[GCARC] Programing KNG-P800 (P25)

[kbfrank3 at verizon.net]

Hi Folks, I see this thread has gone out to the entire membership so I wanted to comment.
1)  As Chris AD2CS noted, programming Commercial Radios requires special cables and software.  Forget CHIRP.   Furthermore, some models cannot be made to operate in the Ham Bands;
2)  Since the radio in question came from the Red Cross, it probably has been programmed with Red Cross Frequencies.  No need for us to reprogram;
3)  I have been thinking (more like fantasizing) of upgrading my 2 meter and 220 radios that host the W2KBF-10 and W2KBF-11 Winlink RMS stations by acquiring used Motorola Analog FM units which are readily available, since many Pubic Service Agencies have gone to P25, and found services on EBAY that offer to program these Motorola radios for a reasonable fee (a few tens of dollars).  Why would I do this?  Because the Motorola units are bulletproof and my RMS stations run 24/7/365.
	Karl W2KBF
P.S. The Red Cross still has some use for Low Band VHF (30 - 50 MHz) and I recently procured a low band Motorola CDM-750 radio for very little money that I offered as a donation to Bill Kelly NB1LL who is collecting equipment for use at the Fairfield, NJ Red Cross facility.  Bill accepted my offer and it will be up to whoever services radios for the Red Cross to have it reprogrammed, if necessary.

-----Original Message-----
From: gcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net <gcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Christopher Prioli AD2CS
Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2025 6:16 PM
To: rkeogh at comcast.net
Cc: gcarc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [GCARC] Programing KNG-P800 (P25)

Bob -- did they also give you the cable and the software for programming the radio?  The cable goes for about 150 bucks, and the software can run another hundred and a half.  If they gave you the software and the cable, I will be happy to program it for you.  If they did not give you those materials, you need to look into obtaining them before going forward.

73 de

-- Chris   AD2CS
*GCARC VE Team Liaison*
*GCARC Education Committee Chair*
*GCARC Membership Committee Chair*
*Member, GCARC Board of Directors*
------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher P Prioli
648 W Holly Ave
Pitman, NJ  08071
1-856-689-6783
www.ad2cs.com


On Sat, Aug 23, 2025 at 6:00 PM Bob Keogh KD2NEC via GCARC < gcarc at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

> GCARC members,
>
> The Red Cross has donated a KNG-P800 Portable Radio (aka P25) by BK 
> Technology, for the EmComm Trailer that we are building.

> I found the radio's manual online but if we have someone "in house"  
> who has experience programing and operating one of these trunk 
> radio's, it will save me a lot of time and avoid mistakes.
>
> If you have that knowledge and experience, please reach out to me.

> Thanks!
> Bob Keogh (KD2NEC)
> Gloucester County
> Amateur Radio Emergency Coordinator
>