Limited to only 12 channels?

[SpectraBob]

I have a 100-watt VHF Spectra radio, that seems to only allow me to create up to 12 channels maximum, and nothing more. Even though this is a "T83" (high power) radio, my RSS software always seems to recognize it as a "D43" (lower-power) version, which is very weird.

I should mention that this radio is meant for an A9 control head, but I've used an A7 head on it for years without any problems. In addition, I used to be able to program it for way more than the 12 modes that it will only let me do now... but something seems to have changed since then. Plus, if I delect a mode (say, drop #13 and #14) like I did the last time, it always seems to max out on whatever number I last set it for. In other words, I last had 14 modes programmed; then dropped that down to 12, and now I cannot have any more than 12 modes.

Any idea as to what happened to the regular 128-channel capability... or what is going on here?

Any help or ideas as to where to start, would be appreciated; thanks!

[Bill_G]

Under F4 Change/View, F4 Mode, F8 Mode Utility (going from memory) - one of the selections beside mode delete and mode move is mode add. Can't recall if you use tab, enter, or spacebar to toggle the choice.

[SpectraBob]

Thanks, but that is the problem... when I try to "add" a channel, I get an error message (I forget what the error message says exactly; it's something along the lines of "exceeds parameters for this model; refer to programming guide"). That's what is so strange about this problem, as I used to be able to add all the channels I wanted...

[Jim202]

I am wondering is you have a bottom line version or someone has swapped out the MLM board. The simple
solution would be to try and clone in a good codeplug from another radio and see if the problem goes away.

It might help if you provided the complete the model number of the radio your trying to use.

With your software not seeing the correct model number, my bet is someone has forced the wrong
version (model) codeplug into that radio. Or they tried to hack the codeplug and failed by making
it the wrong model and the software thinks the radio can't do the normal number of channels.

I would take the stand that cloning in the correct model version of a codeplug will solve your issues.

The difference between the A7 and A9 control head should not cause the issue. It just prevents
you from having access to all the buttons.

Jim

Thanks, but that is the problem... when I try to "add" a channel, I get an error message (I forget what the error message says exactly; it's something along the lines of "exceeds parameters for this model; refer to programming guide"). That's what is so strange about this problem, as I used to be able to add all the channels I wanted...

[SpectraBob]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your insight here. I don't really know what happened to this thing, other than I was able to get it to read it as the correct model number, and program all the channels I wanted, before this all started.

BTW, the model number of the drawer unit is T83FWA7HA9AK....

[Jim202]

I don't have a radio with that model number to send you a good codeplug.

Is there any chance you saved a virgin copy of the original radio codeplug like we all tell everyone before they
start playing with the program? I keep telling everyone to save a copy of the radio on a floppy as a way of
restoring it if you mess up. I have a stack of floppies that I use just for this purpose. Then once I am able to
get the radio into the condition I want, I put the codeplug on multiple computers as a safe keeping file system.

Maybe someone on here will have a codeplug for you. I will also ask around.

Jim

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your insight here. I don't really know what happened to this thing, other than I was able to get it to read it as the correct model number, and program all the channels I wanted, before this all started.

BTW, the model number of the drawer unit is T83FWA7HA9AK....

[Bill_G]

I've never had RSS correctly read a radio model, and later incorrectly read it. I have had RSS go bad on old laptops. It starts, it reads, you go to do something, and you're hosed. Do you have a copy of the RSS on floppy that you could reinstall in a different directory, or a different compatible computer?

I have had MLM's go bad, but that shows up as a fatal error, not the loss of a programmable function like mode add/delete.

[SpectraBob]

The funny thing is, I had to reprogram a friend's two mid-power Spectras just the other day (after having problems using it on my high-power model), using the same laptop and software, and both of their different model numbers (and everything else) were detected just fine, and I was able to add and delete channels just fine. Everything behaved just as it should have. Then, I tried it on my high-power model one more time, and the problem was still there. For some reason, it just doesn't like this particular radio... for which I do not have a copy of the original codeplug, of course.

[Bill_G]

Well, isn't that special?

Have you gone into the service menu and tried to reinitialize the micro-p under the board replacement menu? If the MLM appears to be failing, you really have nothing to lose since it will only get worse. Just for s&g's, have you torn it apart and looked at the caps on the cmd brd to verify the big 10uF hasn't leaked under the MLM shield and started to nibble at a few of the devices under there?

[SpectraBob]

Um, no, I haven't done any of that, at least not yet. Funny thing is, the radio is performing just peachy... but only on the 12 channels that it'll allow me to have. I have no complaints about this radio, other than it sure would be nice to put more than 12 channels on it now and again.

I'll take a look at it all (caps, etc.) when I can get some time to do so. My thanks to everybody that contributed their input!