CHIRP

I tried programming with Yaesu software from RT Systems, version 5.0 and got a checksum error the first time. I then started a new file and data was read from the radio, but incorrectly. I made corrections and it wrote back to the radio, but was not recognized. The radio acted as if it was never programmed.

After working with the HYS TC-8900R some more, I have found a workable solution. The software and cable for the Yaesu 8900 will program the radio under the following circumstances.

Upon installing the software and connecting to the radio, create a new file and add your channel programming to it. Yes, you will loose any data manually entered in the radio! Then, follow the normal programming instructions to program the radio. Mine worked with both small and large samples of channel data. However, you cannot read from the radio under any circumstance that I have tried without receiving an error. Writing only has worked fine on multiple attempts. I tested several channels entered through the software and programmed to the HYS 8900 and was able to use them without issue.

I just received my HYS TC-8900R and attempted to program it with Chirp. At first I was getting the checksum error when trying to receive memories from the radio. I could however write to the radio and everything was written successfully. After performing a full reset on the radio (even though the radio is brand new), I was able to get it to finish reading from the radio. It would finish but the memories were blank in Chirp. Upon closer inspection of the memories by looking at individual RAW memories, I could see that frequencies were in fact getting pulled into chirp but not displaying in the memory list. If I set up any HOME frequencies and possibly any hyper memories, I would get the checksum error at the very end of the clone/download from radio procedure. After a full reset, I could read from the radio again though.

Other things to note:
After downloading from the radio, it is not possible to update memory '0' in Chirp. Can only view and modify 1-799.

I don't think it would take much to make Chirp work fully on the HYS TC-8900R and I really think if support was added, more people would buy these radios as an alternative to the more expensive Yaesu FT-8900R. This radio is pretty much the exact same radio. The buttons are only subtly different and the antenna connector is a Type N vs an SO-239. As for operation, the menus and functions are all the exact same. I was using the Yaesu manual to get around on the radio and everything was exactly the same.

Hopefully this information helps others attempting to program an HYS TC-8900R or helps get this awesome radio added to the support list.

If there is any way I can help to get this radio supported, please let me know.

Is there any way to get a copy of the Yaesu FT-8900R python driver file?

Thanks,
Chris

I also bought a HYS TC-8900 for our Emergency Operations Center and would like to program it. I bought the RT systems software for the Yaesu FT-8900R, so I will use that for now, but I prefer Chirp so that I can go program all of our radios of different types and include the same sets of frequencies.

Okay - I just used Chirp to load my HYS TC-8900R using the Yaesu FT-8900R radio selection.
A. First I did a factory reset.
B. Then I read the radio (no problems) into Chirp.
C. I then used the .img from a TYT TH-9800 that I had loaded earlier this week - I could've built it from scratch in Chirp, though (using Radio Reference imports).
D. I made a few changes because I plan on using this TC-8900R for VHF Winlink and APRS.
E. I saved it as a new .img
F. I loaded it into the TC-8900R

It works great. Why spend an extra $80 on a Yaesu FT-8900R? In fact there is an even newer HYS clone radio that is $10 cheaper (on Amazon) called the HYS NA-8900R which goes for $268. I'm sure the NA (North America?) works the same way as the TC.

Thank you Chirp. I never had to use my RT systems software (for Yaesu FT-8900R) but it also works for this HYS.

I have a HYS TC-8900R. Please send me .img of TYT TH-9800. I have to program my device. The device has been reset to factory default and has no channel list. Thanks in advance and 73 E75HZ