Contents
CHIRP is a programming tool for ICOM D-STAR radios. There are three different alternatives to start with the programming:
Clone the radio
1. Start CHIRP and Click Radio --> Download From Radio
2. The Clone window opens
3. Select the COM-Port you intend to use from the drop down menu for the Serial Port
4. Select the Radio Type from the drop down menu for the radio
5. Name the file like MyRadio.img, MyCallxx.img or whatever you like
6. Click OK. CHIRP will display the content of the memories defined in the memory range (default 0 – 25)
Convert an existing icf-file
1. Start CHIRP and Click File --> Convert icf-file
2. The Open-window pops up, select the icf-file you want to convert
3. Select the file, open it and the Save Box pops up requesting you to define a name for the conversion file and save
it as img-file like MyRadio.img or similar.
4. CHIRP will display the content of the memories defined in the memory range (default 0 – 25)
Use an existing img- or csv-file
1. Start CHIRP and Click File --> Open
2. The Open-window pops up, select the img-or csv-file you want to use and open it
3. CHIRP will display the content of the memories defined in the memory range (default 0 – 25)
NOTE: You can create an empty radio-agnostic file with File->New, but you must import it into an image of your radio. You cannot program any of the radios from a radio-agnostic file.
Change the Memory Content
Once you have opened the file MyRadio.img you may want to modify the the memory content in an external editor or spreadsheet. To do so:
1. Click Radio --> Export to File
2. Select either Chirp Native File or CSV File and store the file as radio.chirp or radio.csv according to your selection
3. Select the memories to export by setting or clearing the checkbox next to the channel number. Use the All, None, or Inverse buttons to change the selection en masse.
4. If done click OK for export or cancel if you have changed your mind.
5. Import radio.csv into your spread sheet program. Make sure that for non-English local settings the list field separator in local settings of your notebook or PC is set to comma (,) before you do this. Otherwise you will run into problems when you save the csv-file when done. In Excel you have to go to Data --> Import of external data and follow the Excel Import Assistant. Make sure that
- The field separation is set to comma
- The Text recognition character is set to No
- All columns are defined as Text columns
- Click at Finish and the content of radio.csv is displayed in the spread sheet.
6. You can now modify the content in the way you like. Make sure that all characters comply with the requirements of the specific fields, e.g. don’t enter Joe or something similar in the frequency field where 145.6500 or so would be expected.
7. When finished save the file to e.g. radionew.csv (make sure that the field separation is done by comma).
8. When done you have to import the file radionew.csv by clicking on Radio --> Import from File. The pop up window requests you to either mark or uncheck the checkbox at the different memory locations or select either all, nothing or inverse and click OK when you want to proceed with the import. Otherwise click at cancel.
9. Save the import save the file as mynewradiodata.img using the File drop down menu.
10. Upload the file to your radio using the Radio --> Upload to Radio Clone function.
Enjoy the new settings of your radio!