Kenwood Two Way Radio Programming Software Download

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Llanque Mazurek

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Aug 3, 2024, 4:50:57 PM8/3/24

to enintraptend

If you recently invested in a Kenwood Two-Way radio for personal or work use, you'll certainly want to program it before attempting to use it. This Japanese electronics manufacturer produces a very popular line of portable radio equipment, and its wide range of two-way radios is often used in both home and corporate settings.

While a Kenwood radio can be programmed to a particular channel or programmed to search for channels, whichever type of programming you choose, it only takes a few minutes to set up. Here's how to set up your brand new Kenwood two-way radio:

I have an authenticated software license. I'm not able to figure out were the software to program the frequencies and such is and not finding anything online to help. Any help would be greatly appreciated and thanks in advance.

You cannot use Chirp for programming an NX-1300. You need to use the Kenwood KPG-D6NK software, which should be a free download. However, you can't use the software until you purchase a $100+ License Key which will be specific to a single PC. Once you have purchased the Key, you will need to Authenticate the software on the exact PC that you plan to use.

The NX-1300 is either Analog, Analog + DMR, or Analog + NXDN. Make sure you've got the correct radio firmware for what you're trying to do. You can enable different Digital modes by purchasing a License and enabling the correct firmware.

Having a sample codeplug to work from should help you to figure out the Kenwood setup. It's a fairly simple frequency table setup for most of the Analog information. Digital becomes a bit more complicated. You will need to load any Voice Files into the radio before you can assign those to any channel locations or button functions.

Kenwood offers some training videos online through their Kenwood University online. Those are Dealer Training videos on the MyTools site. Not sure if there's any access available to anyone who is not a dealer, but I'd start by asking the place where you bought the software to point you in the right direction.

You need to use the Kenwood KPG-D6NK software, which should be a free download. However, you can't use the software until you purchase a $100+ License Key which will be specific to a single PC. Once you have purchased the Key, you will need to Authenticate the software on the exact PC that you plan to use.

This is why I'll NEVER purchase one of the new Kenwood radios, new or used. They changed their business model to extract more money out of business customers. For private hobby use it makes no sense at all.

With a license key tied to a specific PC, effectively turning it in to a hardware dongle, if your hard disk dies so does your license. I forget if it was either Kenwood or Motorola, but they told people when your hardware dies or the license file gets screwed up you get to buy a new one.

What might make more sense is installing the software and license on a virtual machine. That way you can keep backup copies of the VM in case of a real hardware failure. Second you can load the VM on any PC that can host the VM environment effectively allowing you to run the software on multiple computers without the necessity of buying multiple licenses. So, for example, you can have the VM on your desktop computer and a laptop for when you travel and need to make last minute changes.

I had several computers running the exact same VM with Microsoft Windows a few years ago. Windows would start, update etc. with zero complaints about multiple copies running or pirated versions. If Microsoft isn't detecting the multiple versions running I doubt Kenwood's software will either.

What I'm curious about is how you're all using the configurable zones in your radios? I've got zone 1 setup with all the basic GMRS channels, no tones configured. The second zone I've got setup for use with the Midland handhelds and the 15 watt mobile for direct communications with my family and have a channel with the travel tone configuration. The third I've setup solely for repeaters, but of course I don't have access to or use any repeaters yet, but there are a couple locally here so I do hear some conversations.

Zones are for, as you have done, sorting channels into groups. I have set Zone 1 as local repeaters, Zone 2 as all repeater channels, Zone 3 for conventional GMRS channels and Zone 4 I added local FD/EMS.

as for ID number, many kenwood radios have two ID modes. Fleetsync and MDC1200. If configured the ID number will be send on each transmit, and if you configure your radio correctly, it will display a name when the code is received. These modes will also allow you to page particular users, and even send messages.

as for ID number, many kenwood radios have two ID modes. Fleetsync and MDC1200. If configured the ID number will be send on each transmit, and if you configure your radio correctly, it will display a name when the code is received. These modes will also allow you to page particular users, and even send messages.

You touched on something else that I'm curious about, which is the ability to configure the radio to listen in on other channels outside of GMRS since it's configurable. How did you figure out the FD/EMS frequencies? I haven't spent a ton of time on it but have looked to see what other frequencies in the range this radio can be configured for are dedicated to but either I don't understand the information (I've found lists but don't understand what they're telling me) or I haven't actually found the right thing.

I've got a bit to learn about this radio not just about functions and capabilities but just general "radio stuff." I initially bought some Midland hand helds and the MXT115 for SHTF but this is getting very interesting. I go back and forth regretting the MXT115 because for the same price I got the 8360HK which is clearly, far superior, but then I convince myself that the MXT115 is actually a nice "portable" because I can just plug in to any cigarette lighter type plug in a vehicle and use it (probably need a better antenna). But now I'm struggling with whether I should buy another Kenwood and do a permanent install in my car. I hear this is the normal progression.

This varies by radio. Some radios will only cover 450-480, others cover 440-520 and more cover 400-520 and even the VHF band. As long as a dept uses a frequency your radio can pick up, you could add it to your radio. PLEASE IF YOU DO THIS, ENSURE TRANSMIT IS DISABLED FOR THOSE CHANNELS AS CONVICTION FOR INTERFERING ON PUBLIC SAFETY FREQUENCIES CAN RESULT IN MASSIVE FINES AND EVEN JAIL TIME!!!!!!

Talkaround is repeater offset defeat. Uses a preset channel normally used with a repeater (and different transmit and receive frequencies) but directly using the normal receive frequency for both transmit and receive (also known as 'simplex')

Will anyone out there help me ? I am with a fire dept & we are trying to reprogram kenwood radios to narrow band . The only programming for some of these is in ms dos we have the programs sent to us by Email & have them downloaded & un ziped. Can any one give us a step X step directions on how to use this We have the dosbox downloaded . we have a new windows xp computer . I am 62 years old & need lots of help . I can fix DIESEL Engines bot this dos stuff is driving me crazy I have spent the last 3 hrs. trying to get the dosbox program to work I know it is something I am doing wrong but cannot figure it out . Cannot get to go to c DRIVE HELP Thanks

Get an introduction to Armada programming and fleet management software. You will learn how to create a basic template to work on a P25 trunking system. This basic training consists of three online modules:

After you have learned the basics and would like to master advanced Armada radio configuration and programming, you can tackle the Technical Training for Armada which is comprised of a series of online modules. Upon completion of the online training, you will receive a certificate indicating that you are an Armada Certified Programmer.

The form factor of the TK-780 is familiar to me because I have some experience with the TK-981, which is a 900MHZ FM commercial radio that is commonly repurposed for ham bands. The TK-780 is a commercial radio an identical form factor and button layout to the TK-981, but with VHF capabilities, so I bet on the programming procedure being more or less the same.

Upon my return home in the mid-afternoon, I located my Kenwood power cable and tested the first TK-780 for power. All systems normal! The second TK-780 had Powerpole connectors instead of a Kenwood power adapter, which was fine with me, and it was in this moment that I realized that I always had the option to do this to my radios, but it never occurred to me to do so. The second unit also powered on, so on to the next step.

A common question asked when repurposing the Kenwood TK series of radios is: Can they be programmed with Chrip? Unfortunately, that would be too easy and the answer is no. There are a handful of applications released by Kenwood that can be used to program their commercial radios, and the specific application you would use depends on your model of radio. I did a few minutes of minimal research and found that the TK-780 could be programmed with the KPG-49D software that I used for the TK-981, and it utilized the same Kenwood KM6 programming cable. Thank Hiram Percy Maxim for smiling upon me.