[PPRAANet] RT Systems Speaker

Sun Apr 19 14:35:11 EDT 2026

Thanks, Daniel, for the 'heads-up' about RT Systems' tech support.

ALSO, thanks to Leianna, Jon, and Paul, for providing her name. I was 
sure it was Karin, but wasn't sure if I remembered correctly that it was 
with an I instead of E. And I was hoping for that last name, too.

The other day, I was trying to consolidate a lot of stuff in my 
collection of radios. I wanted to get my newer laptop computer (which 
has no CD-ROM drive) up to speed with my programming software. In the 
process, I found that I have like 14 different RT Systems programmers. 
(OK. I'm almost ashamed to write that!) For the most part, over the past 
?? years, I was trying to use Chirp for my programming needs, but found 
that to be rather clumsy at times, especially with the issues with ye 
olde 'prolific' drivers for the cables. I did finally switch to the much 
better FTDI cables, but still found Chirp to be at least somewhat 
inconsistent shall we say. And I had found RT's to be quite consistent 
and easily interchangeable with data.

My first programmer from RT Systems was "Windows Cloning Software" for 
ADI AT-600 (a wonderful little dual band HT that I still have and use on 
occasion). The installation 3.5" floppy disk is dated January 4, 1999. 
And it was when RT Systems was located in Huntsville, AL. The 
instruction sheet says to "Run File Manager in Windows 3.1 or Explorer 
in Windows 95/98"! I remember that I asked them sometime in the past 20 
years if they could update it for use in a 'modern' PC, and they told me 
no. It seems to me that it probably wouldn't take much time at all, and 
they likely just didn't want to bother with it.

And, for a couple or few or several years, they were located in 
Westminster or Broomfield, CO, or somewhere in that corridor.

I found that for three of my radios I only have the installation CDs. 
(FT-8800R, VX-1R, and VX-5R - all Yaesu) Although I tried to get around 
it, they require that the original installation disk be used to install 
the programmer(s). So, I'm going to ask them to provide the downloadable 
setup files to me. I'll also ask again about the ADI AT-600 software - 
maybe they'll think of it as a blast from the past now!?!

Fortunately, I've never had an issue with the RT Systems programmers, or 
cables, that I wasn't able to resolve myself. (Even as a 'software 
tester' for 30+ years, I was never immune to 'operator error'!!)

FWIW, while I was looking online for stuff related to this subject, I 
found that the radio club that I was in 55 years ago (not licensed as a 
ham then, but did have my CB license (KEL-8797)), the Vienna (VA) 
Wireless Society also had Karin give them the presentation just a couple 
weeks ago. They posted it as a Youtube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr7TAFRUN4k

Thanks again.

Dennis
N0ABC

On 4/19/2026 10:19 AM, Daniel via PPRAANet wrote:
> If you do buy anything from RT systems, just be aware that their 'tech
> support' is invasive and can be detrimental to your computer, or your
> account.
>
> While troubleshooting a bad programming cable, they demanded remote access,
> unsupervised, to my computer, which I declined for privacy concerns.
> They told me I was stupid and ended up closing my account, which disabled
> the programming software that I purchased from them.
>
> When a friend of mine took over the cable to see about getting it working,
> he allowed them access to his machine (a spare, thankfully!) which they
> bricked and refused to resolve.
>
> The owners used to live in and be based in Atlanta, GA; when they moved
> south to a town I used to live in, they joined the local radio club there,
> which I was a member of for many years.
> During a presentation in a club meeting, where I was attending remotely,
> they called me out as a 'bad apple' and told the club it was not
> appropriate to allow me to participate since I was 'a stupid jerk'.
>
> I realize a lot of people have had good experiences with the company, and
> only a hundred or so have had bad experiences, so just tread lightly and
> make sure you have a backup plan in place.
>
> Daniel Leach
> "Be curious, not judgmental" - Walt Whitman
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 19, 2026 at 10:05 AM Paul Wilkinson via PPRAANet <
> ppraanet at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>
>> Dennis-
>>
>> Karin Thompson was the speaker’s name. Email me if you want her email
>> address.
>>
>> Paul / K6IG
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