Table of Contents

Packet Radio Transceivers

Here's a member-contributed list of experiences with particular radios.

Make/model Band(s) 9600 baud? Programming Interfacing Typical price Verified with NinoTNC Member(s)
Yaesu FT-991A 160m to 70cm ? ? USB (PC) / 6 pin mini DIN (modem) £££ Yes M0XLZ
Yaesu FT-1500m 2m yes manual 6 pin mini DIN £100 yes M0LTE
Yaesu FT-8900 10,6,2 & 70cm yes 6 pin mini DIN £200 yes M0UKF
Yaesu FTM-300D 2 & 70cm yes 6 pin mini DIN £300 yes G6FJI
Kenwood TM V7 70cm + 2m-ish see note 2 yes manual 6 pin mini DIN £NA yes M0UKF
Tait TM8200 UHF 70cm yes Inverted serial, RJ45 FTDI cable from Technofix (eBay) works. Tait s/w required. DB15. Technofix FTDI cable on eBay verified working. Variable, as low as £20 yes M0LTE
Yaesu FT-450D 160m - 6m no manual 6 pin mini DIN £500 yes M0LTE
Motorola GM340 70cm yes Manual Motorola CPS ~£30 (ebay) yes MM0RFN
Key KM3000/4000 2m No Dedicated page £20 from TVRG Yes G4WQG
Maxon PM100 / PM160V 2m+70cm, monoband UHF - Yes Maxon transceiver info £15 from TVRG UHF - Yes G4KWT
Tait T2xxx series varies Unknown, see note 1 Programming lead from TechnoFix (PrgT2000-F) £19, or make one from male DB15 and RJ11 (including outer RJ11 pins which are not always wired on telephone cables) Tricky, RJ11 mic + power 'molex' for ext. speaker or fit T2000-A81 interface board. Potentially not plug-and-play due to different options boards in circulation. £20 Yes but be aware of bandwidth Robin M0JQQ
Tait TM8100 series monoband 2m/70cm++ yes Inverted serial, RJ45 FTDI cable from Technofix (eBay) works. Tait s/w required. Same DB15 pinout as TM8200 (programming) Excessive prices on ebay, occasionally ~£30 yes M0LTE
Simoco SRM8000 70cm/2m/4m 2400 DB15 £100 Yes Nick-G5RSD
Baofeng UV-5R 70cm / 2m no Chirp / manual Kenwood K plug (aka K1 connector) £15 yes, suffers from TX/RX turnaround issues intermittently 2E1OBD, 2M0IIG
IC7300 HF + 6m + 4m 13 pin DIN significant yes M0JQQ, G6FJI
Xiegu G90 HF No Manual 8 pin mini DIN ~£400 yes MM7SHX, 2M0IIG
Anytone 868/878 2M/70cm No Manufacturer software, Manual Kenwood K plug (aka K1 connector) ~£100-200 yes, occasional turnaround issues 2M0IIG
Alinco DR06 6M Tested at 1200/2400, 9600 Capable Manual https://www.alinco.com/Products/ham/mbl/DR-03_06/ DB15 on rear panel See Manual ~£50-£100 Yes G4WQG

Note 1. T2000-A75 modem OTA is 1200/2400 baud; APRS module weakly implies 9600 firmware

Note 2. Kenwood TM-V7 can only run wide band making it unsuitable for NoV's on the 2m band

Transceiver wiring

Software & Documentation

If you find programming software for a radio, especially if it is unusual or hard to find. Please share links below. Copies of dated software can be provided to Francis - M0UKF who will make these available at: https://www.oarc.uk/files

Useful references

Tait T2000-series radio information: