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Channel Tab

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nicsure edited this page Apr 12, 2026 · 15 revisions

Channels Tab Overview

The Channels tab provides advanced tools for configuring and organizing radio channels and channel groups.
It is the RMS equivalent of the radio’s Main Menu → CMS section, but with significantly expanded capabilities.

Channel List and Selection

On the left side of the tab is a scrollable list displaying all 999 channel slots.

  • Click a channel to select it
  • Hold CTRL while clicking to select multiple individual channels
  • Hold SHIFT while clicking to select a continuous range of channels

When one channel is selected, all of its settings are displayed in the controls on the right.

When multiple channels are selected, only settings that are common to all selected channels are shown. Any setting that differs between channels will appear blank. Editing a setting will set all selected channels at once.

Channel 999

This can be a special channel reserved for APRS use.
This is the channel to configure with your APRS operating frequency.
See: Main Menu → APRS → Enabled

CHIRP Import and Export

The RMS supports importing from and exporting to the CHIRP channel CSV format.

CHIRP Import (CHIRP → RMS)

You may load a CHIRP-format channel .csv file into the RMS. When imported:

  • The RMS converts the file for use with nicFW
  • All channels defined in the file from 1 to 999 are loaded
  • Channels outside this range are ignored

CHIRP Export (RMS → CHIRP)

Exporting converts all currently defined channels in the RMS into a CHIRP-format .csv file.
The exported file may then be loaded into CHIRP or any other application that supports the CHIRP CSV format.

This makes it easy to move channel data between RMS, CHIRP, and other compatible tools.

Channel List Right-Click Menu

The channel list provides a context (right-click) menu for managing channels efficiently.
Note that actions like Insert or Delete that shift blocks of channels up or down will not affect channel 999, this channel is always left alone.

Up

Moves the selected channel(s) up by one slot.

Down

Moves the selected channel(s) down by one slot.

Cut

Erases the selected channel(s) and places them into the clipboard.

Copy

Copies the selected channel(s) into the clipboard without removing them.

Paste

Overwrites channel slots starting at the selected position with the contents of the clipboard.

Insert

Shifts all channels from the selected slot down by one position, erasing channel 998 if necessary, and leaves the selected slot empty.

Delete

Erases the selected channel and shifts all subsequent channels up by one position, leaving channel 998 empty.

Sort Ascending / Descending

Reorders a contiguous block of selected channels based on RX frequency:

  • Ascending: Low to high frequency
  • Descending: High to low frequency

Channel Settings

For detailed explanations of these settings, see:
Main Menu → Channel

Active

Must be enabled for a channel to exist.

  • Unticking this option effectively erases the channel

Name

A descriptive name for the channel.

  • Maximum length: 30 characters
  • The number of visible characters depends on the radio’s UI configuration

When multiple channels are selected, the % symbol may be used for automatic numbering:

  • Example: PMR %
    → Generates PMR 1 through PMR 5 for five selected channels
  • Example: GMRS %15
    → Starts numbering at 15 instead of 1

See:

RX / TX

Defines the receive and transmit frequencies (in MHz).

  • Entering an RX frequency automatically updates TX to match, preserving any existing offset

When multiple channels are selected, a frequency step may be specified:

  • Example: 144.00000+12.5
    → RX frequencies increment by 12.5 kHz per channel

For split TX frequencies:

  • Absolute TX: enter full frequency (e.g. 146.520)
  • Relative offset:
    • +1.5 → TX is 1.5 MHz above RX
    • -2.75 → TX is 2.75 MHz below RX

Clarifier / BFO

Dual-purpose setting:

  • Radio channels: Fine frequency adjustment in kHz for off-frequency stations
  • Tuner channels: BFO offset used for SSB and CW reception

RX Tone / TX Tone

Configures receive and transmit squelch subtones.
If RX Tone is set to the custom value 105.0 this enables NOAA Tone Detection for the channel.

  • Supports CTCSS and DCS
  • Standard and non-standard tones may be entered manually
  • Right-click the field to select from a predefined list

Groups

Assigns group membership for the channel.

  • Up to four groups per channel
  • Groups are labeled A–Z

Modulation

Dual-purpose setting:

  • Radio channels: FM, AM, DSB, or Automatic
    • Automatic uses the band plan default
  • Tuner channels: WFM, AM, USB, LSB, CW

See:

Bandwidth

Dual-purpose setting:

  • Radio channels: Wide, Narrow, or Automatic
    • Automatic uses the band plan default
  • Tuner channels: 1–6 kHz

See:

TX Power

Sets transmit output power for the channel.

Options:

  • N/T (No Transmit)
  • Zero
  • Very Low
  • Low
  • Medium
  • High
  • Very High

Zero is a special diagnostic mode that performs a transmit cycle with little to no RF output. This is useful for testing transmit functions like PTT-ID or Roger Beep without actually broadcasting with any significant output.

PTT ID

Controls whether the PTT-ID DTMF sequence (DTMF preset slot #99) is transmitted.

Options:

  • Off
  • Start of TX
  • End of TX
  • Both

Busy Lock

When enabled, prevents transmission if the channel is currently busy.

Reversed / AM Filter

Dual-purpose setting:

  • Radio channels: Sets or clears the RX/TX reverse flag
    • Note: This does not swap RX and TX values in the RMS; it only toggles the flag
  • Tuner channels: Enables or disables the Si4732 power line filter

Scrambler

Selects the split-and-invert frequency used by the built-in voice scrambler.

  • Applied to transmitted audio
  • Decoded on receive when enabled

Note: Scrambling may be illegal on amateur or public-access bands. Use responsibly.

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