Help with Minitor III IV 1 Ch > 2 Ch conversion

[streaker]

I am trying to follow the Hex Edit conversion found at: http://www.batlabs.com/minitor.html Unfortunately I don't know all that much about Hex Editing. I keep getting a Data Checksum error when I try to load the dat file into the program. Here are the steps I am following.

I generate Checksum 16 Bit and it shows 603F. I make the change at 2CC from 2 to A. When I Generate Checksum 16 Bit for the Entire Document it comes out to 6047. So then I edit offset 2EA from 0 to ! so Checksum for the Entire Document is 603F again. Like I said, I really don't know all that much about Hex Editing files and thought I was doing this right. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

[n9upc]

I along with others have posted info about converting 1ch -> 2ch pagers. I would say do a search for this topic and you will find the answers you need.

[streaker]

While I appreciate your reply, I have searched around the site and have not found information on the method I am speaking of other than on the model specific pages. I am not trying to do what you have described in the past as was included in this thread: http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.p ... or+channel

I am trying to do the Hex Edit method which is described in the model specific pages. I would use the other method of swaping the pagers out of the cradle, except I do not have a two channel minitor 3 to work with. That means I am stuck with this method, if I can get it to work.

[wavetar]

There are two ways to do it...

The way you are doing it, even though the checksum according to Hex Edit is correct, you are corrupting the value at 2EA, so the RSS doesn't recognize it. You should be increasing the value at 2EA by 8 (the difference between 6047 and 603F) to make the value correct for the new file size.

The other way would be to change the values somewhere else in the file, like in the copyright information, to make the checksum 603F to match the original file size.

Todd

[streaker]

Thanks Todd. Like I said I am not all that familiar with Hex Editing, but am trying to learn about it. I guess the only thing I need to know is how to increase the value at 2EA by eight then, I thought I was going about it the right way, but I guess not. If someone knows of a good tutorial on hex editing that would be great also.

Thanks

[Station House Products]

The easiest way to do it is to read a 2 channel pager in the same split and then write it. In the second or two between the verifying stage and the writing stage, remove the 2 channel unit and place the one channel unit in the cradle. Works like a charm every time. The only disadvantage is that the serial number form the 2 channel unit now becomes the one channel unit's new serial number. If you're not worried about this little fact, this is one of the easiest ways to do the conversion. (And yes, it will read and program like a 2 channel pager from there on out.)

[thebigphish]

what chuck is suggesting is less of a reprogramming, and more of a "cloning" of the second unit. very much like the HT1k trick

[streaker]

I understand what you are saying about swapping the pagers out, and have read up on that method. As I have said above

"I would use the other method of swaping the pagers out of the cradle, except I do not have a two channel minitor 3 to work with. That means I am stuck with this method, if I can get it to work."

If I was working with a Minitor IV, I would be set as I have access to plenty of Minitor IV's that are 2 channel units, but not a single Minitor III that is a 2 channel unit.

Thanks anyway

[streaker]

Todd, thanks for pointing me in the right direction. It looks like I got the process figured out, and upon test the pager is working as advertised. I also figured out that taking alot of notes as to Checksum values, and discovering how to use the Hex Calculator helps.

[wavetar]

No problem, I've had the 'hex edit blues' myself a few times & eventually muddled through it. Glad to hear you got it working.

Todd

[stueyneumann]

I tried swaping the pagers everything said programmed ok however its not recieving now on either freq. The swap was for a bandwidth issue from 159 down to 154 now I think the pager is DOA any ideas or can I change the hex to recover it ??

[Pj]

Is that pager rated for the freq you put in there? It will only work properly if its in the range that the pager can hear in the first place.

[stueyneumann]

Its a different bandsplit but they are both VHF, I want to go to 154. and the pager is setup for + 159.

[Pj]

Many pagers, and quite a few radios will not work more than 1mhz or more outside of their rated bandsplit.

I'd say that's your problem right there.

U need one in the bandsplit you want the freq to work in.