Midland syntech-1 VHF landmobile programming question

[towerdog]

I picked one of these up on ebay for $40, 80channels, 80watt, modified for 2 meters with repeater and simplex frequencies programmed, few of which are of use to me.

I understand there are few options for programming these.
(1) Midland factory programmers, very expensive on ebay and a real pain in the @#$@# to use.

(2) A company called Skyline Engineering of Austrailia, makes a programming interface and software, but once again expensive.

(3) This thing which I can find no information for, http://www.ke4gla.com/MidlandLMR/Programming Software/SKU3566.pdf. A user programmable 320 channel module!!!! If I could find one of these problem solved, I could channelize all the FM simplex frequencies and then add every known repeater within 200 miles, and if i need to add something, just plug it in to PC. Problem is I suspect this is NLA and few ever produced.

(4) Somehow generating a binary file and then copying it to eprom with a burner. I can find no other information on this other than, it has been done, and, it is more or less hit or miss, also involves desoldering the chip, which is going to push my solder iron skills to the limit not to fry the eprom.
Also, I have an old eprom burner, based on a 1980s vintage PC, which I have never used, I do not think it has been used since the 1980s, it may no longer be operational.

(5) The radio shop, Brinkley Electronics will program 80 channels for $50. Might not be a bad option if i could figure out what repeaters are active and which ones are not. This would suck each time a new repeater is set up, and aint much of an option.

Well, any suggestions?

 

[Moleculo]

Option 5 sounds pretty good to me. If you have a scanner or other 2 meter radio, you could figure out which frequencies are active easily enough. 80 channels is a lot of 2 meter frequencies - I don't think I even have that many programmed in my HT for the Southern California area! I would plug in all of the common simplex frequencies, the active repeaters, local fire, police, etc. and call it good. Your total investment would be $90...not bad for an 80 watt radio

 

[towerdog]

Since I posted I found several folks out there with skyline programmers that will program the module free of charge or for modest donation. It does not take hours like the man told me and there is a program, mprc.exe or something with a similar ring that can generate an image to be burned to the eprom, and using the software is a simple matter of typing in the frequencies,offset,and ctcss tones.

The 2716 eprom chip can also be programmed in a similar manner to syntech with a compatable eprom burner, however the syntech's chip is soldered to the module board, desolder it and solder a socket in its place.
If you end up cooking the chip while desoldering it, no issue
BTW, I found the eprom used for sale for $2.99 with a google search, from multiple sources, seems it was used in old video game machines, hence the supplier, arcadecomponents.com.....

 

[towerdog]

remember, i bought it off ebay from a man who converts these over to amature bands, who would gladly program 20 frequencies for $20 and that it take him an hour just to do 20 channels. O'reilly, maybe he woulda been nicer if I got it for the 'buy it now' price of $60.

 

[Moleculo]

So what are you planning to do to get the rig on the air?

 

[towerdog]

I found someone with a skyline programmer. I found a program that generates an eprom image, so, actually found a couple of hams who do it for free or modest donation, so, option #6.