MT1000 29 MHz Low Band - early Pentium with Pure DOS?

[g8tzl2004]

I have an MT1000 currently on 31MHz which I plan on using on 29.6MHz. I have been reading up on all the info on Batlabs and Repeater Builder.

I have the latest version of the RSS - version R03.01.02 dated Jun 1994.

I was planning on using my early Pentium MMX IBM Thinkpad running pure DOS - this works great on my Maxtrac, MCS2000, MTS2000. GP300, Visar etc

However, I did some searching and found mention that the MT1000 can only be programmed on a 486/66 or earlier.

I just wondered if this a definately the case - or will a very early Pentium running pure DOS be OK?

Thanks

[g8tzl2004]

I've just established that the latest version of RSS for the MT1000 is R03.02.00 dated 5/18/2001.

I currently have version R03.01.02 dated Jun 1994

Any views on whether its OK to use version R03.01.02 using an early Pentium and pure DOS?

[Spiffy50]

I've programmed an MT1000 using a P3 600MHz with no issues, running MS-DOS 6.22.

[g8tzl2004]

Thanks Spiffy50

Which version of RSS did you use - R03.02.00 or earlier?

[motorola_otaku]

If it doesn't work as-is, running cacheoff.com at the C prompt will almost certainly get it to work. Google it or search the Computer forum here for instructions on how to code it yourself.

[g8tzl2004]

UPDATE: I have now successfully programmed my 29 MHz MT1000 using RSS version R03.01.02 with an early Pentium MMX Thinkpad laptop running pure DOS from a Boot disk.

- The RSS enables programming down to 29.500 MHz without any HEX editing of the RSS. I will eventually mod the RSS to get down to 29.300 MHz BUT 29.500 MHz and above is OK for 95% of FM activity!!

- I was UNABLE to PERMANENTLY alter the RSS default paths for the Archive and Help files. I could change the default paths to match the actual location of the files and pressing Save F8 appeared to work. I was able to use the Help and Archive files BUT when I exited and then restarted the RSS, the paths defaulted to the original old settings. Any ideas why? Not a major issue - all I need to do is to remember to reset the paths each time I start the RSS.

- The Helical antenna appears to be tuned to around 31.5 MHz using a simple relative power meter. Assuming the MT1000 is putting out 5W at 31.5Mhz, I guess about 1.5 to 2W is being put out at 29.6MHz. The original TX frequencies covered 31-34MHz . Interestingly TX output at 34MHz was relatively less than TX output at 29.6MHz compared to the "optimised" 31.5MHz TX output.

- Any views on whether RX performance using the 31.5MHz helical will be noticeably poorer at 29.6MHz compared to 31.5MHz

- Has anybody tried extending a helical to get better TX matching at 29.6MHz? - maybe with a short piece of wire wedged into the top of the helical.

[PETNRDX]

According to the manual there should be a one half inch difference between 30 mhz and 32 mhz.
30 should be 11 9/16 and 32 should be 11 1/16. These are approximations according to the manual.
I have not played with the 29 mhz version, but it made a big difference cutting the antenna for my six meter MT1000's.
I would expect it to be even greater at 10 meters. I think it would be worth finding an uncut one that is as close to 12 inches as you can find.
And I would think you would need to re-align the radio for both TX and RX.
My experience with them is that one meg at 50 mhz makes a HUGE difference in RX sensitivity.
And the TX power was about half or less going from 45 mhz to 52.
So, it would be worth taking a look.
You are only supposed to get a one mhz spread without degradation.
They want you to get 7.2 to 7.4 watts from them in tune up.
I keep thinking I should get a ten meter one to play with, I bet it would be fun.

[g8tzl2004]

Thanks PETNRDX

The 10m band has been wide open over the past month - I've worked the world with my Maxtrac and an indoor dipole!!!

I'm currently RXing the New York 29.62Mhz repeater using the MT1000 with its helical - its 4500 miles away and great copy!!

The helical antenna I am using is around 15.5 inches long - it does not look like an original Motorola but it is a "real" ex NATO military antenna used with the MT1000. Maybe the bandwidth is greater or performance is better?? The MT1000 was originally programmed with freqs between 30.9 - 34 MHz.

I never realized that you could align the front end of the MT1000!!! I was thinking it was like the Maxtrac.

RX sensitvity on 29.6Mhz appears OK with no realignment but I'm sure it can be improved. Do you have any alignment info for the low band MT1000. I've searched around but cannot find any alignment extracts from the service manual?

[kcbooboo]

Inability for the settings/paths to be remembered is because the .CFG file is read-only.

How did it get that way?

You copied the software from a CD-ROM which marks everything as read-only.

Bob M.

[g8tzl2004]

Many thanks kcbooboo - its now fixed!!!

I used Windows 98 to adjust the .CFG file as follows:

Right Click >Properties >Attributes >untick Read Only >Apply

I use a DOS boot disk for running the MT1000 RSS in pure DOS but its useful having Windows 98 installed for manipulating files!!! I also find it useful to use Win98 for loading RSS which cannot fit on one floppy. If the laptop does NOT have a CD drive or USB, then you can use a 16 bit PCMCIA SD card reader. You don't need to install any drivers to use the PCMCIA card with Win98 and you can tranfer stuff using any old "low capacity" SD card!!

kcbooboo - I've checked the Repeater Builder site but I cannot find any info on realigning MT1000's. There is lots of useful info for modding MT1000's to 6m/10m but I have never seen any discussion of realigning sets after modification. Do you have any info such as alignment extracts from the MT1000 Low Band service manual?

Thanks

[kcbooboo]

I personally have no MT1000 stuff: radios or documentation. If someone has an MT1000 manual I can get pieces of it scanned and/or posted but that's about it. I don't know if the manual is still available from Motorola.

Bob M.