CHIRP and the FT817ND

4070000011359020156_imageAn easy way to program and manage this new 817nd is with some simple computer control software (and with the intention of having it work with VKCL logging into the future if need be, I lashed out and spent $11 on ebay and purchased a USB to CT-62 yaesu CAT control interface cable. The cable is cheap and cheerful, it took around 2 weeks to arrive from this ebay seller. The downside with this cable, only discovered when it arrived, the serial/chipset this device is using is a CH340, and i have yet to find (make work) a mac version. I dragged out the netbook and was able to use it on XP with no issues.

With this cable, I can manage the 817nd via the free CHIRP programming software

CHIRP is a free, open-source tool for programming your amateur radio. It supports a large number of manufacturers and models, as well as provides a way to interface with multiple data sources and formats.

and it simply does what it says. Ive used it with the Wouxun KG-UV6D as well.

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A trap for young players with the 817 and chirp. You need to do two steps to get the radio to talk to the computer

Power on the radio while holding down both MODE < > buttons, The radio will beep three times and show “CLONE MODE” on the display.

Set CHIRP up to download the radio image form the menu, then on the radio, press button “A” and the radio will start TX’ing data, and you have a copy of the radio memories. Program up the radio in chirp with your repeaters and other parameter settings and save a copy. To load the new memories/file into the radio, power on the radio as per above and enter “CLONE MODE” again, Set CHIRP to upload to radio and then press the “C” button on the Radio, the device will change to RX mode and receive the new configuration. The instructions are on page 69 of the 817nd (2011) manual under Cloning.

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Once I create a file with my local repeaters and other settings, Ill host a copy for all (vk3 centric) This cable makes programming simple and easy.

13 thoughts on “CHIRP and the FT817ND

  1. Nice tip Andrew, downloaded it tonight and programmed in some frequencies, works well although i used a true RS232 board into a USB-RS232 adapter, got sick of fighting with the drivers for USB cables.

  2. Hello Andrew, thanks for your post. I am using CHIRP for programming my Baofeng and FT817 radios without problems, cheap and fast.

    • I tyhink u need to first unblock yours radio to let radio works wider ( there r jumpers behind panel). How to do it u can find in many webs…
      73 M7OMT

    • I extended my range using a hardware mod. Be careful you don’t transmit where you shouldn’t though. The mod is fairly straight forward and just involves a few solder links.

      You can google search for the mod. There are several sites that show you how to do it. Links vary depending on your country

  3. I initially had Error messages with my programming cable attached to a Windows PC and my
    Ft-817, the radio would go into CLONE mode per the manual, using CHIRP as well. I finally discovered to the same port I was attaching my Baofeng program cable, the down load setup profile identified the port as PORT 3 in the system USB tags, yet, using the same port with the Yaesu cable, I repeated had ERROR messages. Only after going int the Zwindows advice manager, did it now report this cable as PORT 5, at the same physical USB port! SO, IF YOU GET REPEATED ERROR MESSAGES, CHECK THE SYSTEM DEVICE MANAGER, VIEWING THE USB PORT TO DISCOVER THE SYSTEM PORT ID!

    Once I Mabe that change to the connect window in Chirp to read the correct Radio Manufacturer, the correct Radio Type and Port ID!

  4. I initially had Error messages with my programming cable attached to a Windows PC and my
    Ft-817, the radio would go into CLONE mode per the manual, using CHIRP as well. I finally discovered to the same port I was attaching my Baofeng program cable, the down load setup profile identified the port as PORT 3 in the system USB device tag, yet, using the same port with the Yaesu cable, I repeatedly had ERROR messages using the Port 3 designation. Only after going into the Windows device manager, did it now report the Yaesu cable as PORT 5, at the same physical USB port! SO, IF YOU GET REPEATED ERROR MESSAGES, CHECK THE SYSTEM DEVICE MANAGER, VIEWING THE USB PORT TO DISCOVER THE SYSTEM PORT ID! Chirp will only recognize a programming cable with the correct System Port Device Location! In addition, when I have had a functional cable, as connected to the USB port, Windows will chime as a cable is inserted and again when removed. This seems to be consistent with all Windows computers.

    Once I Mabe that change to the connect window in Chirp to read the correct Radio Manufacturer, the correct Radio Type and Port ID!

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