Radio Programming Hardware

This page contains information about aftermarket programming hardware for radios. This is not original manufacturers programming equipment. 

We manufacture hardware for reprogramming 2 way radios. These days the majority of radios are reprogrammed using a "dongle" and lead that go between a PC's 9 or 25 pin serial port and the radio. Ideally the PC should be the slowest you can find.

The majority including current radios will run very well on DOS using a Window 98SE, P166 Pentium machine.

Broadly speaking the programming leads can be classified as:

"Ribless"
 - This is a more common lead. On one end is a specific plug for a radio, and the other end which goes into the PC serial port has all the electronics built into the plug. A separate interface (or "Rib Box") is not required.  If you only have one radio model to program this is the simplest and usually the cheapest option.

"Cable only"
- This is a cheap cable that requires an interface - In the case of Kenwood our Model UPA Interface Box. Once you have the interface all you need is the specific leads. For example the UPA will work with a number of leads - including Tait and Philips radios.

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UPA Programming Interface
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PC to Radio Programming Interface

This is the general-purpose interface that goes between the PC and appropriate radio. It is for specific radios. Not for Motorola radios.  It uses standard Original Equipment Manufacturers software (not supplied).

With the appropriate lead it will programme a minimum of:  Kenwood Mobiles & handportables; Tait T2000, T3000 & T700 series; Philips PRM80 PMR & Band 3 mobiles.

It is self powered from the radio and plugs directly between PC and the radio.  The UPA has 2 x 25w "D" sockets - one male and the other female.  The female socket mates with your 25 way D serial port, and the male mates with the UPA-to-Radio lead.  If your PC has the more popular 9 way serial socket then you will need the optional "LA" PC to UPA lead (See below).

Please note that the UPA is not compatible with any original manufacturers programming leads. 

If your PC has the more popular 9 way serial socket then you will need the optional "LA" PC to MIB lead.

Model: L2 Programming Lead for Kenwood 6 & 8 pin mobiles
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Product Details   
Model: L2 Programming Lead for Kenwood 6 & 8 pin mobiles

It will programme Kenwood PMR & Trunked mobiles that have a 6 way RJ11 mic socket or an 8 way RJ45 socket.. The combination of UPA and L2 has worked on all Kenwood mobiles including the TK709 series and where the mobiles cannot provide dc power in the mic socket.    New updated model has PP3 battery tags.

It plugs directly between UPA and radio. 

Model: L3 Programming Lead for Kenwood Portables
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Product Details   
Model: L2 Programming Lead for all Kenwood 2 pin portables.

It will programme Kenwood Hand Portables that have a two pin plug. Examples  include TK2207/3207, TK2202/3202, TK2180/3180, TK250 & TK350.

Plugs directly between UPA and radio.

Model: L21 "Ribless" Programming Lead for Kenwood 6 pin mobiles
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Product Details   
Model: L21 "Ribless" Programming Lead for Kenwood 6 and 8 pin mobiles

This has a RJ12 6 pin plug but it will align properly into the 8 pin RJ45 and will programme both 6 pin radios and 8 pin radios.

It will programme a minimum of the following radios:

TK-760, TK-762, TK-768, TK-780, TK-840, TK-860, TK-862, TK-868, TK-880, TK-7102, TK-7108, TK-8102, TK-8108

The L21 is a "ribless" lead to program the Kenwood 6 pin mobiles.  One end has a 6 pin RJ11 plug, and the other a 9 way D socket with interface built inside. Plugs straight into the serial port.

It will NOT programme the TK-709 or TK-809 - you must use the L23 or UPA L3 combination to do them. 

Model: L22 "Ribless" Programming Lead for Kenwood 2 pin portables
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Product Details    
Model: L22 "Ribless" Programming Lead for Kenwood 2 pin portables

The L22 is a "ribless" lead to program all of the Kenwood hand portables that use a pair of 2.5 and 3.5mm jack sockets.

One end has a moulded plug that fits the radio and the other end has a 9 way "D" plug with the interface built into the plug. The 9 way plus straight into the PC serial port.

It will programme a minimum of the following radios:
TK-240, TK-250, TK-255, TK-260, TK-260G, TK-270, TK-270G, TK-272G, TK-278, TK-278G, TK-340, TK-349, TK-350, TK-353, TK-360, TK-360G, TK-370, TK-370G, TK-373G, TK-378, TK-378G, TK-430, TK-431, TK-715, TK-2100, TK-2102, TK-2202, TK-3202, TK-2207, TK-3207, TK-2107, TK-2118, TK-2160, TK-3100, TK-3101, TK-3102, TK-3107, TK-3118, TK-3160

Model: L23 "Ribless" Dual Programming Lead for Mobiles & Portables
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Product Details    
Model: L23 "Ribless" Dual Programming Lead for Kenwood 6 Pin Mobiles & 2 Pin Portables

The L23 is a "ribless" programming lead which performs the both functions of the L21 and the L22 programming leads. It has a single 9 way plug but two leads coming out.

It will programme a minimum of the following radios:

Kenwood Handheld Radios:
TK-240, TK-250, TK-255, TK-260, TK-260G, TK-270, TK-270G, TK-272G, TK-278, TK-278G,  TK-340, TK-349, TK-350, TK-353, TK-360, TK-360G, TK-370, TK-370G, TK-373G, TK-378, TK-378G, TK-430, TK-431, TK-715, TK-2100, TK-2102, TK-2202, TK-3202, TK-2207, TK-3207, TK-2107, TK-2118, TK-2160, TK-3100, TK-3101, TK-3102, TK-3107, TK-3118.

Kenwood Mobile Radios:
TK-760, TK-762, TK-768, TK-780, TK-840, TK-860, TK-862, TK-868, TK-880, TK-7102, TK-7108, TK-8102, TK-8108, TK-709 & TK-809

Please Note: We have had problems with programming the TK-3160 with this dual lead. The L22 lead or combination of L3 and UPA programes the TK3160 without a problem.

Model: L24 "Ribless" Dual Programming Lead for Mobiles & Portables
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Product Details    
Model: L23 "Ribless" Dual Programming Lead for Kenwood 8 Pin Mobiles & 2 Pin Portables

The L23 is a "ribless" programming lead which performs the both functions of the L21A and the L22 programming leads. It has a single 9 way plug but two leads coming out.

It will programme a minimum of the following radios:

Kenwood Handheld Radios:
TK-240, TK-250, TK-255, TK-260, TK-260G, TK-270, TK-270G, TK-272G, TK-278, TK-278G,  TK-340, TK-349, TK-350, TK-353, TK-360, TK-360G, TK-370, TK-370G, TK-373G, TK-378, TK-378G, TK-430, TK-431, TK-715, TK-2100, TK-2102, TK-2202, TK-3202, TK-2207, TK-3207, TK-2107, TK-2118, TK-2160, TK-3100, TK-3101, TK-3102, TK-3107, TK-3118.

Kenwood Mobile Radios:
All 8 Pin Mobiles

Please Note: We have had problems with programming the TK-3160 with this dual lead. The L22 lead or combination of L3 and UPA programes the TK3160 without a problem.

LA - MIB or UPA Interface Box to PC Lead
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la small
Product Details
Converts UPA or MIB 25 way D plug to more modern 9 pin plug.