USB to Serial Adapter/RIB help

[billlayton]

A friend of mine is looking for advice. He is trying to use a USB to serial interface to program his XTS3000 using a Motorola RIB.

He is running Windows XP on his notebook.

The PC keeps trying to change around his com port number.

He has tried two different USB to serial adapters and gets the same error message from the CPS: radio failed to acknowledge

He says his Yeasu radio works fine with the USB to serial adapter.

The red light on the Motorola RIB stays solid red.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

[linkinpark9812]

A friend of mine is looking for advice. He is trying to use a USB to serial interface to program his XTS3000 using a Motorola RIB.

He is running Windows XP on his notebook.

The PC keeps trying to change around his com port number.

He has tried two different USB to serial adapters and gets the same error message from the CPS: radio failed to acknowledge

He says his Yeasu radio works fine with the USB to serial adapter.

The red light on the Motorola RIB stays solid red.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Well, I have never messed with CPS, but maybe someone else could chime in. I know the Spectra is a very picky radio, and it seems that even some of the newer radios can be bricked easily. IMHO, You should find a computer with a REAL Serial port, rather than a USB to Serial Port.

As for the port switching, check to see what port (in device manager) that that adapter is set to. Since you are saying the BUSY light is always on, are you sure nothing else is using that port? (such as a modem, another usb to serial, etc.)

[Tom in D.C.]

The red light on the RIB is a power indicator and means nothing about the system or if anything is functioning correctly.

[linkinpark9812]

The red light on the RIB is a power indicator and means nothing about the system or if anything is functioning correctly.

Woops, he said Motorola RIB. I always forget that the Moto RIB only has a power light.
It seems that most aftermarket RIBs (which I have) have a Green Light for Power and the Red Light is for Data (any type of communications between radio and RIB/computer and RIB).

[HLA]

don't the 3000's run rss? get a computer with a real serial port, usb adaptors don't work

[akardam]

don't the 3000's run rss? get a computer with a real serial port, usb adaptors don't work

There is both older DOS RSS and newer Windows CPS for the Astro line of radios, including the XTS3000's.

To the OP, it sounds like the reason the computer keeps changing COM ports on you is that you're moving your USB adapter between different USB ports on your computer. Stick with one port and you shouldn't have that problem.

As far as it not working, some USB adapters work fine with CPS, others don't. You might consider trying another brand if you're unable to get the one you have to work. I believe the IOGear USB->Serial adapter is known to work well (and if memory serves is recommended by Motorola).

http://www.iogear.com/product/GUC232A/

[Jim202]

If your using a laptop computer, not all of the 4 ports are the same. You should find the ports paired together.
One of the ports in each group will be a full service USB port and the other is limited and probably doesn't
supply the external voltage needed to run the USB to serial adapter.

Like Akardam has said, stick with one port to do your testing. I have run into an issue with the XTL radios and the
USB programming cable. I need to start with a cold boot for the CPS and the radio to talk with each other.

Jim

don't the 3000's run rss? get a computer with a real serial port, usb adaptors don't work

There is both older DOS RSS and newer Windows CPS for the Astro line of radios, including the XTS3000's.

To the OP, it sounds like the reason the computer keeps changing COM ports on you is that you're moving your USB adapter between different USB ports on your computer. Stick with one port and you shouldn't have that problem.

As far as it not working, some USB adapters work fine with CPS, others don't. You might consider trying another brand if you're unable to get the one you have to work. I believe the IOGear USB->Serial adapter is known to work well (and if memory serves is recommended by Motorola).

http://www.iogear.com/product/GUC232A/

[akardam]

If your using a laptop computer, not all of the 4 ports are the same. You should find the ports paired together. One of the ports in each group will be a full service USB port and the other is limited and probably doesn't supply the external voltage needed to run the USB to serial adapter.

Well, according to the USB power spec, all USB ports are supposed to provide at least 1 unit load of power, which is spec'd at 100mA. The IOGear specs claim that the device draws up to 90mA, so it should work with any USB port out there. Laptops have the advantage that all their USB ports are usually hard-mounted to the PCB, as opposed to front USB ports on many desktop computers which are cable extensions off of PCB headers, so there potential (if you'll pardon the pun) for a voltage loss issue affecting port performance. This of course presumes that both the port and adapter are working correctly and within spec, and may or may not apply to other brands/models of USB to Serial adapters.