed my other radios and simply copy & paste from one radio to the next.

[@KE8ODY-WV-Ares-Ham-Dad-3O4]

@@K6UDA I like free

[@cw2gtc]

Just stepping into the movie house, so to speak... So I'm writing a comment based upon just a little knowledge beforehand. Something I'd not normally recommend. However, going against my own advise, I'll take the chance and ask the question myself... Awright, sounded like what I heard at the end there, was that there is a LOT of flexibility in utilizing a format, a spreadsheet , that works for you on multiple radios. That the same recipe, however you like your channels lined up, once its laid out, can be one radio to the next. Right? NOT SO with Chirp! No, no, no! In fact, with Chirp its a cardinal sin to have a setup you like, so you have two or more distinct radio models open at the same time and you lift one setup by just copying it onto the other blank screen. Then saving it and renaming it for that new radio. DON'T be TEMPTED!!! This will wack out the internals in your computer.... Leaving you a very broken computer and untold files damaged. I just experienced this. It took a week of every day, all day, to fix the mess. This insidious damage is what just yesterday led me to pay $49 +$10 shipping.

[@tinkerbob6739]

Thanks for your time and efforts. You mention a master list 19:04 of radio frequencies. Can you share your preferred method/software you use to curate the master list? K6UDA,thank you again!

[@JoeLaGreca]

I'm curious, the FT5DR is not currently a supported radio in CHIRP, but you were still able to program it?

[@iosonoi.7132]

He selected the FT3D option; apparantly it works the same so it the software works for a FT5D

[@ryankc9oza118]

Don't use chirp with newer yaesu radios. It can brick your radio. Know few guys it's happened to. And yeasu won't cover it

[@kthompson2155]

And we at RT Systems know how to fix most of those... usually. You might want to contact us if you're willing to be honest about what you did. You'll be surprised what we know about these radios and the tricks we've learned in 26 years.

[@Fireguy-]

I'm a big fan of RT Systems, CHIRP is OK but you get what you pay for.

[@robertlucas6426]

Don't tell me the RT Systems software doesn't rum on win 7 .

[@K6UDA]

I haven’t used windows in over 15 years.

[@robertlucas6426]

Update ...I will work on Win 7 . But I am still disappointed it will not work on Linux .

[@sonarmb]

Ahhhh K6UDA goodness....excellent video mate, thanks for that. Im not a fan of chirp. It works but I dont like it. Much prefer the RT systems stuff meself. 73 de VK6MMB

[@winger55552001]

Bob, I enjoy your content when you do shootouts! Please go lighter on the Prepper stuff. Although that is interesting, sometimes, It isn't my primary interest. Keep up the good work! - Randy, N0LD

[@K6UDA]

I appreciate the comment. I don’t really bring in other subjects in main videos. Monday lunch videos are different though. Pretty much unscripted, loose format podcast type stuff where we can have more of a dialogue. Longer formats allow us to dig into subjects and explore ancillary subjects. I mean, who doesn’t agree that radio and preparedness go hand in hand.

[@winger55552001]

@@K6UDA I understand that; hadn't considered it. Thanks for your reply.

[@tribulationprepper787]

I'M CALLIN BS ON THIS ONE... It ain't no twenty five bucks! Double that and add 10%.

[@rckgnzls]

I love lamp

[@carlcarlson180]

Didn’t get anything from your video

[@raymondmartin6737]

I dislike the so called free programming, called CPS, such as from Ailunce, Retevis, for my DMR ht's in that there is no help advice and there is no file to print out the a. list of programmed frequencies, compared to the my user friendly RT Systems programs, which have such features. Additionally, I can phone them for assistance if needed, which the foreign programs do not provide. Yes, it costs those prices, but the RT Systems are more intuitive to use, which is what I have used with my Yaesu, Icom, and Kenwood equipment over many years. 😊

[@rohnkd4hct260]

CHIRP is ok but, never liked it. AMDS never been impressed. RTS is the easiest to use.

[@vemmaterryj]

RT systems

[@timjackson1897]

You should learn how to use the software prior to any review. Some of your knowledge of these programs is very inaccurate.

[@yungsmile7546]

My my my. I can't help but wonder why you'd start filming a video on Chirp when you aren't familiar with it having "just downloaded it this morning". Droan on and on and on without me.

[@andip4756]

Stopped Video after 2 Minutes - nearly naked Women in the trailer and on top as background on the table ad for weapons - a nogo for people with real hamspirit, i think...