MCS2000 - CPS vs RSS???

[g8tzl2004]

I have recently acquired a UHF MCS2000. I am using RSS version R05.04.00 but I am getting "codeplug too new for this application".

I guess the MCS2000 has been previously programmed with either a later RSS or CPS version.

My preference is to continue to use RSS on my old DOS machine. RSS version R05.04.00 works great with my other MCS2000.

I have done some searching and I understand that the "final release" RSS version is R05.07.00 - anybody know if this is correct?

I also read that if CPS version R01.13.00 (or later?) has been used to program the MCS2000 , then it is NOT possible to then go back to a DOS RSS version - is this correct? ie. you can use DOS RSS after using CPS?

If I try DOS RSS version R05.07.00 and I still get "codeplug too new" , does this mean that CPS version R01.13.00 or later has been used??

If , say , CPS R01.12.00 had been used , does this mean ANY DOS RSS version should work OR only the latest RSS R05.07.00??

Is there any reason to try to stick to using DOS RSS rather than WIndows CPS? ie no out of band tricks etc??

Thanks

[Tom in D.C.]

The general rule of thumb is that once you've programmed the radio with
CPS you can not go back and use a DOS RSS any more on the radio. Your
experience sounds as if this is the exact situation you've encountered.

But on the bright side, if you're forced to get a CPS program for your newer
radio then you can use it on the old radio as well. You'll find the CPS to be much
more user friendly than the old RSS setup. I was fooling with an old XTS
version 9 RSS last night, just to see what it looked like, and I was again
reminded of how slick the CPS is in comparison, and the CPS will run on
virtually any modern Windows platform up through XP. A few CPS programs
are now available that run on Vista as well.

[g8tzl2004]

Thanks Tom.

I read that you can revert to DOS RSS if the MCS2000 was programmed with a CPS version BEFORE R01.13.00 - but I'm not sure if this is correct!! If it is correct , then does it mean you can use any version of DOS RSS or only a version of RSS which matches the date of the Windows CPS stuff??

[wavetar]

You'll need the DOS version that matches up with the CPS release, or newer. The latest & greatest DOS RSS is actually 5.08.00, but I'd stay away from it for a couple of reasons...primarily because it won't allow you to "overwrite" a saved codeplug into a radio which has been inhibited, which all previous versions let you do.

You can "revert" the radio back to DOS RSS, even if it's been written with the latest CPS, but you need a DOS RSS codeplug with the exact same flashcode & model numbers to clone into it.

Todd

[g8tzl2004]

Thanks Todd.

Any idea if its "safe" to use a Pentium 4 2Ghz XP laptop with the MCS2000 CPS software? Or should I stick with an early Pentium Win 98 machine?

Is the CPS stuff "floppy disk" friendly ie. it fits onto a series of 1.44MB floppy disks or is it just on a CD-ROM?

Thanks

[motorola_otaku]

MCS CPS runs just fine on current-generation computers, as does Astro/Astro25 CPS and M1225 Windows software.

The individual installation files are far too big to fit on floppies. Gotta have a CD-ROM drive.

[g8tzl2004]

I checked out the latest MCS2000 CPS version which is R03.00.01

Given Todd's warning about using DOS RSS R05.08.00 , is there any reason NOT to use CPS version R03.00.01 rather than , say , R02.02.00??

Thanks

[g8tzl2004]

Another question - will the later CPS versions (eg R03.00.01) run on early versions of Windows ie. Win 95, Win 98 , WIn ME , Win 2000 etc??

Also , do later CPS versions require more RAM??

I was thinking that maybe R03.00.01 is Vista compatible and might be bloated??

If I have to use CPS (assuming the last DOS version is still "codeplug too new") , I was planning on probably using Win 98 or Win 2K with RAM of 32/48MB (Win 98 machine) and 128MB (Win 2K machine).

Thanks

[firefighter13669]

I currently use 02.02.00 to program the MCS2000 and it works fine in vista.I also program the HT1250,CDM1250,EX600 using Windows Vista.I always use windows for the M1225 I have never tried it in vista

[g8tzl2004]

Any views on the above questions?

Hopefully the latest CPS R03.00.01 version will work on a old slow low RAM Win 98 machine?

Thanks

[wavetar]

Any views on the above questions?

Hopefully the latest CPS R03.00.01 version will work on a old slow low RAM Win 98 machine?

Thanks

It may run, but if it does, it'll be sssssllllloooooowww. I don't have 3.00.01, but the readme file from 2.02.00 says this:

System Requirements:
--------------------
Operating Systems: Windows 98 Second Edition,
Windows NT 4.0 (SP 6a or higher),
Windows 2000
Windows XP Home Edition (See Note)
Windows XP Professional (See Note)
Note: XP upgrade from other operating systems
is not supported if the CPS was previously installed
on the old operating system. Windows ME, Windows 95
and Windows 98 First Edition are no longer supported.
You may choose to proceed with the installation, but
some features might not be functioning properly.
Upgrading the operating system is highly recommended.

Hardware Requirements:
Processor 400 MHz or higher Pentium grade Processor
Memory 128 MB RAM minimum for Windows 98 Second Edition, NT
and 2000 256 MB RAM minimum for Windows XP (Home or Professional)
Hard Disk Space 1 Gigabyte Drive with 450 MB minimum free space (for a
Typical Installation, including Help Audio-Visual
Tutorials) or 60 MB minimum free space (for a Compact
Installation)

Computers are relatively cheap these days, new or used. You can likely pick up a 2 or 3 year old laptop for under $300 bucks that will far exceed the minimum specs the CPS needs, and will be running XP to boot.

[motorola_otaku]

My personal experience has been that 1 - 1.5 GHz processor speed is a decent compromise for a programming machine; fast enough to run MCS and Astro without bogging down, but still slow enough to run most of the Pentium-compatible DOS RSS programs. And as far as OS setup goes, dual-boot with DOS 6.22 and XP Pro is really the way to go. You still get updates for the Windows side and compatibility with every CPS package on the market (and likely every future release for years to come), and you also have a rock-solid stable DOS platform to run RSS in.

[g8tzl2004]

Thanks for the useful feedback.

I'm "shocked" at the CPS system requirements

I've always assumed "old" and "slow" is best. I normally use an old pure DOS Toshiba 468 and an IBM Thinkpad 386 running Win 3.1!!! Although I have a few other "$5" Win 95/98 "floppy drive" laptops.

Never thought I would be able to use my P4 2G XP machine to program a 10 year old MCS2000!!!

Its interesting that Win ME is NOT supported even though its a later version than WIn 98SE (I think).

R03.00.01 - most people seem to be using R02.02.00. Does version R03.00.01 actually exist ?? Is there any reason NOT to use version R03.00.01 (if it exists)??

[alex]

R03 has not been released. The only reason I could think of that would require an additional release of CPS for the MTS/MCS would have to do with re-banding [done already] or supporting a 900mhz customer. Because the XTL now is avaliable in 900mhz, I don't believe that there should be any expectation of additional MCS/MTS software. It's not worth their time or money to do.

This is mostly speculation on my part - with the exception of the fact that my MOL account that has MTS/MCS subscribed to it shows only R02.x.

There is no indication they have released R03.

-Alex

[g8tzl2004]

Thanks Alex.

I checked my listing again and R03.00.01 is the last version for the MTS2000 not the MCS2000!!!

So R02.02.00 is definately the latest version for the MCS2000.

Its all very confusing as all the MTS2000 version numbers look identical to the MCS2000 versions except the last version!!

Thanks again

[alex]

I checked my listing again and R03.00.01 is the last version for the MTS2000 not the MCS2000!!

What listing?

Code: Select all

Installation Package for the MTS 2000 CPS version R02.02.00 and Tuner version R02.01.00 Part Number: RVN4176U
Product Applicability: MTS 2000 Portable and MCS2000 Mobile
Subscription Subscription: RVN4176, RVN4177


Installation package for the MCS 2000 CPS version R02.02.00 and Tuner version R02.01.00
Updated: 12-12-06
Part Number: RVN4175V
Product Applicability: MCS2000 Mobile
Subscription Applicability: RVN4175, RVN4177

Those are the current release dates and versions PER Motorola Online.

What's the source on your "R03" information?

-Alex

[wavetar]

The only reason I could think of that would require an additional release of CPS for the MTS/MCS would have to do with re-banding [done already] or supporting a 900mhz customer. Because the XTL now is avaliable in 900mhz, I don't believe that there should be any expectation of additional MCS/MTS software. It's not worth their time or money to do.

How about Vista compatibility? That would require a new major release, I would think. However, I also don't see a listing beyond 2.02.00 as of yet.

[g8tzl2004]

The MTS2000 version R03.00.01 was from a European ham radio listing - not an official listing. So it could be completely wrong or there is a later version for Europe which is not available in the USA - maybe something to do with 5 Tone/Selcall?

I have several "European" Motorola's which look identical to the US version but use different software!!