Resources · Radio programming

Programming your HT

Before a drill or activation, every operator's HT should already have the DeKalb ARES primary and backup repeaters, the simplex frequency, the local Skywarn repeater, and a handful of neighboring ARES nets pre-programmed. Typing them in by hand on the radio is slow and error-prone. CHIRP makes it painless.

What CHIRP is

CHIRP is a free, open-source, cross-platform tool for programming amateur-radio transceivers. It supports hundreds of radios — Baofeng, Yaesu, Kenwood, ICOM, Alinco, Wouxun, TYT, and many more — and uses a common CSV format that lets you share a channel list between radios without retyping anything.

→ CHIRP project home (chirpmyradio.com)

Getting started

Install CHIRP. Download the latest build from the CHIRP download page. Builds are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Get the right cable. Most HTs use a model-specific USB programming cable. Baofeng and similar Chinese radios work with generic Prolific/FTDI-based cables — but beware of counterfeit chipsets that need older drivers. CHIRP's wiki has per-radio guidance.
Read the radio first. Connect the cable, launch CHIRP, go to Radio → Download From Radio, pick your model, and save a backup .img file. This is your restore point if anything goes wrong.
Import the channel list (below) via File → Import, tweak as needed, then Radio → Upload To Radio.

DeKalb ARES channel list

A curated CSV of the frequencies a DeKalb ARES member should have on any HT — our primary and backup repeaters, simplex, the Winlink gateways, Atlanta Skywarn, and neighboring ARES nets. Import into CHIRP, upload to your radio, and you're ready for a drill or activation.

Coming soon

The official DeKalb ARES channel CSV is being finalized. It will be posted here as a downloadable link once reviewed by our AEC for Digital Communications. Members can build their own in the meantime from the frequencies on the Nets page.

Common gotchas

Always back up first. Before writing anything, read the current contents to a .img file. If the upload corrupts memory, the backup restores the radio.
Watch the PL tones. Our primary and backup repeaters use PL 107.2. Set both encode and decode (TSQL / "Tone Squelch") so you only hear traffic meant for the repeater.
Narrow vs. wide FM. Most metro-Atlanta analog repeaters are wide FM (25 kHz). Some Baofeng-style radios default to narrow FM; audio will sound quiet or muffled. Set mode to FM, not NFM, for our repeaters.
Offset direction matters. Our primary (146.760) is minus 600 kHz. A positive offset or wrong shift means you'll transmit off-frequency and nothing will go through.
Test before the event. After uploading, do a radio check on the repeater before the drill starts. Finding problems on the bench beats finding them on the air.

Need help?

Radio programming is one of the best things to learn from another member — bring your radio and cable to a monthly meeting, or ask on Groups.io or Discord. Our AEC for Digital Communications can also help with setup; see the Leadership page for contacts.