computer to radio programming compatibility

[WayneR]

Hi All,
Need some advice before I brick my XTS3000.

For years I have programmed my Astro Sabers and Xts3000 portables using an old slow Toshiba Satellite laptop (windows ver 3.1). Well, after creating a new codeplug on a faster machine (Toshiba Tecra running windows 98) I made a disk copy and proceeded to save to the old Satellite machine as I always have in the past. Looks like the 2.5" disk drive has failed as it will not boot from my DOS ver 6.21 bootdisk.

I found a RSS document in the utilities section of Batlabs that states you can run RSS ver R09.05.00 using Windows 98. So, is this safe to do with an XTS3000?

If so, do I need to boot the machine directly into DOS (like with the old Satellite) or is it safe to run from within windows 98?

Thanks in advance for any insight here.

Wayne

[WayneR]

OK, a bit more information.

I tried to read the radio with the Tecra (running Windows 98) in WINDOWS MODE and the com test passed but the read radio failed (checksum error). I restarted the Tecra in MS DOS MODE and again ran the com test and radio read. This time the com test passed AND the read radio was successful.

So, can I assume since I was able to read the radio in MS DOS MODE, I can safely write to the radio?

[Tom in D.C.]

NO. STOP. DON'T DO IT.

The so-called MS-DOS that runs under 98 is not real DOS.
It commonly reads an RSS but you are asking for trouble if
and when you try to write to the radio.

Boot from a 6.22 DOS disk and be safe.

[WayneR]

Appreciate the response Tom. I read the radio several times in DOS mode without any problems so I decided to write to the radio (before I saw your post). Probably just got lucky as all went ok this time but going forward I will create a bootable CD with DOS 6.22.

[motorola_otaku]

"MS-DOS for Games with EMS & XMS Support" in Win98 works for reading/writing radios. I used it for a couple of years on a Toshiba Satellite 420CDT laptop and didn't brick a single radio. It's located in the WINDOWS folder; create a shortcut to it on your desktop and when you double-click it it'll jump you right into DOS.

[WayneR]

OK, thanks for the heads up, I'll give it a try. What radios did you program with this setup? Specifically, I am wondering if it will work with the HT1000 or MT2000 series radios? I suspect Win98 and a 486 are way too fast to accommodate these radios' RSS.

[motorola_otaku]

What radios did you program with this setup? Specifically, I am wondering if it will work with the HT1000 or MT2000 series radios? I suspect Win98 and a 486 are way too fast to accommodate these radios' RSS.

Astro mobile & portable, MTSX, Spectra, Maxtrac, Maratrac, and SM50/120 in DOS, and M1225 in Windows, and some others I can't remember off the top of my head. And 486 is a nice safe speed for RSS operation; in fact I have a Compaq Contura 486 that I keep around for Saber, STX, and a couple of others that won't work on my PIII IBM Thinkpad.

With that slow of a computer, though, you might as well go ahead and load it up with DOS 6.22 anyway unless you have some specific need for Windows98. Any of the Moto Windows CPS programs are going to run slower than the creeping bullfrog Jesus on a 486.

[Tom in D.C.]

If you want REALLY slow, try running a Saber RSS on an old
PC like an 8086 XT. You can go outside and wash your car while
it's doing longer ops such as read or write and you won't miss a
thing.

[wavetar]

OK, thanks for the heads up, I'll give it a try. What radios did you program with this setup? Specifically, I am wondering if it will work with the HT1000 or MT2000 series radios? I suspect Win98 and a 486 are way too fast to accommodate these radios' RSS.

It all depends on what version of the software you are using. The latest & greatest versions work fine on much more modern hardware...my 1.8GHz Centrino Duo, for instance. It's all in the 'pentium compatibility matrix', which you can see here:

http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.p ... ity+matrix

My adventures trying most DOS RSS packages on my slightly older but still plenty fast 1.7GHz Celeron machine can be found here:

http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.p ... ity+matrix