Spectra programming issue

Kleptein · Post by **Kleptein** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 5:37 pm

I have 8 Spectras that I picked up rather inexpensively, and would like to program them up with some conventional channels. They are 800 MHz Smartnet, Model D35ZXA5JC2AK.

Of the 8, two of them programmed no problem with my software. The other 6 won't read/program at all. I get "Serial Bus Error - Power Fault" messages, sometimes it'll read the first block then die, but in the end I can't get these 6 to read. I can move my cables to the good ones, and they read fine, if I change them back to the other 6, nada. That rules out a cable/RIB/power issue.

I've also tried about 6 different versions of the software, all do the same thing. I've tried MoSlowing, still no luck.

All 8 are the exact same model, from the same customer, and were all purchased roughly the same time by looking at the serial numbers.

Any ideas??

bernie · Post by **bernie** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 9:41 pm

My two bits worth:
Does not necissarily rule out the RIB.
A weak battery can cause problems like this.

I have also had problems when a fluroscent lamp happned to be too close, I use shielded cables now.

Jim202 · Post by **Jim202** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 4:09 am

You didn't say if the radios powered up normally. There is an internal fuse that involves the ingnition line on the rear acc connector. If the fuse is blown, you will need to apply +12 volts to the ingnition input pin.

The display panel needs to be lit up normally for the programming to work.

Jim

Kleptein · Post by **Kleptein** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 4:57 am

Thanks for the quick replies, guys.. the radios do power up normally, no problems there. The RIB is also powered off of a power supply, so it's not a case of a weak battery. Unfortunately, too, there aren't any flourescent lights around!

Maybe I'm just SOL?

kcbooboo · Post by **kcbooboo** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:36 am

Possible but highly unlikely, the programming interface on the bad radios got blown up somehow. Those lines run from the accessory jack to the control head, so anything is possible.

I know it doesn't help your situation, but you may have to start mixing and matching. Swap control heads; that's about the easiest thing to try. Mark the good ones first, and put one on one of the bad radios and see if it will program. Also try putting the bad one on a good radio and make sure you can still program that one.

Bob M.

Post by **wavetar** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:51 am

Possibly some jumpers on the command board were moved for a specific application (remoting, VRS, etc). They may have moved one of the wrong ones.

Todd

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 3:42 pm

And to add to the delima, some Motorola factory RIBs will not work on some Spectras and or computer combinations.

I did some research into this many years ago, as did Monty (RIP).

There are some changes to the RIB that cured the problem(s).

See.. Some research has been done with the original RIB, and some modifications have been make to some of the values to make the circuit more compatible with RS232. The modified schematic can be found here.
http://batlabs.enterzone.net/images/rib_mod.jpg

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 3:49 pm

In the above, R1, R4, R19, and R11 acorrect the compatibility with the RS232 BUS Standards.

R3, R10, and possibly the values of the bias voltage devider, R 5, &R 6, improve comaptibility with the BUSS in the Spectra radios.