Saber II R programming problems (was: 4DOS and RSS)

[oh2glg]

Hello all,

I have a Saber 2 R UHF 403-433 MHz which is now showing an error code "ERR 0 81" on its display.
The thread where my previous posting can be read is here (Unhappy saber owner).

I'm quite sure it was a result of trying to reflash it with too fast laptop, althoug it was an old laptop with 486 processor. It was using real dos ms-dos 6.22 with programming s/w saber RSS 07.01.00. Also, as a first thing before I made anything, I saved original codeplug to the disk. So it's save and sound, imo.

Well, to try it out with another computer, I found the very first PC I ever had, a 386SX-20. I guess now it should be slow enough, eh?

There's one thing what I think should be checked first: I found out that it uses 4DOS instead of MS-DOS 6.22, but it's still the system it is based on, only difference is the shell.

I haven't tried it yet for programming since I'd like to hear if it's safe way to begin with. Of course the original command.com exists in case it must be used.

So, what do you guys think, would 4dos operate as well?

[HLA]

should work, you can always create a windows startup disk from 98 and use that to boot the computer into dos.

[Al]

I use 4dos all the time when reprogramming the older portables, sabers included. 4dos is just a replacement "front end" for msdos6.22, replacing command.com. So all the msdos6.22 function calls are still available and operate in the same way as when running command.com as a shell.

[HLA]

i use a pentium 233 booted from a 98 startup disk to do sabers and have never had a problem.

[oh2glg]

Well, small development on my story.

I tried RSS 07.01.00 with my 386SX-20 computer, and for some reason it does not even see the Saber connected to a RIB. All it says is "Communication error! Check cables.." etc. Well, all should be connected correctly, battery on the RIB is fresh, serial cable between PC and RIB is working (same cable has been used with same RIB in question to program other newer Motorolas without problems), rib-to-rig cable is an original Motorola cable.

I checked and re-set the com-port settings. 9600, 8, N, 1. That should be correct? Right? (well, I tried to find confirmation to this setting from Batlabs, but I couldn't find it anywhere)

Well, guess what.. Nope, no communication. Sigh.

Then I had a revelation. I connected a cellular phone (equipped with real hardware level modem for data communication over GSM/GPRS network) to see, if the port is working at all. On an old terminal program I hit commend "ATD" and modem responded "OK". So, it seems to work. I guess.

Well, what should I do next? At this moment I'm quite helpless. At this rate how thing are going it looks that I'll become a happy owner of a paperweight with an /\/\-logo in it.

Oh, one more thing:

i use a pentium 233 booted from a 98 startup disk to do sabers and have never had a problem.

Hmm. I've read at least dozens of messages on this board, that one should NEVER use a pentium-level fast PC or it *will* cause problems. Well, I'm not saying that your setup couldn't work, since it does. But.. it's confusing.

[Tom in D.C.]

Hey guys,

I am away on vacation for a while, so I don't have my Saber
programming book with me. However, if my memory is worth
anything I seem to recall that ERR 0 81 is what comes up on
the display when programming the radio. If I'm correct then
there is nothing wrong with the radio.

Somebody check their book/memory/whatever and let me
know if I am thinking straight on this.

[phrawg]

Ok, setting the port with the mode command in dos will not do the trick
Go into the pc setup of your new version 7.xxxx and set the com port.
RSS has its own way of doing things. All it wants to see is the
pc set in its own shell correct. Go check that. You may have been
set up ok on the old version but not the new one. Phrawg

[oh2glg]

Thanks phrawg for extra information. That's what I needed to know, that RSS doesn't care of what's set by DOS but instead it handles the port with its own settings. So changing port settings manually with mode does not change anything. Ok.

Oh, one more thing to add. I haven't had any earlier version(s) of RSS other than 07.01.00 to program my Saber.

I'm beginning to suspect that the COM-port on the multi-I/O-card is not working properly since RSS didn't see the radio through RIB.. although is looked like it was communicating with cellular phone modem just fine.

I can not compare with other I/O-card because I don't have any other cards here. It seems like reasonable priced multi I/O cards with ISA-bus are hard to find these days. Few years back those were lying around everywhere since those were as worthless as junk. Well, maybe nowadays pre-historic hardware items are like wanted collectibles or what..

Well anyways, I'll give another try to reflash it with yet another PC at my workplace on tomorrow or day after. Now I'm too angry and dissappointed to deal with it. Hopefully I'll find out what was the problem.