RT Systems FT-50 Reference guide

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FT-50 Programmer Help

FT-50 Programmer Help
by Enter your company name
The Programmer is designed to give you the ease and
convenience of programming the memories and options of the
radio from your PC.
Using the Programmer, you can create separate files for
unique applications such as travel, emergency activities, or
special events. These files can contain different settings, such
as memories, power management features, and DTMF
numbers, for each purpose.
The Programmer also gives you the ability to read a
configuration from the radio. The configuration would be stored
in a file on your computer to be changed easily. Then, with
minimal button pushing, you can send the altered file back to
program the radio.

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Printed: January 2013
FT-50 Programmer Help
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FT-50 Programmer Help4
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Table of Contents
Foreword 7
Part I What Is the Radio Programmer 9
Part II Getting Started 11
Part III Using the Programmer - Overview 21
................................................................................................................................... 211 Working with Programming Files
................................................................................................................................... 212 Creating a New Programming File
................................................................................................................................... 223 Multiple Global Settings Files
................................................................................................................................... 234 Tying a Global SettingsFile to a Memory Channel File
Part IV Viewing and Changing Programming Files 26
Part V Easy Editing in the Grid 29
Part VI Screen Appearance and Default Options 51
Part VII Split Screen for Multiple Files 56
Part VIII File Maintenance 59
................................................................................................................................... 611 File | Exit
................................................................................................................................... 622 File | New
................................................................................................................................... 643 File | Open
.......................................................................................................................................................... 65Opening files from older programmers
.......................................................................................................................................................... 72Opening a V3 or V4 file from a different radio
.......................................................................................................................................................... 76Opening a V3 or V4 file
................................................................................................................................... 804 File | Print
................................................................................................................................... 815 File | Print Preview
................................................................................................................................... 846 Saving Programming Files
.......................................................................................................................................................... 85File | Save
.......................................................................................................................................................... 87File | Save As
Part IX Menu Item Cross Reference 89
Part X Programming Memory Channels 93
................................................................................................................................... 941 Regular Memory Channels
.......................................................................................................................................................... 99Comment
.......................................................................................................................................................... 97CTCSS
.......................................................................................................................................................... 97DCS Code
.......................................................................................................................................................... 98Mask
.......................................................................................................................................................... 96Name
.......................................................................................................................................................... 96Offset Direction

5Contents
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.......................................................................................................................................................... 95Offset Frequency
.......................................................................................................................................................... 96Odd Split (Split Pair)
.......................................................................................................................................................... 96Operating Mode
.......................................................................................................................................................... 99Pager Channel
.......................................................................................................................................................... 98Pager Enable
.......................................................................................................................................................... 94Receive Frequency
.......................................................................................................................................................... 96Show Name
.......................................................................................................................................................... 98Skip
.......................................................................................................................................................... 98Step
.......................................................................................................................................................... 97Tone Mode
.......................................................................................................................................................... 94Transmit Frequency
.......................................................................................................................................................... 98Tx Power
................................................................................................................................... 1002 Home Channels
................................................................................................................................... 1013 Limit Memories
................................................................................................................................... 1024 VFO Memories
Part XI Programming Other Set Menu Items 104
................................................................................................................................... 1081 Common
................................................................................................................................... 1122 DTMF / Paging Codes
Part XII Computer / Radio File Transfer 114
................................................................................................................................... 1151 Get Data from the Radio
................................................................................................................................... 1182 Send data to the radio
................................................................................................................................... 1223 Computer / Radio Cabling
................................................................................................................................... 1234 Comport Setup
Part XIII Copying From an Excel Spreadsheet 126
................................................................................................................................... 1271 Step 1
................................................................................................................................... 1292 Step 2
................................................................................................................................... 1303 Step 3
................................................................................................................................... 1314 Step 4
................................................................................................................................... 1325 Step 5
................................................................................................................................... 1356 Step 6
Part XIV Importing a file 138
................................................................................................................................... 1401 Creating a file for Import
................................................................................................................................... 1472 Import - Step 1
................................................................................................................................... 1493 Import - Step 2
................................................................................................................................... 1514 Import - Step 3
................................................................................................................................... 1535 Import - Step 4
Part XV Export 156
Part XVI ARRL TravelPlus* 158

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................................................................................................................................... 1591 Creating a list in TravelPlus*
................................................................................................................................... 1612 Opening the list in the Programmer
................................................................................................................................... 1663 Using the TravelPlus* List with existing programmer file
Part XVII RFinder Web Service 171
Part XVIII Troubleshooting 176
................................................................................................................................... 1841 Get Data from Radio Required
Part XIX Invalid Frequencies 186
Part XX Hardware Error Troubleshooting 191
Part XXI Contact Us 196
Index 0

Foreword
7Foreword
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These help files are offered as reference for the features of the programmer and with some added
information about the features and functionality of the radio.
The final reference for a feature of the radio is the Users' Manual for that radio. Any error, omission or
misrepresentation of a radio's ability is unintentional.
The Programmer cannot make the radio do anything that it cannot do from the face of the unit. It makes it
easier to set options for the existing functions.

Part I

What Is the Radio Programmer 9
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1 What Is the Radio Programmer
The Programmer is designed to give you the ease and convenience of programming
the memories and options of the radio from your PC.
Using the Programmer, you can create separate files for unique applications such as
travel, emergency activities, or special events. These files can contain different
settings, such as memories, power management features, and DTMF numbers, for
each purpose.
These files are saved separately to be sent to the radio at any time. One file can be
sent to the radio at any one time. Be sure to put everything you want into each file as
you build it.
The Programmer also gives you the ability to read a configuration from the radio. The
configuration would be stored in a file on your computer to be changed easily. Then,
with minimal button pushing, you can send the altered file back to the radio.
Hardware Requirements
Hardware requirements for the Version 4 Programmers include
A PC running Microsoft Windows: XP, Vista (32 or 64 bit), Windows 7 (32
or 64 bit) or Windows 8 (full version). The programmer will NOT work on
Windows 98, ME, NT or 2000.
The correct computer interface cable as shown in the Radio to Computer
Cabling chapter under Radio / Computer Data Transfer section of this
help.

Part II

Getting Started 11
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2 Getting Started
Creating the file
The Programmer gives you an easy way to access details for memory channels and
other settings of the radio.
Open the programmer by clicking on the icon that was created during installation. The
programmer opens to a default file.
Note: The default file contains memory channel information on
several of the screens. This information is needed by the radio to "fill
spaces in its little brain". You can change the default entries that you
see; but anything that is completed in the default file cannot be left
blank. The Programmer will help you with this. If information is
required, it will warn you when it is missing.
Enter a receive frequency

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In this example we'll enter 147.240 MHz with standard offset, a Name of Local, and a
tone of 100hz.
Type one four seven period two four zero into the receive frequency
column.
Press Enter.
The program completes much of the channel information with defaults. The
Transmit frequency, Offset frequency, Offset Direction and Operating Mode
are completed. This satisfies the "Standard offset" requirement from the
original information.
Press tab or use your mouse to select the Name cell. Type LOCAL. You
choose upper or lower case on many radios. On others, only upper case
letters are allowed. The programmer will help you. If a letter or symbol will
not work on the radio, you will not be able to enter it here.

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Press tab to move to the Tone Mode cell. Setting up the tone of 100hz
requires TW steps (just as it would if you were doing this from the face of
the radio). Turn on Tone Mode AND then set the 100hz tone.
This channel is ready to use.
The other columns are set only if you need them for better radio
performance. See Regular Memory Channels in this help and the User's
Manual for the radio for details on what these features do and the settings

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for them.
There is more to this radio than just memory channels. So, there is more to the
programmer. Tabs at the bottom of the main screen give you access to Limit
memories, Home channels, Hypermemories, VFO, Marine and Shortwave channels,
that apply to your radio.
Click a tab. A screen opens with the details that can be entered for these radio
functions. You can work with the radio without ever using these tabs. There are default
values on these screens that never need to be changed. Make changes for your
special activities when you plan to use one of these functions of the radio.
Save the file
Now that you have the frequencies entered into the memory channels, Save the file.

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In the menu, click File |Save As

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Enter a filename. You can be as descriptive as you want. 256 characters including
spaces, upper and lower letters, and much more to describe this file. The programmer
will enter the extension so it can find the file later.
Once you complete this part of the process, the program will open the last file when it
starts up.
Even More Radio Functions
Today's radios can do so much. Many of the features are not a part of the details for a
memory channel. These other options are set once for the radio to use no matter what
channel you're operating on: memory channel, limit memory, VFO or Home channel.
These options may include, but are not limited to, Lock mode, ARTS details, display
brightness and color, DTMF memories, scan resume options, and many others.
Select Settings | Radio Menu settings from the menu at the top of the main screen to
access these options. The Settings screen opens to a page with check boxes, list
boxes and edit fields. A sample Settings screen would look like this.
Set the options as you need them to get the performance you want from your radio. The
settings shown for your radio will correspond to your radio's features.

Getting Started 17
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Once you have the options like you want it, save this file. Yes, this is saved separately
from the frequencies in the memory channels.
To save the file, select File |Save from the menu on the Settings page. Enter a name
when the window opens. You will not have to set these options again when you start a
new file of memory channels.
Once the file is saved, select File | Exit to return to the main screen of the programmer.
Sending the file(s) to the radio (programming the radio)
The new RT Systems' Version 4 programmers have no comport setup. Using the RT
Systems' USB cable, you attach the cable, attach the radio, and get the programming
done.
First: Communications | Get data from
Although you really want to put the details of your file into your new radio so you can
use it, doing Get data from with this new radio gets the process started and may
help prevent problems sending the file to the radio.
This process is REQUIRED if your radio has been modified to
transmit outside the ham band.
From the menu at the top of the main window, select File |New. Open a
new file to protect the file that you created.
Connect the RT Systems USB cable to a port on your computer. Wait until
the New Hardware Found process completes.
With the radio off, connect the other end of the cable to the radio.
From the menu at the top of the main window, select Communications | Get
data from.
A screen will open with details about this process specific
to your radio.
Follow these steps carefully until this process is complete.
Open the file that you created earlier. To open a file select File | Open from
the menu at the top. Select your file from those in the list. Or with Version 4,
your file may already be open in the other tab.

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Second: Communications | Send data to
When your file is ready, select Communications | Send data to from the
menu at the top of the main screen.
A screen will open with details about this process specific to
the radio.
Follow the steps carefully to complete this process and program the radio.
Read the screen carefully. The steps are often different from those used to
get data from the radio.
Turn off the power. Disconnect the programming cable from the radio.
Your radio may still be in VFO mode after it is programmed. This is a
normal mode for the radio. Press the key on the face of the radio as
described in the User’s Manual for the radio to put the radio into
Memory mode and see what you programmed.
Hardware Requirements
Hardware requirements for the Version 4 Programmers include:

Getting Started 19
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A PC running Microsoft Windows (XP, Vista or Windows 7). The Version 4
RT Systems' software will not work on Windows 98, 2000, ME, or NT.
Version 4 - An open USB port or the RTS-03 USB to serial adapter to work
with an original RT Systems' 9-pin serial cable.
Note: The Version 4 programmers will not recognize any other cable
or USB adapter. They will not work through a serial port.
The correct computer interface cable as shown in the Radio to Computer
Cabling section of this help.

Part III