RSS Alert!! "RSSI" error in Spectra V6.00.05...

kd6rfs · Post by **kd6rfs** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:24 pm

Hi....I am putting up this Post to let the readers know about a problem I have found in Spectra RSS v.6.00.05......when in the control head edit buttons menu....I have found that if you load any archived codeplug that has RSSI set to any of the buttons....and you click on the button and then scroll (up arrow/down arrow) to view the other button assignment options...you will lose "RSSI"....I have tried this with my codeplug, and 8 other diffent radios codeplugs....ALSO...my friend has the same version RSS (v.6.00.05) and he checked it after I told him...and he ALSO found this error!! As did two other people that got there copy from Motorola? and they never knew about it until they checked...If you use this version, please try it out and let me know what you find....(you can just F10 out of the RSS program and dont save your changes, and then next time you load your archive, you will still have your "RSSI" feature in case you try this and also lose it) I wonder if this is an error from Motorola in this version RSS or just some copys have this problem...I tried it with RSS version 5.03 and it DID NOT have this error, and the "RSSI" feature would just come back as you scroll thru...Please also let me know if this version (v.6.00.05) is the newest or is there a newer RSS for the Spectra Conventional? I heard that this IS the newest version...so I hope we are all not stuck with this problem without a fix! Please check your copy and let me know or leave a Reply Post, and also please let me know what the newest version is......thanks for reading, David KD6RFS

kcbooboo · Post by **kcbooboo** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:38 pm

Doesn't do it on mine. I have RSSI programmed on the "2" button. When I tab to that key (my mouse doesn't do a thing on the program running in a DOS window on XP), I can scroll through all these possibilities as much as I want; none of them disappear:

Blank, Phon, ZnDN, ZnUP, Rpg, Page, MPL, RSSI, Msg, Sts, Lck, Ste, Dir, Mon, Call, H/L, Blank (the list repeats from here).

I even tabbed down to the "7" key, programmed to H/L, and tried the same thing. And I did it with the "0" key which is Blank on my radio; worked just fine.

I'm running RVN4001N, R06.00.05, 03-Jun-93. I loaded an archived codeplug from a 900 MHz E-series Spectra, then went to the key edit screen: F3, F3, F8, F10, F4, F6, F2.

Sometimes, programs that have been hacked excessively or incorrectly will seem to work, but do strange things. I had this happen with one modified for 902/927 MHz repeaters, and the PL/DPL fields would never be saved properly when the codeplug got out to the radio. Had to reread the codeplug with a virgin copy, change the PL/DPL fields, and write the codeplug back out to fix things. I later performed my own modification to the program and have not had any problems with it to date.

And don't even think of asking !

Bob M.

Post by **wavetar** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:32 pm

Hmph...none of my Spectra codeplugs at home have RSSI as a feature. Could you email me one to try?

[email protected]

And yes, 6.00.05 is the latest...and Motorola is not about to fix it now.

Todd

Post by **wavetar** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:12 pm

Strange...kcbooboo sent me his codeplug, which apparently works fine for him, but using my 6.00.05 RSS it acts exactly as the original poster states...if I make any button "RSSI", it then disappears from the scroll menu for all other buttons...and if I go back to the RSSI button & start scrolling, it also disappears from the list. RSSI cannot then be chosen unless you exit the software & re-read the codeplug.

And I can unequivocally say my RSS has never been hacked in any fashion.

Todd

jmr061 · Post by **jmr061** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:17 pm

Don't quote me on this but in a conventional radio I believe RSSI is a lab function and not a normal rss function. If you would load it up in lab you probably find that it works fine.

Jason

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:06 pm

I was able to do it on a VHF Spectra i had after upgrading the MLM to a newer version. I pulled a version 6 MLM and put in a version 6.15 and then i could program RSSI to any of buttons above the display.

kd6rfs · Post by **kd6rfs** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:43 pm

I have a dash mount VHF D43 spectra with 5.23 MLM, and 6337B enhanced control head, A5....when originally programmed by a buddy of mine on a diffrent RSS then mine (i'm not sure what version) he was able to put in RSSI, because it didnt have RSSI in the radio when I bought it from him...he put it on the H/L button, which is fine for me....but when I later tried playing with it with my version 6.00.05 I found this problem...and like I stated I'm not the only one....a few friends after I told them, found they had the same problem...when I try to use a archived codeplug with my version 5.03 RSS it works fine....so I think it is the version 6.00.05 for some reason?? whoever is having this problem...do you also have a problem with your dynamic priority feature? I have both priority scan lists set to Op-Select, and Dyn. Pri. is Enabled.....but when scanning and I hit the Sel button on a active mode, nothing happens...its supposed to temp. increase the non-pri mode to a second pri. until scan is turned off and back on, or the radio turned off...but I cant seem to figure out why it wont work for me? Please check and see if maybe its another version 6.00.05 RSS problem....some of us are having this problem.....I wonder what the solution can be? David KD6RFS

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:59 pm

You got RSSI to work on a 5.23 MLM?

That's odd because it wasn't even supported until 6.15, even though it could be programmed as such in the RSS. Are you sure about this? I guess I learn something new every day if so.

-Josh

Post by Pj » Thu Apr 13, 2006 10:15 pm

JMR-

The VHF? spectra that I got from you with the newer MLM did RSSI (button 5). Not that I really used it, but it was there with 6.00.5 or whatever RSS. I think the other MLM I got from you with the newer firmware also worked. So, I am thinking the last of the MLM's supports this.

kd6rfs · Post by **kd6rfs** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 10:16 pm

yes...I opened the radio and checked the MLM, it says 5.23 and also on power-up in the service menu, it says 523.....as far as I know RSSI is supposed to be available from version 5.00MLM or 5.10 MLM and up.....some websites state its version 6.00 for RSSI....but I heard, and thru my own expeirence I think its a mistake on those sites (or one site I think I saw it on) when originally programmed with RSS (I dont know what version he used) we could put RSSI on any button and it would accept it fine...as soon as I tried playing around with it with v6.00.05 I found this problem...my radio with 5.23 MLM has alot of features, but I dont have zones or some other things, but it has almost any feature I would really need, like VRS, PA/Siren, Speaker A/B, enhanced control head gives me DEKs...but it definantly does have RSSI on 5.23....and like I said, when I try archived codeplugs on version 5.03 spectra RSS, RSSI works just fine on any button? When I scroll the buttons on 6.00.05 it gives me all the features except RSSI (once you scroll passed it up or down) but if I leave it alone on H/L where it is now......it works fine (the radio I mean, I push H/L on a recieved signal and it goes anywhere from 0-117...117 is the strongest I could get yet.....and when it says 117, the signal is crystal clear) I heard some people say their RSSI only goes up to 110 or 108 on a super strong signal....I think it varies....but Motorola states it goes from 0-255....I've never seen a RSSI reading on a recieved signal up to 255!

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:58 pm

That's odd...

I've had version 6.04, 6.14, 5.23, 1.15 (or was it 1.00).... version MLMs.... and while the 5+ would accept RSSI as a button function it never did anything.

However, 6.15, 6.16 versions all work RSSI as intended.

I don't know where they get their 0-255 either. The highest I've seen is 112.

Where I'm at, I am about 1/2 mile or less from the trunked tower site, it's antennas are up high on the tower, I'm 100' off the ground myself, direct line of site, I get usually 110 or so (The Adjacent NexTel site interferes a LOT though and they refuse to do anything about it).

On VHF though, I've had an HT right by the antenna and got around the same. I think 112 or so is the upper cap.

-Josh

kcbooboo · Post by **kcbooboo** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:02 am

I don't know if I said this, but my D37 is an E-series (Spectra II) radio, with the one-piece command/MLM board. I think the firmware is 7.xx or 8.xx. HearClear is built into the board - the chip is soldered directly to the pads meant for it. So this radio might do things that those with separate MLMs might not.

Maybe the ability to allow RSSI on a button is governed by one of the MoFlags bits.

My RSSI value runs from about 30 to 107 +/- 2, and that's with a 3w GTX portable one foot from the radio with a piece of wire coming out of the antenna jack. Similar readings are obtained with a signal generator at anything more than 0dBm.

I agree - there's no way the RSSI can get into the 200 range, especially on 900 MHz. Maybe it can on other bands.

Bob M.

ArmsonOeg · Post by **ArmsonOeg** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:38 am

Heres my take. I was able to enable RSSI using L 5.00.3 (close to that) and if i did not touch that RSSI button in 6.00.5 or 6.00.15 (Yes 6.00.15 is my latest) it would stay in my VHF or UHF Spectra. But if i tried to change RSSI in 6.00.5 or 6.00.15 it would disappear. MLM's where something like 5.23 thru 6.15.

Now heres something else, using 6.00.15 to program i can use a SP01 VRS one V one U on my Spectra's and all features work. And on my UHF Hi power with a later MLM i can Inhibit the radio using MDC from my portable. I get a screen item saying Radio inhibit, then asks for the digits