Having some issues with a Quantar seeing a wireline board properly. I've been through a number of troubleshooting steps with the support of a couple of people (thank you) to try and get this working. I think at the end of the day I have a version mismatch of cards and this just won't work - or a back plane issue (Chassis is an older silver chassis).
Quantar Mainboard - CLN6961A15
- Current Firmware is 20.14.038
I have been trying two different wireline boards:
A) Quantar Wireline board - CLN6955A15 - Quantar Board - 2x PC509 U135 Chips: 5101009008
B) Quantar Wireline Board - 2 AMTEL PC525E4 Chips - 01030600 Chips. CLN7343B & Astro modem: 0185340u01
No matter what I do with the Quantar I keep seeing "NOT_INSTALLED" next to the wireline version in the CSS.
I've gone through and flipped through most combinations of switches in the software to try and get it to work and I still am met with the Main board not seeing the wireline board.
The Quantar works perfectly as a base/repeater regardless of the above.
Any suggestions on troubleshooting tips (or maybe the RIGHT wireline board PN to find?)
The "B" board above came out of a working AstroTac3000 Comparitor which I am trying to get the Quantar to sync up with via Astro Modem. (Mainly as a home learning lab).
Thank you in advance for any help/thoughts on the above.
Alex
Quantar will not see Wireline card
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Quantar will not see Wireline card
The Radio Information Board: http://www.radioinfoboard.com
Your source for information on: Harris/Ma-Comm/EFJ/RELM/Kenwood/ICOM/Thales, equipment.
Your source for information on: Harris/Ma-Comm/EFJ/RELM/Kenwood/ICOM/Thales, equipment.
Re: Quantar will not see Wireline card
And let me guess... The LED's on the WL card just cycle when you power up, and eventually stay off or just cycle through green/red.
It's a version mismatch between the SCM and WL cards. Backplane not involved.
There was a point in production where the WL card firmware significantly changed, and replacement of the firmware or the WL card was mandatory.
I'm dealing with this with a customer right now. Station popped an SCM, and inserting a newer SCM results in the same problem you are seeing - no WL card action.
We've advised the customer that they need to replace the SCM, WL and exciter firmware with the latest versions, and the station will work just fine.
The other possible situation is that there are one-time-programmable jumpers on your "B" wireline card that need to be set for Quantar operation, and not ASTROTAC operation, but I seriously doubt that's the case. I'm nearly certain it's a firmware issue.
It's a version mismatch between the SCM and WL cards. Backplane not involved.
There was a point in production where the WL card firmware significantly changed, and replacement of the firmware or the WL card was mandatory.
I'm dealing with this with a customer right now. Station popped an SCM, and inserting a newer SCM results in the same problem you are seeing - no WL card action.
We've advised the customer that they need to replace the SCM, WL and exciter firmware with the latest versions, and the station will work just fine.
The other possible situation is that there are one-time-programmable jumpers on your "B" wireline card that need to be set for Quantar operation, and not ASTROTAC operation, but I seriously doubt that's the case. I'm nearly certain it's a firmware issue.
Re: Quantar will not see Wireline card
Actually -
The light stays solid green on the WL card. They don't jump back and forth at all. I will see the "Jump" during the power on self test but it is a quick single cycle. The Aux 1 light was blinking as well - but that seems to have been resolved by turning on the use of Astro over wireline...
Either way the station seems convinced there is no Wireline card. Listening on the rear connector where the wireline comes out I don't hear any traffic or the astro modem trying to connect.
Alex
The light stays solid green on the WL card. They don't jump back and forth at all. I will see the "Jump" during the power on self test but it is a quick single cycle. The Aux 1 light was blinking as well - but that seems to have been resolved by turning on the use of Astro over wireline...
Either way the station seems convinced there is no Wireline card. Listening on the rear connector where the wireline comes out I don't hear any traffic or the astro modem trying to connect.
Alex
The Radio Information Board: http://www.radioinfoboard.com
Your source for information on: Harris/Ma-Comm/EFJ/RELM/Kenwood/ICOM/Thales, equipment.
Your source for information on: Harris/Ma-Comm/EFJ/RELM/Kenwood/ICOM/Thales, equipment.
Re: Quantar will not see Wireline card
Hrm... If thats the case, see if there are some of those punch-type OTP jumpers on the WL card. It may be that they are set for comparator use, and not station use.
There may also be a firmware mismatch in that arena, I've never investigated the WL card to see if there is a different firmware for comparator vs. station.
There may also be a firmware mismatch in that arena, I've never investigated the WL card to see if there is a different firmware for comparator vs. station.
Re: Quantar will not see Wireline card
I agree with d119 about the card mismatch.
The firmware on the early wireline cards actually lived on the cards. Somewhere around station release 10 they changed to a new wireline card that gets its operating code by download from the SCM at power-on bootup.
That's why when upgrading an early version station it is necessary to replace the wireline card with a download capable version, hence there are a ton of the early cards on the used market.
I don't have the specific card numbers here at home, but it sounds like that's your problem. An early card will go green because it has resident firmware and lands on its feet at power up, but the SCM can't find that sort of card to do its download so it reports that there is no wireline card present.
The firmware on the early wireline cards actually lived on the cards. Somewhere around station release 10 they changed to a new wireline card that gets its operating code by download from the SCM at power-on bootup.
That's why when upgrading an early version station it is necessary to replace the wireline card with a download capable version, hence there are a ton of the early cards on the used market.
I don't have the specific card numbers here at home, but it sounds like that's your problem. An early card will go green because it has resident firmware and lands on its feet at power up, but the SCM can't find that sort of card to do its download so it reports that there is no wireline card present.