Icom ID-51 programming software
Open WebCHIRPWebCHIRP programs the Icom ID-51 in your browser. It runs the CHIRP project's own driver for this radio, so it reads and writes the same codeplug the desktop software does — without installing anything.
No driver install needed
Icom programming cables use a CH340, CP2102, PL2303 or FTDI USB-serial chip. WebCHIRP speaks to all four directly from the browser, so there is no driver package to download and no Windows version to match. Plug the cable in and pick the port when the browser asks.
What you can edit on the ID-51
- 500 memory channels, numbered 0 to 499
- Channel names up to 16 characters
- Modes: AM, DV, FM, NFM
- Bands: 108–174 MHz, 400–479 MHz
- Tone squelch: DTCS, DTCS-R, TSQL, TSQL-R, Tone
ID-51 hardware
Researched from the sources listed below — spec sheets, manuals and retailer listings — rather than taken from the CHIRP driver. Anything not established is left out.
| Type | Handheld |
|---|---|
| Battery | 1150 mAh |
| Charging | External charger |
| Transmit power | 0.1–5 W |
| Modulation | FM, AM, WFM, D-STAR |
| Display | Yes |
| Still manufactured | No |
| Dual receive | Yes |
| APRS | No |
| GPS | Yes |
| Bluetooth programming | No |
Frequency bands
| Band | Receive | Transmit |
|---|---|---|
| AM broadcast | 0.52–1.71 MHz | — |
| FM broadcast | 76–108 MHz | — |
| 2 m | 108–174 MHz | 144–148 MHz |
| 70 cm | 380–479 MHz | 430–450 MHz |
ID-51A USA version; BP-271 battery. Position reporting is D-PRS, not RF APRS.
Sources: rigpix.com
Can I update the firmware on the ID-51?
Icom publishes firmware updates, though not for every radio it has made. Its download page is where to check whether the ID-51 is one of them. Many older models have no firmware download at all.
Firmware downloads at icomjapan.com
WebCHIRP does not flash firmware. It reads and writes the channel list and settings over the programming cable, which is a separate part of the radio.
How to program a Icom ID-51
- Plug the programming cable into the radio and the computer.
- Open WebCHIRP, check Icom ID-51 is selected, and press Download.
- Edit the channels, or pull in nearby repeaters from a directory.
- Press Upload to write the result back to the radio.
Questions
Do I need to install a USB driver to program the Icom ID-51?
No. WebCHIRP talks to CH340, CP2102, PL2303 or FTDI programming cables from the browser, so there is nothing to install on Windows, macOS or Linux.
Do I need the Icom CPS software?
No. WebCHIRP runs CHIRP's own Icom ID-51 driver in the browser, so it reads and writes the same codeplug the desktop software does.
How many channels does the Icom ID-51 hold?
500, numbered 0 to 499 in the channel table.
Can I update the firmware on the Icom ID-51?
Icom publishes firmware updates, though not for every radio it has made. Its download page is where to check whether the ID-51 is one of them. Many older models have no firmware download at all. WebCHIRP does not flash firmware. It reads and writes the channel list and settings over the programming cable, which is a separate part of the radio.