Aug 18, 2010

How to quickly program in the 2m Ham band

Note - You can use an optional cable and your PC to program and load the radio. Or you can use the following method to make the process more efficient if you need to program your radio with the 2m Ham band manually using only the radio itself.

My approach: With 200 memories, there's plenty of room to simply program-in the entire 2m band plan (all the commonly-used and traditional simplex frequencies and repeater frequency pairs, 40 channels). And there's plenty of room left for your local exceptions, and any of the 15 kHz splits that may be used in your local area.

I'll type in the (basic) 2m band plan in the next post (above).

PRELIMINARY STEPS:

Using the VFO and BAND buttons, set the radio into F1 mode.

Dial-in (for example) 146.400 MHz (the bottom of the traditional 2m Band Plan).

Using F+0+1, set the Channel Step to 30 kHz (matching the 2m channel spacing)

Using F+0+2, set the transmitter offset (they call it "Frequency deviation" in the manual, which is just plain wrong) to 0.600 MHz (you'll need to enter 00600 since it accepts 10's of MHz). Each channel can have none, "+", or "-" offset. And you can subsequently adjust each memory channel's offset individually too...

Make sure the other 'per memory' variables, such as power level (L, M, H), are set the way you want.

With "F1 146.400 00" MHz (and no offset) on the display, use F+MR, adjust the memory pointer to your base memory channel (I started with 001), use MR to store and MR to confirm.

Now you can start cranking through the frequencies and channels.

REPEAT THESE STEPS:

Adjust the F1 frequency up one 30 kHz step.

Using F+4, make sure the transmit frequency offset (600 kHz = N, +, -) matches the band plan. This only needs to be adjusted a few times for the whole list.

Use F+MR, and then UP to adjust memory pointer to the next memory, and MR to store and confirm.

Repeat.


Using this method, you can program-in the 40 channels of the band plan in just a few minutes.

49 comments:

  1. I am new to the hobby and have found this imformative. When storing repeaters in memory, they all have difference access tones, how do you configure all this into the saved channel please

    Thanks Robert

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  2. Hi Robert,

    The simplest procedure might be to ignore the tones the first time through, and then go back and reprogram those that require tones. This assumes that most of your local repeaters don't require tones. In my area, few repeaters require tones. It's up to you.

    Setting tones is on Page 15 of the manual.

    Use F+3 to start. Use BAND to shift between CTCSS and DCS, then UP and DN to select, and then MR to store. The tones are listed in the back of the manual (Page 30-31).

    Once you have the display register all programed to fully match what you need for a given local repeater, then store it into a memory in the usual manner.

    And with 200 memory slots, you could program in the basic repeater band plan AND the local requirements.

    Good luck.

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  3. I made a programming cable but the software version TG-UVD1.4 allows to edit only existing memory slots (after Programming>Read Data from InterPhone). When I try to add new value in the table the "Input Error!" occurs. Has anyone found solution of this problem?

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  4. I use the programming software. It is very basic. One feature I really wish it had is a method to insert a channel line. You could leave vacant channels between sections for adding new stuff or just add it to the end. But if you have some type of organization without gaps, it is a pain. The software also does not include a repeater shift selection for automatic repeater transmit calculation. You also can't do splits. Neither is a big deal. It only recognizes comm ports 1-4, so you may have to change it in your computers device manager (takes like 15 seconds). Have had no "Input Errors". Regardless, what an awesome little radio!

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  5. Thanks for the info.

    Where did you get the required programming cable? I've not really been looking very much, but I'd like to have one if they're cheap.

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  6. I ordered it off eBay from RadioGearPro. http://stores.ebay.com/radiogearpro
    Came with a CD with software on it. But didn't need it. It was $10.50 with $2.80 s&h from Hong Kong. I got it in about a week and a half.

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  7. Hi. I am using a Kenwood PG-4Y cable to program the TG-UV2. I changed to Port 1 on the computer to match the software, and my DAT file appears to download to the HT(usually takes two or three attempts before it 'sees' the port). However, when it's finished, nothing appears to have been programmed. Are there any 'special' key presses (e.g. holding PTT while switching on like FT-70?)that I need to know about? Confused! Thanks.

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  8. i bought a cable from ebay and downloaded the program software from quansheng but when i try too open the program it says unable to open archive file...any ideas? ive emailed the manufacture and no response its been a week

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  9. I don't have the cable so I have no experience with programming the radio in that manner.

    If you figure it out, keep us informed.

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  10. I have downloaded the Quansheng TG-UV2 table to enter frequencies but I am unsure what I should be entering in the boxes on each line. Any help would be appreciated because I am not especially computer literate.

    Also how can I tell what frequencies are already programmed in as I did try entering 2 or 3 manually.

    Any help is appreciated.

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  11. For Derek
    It sounds like you are having the .exe file name problem. When you download the file from QS, it is a zipped file. Unzip it to your desktop. You will notice the file name has a bunch of vertical lines in it. I am guessing these are Chinese characters. Rename the file to something like "TGUV2.exe" (.exe if you have unhidden file extensions, if not just "TGUV2" ). Then try running the install again. The first time you run it, it will be in Chinese. Just click the English button in the upper right. You will then need to go into your computers device manager and determine if you have a Comport 1-4 available and set the software to use it.

    For howardclark
    I am assuming you have your Ham license and just can’t understand the software. You probably have it still set to Chinese. In the upper right is the English button. Just click on it and it will switch to English and it should make sense to you then. The first thing I did was download what the radio had in it and saved it. From there I started my new radio profile. You might read my post on Nov. 29. Now if you don’t have a Ham Ticket and maybe programming it for a business or such, that could take a lot more of an explanation and get complicated. More than a blog posting could handle. I suggest you take a class and get your ham license or maybe contact a ham radio club in your area and see if a member could help you.

    Good Luck

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  12. Derek/Howard et al.

    I've been through the same as you, but luckily found the answers. In case you haven't found them yet, here's what I did:

    Downloading the software
    ------------------------
    After downloading the file from Quansheng
    (http://www.qsfj.com/en/Technology.asp?SortID=2 ), when you try to unzip the file, you'll see something like: TG-UV-D1.++++.exe where '+' represents a small square box. These are Chinese characters which most likely won't be recognised by your computer unless you have the Chinese character set installed. Double clicking this file will just return an error message (as you found out!). Here's the solution:

    1. Right-click the .exe file in your unzip tool (I use WinRAR) and select the third option 'Extract to the specified folder..'.
    2. Save it to your desktop (easier to find!)
    3. Right click the desktop file and select 'Rename'.
    4. Remove the (four) small squares, so that you're left with something like: TG-UV-D1.exe
    5. Hit return
    6. Double-click the newly renamed desktop icon and, hey-presto, you're off into the install wizard. Now just follow the instructions.

    Using the software.
    -------------------
    It's pretty basic but does what's needed. I was confused particularly by the column headers:
    QT/DQT ENC and QT/DQT DEC.
    QT means CTCSS and DQT means DCS. ENC stands for Encode, and is simply the tone frequency to access a repeater. Generally, leave the DEC set to 'off', unless you're getting interference on that frequency in which case you can set it to the same freq as ENC.

    The other settings I leave as follows:
    Step '5', Rev 'Off', W/N 'Wide', Scramble 'Off'. In the Name column, just add whatever you want to call the channel. Last column scan I leave to 'Off'.

    Then just use your USB cable (highly recommended, and only around $10 from HK) and then 'write data' to the rig (via icon or menu).

    Hope that helps. Good luck.
    73, Steve

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  13. I have a great XLS speardsheet utility for creating and editing the TG-UV2 DAT file. It is meant to work in conjunction with the QS software not in place of. It works great. It was created by Mike Kenny NZ9P. I have posted it on the TG-UV2 Yahoo Group. Is there a way it could be posted here for download?

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  14. Nope. I know of no way to attach .xls files to a blog. But people should be able to find it based on your description.

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  15. I am having a terrible time trying to get my TG-UV2 programed. I can't get the programming software to work. I get a conformation when I load the drivers for the USB cable. But when I try and write to the radio or read the radio I get a communication error.

    I finally resorted to manually trying to program it and I can't do that either. I follow the manual and the radio doesn't respond the way the manual say's it is suppose to. A step by step procedure to manually program this would definitely help is someone could take the time and email them to me. rdnovakjr@gmail.com
    Thanks in advance.

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  16. If you are having problems with the Quansheng TG-UV2 communicating to the software thru the USB cable try these USB drivers:
    http://www.radiogearpro.com/download/USB_Drivers_64_bit_4.2.0.zip

    They worked for me!

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  17. I'm somewhat new to the land vhf scenario and I am looking at purchasing this unit for use on the logging roads around my town.

    My understanding is that there are 2 ways to program this radio:

    1. I can program frequencies into the radio using software and a computer cable.

    2. the radio is a user/field programmable unit and I can program a desired frequency into the tg-uv2 at the moment I need it (i.e. I am driving on a back road and see a sign that reads "call mile x on frequency xxx.xxx" or "This road is frequency xxx.xxx" and I am able to punch in the desired frequency using the key pad and transmit/receive then and there)

    thanks for any info

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  18. pse, link for download oh this software..??

    73, Dan iw1axr

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  19. I have purchased 5 of these Quansheng TG-UV2 HT radios for use with our NASCAR racing team. The main reasons for this purchase was two fold. One for the budgetary cost reductions, the other for the quality I have seen (and heard) when I used one with our Black Box HT radios. The driver and the spotter both say the quality of sound transmission was excellent and better then the $300+ Black Box Radios.

    I downloaded the communication software and acquired a USB to Kenwood connector to use with these radios. I ran into all these issues everyone has seen with installing, setting up and getting the Quansheng TG-UV2 radios to communicate with my XP SP3 PC. but I did get it to work. I programed one master radio manually, and then downloaded the data to the PC. From there I tweaked what I wanted, added a few more frequencies, and then proceeded to upload all the frequency information I wanted to all the other new radios. Here are a couple of things I found that will help others.

    Even though I am using XP Pro SP3, the Quansheng HT TG-UV2 will only work with the communication software version 1.4. If I tried the newer software version 2.2 it would connect and download, but nothing would populate the spreadsheet.

    Secondly, you do have to attach the HT radios to the PC before the Port communication link would show up in the hardware profile. Then you would have to make sure they are all using the default baud rates, but you can ONLY use COM1, and all the software communication parameters need to match. Then the software will communicate with the radios.

    However, I ran into an issue where two of the radios will not be seen by the software data connection/communication, in ether download or upload mode. So inevitably, I will have to program these last two radios manually. Other then that, these all worked properly.

    Does anybody have any insight as to what I could do to get these two radios to be recognize by the software? All the others worked fine. (I will be contacting the radio supplier who I purchased these from).

    I Hope this helps, and someone can help me.

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  20. I am new to this and have the TG-UV2. All the posts here must be from Quansheng employees because I think it is a piece of crap.

    I have been working over 3 hours to try to get the lap top (OS7) and TG-UV2 cabled up. I have never used anything so difficult. The software sucks.

    In the MCP307 desktop program when going to Write to the handheld, this is the message I get:"COM is invalid. Please check COM port status."

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  21. Anyone had problems with the desktop charger? Had enough battery out of the box to program and play with for about ten hours. Put radio in charger for twelve hours now and the led on charger still hasn't changed to green. Got curious and took battery off radio and put back in charger, voltage on batter while in charger is 7.48. Is it done? My led just not working right?

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  22. @Motorhommie

    Although I've not used the software method of programming (I just program the TG-UV2 directly, no PC), in general I can appreciate your frustration. It sounds like you're having problems getting the correct Comm port configured.

    Perhaps others can provide some advice. I know that others have got the PC method working, but they've reported that the user interface isn't the greatest.

    PS: No, this blog is not connected in any way to QuanSheng. I started this blog for the purpose of capturing the Hints and Tips to using the radio.

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  23. @KBBF109

    LED should be red and green as described. I would charge the battery overnight to make sure, and then see how the life is. The point would be to confirm that your battery is okay.

    Once you confirm that the charger base is (slightly) defective, then contact Quansheng via their website to see if they'll help you out.

    Good luck.

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  24. PS: Sorry for delay in publishing these comments. We were away on vacation for most of July.

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  25. I'm having a problem getting my TG-UV2 to allow me to use the channels I have entered into memory. For some reason, probably operator error, I cant get the HT to switch to channel mode so I can use the arrows or numeric keypad to change channels/freq's. Any help?

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  26. First, exit any special modes that you might be in. Get it back to plain old VFO or MR mode.

    Then press MR/VFO button to switch between VFO mode (indicated by F0, F1, etc,), and MR mode (indicated by a two or three digit channel number).

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  27. They do a data cable now

    http://www.dealextreme.com/p/usb-programming-cable-for-kenwood-wouxun-puxing-quansheng-walkie-talkie-66578

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  28. http://www.qsfj.com is down and has been for a few days now, can anyone upload the program plz.

    Thanks

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  29. I just purchased a TG-UV2 for use in my job as a regional coordinator for multiple agencies across my region. This is on a trial basis to see if we will be purchasing one or two mobile units to be able eliminate have 4 radios in my truck and while not having any HAM radio experience, I was wondering if anyone would be willing to lend a hand on two problems I am having at this time.
    1) I can receive all channels programmed in the radio but only in the scan mode. If I manually flip through each channel, I can see when someone is transmitting (by the light and the TX/RX signal indicator) but no volume.
    2) While scanning frequencies, I can receive also but during transmissions received while scanning , the radio goes back into scan mode every 5 seconds or so and then picks the received freq back up again, missing a few moments of each transmission.
    I have manually programmed each freq because I don’t have the program and after reading some posts, I may want to continue doing so manually.

    Thank you in advance for your time

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  30. In answer to question 2, unfortunately that's what they've designed it to do: scan, listen for a few seconds, and then take off scanning again. I prefer the older standard method which was to stay on an active channel and not take off scanning again until the conversation actually ended.

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  31. In answer to question 1, I don't know what's going on. Make sure that the channel step size (5, 12.5 kHz, etc.) is programmed so that each channel is exactly on frequency. Perhaps others have some suggestions?

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  32. Thanks for the reply to my questions. I have since found out, as you stated, that the 5 second scan problem is the way it is programmed. Would be nice if it could e changed !
    I have found out how to receive all channels outside the scan mode by temporarily setting the receive code to off but the setting does not stay in the memory when the radio is turned off. I am working on getting all the proper receive codes to input. I hope that works.
    Otherwise, the unit seems to be a good little unit, good reception for a good distance.

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  33. I tried programming the receive codes and no matter how I do them, they wont sta in the radio memory when I turn it off !

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  34. Just received my radio. I've been trying to program it by hand for 3 hours and gave up. I haven't heard a voice or CW at all. Its very frustrating.

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  35. Just got my radio. I don't have the programming cable yet. I have spent 3 hours trying to program 2 meter frequencies, offsets etc. with no luck....very frustrating.

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  36. @Neo

    Two possibilities: either you have a defective radio (possible, but a bit unlikely), OR you haven't quite figured it out yet.

    Start by programming in several local FM broadcast stations. They're easy signals and you'll quickly see if you can store frequencies and settings into the memory slots. Once programmed, you should have several FM stations in memory. Practice that before trying to do anything else.

    Once you catch onto the user interface, it's actually quite logical. But it takes a while to understand.

    If by any chance you can prove that the radio is defective, then contact DealExtreme and or Quansheng for assistance. They're both pretty decent companies.

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  37. I just received mine, and am having a hard time programming two certain channels.

    152.63750

    483.16250

    When I enter these either in the computer or by the keypad it rounds to the nearest whole number.

    Any thoughts on how I can fix this?

    Thanks,
    -Jesse

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  38. Must be related to the 'Step' size. Each channel must be an integer multiple of the step size. Are those 12.5kHz channels? If so, then set the 'Step' size to 12.5 kHz.

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  39. I would like to program my radio for the ISS. The ISS Worldwide downlink frequency for voice is 145.800 and the region 2 uplink is 144.490. That means that the offset is -1310. I set the Channel Step to 5 Khz and entered 01310 for the transmitter offset. As soon as I enter the last digit of the transmitter offset, it changes to 1290. It appears that I can only enter multiples of 30 for the transmitter offset. The step size is definitely set to 5 (F+0+1 brings up STP 5). Any idea what I am doing wrong?

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  40. I figured out the answer to my question. I was apparently in the wrong mode. Pressing MR/VFO solved the problem.

    My next question is, how do you program the radio to transmit on 2 meters and receive on 70 cm. or vice-versa?

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  41. How do I program the radio to transmit on 2 meters and receive on 70 centimeters, or vice-versa?

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  42. i yust buy tg-uv2 and i dont know howe too set chanels from 1-9....in my country they all have PMR 446 radios and we couldn finde the right way(mhz,khz...) i have the function instruction i have read it....but stil couldent set the device.....alweys sent me on MENU..... i need allot of help.....help...help......sos.......

    thnx............bye......

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  43. hello I have a tg-uv2,I use windows7 ,I setup driver.and it was succesfull.but I cant connection my radio,it shows connection port settings error,who one found it?

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    Replies
    1. try this lonk

      http://www.essexham.co.uk/news/programming-the-quansheng-tg-uv2-from-a-pc.html

      Delete
  44. Try this

    http://www.essexham.co.uk/news/programming-the-quansheng-tg-uv2-from-a-pc.html

    ReplyDelete
  45. I have difficulty with this radio. I am new to amateur radio so something may be obvious to you but not to me. I cannot find any activity on scanning. I listen for local repeaters but the world seems dead. I wouldn't think I have to hold the MONITOR button to hear other people talking, but that's the case, at least on NOAA weather. Could this be the intent of the designer?

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  46. Can I take this radio to a Radio Shack, or something like this to get it programmed? Or perhaps a HAM radio store??

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  47. No, you cannot. If you do, they will be obligated to lock the radio so it is not openly programmable.

    ReplyDelete

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