I had been holding off installing this piece of software because of reading about a few glitches that people have had with it. Most are installation problems involving Vista (of course) and some have reported that some data was not displayed despite it being programmed into the transmitter. This program ONLY works with the either version of the 9303 and the 10X series of transmitters. Anyone else is left out in the cold but they can buy the more expensive DataSafe 2 program.

I also installed the program because of a problem I recently had with DataSafe 2. The new software makes it a DataSafe 3 and is suppose to make it compatible with the XP9303. I saved all my models as files from my XP9303 before I sent in my radio. Horizon installed new firmware for me and I was having the ZPCM modulation option activated. Of course, in their infinite wisdom, they did not save all my setups and then restore them after doing the work but the Tx came back with all the slots filled with standard setups as you would see if you reset each model. No problem, I'll just restore the saved settings. No go. For some reason only God knows, none of the files would load into the transmitter. They would start, then the message ERROR 40 would come on the transmitter screen. For some reason it always stopped at 40% of the restoration. Investigation showed, that the software worked fine with storing and restoring data for the 8103. Even on another computer with another OS, DataSafe and the XP9303 showed the same lack of functionality. I also tried another PC program I had - DataXchange. This was an independent software package (no longer available) that not only stores data but allows you to view it on the screen. Something you can't do with DataSafe. It actually was able to store and restore data on to my XP9303 so my conclusion is that the DataSafe 3 software, despite Horizon's claims, does not properly work with the 9303 transmitter.

So I also decided to install the PC Data Transfer program finally. Installation went fine BUT you must follow the instructions in the manual EXACTLY. The program is version 1.00. It is also not very intuitive. First thing to realize is that they use the word PROPRO, which translated means TRANSMITTER. Second, before actually using the program, make a new folder somewhere easy to find on your hard drive. The program does not default to any particular storage folder, so make your own. Sending data to the PC is a bit easier than going the other way. The program is clunky though. Under Data Transfer we find Data Transmission and Data Reception. I initial chose the wrong thing - Data transmission because the 9303 was in Transmit mode. Would rather have seen some thing like, Receive File from TX and Send File to TX. Would have made things clearer. After this there is a bit of hesitancy. Do you click the start button on the screen first or the Start button on the TX. Again not very intuitive but the manual does cover it. You click the screen button first. There is then a list of instructions of what to do. At this point, if the TX hasn't been hooked up to the DSC cable, now is the time to do it, go to the transfer screen on the transmitter and make sure it is in Transmit mode. Of course, you FIRST must have the Model you wish to save as the selected model in the transmitter. After the file is uploaded to the PC, It asks you if you want to save the file. Say yes, browse to your special folder, type in a name for the file and Save it. After that, the file opens on the screen with all the settings. The screen is a bit busy and again rather clunky but sufficient. You can edit your settings here and send them back to the TX or save the edited numbers as a new file. Best of all you can PRINT out the settings. Best to do this and store them somewhere, just in case. Wish I had written all my settings down instead of just trusting DataSafe.

Sending a file back is a bit more of a hassle. First, make sure that the slot in the TX that you want to load the information back to is NOT the selected model that is showing on the screen of the transmitter. For instance, you want to load into slot 5, make sure any other model number is selected except 5. Start the software, select Data Transmission, select yes when asked if you want to send data, click yes again to the question Send Saved File? Then choose the file from your folder. At this point make sure to plug in the DSC cable, get to the Transfer screen, put the TX in RECEIVE mode, select the slot you wish to put the file into, now press START ON THE TX FIRST, this put the TX into a Standby waiting mode. THEN CLICK THE START BUTTON ON THE SCREEN. If all goes well the file will load into the TX. I've tried it and it all works but I know I'll get lost some how in the process when I use it again.

Is it worth the $50 it costs. Yes, but again only if you have one of the transmitters it works with. If you have any setups that are complex, being able to save them and print them out is invaluable in case disaster strikes. You can tell from the program that it was developed overseas and not by someone who uses English on a regular basis. Compared to a lot of other programs, it really doesn't have a polished feel or look to it. Would be nice if JR actually put some work into making the program more intuitive and easier to look at. Haven't seen any upgrades for the program listed on the Horizon site but then again JR is a small company and they move less than the speed of a snail on anything.

OS being used by me is XP Professional with Service Pack 3. People don't think of this often but before installing this software, create a Restore Point, then if the software gives you any headaches it will be easy to restore your system to the before state.

Just wondering if you or anyone else has had any luck printing the sheets larger than the default size?

Maybe it's me, but the printed information is really really small for me.
I've tried a couple of different printers with the same result.

Someone suggested masssaging the print driver/options, but I don't have those options with my equipment.


Thanks for any ideas
Bob