Help with MT2000

[jban]

Picked up 2 MT2000 units from State surplus. Mint condition and they had about 150 more . Anyway, I can't read the radios. I have the proper software from /\/\ and the cables/rib. Any ideas? Keeps saying error reading radio. I have tried two different computers in DOS mode. One running Win 3.1 and Win 98. I program HT100's off the same computers with no problem so the serial port works. These are VHF.

[MTS2000des]

Are you booting to pure DOS? If you're using MTSX DOS RSS ver 6.08 you should have no problems. Boot the 3.1 machine press F5 or F8 (can't remember which one) and bypass all startup files. Assuming the machine is a 486 or higher CPU with 4MB of RAM (or more), it should work fine. If it's a laptop, ensure all power saving features are disabled. I have used several IBM and Toshiba vintage laptops and for some reason, the default configuration leaves power saving ENABLED even when running off AC power which WILL cause issues with RSS as the BIOS will turn off a port if it "thinks" it isn't being used.

[HLA]

what rss version are you using, the rib and cable for your ht1000 is the same setup so you should be ok there.

[AEC]

If he's running Win 3.11, his DOS version may be too old.

One other problem might also be from his boot mode, as you should be able to at least read the radio even from the dos prompt in Win98...I can read and program from the Win98SE dos prompt, but his machine might be using the old Win 3.11 and that version of winblows doesn't have a 'good' dos shell.

The last problem might be that all these surplus radios were programmed with CPS, and therefore, using RSS is useless, but he still should be able to READ them, just no longer program them.

I'd say dump all the Win 3.11 and use Win98SE with a good copy of at least 6.22, then you should have no troubles with reading or writing those radios.

Good thing Jedis can use faster machines than those Maxtracs with clunky timing loops built into the RSS which prevents using Pentium class machines(for the OLD 'Tracs, that is).

Later versions of the Maxtrac RSS work fine on Pentium class systems.

[AEC]

One other thing you might wish to look at...is the physical connection to the cable...the accy. port contacts should be clean, as well as the pins on the programming cable.

Open the case, and inspect the interconnect flex assemblies and make sure they are both seated firmly in their sockets.

Also look at the jumper assy. on the upper left of the controller as those do 'walk out' with use and abuse...press down to reseat the header into its socket as well.
Your version might also have the jumper assy. soldered to the board, there were two types of interconnects.

[HLA]

this is an mt2000, not an mts so cps will not work on it. take a pencil eraser to the contacts on the side and see if that helps. when i do theese radios I use a windows me boot disc to get into dos and run the rss from that and it works all day long.

[nmfire10]

First and foremost, from personal experience, RIB battery and/or power cord. The little light on the RIB will be just as bright with a low battery and it will screw everything up! Put a fresh battery in it!

Second, the MTSX dos software SHOULD work in windows 3.1, 95 & 98. If for some reason you are having issues, boot into DOS and try that.

If you are trying to use the windows CPS, that will only work for the MTS2000.

[bellersley]

Another "gotcha" that I've seen before. There's a radio shop around here who is notorious for removing the Universal Connector PCB from the radio case and putting a piece of tape over one of the programming contacts, so that anyone else trying to read/write the radio won't have any luck.

They deal with a lot of Media and Tow Truck customers, so I imagine it's an attempt at keeping their customers from going to the competition.

Doubtful that's your problem, but it's worth a look!

[jban]

Thanks all, I am using a Win 98 machine. Found a Win 98 boot disk and accessed DOS. Was able to read radio no problem. Created my codeplug which had 2 narrow band channels. Would not let me program due to firmware needing upgraded. I figured this would happen. Went back into the codeplug and changed the NB to WB spacing on the 2 channels in question. Saved the codeplug and tried to program. It gave me the same message even though no narrow band channels are in the codeplug.

I am using R06.08 RSS # RVN4097V which I got from /\/\ less than a month ago.

Any suggestions?

I really need to get these radios out to a couple of our firefighters.

[nmfire10]

Read it. Then without changing anything, immediately write it back to the radio. If that fails, something else is FUBAR. I've never encountered that Firmware error before.

[HLA]

it won't matter if you change the spacing if you don't change the frequency along with it, it just won't accept that narrow frequency. it will probablly be cheaper to find a different radio that will already do narrowband than it would to get the firmware updated on that. and if you don't need it to do anything special other than conventional channels i'd stay with the mt2000 and not an mts, the mt will do more right out of the box.

[jban]

I have not had a chance to try reading and writeback, will do this afternoon. The narrowband channels can be left out on these radios. We will see what happens and report back. Thanks for all the help.

PS.. If anyone has a good VHF codeplug for this radio with no narroeband channels on it and would not mind sending me a copy of it just in case, I would appreciate it.

[jban]

OK read the radio and immediately rewrote to it. The codeplug took. Murphy's law however, now the computer screwed up, Oh well, that is why you keep spares.

Thanks for all the help guys.

[DC615]

You're not the only one. I've had the firmware error message also. I really need to put MANY new narrow 12.5 channels in, and it wont let me. I've has this happen with several VHF MT2000 radios. Are you going to see about updating? I haven't even tried to check on a price, don't know if I do. -Daniel

[jban]

Right now I just need to program these radios with wideband VHF. I may look into updating later on, if these work out (can't beat the price)

[jban]

Finally had a chance to get back to the project. I found an unopened Windows 98 program in the shed. I used the boot disk and went straight to DOS. Program loaded with no problem. I was able to read the MT2000 and modified the codeplug. I did not add any narrowband channels and wrote back to the radio with no problem.

I also have a MTX8000 that I was able to program.

Thanks again to you guys for all the help.

[rankin6]

What is the best way to boot straight toDos on a Windows 98 SE machine? Can anybody recomend any ribless cable vendors? Ebay etc they have used on the MTS2000 or the MTX9000?

Mike