Spectra MLM Problems..

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 4:26 pm

Ok, here is the deal, i got a VHF here model is D43KMA7JA5BK, it has a version 2.15 MLM.

I got a version 6.06 MLM that i was going to use to upgrade it.

I put the new MLM in the radio and of course got the 999 error for the serial. I used LAB to change the serial and verify the model number matched.

The i opened the regular Spectra RSS and opened a saved codeplug for this radio and used clone to program to the radio. It gave me a message about the EEprom version mismatch and that it needed to convert the info, ok, i let it do that and it programmed the radio.

The radio rebooted and seems to work fine on transmit and receive but if i press any of the top row buttons or the keypad buttons, A7 head, the radio resets itself!

I thought maybe it was something to do with the control head programming, so i set all the buttons except for the SEL which can't be changed to BLANK and then reprogrammed. Now it's just the SEL button left, press that and the radio resets. ARGHHH.

I have read and programmed this radio to no end and it still just resets when pressing any programmed button. The Mode, Volume, Dim and Home all work fine as they should.

I even tried another control head from my radio, A7, i tried an A5 head and bitbanged the model number in the command board and MLM to A5, nothing works.

If i put the original MLM back in then everything is fine with the A7 head again.

I even took the 6.06 MLM and put it in my A7 Spectra and it works just fine, of course i had to change the serial number again, and the button programming doesn't match because mine had the buttons arranged differently, but it doesn't cause this radio to reset.

So, any idea how to fix the button programming so the radio doesn't reset? The only thing i can think of is the Command Board in this radio will not accept the newer version MLM since it works fine with the older version and the newer version works fine in another radio but this one won't take it no matter what.

JAYMZ · Post by **JAYMZ** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 4:29 pm

You'll need a newer command board.

I ran into the same problem when I swapped a 2.15 era command board out with one from a 6.10 that the audio amp went south on. Gave it a newer revision command board, and no worries. Maybe something about the age and revision of the command board not being happy with a newer MLM.

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 4:32 pm

That's what i was thinking.

One question then. If i put the original 2.15 MLM back into the radio and read the radio and save the codeplug, then when i replace the Command Board, other than bitbanging the model and serial number as necessary into the Command Board, will writing the codeplug to the radio restore everything or is there other tuning info i need to record that isn't in the codeplug to avoid having to realign the radio?

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 4:34 pm

Oh, and the Command Board in this is a HLN6049B where-as the board in my VHF is the HLN6094C. So maybe it is a revision problem with accepting the newer MLM.

Code3 · Post by **Code3** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 4:47 pm

Try re-initialising the command board in the service menu... I had the same problem, and that worked for me...

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 5:01 pm

I tried that, it just says that the command board is already initialized.

JAYMZ · Post by **JAYMZ** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 5:11 pm

You shouldn't need to retune the radio, but prior to doing any upgrades I would write down tuning values, just in case. Maybe I tend to be a little more precautious that way, but I always write them down and recheck the settings after.

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 5:19 pm

Ok thanks Jaymz.

I pulled the B rev command board and put in the C, bitbanged the model number and changed the serial number and now the version 6 MLM works fine and the control panel buttons don't reset the radio.

Whew..

Now i just have to finish programming it. I did notice that it gives me the option to set a button for RSSI but it doesn't work. I think someone said you need at least version 6.10 to make that work. I have to search back to the thread about RSSI.

JAYMZ · Post by **JAYMZ** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 5:51 pm

RSSi needs some pretty recent firmware. Nothing I have ever used, so it doesn't stick out in my brain at the moment.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:34 pm

6.15 minimum on RSSI... not even 6.14 will work.

-Josh

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 7:56 pm

Yep, just found that old post, it was 6.15.

kcbooboo · Post by **kcbooboo** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:56 am

Also, from what I've read, ALL of the tuning data is saved in memory in the command board's microprocessor, NOT in the MLM. So if you replace a command board, you do have to realign the entire radio. This is part of the board replacement procedure.

Bob M.

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 9:01 am

I just wrote down everything and then put it back in step by step like doing a Maxtrac. Seems to be working fine, so far.