Open-source programming software for the VX-1210 HF manpack transceiver — a modern re-implementation of Vertex Standard CE42.
Reads and writes the radio through the SVC-1200 cable and keeps full compatibility with CE42 .C42 files.
- Desktop program for Windows, macOS and Linux, or web app in Chrome/Edge (Web Serial) — nothing to install
- Byte-compatible
.C42files, CSV import/export of channels - Same safe write sequence as CE42: alignment and calibration data of the radio are never overwritten
- Modes named as hams use them: LSB, USB, CW, AM, DATA (CE42's J3E/A1A/A3E/J2B still accepted in CSV)
- Simulated radio for training and tests
- Interface in Português, English, Español, Русский (asked at start-up)
Warning
The protocol was recovered from the original program and validated against a simulator, not yet against a real radio. Test with a radio you can afford to re-program with the original CE42: read first, compare, then write. Please share your results with a radio test report.
Get the files from the latest release, or use the web app: https://vimace2003.github.io/VX1210-programmer/
| System | File |
|---|---|
| Windows 10/11 (x64) | CE42-Next-Setup-<version>.exe (installer) or CE42-Next-<version>-portable.exe |
| macOS Apple Silicon | CE42-Next-<version>-mac-arm64.dmg |
| macOS Intel | CE42-Next-<version>-mac-x64.dmg |
| Linux x64 | CE42-Next-<version>-linux-x86_64.AppImage or ce42-next_<version>_amd64.deb |
| Linux arm64 (e.g. Raspberry Pi 4/5, 64-bit OS) | CE42-Next-<version>-linux-arm64.AppImage or ce42-next_<version>_arm64.deb |
SHA256SUMS.txt in each release lists the checksums.
The packages are not signed with paid certificates, so the system warns on the first run:
- Windows — SmartScreen "Windows protected your PC" → More info → Run anyway.
- macOS — "cannot verify the developer": open System Settings → Privacy & Security and click
Open Anyway (or right-click the app → Open). If macOS says the app is damaged, run
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/CE42 Next.app". - Linux — your user needs access to serial ports:
sudo usermod -aG dialout $USER(Arch/Fedora: groupuucp/dialout), then log out and in. AppImage:chmod +x CE42-Next-*.AppImage. If it exits with a sandbox error (Ubuntu 24.04+), install the.debinstead or start it with--no-sandbox.
The serial port appears as COM3 on Windows, /dev/cu.usbserial-… on macOS and /dev/ttyUSB0 on Linux.
USB-serial adapters may need a driver (FTDI, Prolific, CH340) on Windows and macOS.
Requires Node.js 22 or newer.
npm install
npm run dev # web app on http://localhost:5173
npm test # core + UI tests
npm run build # static web app in apps/web/dist (serve over https or localhost)
npm run desktop # run the desktop app
npm run dist:desktop # installers for the current system in apps/desktop/release/On Windows, start.cmd installs the dependencies and opens the web app.
Web Serial only works on https:// or http://localhost; opening dist/index.html from disk does not
give access to the serial port.
npm run smoke -w @ce42/desktop starts the packaged program with a hidden window and checks it end to
end against the simulated radio (on headless Linux, prefix it with xvfb-run -a).
branding/logo-source.png is the artwork. npm run icon -w @ce42/desktop removes its white
background and regenerates branding/logo.png, the program icons (apps/desktop/build/icon.ico,
icon.png), the in-app logo and the web favicon.
packages/core memory map, .C42 codec, sanitiser, CSV, clone protocol, radio simulator (no dependencies)
apps/web React UI + Web Serial transport
apps/desktop Electron shell: native port chooser, packaging for Windows/macOS/Linux
docs/ PROTOCOL.md, MEMORY_MAP.md, REVERSE_ENGINEERING.md
@ce42/core is transport agnostic (ByteTransport), so other shells or a CLI can reuse it unchanged.
Implemented: channels (500), all Common, Selcall and Telephone settings, programmable keys, antenna tuner memory, read/write radio, files, CSV.
Not implemented on purpose (service functions that can damage calibration): alignment, temperature correction, serial writer, firmware update. Their data is preserved and documented.
See CONTRIBUTING.md. Reports from real radios, translations and bug reports are especially welcome. This project follows the Contributor Covenant. Security issues: see SECURITY.md.
Copyright © 2026 PP5KJ. Licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later.
CE42 Next is an independent project, written for interoperability (see
docs/REVERSE_ENGINEERING.md); it contains no code of the original
software. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Vertex Standard, Motorola Solutions or Yaesu.
Vertex Standard, VX-1210 and CE42 are trademarks of their respective owners. The sample files in
packages/core/test/fixtures ship with the original CE42 installer and are used only as test data.
The program is provided without any warranty. Programming a transceiver with wrong data can put it off-frequency or out of legal limits; you are responsible for operating within your licence.