====== CHIRP ======

[[https://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home |CHIRP]] is a free, open-source tool for programming frequencies and settings into your amateur radio.  It supports a large number of make and models.

It is really easy to use and makes it extremely simple to copy frequencies between different radios (of different makes).  Not all radios are supported by CHIRP however, so it's a good idea to make sure CHIRP can program a specific radio before buying it.

See the [[references/radioprogramming#frequencies |Radio Programming page]] to download VA7FI's Chirp list.
===== Windows Baofeng Drivers =====
Baofeng radios can be a bit tricky to program with CHRIP the first time around because of the Windows Driver.  If you're trying to use CHIRP on Windows with a Baofeng radio, see [[howto/baofeng |this page]] first.


===== Basics =====
Now that the appropriate drivers are installed:

  - Connect your radio to your computer and open CHIRP.
  - Under ''Radio'', select ''Download From Radio'': {{ howto:chirp:chirp1.png }}
  - Select the right ''Port'' (which is probably wrong by default), ''Vendor'' and ''Model'' and press ok.  It's good to download what's already on your radio even if you don't have anything because in addition to frequencies, it also downloads settings specific to your radio. {{ howto:chirp:chirp2.png }}
  - Before you go and program frequencies, have a look at the ''Settings'' to see if you can configure anything there.  See below for screenshots of VA7FI's Baofeng settings: {{ howto:chirp:chirp3.png }}
  - To enter frequencies, you can either type them manually, or copy and paste from another CHIRP file.  Never upload someone else's CHIRP file directly though because the radios might have different firmware that can cause issues.  It's pretty easy to open a second CHIRP file in a second tab, and copy and paste the frequencies you want into your tab. See VA7FI's [[references/radioprogramming#frequencies | CHIRP files]] for example. {{ howto:chirp:chirp4.png }}

<hidden Baofeng Settings>

^Basic Settings ^^
|Carrier Squelch Level |3 |
|Battery Saver:        |1:2 |
|Backlight Timeout:    |3   |
|Beep:                 |Not Enabled |
|Timeout Timer:        |600 sec |
|Display Mode (A):     |Frequency |
|Display Mode (B):     |Name |
|Standby LED Color:    |Orange |
|RX LED Color:         |Purple |
|TX LED Color:         |Orange |
|Roger Beep:           |Not Enabled((Please, Please, Please, do <fc #ff0000>not</fc> enable the roger beep)) |
|  ||
^Advanced Settings^^
|Vox Sensitivity:       |OFF |
|Dual Watch:            |Enabled|
|Dual Watch TX Priority |A |
|Alarm Mode:            |Site |
|Voice:                 |Off |
|Scan Resume:           |CO |
|Busy Channel Lockout:  |Not Enabled |
|Automatic Key Lock:    |Not Enabled |
|Broadcast FM Radio:    |Enabled |
|Squelch Tail Eliminate (HT to HT) |Enabled |
|Squelch Tail Eliminate (repeater) |5 |
|STE Repeater Delay:    |Not Enabled|
|All Menus:             |Enabled |
| ||
^Other Settings ^^
|6+Power-On Message 1:  |(Left as default) |
|6+Power-On Message 2:  |(Left as default) |
|Power-On Message 1:    |VA7FI |
|Power-On Message 2:    |(empty) |
|Power-On Message:      |Message |
|VHF Lower Limit (MHz)  |130 |
|VHF Upper Limit (MHz)  |176 |
|VHF TX Enabled:        |Enabled |
|UHF Lower Limit (MHz)  |400 |
|UHF Upper Limit (MHz)  |520 |
|UHF TX Enabled:        |Enabled |
| ||
^Work Mode Settings ^^
|Display:               |A |
|VFO/MR Mode:           |Frequency |
|Keypad Lock:           |Not Enabled |
|MR A Channel:          |2 |
|MR B Channel:          |2 |
|VFO A Frequency:       |146.565 |
|VFO B Frequency:       |446.100 |
|VFO A Shift:           |Off |
|VFO B Shift:           |Off |
|VFO A Offset:          |0.6 |
|VFO B Offset:          |5.0 |
|VFO A Power:           |High |
|VFO B Power:           |High |
|VFO A Bandwidth:       |Wide |
|VFO B Bandwidth:       |Wide |
|VFO A PTT-ID:          |1 |
|VFO B PTT-ID:          |1 |
|VFO A Tuning Step:     |5.0 |
|VFO B Tuning Step:     |5.0 |
| ||
^Service Settings ^^
|VHF Squech 0: |0 |
|VHF Squech 1: |12 |
|VHF Squech 2: |24 |
|VHF Squech 3: |36 |
|VHF Squech 4: |48 |
|VHF Squech 5: |60 |
|VHF Squech 6: |72 |
|VHF Squech 7: |84 |
|VHF Squech 8: |96 |
|VHF Squech 9: |108 |
|Same for UHF ||





</hidden>

\\



===== Chirp Problems with Ubuntu =====

I just finished updating my laptop to the latest [[https://linuxmint.com/download.php |Linux Mint 20]] (based on Ubuntu 20.04) and once I tried re-installing Chirp, I got this error message:

<code>
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 chirp-daily : Depends: python-libxslt1 which is a virtual package and is not provided by
                        any available package

               Depends: python-gtk2 which is a virtual package and is not provided by
                        any available package

               Depends: python-serial which is a virtual package and is not provided by
                        any available package

               Depends: python-suds which is a virtual package and is not provided by
                        any available package
</code>

A little Googling led me to [[https://dw1zws.com/how-to-install-chirp-on-ubuntu-20-04/ |this work around]], which is basically to:
  - point the repository to ''xenial'' instead of ''focal''
  - install the {{ howto:chirp:chirp-dep-20.04.tar.gz |dependencies}} manually
  - try the install again:<code>
sudo aptitude install chirp-daily
</code>
  - Add your username to the dial out user otherwise you won't be able to write to the radio:<code>
sudo usermod -aG dialout YOURUSERNAME</code>