The WCS-2820 Radio Programming Software is designed to make it easier to program your radio. Details of memory channels and other set menu options of your radio are in the program to access and study at your pace. No more “function key frustration” from trying to set options from the face of the radio.

Memory Channels Include:

• 500 Memory with D-Star options*
• 18 Limit Memories (9 pair)
• 7 VFO A Channels
• 7 VFO B Channels
• 2 Call Channels Channels
• 100 GPS Memories

Other Menu Item Categories Include:

• Common Settings
• F1 Settings
• F2 Settings
• DTMF Settings

The Radio Programmer Is for so Much More than Just Memory Management.

The programming process begins by first installing the program then installing (and allowing) the drivers for the cable. Be sure to complete both of these steps.

Next, make all the connections between the radio and the computer and complete Communications | Get data from radio. This “syncs” the radio and computer. Even if the radio is not yet set up with memory channels, there are details that the programmer needs to get from the radio.

Start setting up details for your radio in a “factory fresh” file (File|New) or in the file that was created when you did Communications | Get data from the radio. Begin by entering a receive frequency (that will be the frequency published for the repeater). When you press Enter or Tab to leave the Receive frequency field, the program will complete details for the channel. Then customize Name and Tone to match the details you have for that local repeaters.

Use the links to external data sources (File | External data) built right into the programmer to access repeater details for your area or for a location you plan to visit. Then with just a few button clicks, you have a file with hundreds of entries and all you typed was your location (i.e., zip code or city).

Save your file as you work. This is a computer, after all, and you would hate to lose your work should the system fail. Actually, create and save as many files as you want or need. You could have one file for home, a different one for the vacation house, another for the trip to your son’s house, another for the yearly 3K run and picnic where you help direct traffic and want the radio to be programmed with only the frequencies for that event. Remember, radio programming is an overwrite process. Everything in the radio is replaced by everything in the file.

Your radio has several “kinds” of memories. All of which are included in the programmer. They are presented on separate tabs accessed at the bottom of the screen. This keeps them organized for you and the radio. Remember, you don’t have to do anything with these additional channels if you are not using them. They are set up automatically to satisfy the requirements the radio. Do not try to delete preprogramed entries (i.e., usually on VFO tab). These can be changed, but not deleted. The radio must have a value in that spot to function.

Limit Memories

Limit Memories are used by the radio for Program Scan. Program the same details for Limit Memories as for regular memory channels. Many of the Limit Memories are preprogrammed in the radio and while the frequency can be changed to another within the band, they cannot be left blank.

VFO A and B

The program makes available the same VFO’s as in the radio (usually one per band). Remember these are not real memory channels since the details are lost as soon as you tune the radio manually. There is no one button recall for these. You do not need to program into VFO before programming details into a memory channel. These channels are preprogrammed in the radio and while the frequency can be changed to another within the band, they cannot be left blank.

Call Channels

Home/Call channels are special memories accessed through one button recall on the radio. These channels are preprogrammed in the radio and while the frequency can be changed to another within the band, they cannot be left blank.

GPS Memories

Once stored in the radio during GPS operations, these channels are read from the radio with the other details.

Memories and D-Star Columns

D-Star Settings

Source and Destination:

Route/Link to Repeaters:

Link to Reflectors:

The Resulting File:

Use these screens to customize many set menu features of the radio. Check boxes toggle features on or off, use drop down menus list all selections and blank boxes for personalized entry add to the ease of setting up your radio exactly like you want it.

The entries on the Settings screens are made for you to "Set and Forget". Once settings are customized, you are prompted to save Before exiting. The saved settings will Be there every time you create a new frequency file.

Common, F1 and F2 Settings

Use these screens to customize other set menu features of the radio. Check boxes toggle features on or off, drop down menus list all selections and blank boxes for personalized entry add to the ease of setting up your radio exactly like you want it.

The entries on the Settings screens are made for you to "Set and Forget". Once settings are customized, you are prompted to save Before exiting. The saved settings will Be there every time you create a new frequency file.

Use F1 and F2 columns to configure the settings for different activities.

DTMF

Enter DTMF memory details and customize options for this function of the radio.

RT Systems Programmers interface with two sources of data to make it easy for you to find repeater information. Some of these sources even include information for repeaters outside the US. Your existing subscription to a service (where required) works in the programmer.

• RepeaterBook Search – This database contains domestic and international repeater listings. It is free to use from within the programmer.


• RFinder Web Search – It has both domestic and international repeater listings. RFinder offers the best search abilities with single location or routing options. A subscription through RFinder is required to access this data.


• Frequency Lists – This list is built into the programmer and can be accessed without an internet connection. The list includes common frequencies as those for Weather, GMRS, FRS, Marine Channels, MURS and several others. Entries are easily made into a programming file from the information found in the list.

Repeater Book Search

An Internet connection is required for this search.

Location – Enter City, State, Country (if not in the US).

Radius – Enter how many miles (up to 90 maximum) around this location.

Select Bands – This is not terribly important since it can be done on the next screen; however, you might want to limit the selection to reduce the number of repeaters in the results. Uncheck All Bands to make the individual bands active.

Click OK.

RFinder Search

An internet connection and subscription to the service are required for this search.

Enter the User E-mail and Password that you established when you purchased your subscription from RFinder.

Location - Search around a specific city. Enter City, State and Country (if not US). Enter Radius up to 90 miles.

Route - Search along the route of a trip you’re planning. Enter the Start and End cities, a width (remember to limit this since you can’t hear repeaters that are too far away), and waypoints (other cities along the way). The search will travel along major interstate highways between the two cities. If the result is not along the route you plan to take, enter other waypoints on your route.

Map Route – Use this option to see the route the search will take. Close the map to return to the search screen.

Click OK.

The information is returned on a screen that is not yet ready for radio programming, this screen lets you examine the data to see if the results are about what you expected. You might find that you spelled the city name wrong which resulted in nothing being returned; or that you want to pull repeaters from further away; or you want to get repeaters for different bands.



Select what the radio uses as the Name display. You can select the Callsign (default), City, State, Region, Repeater Notes or Sponsor. Notice that each of these categories is a column of information in the grid. You will see those names at the top of the screen. You are selecting the information in that column for the Programmer to set up for the Name field. NOTE: The radio will truncate (cut off) the information in the field at the maximum number of characters it can use for the Alpha/numeric display. You might end up with only the first four or six characters of the information in the column. Consider this when selecting the information.

Select what the Programmer will use in the Comment field. This information does not go to the radio but can be very helpful for identifying a channel as you work with it on the spreadsheet. You can print this information along with other details for the channels to have it on hand as you travel. Again, select Callsign, City, State, Region, Repeater Notes or Sponsor.

Resulting File

After clicking Create File for (Your radio) the programmer creates the file that you use to program your radio. Notice that all the Tones are set up with the tone frequencies. All done automatically.

What a list and all you did was enter a location!

Click here to learn more about using Preferences to customize your radio programming experience.

Hardware Requirements