if you had come to swap-a-paluza, Russ would have done it for you...
Downloading CHIRP (free) and installing the drivers is really easy. The ~$3.00 cable is the only thing that isn't readily available. Chirp is like a spreadsheet and you can import frequencies based on a radius around your zip code. You can also use Radio Refrence's website info to input your own channels. Each line on the spread sheet is another channel. It allows you to enter the Channel name, freq, offsets, privacy tones, power level...etc.. all sorts of things.
If you just want it set up, thats not that hard. But if you want to be able to monkey around with it and add channels and stuff, you really should get the sync cable.