Resources · Radio programming

Programming your HT

Before a drill or activation, every operator's HT should already have the DeKalb ARES primary and backup repeaters, the simplex frequency, the local Skywarn repeater, and a handful of neighboring ARES nets pre-programmed. Typing them in by hand on the radio is slow and error-prone. CHIRP makes it painless.

What CHIRP is

CHIRP is a free, open-source, cross-platform tool for programming amateur-radio transceivers. It supports hundreds of radios — Baofeng, Yaesu, Kenwood, ICOM, Alinco, Wouxun, TYT, and many more — and uses a common CSV format that lets you share a channel list between radios without retyping anything.

→ CHIRP project home (chirpmyradio.com)

Getting started

Install CHIRP. Download the latest build from the CHIRP download page. Builds are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Get the right cable. Most HTs use a model-specific USB programming cable. Baofeng and similar Chinese radios work with generic Prolific/FTDI-based cables — but beware of counterfeit chipsets that need older drivers. CHIRP's wiki has per-radio guidance.
Read the radio first. Connect the cable, launch CHIRP, go to Radio → Download From Radio, pick your model, and save a backup .img file. This is your restore point if anything goes wrong.
Import the channel list (below) via File → Import, tweak as needed, then Radio → Upload To Radio.

DeKalb ARES channel list

A curated list of the frequencies a DeKalb ARES member should have on any HT: our primary and backup repeaters, simplex, neighboring metro repeaters, UHF links, the NOAA weather channels, and simplex calling channels. Load it into CHIRP, upload to your radio, and you're ready for a drill or activation. Two downloads are offered depending on your radio.

Baofeng UV-5R: full CHIRP image (.img)

A complete CHIRP image for the Baofeng UV-5R. Open it in CHIRP and upload straight to a UV-5R to load the channels and the radio's settings exactly as configured. Because an .img is tied to one radio model, use it only for the UV-5R; for any other radio, use the CSV below instead.

→ Download the UV-5R CHIRP image (.img, updated July 2026)

Channel list (.csv) for any CHIRP radio

The same channel list as a CHIRP CSV, exported from a Baofeng UV-5RM. CSV is CHIRP's portable format, so you can import it into almost any supported radio via File → Import, then review a few columns (power, mode, and tones) for your specific model before uploading. If your radio needs a different column layout, the CSV is plain text that any AI assistant can quickly reformat for you.

→ Download the DeKalb ARES channel list (.csv, updated July 2026)

Common gotchas

Always back up first. Before writing anything, read the current contents to a .img file. If the upload corrupts memory, the backup restores the radio.
Watch the PL tones. Our primary and backup repeaters use PL 107.2. Set both encode and decode (TSQL / "Tone Squelch") so you only hear traffic meant for the repeater.
Narrow vs. wide FM. Most metro-Atlanta analog repeaters are wide FM (25 kHz). Some Baofeng-style radios default to narrow FM; audio will sound quiet or muffled. Set mode to FM, not NFM, for our repeaters.
Offset direction matters. Our primary (146.760) is minus 600 kHz. A positive offset or wrong shift means you'll transmit off-frequency and nothing will go through.
Test before the event. After uploading, do a radio check on the repeater before the drill starts. Finding problems on the bench beats finding them on the air.

Need help?

Radio programming is one of the best things to learn from another member — bring your radio and cable to a monthly meeting, or ask on Groups.io or Discord. Our AEC for Digital Communications can also help with setup; see the Leadership page for contacts.