[chirp_users] Importing a CVS files into a Chirp/IC2200H image file.

[Jim Unroe]

On Sun, Mar 22, 2015 at 12:20 AM, Peter Akins <Akipete at yahoo.com.au> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I am a new user to Chirp and I am initially using it with an Icom IC 2200H
> (around 200 memories).   Cable  and com port all OK.  Chirp talk to the
> radio.
>
> I am endeavouring to import a general CVS file of the local repeater list as
> published by the WIA (Wireless Institute of Australia) here in Australia.
>
> I have created an image file from the IC 2200H by “downloading from the
> radio”.  No problems in doing that (works perfectly!).  I save this image
> file for future reference, but that is an incidental comment.
>
> I leave the image file “open” in Chirp.  I then attempt to import the local
> WIA Repeater list into this image file.  However, I receive a message that
> indicates “UNKNOWN FILE FORMAT”.
>
> (I have deleted all Repeaters from the WIA Listing that are not 2 metres, so
> as to keep the list below 200 repeaters, and so as not to compile a list
> (via the import function) that is incompatible with the IC 2200H (a 2 metre
> radio only)
>
> I guess my question is, how do I prepare the WIA Repeater list (a CVS file
> which I can see using Excel, of course) so its image matches the
> Chirp/IC2200H image, and will then presumably enable the import function to
> operate nicely.
>
> Regards,
>
> Peter Akins
>
> Email:         Akipete at yahoo.com.au
> Mobile:      (+61)  041 449 5158

Hi Peter,

CHIRP doesn't just accept any CSV (Comma Separated Values) file and
magically turn it into radio channels. The CSV file needs to be in a
format compatible with CHIRP.

What you need to do is download from your radio again (or load the
image that was saved from your radio) into CHIRP. You might even add a
few channels manually as examples of different offsets, power levels,
CTCSS and DTCS tones, etc. Then export these channels to a CSV file.
Load this exported file into the program that you are using the create
your CSV file. What you see will be the format that your CSV file will
need to be in to be compatible with CHIRP. Then you will have to
modify your data to conform with this format and it will then be
recognized and accepted by CHIRP.

Jim KC9HI