GM300 How to Program

Intro
Have you tried programming the GM300 and not succeeded. Are you not conversant
with DOS programming? This article will help you succeed in programming the GM300.

Intent:
There is a huge number of GM300s that have been or will be removed out of service.
These radios simply don’t die. Repeaters can also be made with these radios. The
availability of the FREEWARE “Radio Doctor” and easy to make interface with the FTDI
USB to TTL convertor made me ponder over “bringing all the info and resources into
the open Hams”.

PLEASE REMEMBER, I AM JUST ANOTHER HAM, NOT A DEALER,

HACKER OR TRADER. Before you lay your hands on the Radio, Please
read this article again and again and AGAIN. Don’t program
frequencies other than HAM BAND.

DISCLAIMER

YOU ARE SOLELY AND ENTIRELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OR ALL ACTS
LIKE VIOLATION OF COPYRIGHT, USING FREQUENCY OTHER THAN HAM BAND
AND ANY VIOLATION OF LAW.

You need the following:

1. A Windows computer with COM port or USB port

a. Anything which has Win 98 to Win10 32 bit for DOS programming only.
b. Any Windows version (32 or 64 bit) for windows only programming using Radio
Doctor.
2. Interface/ Rib/ Programmer – All mean the same. It converts the RS232 to TTL level.
You can use the Serial port based Moto programmer or the MAX232 convertor or
USB to TTL convertor (only the FTDI converter works properly). GM300s are finicky with
voltage levels. The FTDI USB to TTL convertor has to be modified to make it M-Bus
programmer (then use it as Motorola programmer).
3. Driver: for the USB to TTL convertor. The best one I recommend is
”CDM-2.08.28-WHQL-Certified” for the FTDI FT232RL chip. Ignore this, if you have
already installed drivers for FTDI using other Applications like ARDUINO.
4. Software/ RSS/ CPS: It depends on your proficiency in computer operation. The RSS
for GM300 works the best (WARNING – Motorola Copyright); only catch is it is

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 DOS based. You can hack the RSS to put 32 channels into the radio (I had done it
years back). There is no CPS or Windows based Program from Moto for the GM300.
The next best is “Radio Doctor for GM300 ver1.3.0”. It is freeware, no copyright
issues, has bugs but the programming is easy for any average Ham or computer
user. It allows users to change the frequencies, Tone, etc.

Warning:

ALWAYS read a radio, save the codeplug or config or personality file. Also save the
Tuning data (option in the Radio Doctor program). Make a copy and archive it. You may
need it.

Quick Steps (If you are computer Savvy/ Beginners please skip this box):

1. Install the FTDI convertor and in Device Manager change the COM port to COM#2.
2. Install Radio Doctor, click YES in the CONFLICT Screen.
3. If you intend to use RSS, move the RSS Folder to C drive.
4. Open the RSS, Run GM300.exe, Go to SETUP computer config => PC Config =>
Serial Ports => RIB => change to COM 2.
5. If you are using the Moto programmer or MAX232 convertor connected to the serial
port, don’t change any of the com port settings.
6. Connect Radio, Read, Save then change frequencies. Then write codeplug to Radio.

Install the FTDI Programmer

1. Connect the FTDI convertor to USB port directly, preferably on the back side of CPU.
DON’T CONNECT to extender cable or USB Hub.
2. There will be a notification saying “Found New Hardware” and install drivers.
3. The best driver I have been using for many years is
“CDM-2.08.28-WHQL-Certified” for the FTDI FT232RL chip.

Two drivers EITHER 32bit OR 64bit are required to be installed.

o FTDIBUS.SYS (32-bit), FTSER2K.SYS (32-bit)
o FTDIBUS.SYS (64-bit), FTSER2K.SYS (64-bit)
4. If drivers for FTDI have already been installed, don’t install the above mentioned
drivers.
5. In Device Manager, verify that USB Serial Port and USB Serial convertor are
properly installed.

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 6. In Device manager Go to PORTS (COM & LPT), Right click on USB serial port (it
may be shown as COM9 or higher), => PROPERTIES => ADVANCED => change
the COM port number to COM2.
7. If required take the help of any person conversant in such installation.
8. This installation needs to be done once only.
9. Don’t proceed further if you have not cleared this stage.
10. USB convertors of other brands like Prolific or Multi programmer cables sold online
will never work.

FTDI FT1232 USB to TTL Convertor Modified as Motorola

Programmer

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Install the Radio Doctor

Installing Radio Doctor works like a breeze. There will be “”version conflict” prompt
(see screen shot below). Simply click YES and proceed. After installation, The program
”Radius GM300 CPS for Win 2000 & XP(tm)” appears in the START Menu of windows.

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Connections:

1. Connect the programmer to the com port or the USB port directly (not to the USB
hub or extender cable.
2. The programming cable connects to the Mic socket.
3. Power up the radio.

Programming with Radio Doctor

1. If you are using the FTDI programmer and Radio Doctor, ensure that the port is
renamed to COM2. Never assign COM1 to FTDI programmer. See the Device
manager screen.
2. Start the Radio Doctor program.

3. In Menu bar go to Radio => Read codeplug. The program will search and select
COM1 or COM2. The program will display the status. After read is complete, The
Table with frequencies are displayed.
4. In Menu bar go to FILE => SAVE. Save the codeplug.
5. Now you are free to edit the Table, enter the frequencies for Rx and TX, and change
the channel display number (2 digits only).
6. In Menu bar go to Radio => WRITE codeplug.

That’s all. Enjoy.

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 Programming with RSS

Programming with RSS requires DOS programming skills. I have attached some
screen shots. Don’t ask me for RSS or copy of it, or the modified MDF file. Most of the
information is available on the net. The best version of RSS I had used is Ver 5.0.0.

Port Settings:

RSS programming can be done with any computer with 32bit OS. It can be Win 98,
Win NT, 2000, XP or Win7 or Win8. Just double click on the GM300.exe file in the RSS. If
you use MAX232 or Moto programmer, use the correct PORT; Port#1 for COM1 (DB9
Serial port) and Port#2 for COM2 (I think it is DB25).

If you are using FTDI programmer, Go to Device Manager, assign the FTDI to COM2
port.

Don’t mess with Port settings or any other parameters in the Port settings. Windows
will take care of the speed, parity, etc. Never assign COM1 to FTDI programmer.

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 Radio Doctor or RSS, both the software search and accept COM1 or COM2 ports
only. Anything beyond this, nothing will work.

Screen shots for RSS Programming

These screen shots were taken from DOS window running in Windows 7, 32 bit OS,
CPU with P4, 2GB DDR2 RAM, USB 2.0 ports.

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If nothing works:

1. Don’t get frustrated. It took me 3 months to Read a Radio successfully.

2. Check the device drivers in Device Manager. Two drivers are required.

3. The USB voltage (5 VDC) may be insufficient.

4. Wrong COM port selected. The software will look for COM1 or COM2 ports only.

5. Check the Mic connection. Pin4 is GND and Pin7 is DATA.

6. The FTDI programmer may be cheap or Fake Chinese product.

7. The FTDI USB to TTL convertor does not work directly. You need modify it for
M-bus. Add a diode (1N4148) and a resistor(10K).

8. Power failure during Reading from or Writing to radio will be disastrous. The
radio gets bricked. Take precautions.

Foot Notes

1. There is absolutely no restriction on the usage, distribution, printing,

copying, altering or even claiming ownership of this document.

2. This article is an effort at de-mystifying the GM300 programming. I take no personal

credit for any of the information contained above. I am not paid for writing this article.
If you are successful, I request you to help others who are not successful.
3. I wish to thank the author of ”RADIO DOCTOR for GM300”.
4. List of models under GM300 is appended.
5. ALWAYS read a radio, save the codeplug; Edit the frequency, then write to radio.
6. Learn about the terms and functions like BCLO, CTCSS, DCS, DPL, TPL, TOT.
7. This article is to help hams in programming the radio. It is not a detailed manual for
operation or programming or servicing.
8. There is only one POWER setting in GM300, which can be programmed to any value
between 5W to 25W. I would recommend 20W max.

9. The same FTDI programmer can be used to program all the other
models like GM950, Gm3xxx etc. That is a bonus.

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 10. The Radio Doctor program has unresolved bugs. But it can be used to Read and
Program GM300s. Don’t bother about the bugs.

11. If you are using the RSS, you will not be able to enter frequency below146Mhz in
some models. Press and hold the SHIFT key, enter the numbers. For entering the
decimal, release the shift key.
a. For 145.500, the display on screen will be !$%.%)). After entering, use the
tab key to move to next field, to see the numbers appear correctly.
12. You can hack the .MDF file in RSS and get away with lot of handicaps. All info is on
the net. Don’t ask me.
13. The FTDI USB to TTL convertor has to be modified to make it M-Bus programmer
(then use it as Motorola programmer).

14. CPU speed, DDR RAM size, etc. does not matter for GM300. I have programmed
GM300s with a desktop having Xeon processor with a 12MB L2 Cache, 3 GB DDR2
RAM, USB programmer, Radio Doctor operating in Window 10 64 bit OS.
15. If you are successful, please drop a single line mail to me. (mycallsign)@gmail.com.
I will be happy and certainly will not reply.

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