VHF Maratrac Programming

[Darius Fontaine]

I was attempting to "Read Data from radio Codeplug" from the Get/Save menu of my Maratrac programming software, (I'm using the old Dos version) and I continue to get a error message "Error number 7 has occurred: Serial Bus error". I have checked all connecions, radio is powered up, ribless cable is plugged into the radio, other end is plugged into serial port # 1 as set in computer configuration. I 'm beginning to think that maybe the problem lies with this "Ribless" cable. when I select F2 which is read radio codeplug, the computer flashes out a message in the right upper corner that says "Please wait accessing serial bus" for about 15 seconds as if it's attempting to read and then comes back with the error message. I have another VHF Maratrac I have tried as well, and it comes up with the same message. Any help would be appreicated.

[kcbooboo]

RIB-less cables actually contain electronics inside one end, and these parts do what the normal RIB does: change levels from RS-232 to TTL. This circuitry needs DC power to operate. Most RIB-less cables get their power from the computer's serial port CTS, DTS, DTR, and/or RTS lines. As long as the appropriate handshaking lines are in the correct state, these cables will work fine.

I found that many Motorola programs don't set these lines, since the Motorola RIB doesn't need them. You end up with an unpowered RIB-less cable and the subsequent programming failures you're now encountering. Sometimes you can manually get these lines to go active, but when you start the Motorola program, they go inactive almost immediately (thanks, Motorola). I did find one program that would hang up if I previously activated one of these handshaking lines.

There are at least two simple cures:
1. find a way to power the RIB-less cable (battery, wall-wart power pack, other DC supply) when programming radios, or
2. purchase a real battery-operated RIB and the proper RIB-to-radio cable for your needs.

The symptoms you're seeing are totally normal for the situation you're in. If the RIB-less cable was operational, you'd get a progress bar on the screen as the code plug was being read from the radio.

Bob M.

[kf4sqb]

Another good question is what operating system are you using on your computer? If you're using DOS (real DOS, not "shut down and restart in MS-DOS mode", or a DOS window), Bob may well have hit the nail on the head. If you're using anything else, try changing your OS first, then look to the cable if that doesn't help.

[Darius Fontaine]

Thank You for the help!. I just ordered a RIB and cable through Ebay for my Maratrac. The RIb I purchased was $39.95 and their was quite a price difference between the aftermarket Rib and the Actual Motorola RLN4008 RIb.

[n4bme]

I got the same box off of ebay (kawamall?) and am having the same problem with a maxtrac - Error 7. I have tried several computers and currently using a 386/16 still no joy. Does anyone have a error code list to see exactly what is happening.

Is there a way to read the data to the radio on the radio side ofthe rib to see what is being sent?

Mike