Copyright © Stewart Repair Services  MMXIX

Creating a GD-77 ‘Code Plug’, Getting Started


I’m not a big fan of the term ‘Code Plug’ for digital radios as it is really just a saved configuration file similar to the ones created for analogue radios, just with a few more variables and options, but since it is now in common use I will continue to use it throughout this section.


The software supplied for programming the Raddioddity GD-77 will probably look a little daunting to anyone used to simpler spread sheet based software for radios such as the Baofeng UV-5R.


In the UV-5R type software all the channel frequencies and settings are usually displayed and edited on a single page, with possibly another couple of windows for general settings and FM radio frequencies.


The GD-77 software looks completely different with a file tree on the left similar to a windows file explorer with the usual + boxes to the left of each item to expand the tree, a large, initially blank, window on the right and another blank Help window underneath.



























When there are channels programmed in they can be viewed in a spread sheet format by double clicking the ‘Channel’ folder in the list but even then they cannot be changed from there but have to be edited one by one due to the complexity of the options for each channel.

I do not recommend using the spread sheet display of the channels as you can do a lot of damage to the Code Plug from there and the only useful items on this screen are the export and import functions.


Before you can use the GD-77 through any repeater you need to obtain a DMR User ID number from the Ham-Digital.org registration page at https://register.ham-digital.org/.

The DMR-MARC Network system which used to handle these registrations has been switched off and the European DMR-ID system has taken over for all countries of the world.


Once you have your ID number it should be typed into the ‘Radio ID’ box in the ‘General Settings’ section, note there is normally a leading zero in front of your number in this box.

The only other items in this section which I have changed are the ‘Talkaround’ times which are now set to 7000ms for both Group and Private Call Hang Times, this gives you more time to reply to a call using the same TG number as the incoming call, more about this later.


Before you can program any channels for your local repeaters you need to find all the relevant information for each one, including Tx and Rx frequencies and the Colour Code number for each.

For the UK this information can be found from the RSGB UK Repeaters pages at https://www.ukrepeater.net/repeaterlist4.htm?filter4=dmr.


If you enter your locator number in the box at the top left of this page and click ‘calculate’ all repeaters within range of a decent antenna will be shown with a green distance number, either in km or miles.

To find the Colour Code (cc) for each repeater you will need to click the repeater name in the column on the left which takes you to a page for each one with detailed information including the cc.


Colour Codes can be thought of as the digital equivalent of the CTCSS tones used with analogue repeaters and are shown in the same column on some of the UK Repeater pages.


The individual sections of the software window are explained in detail in the following pages.


Contacts (TGs)


Rx Group List


Zones


Scan Lists


Channels


There is a sample Code Plug available to download below, this is basically my current file with my ID number and welcome message removed.


Note: I live in the West Midlands, UK so the repeater frequencies and names will have to be replaced with your local repeater information, unless you happen to live near me.


GD-77 Sample Code Plug


To download right click the above link and and select ‘Save link as..’ from the pop up menu.


Note: This file was created with software version 3.1.1 and will not work with earlier versions.