This forum is dedicated to discussions pertaining specifically to the Motorola ASTRO line of radios (those that use VSELP/IMBE/AMBE), including using digital modulation, digital programming, FlashPort upgrades, etc. If you have general questions please use the General or Programming forums.
I have been trying to program my VHF Astro Sabers. It does not seem like the radio will read. I have checked to see if my RIB was working and I can read my other Sabers and Mt-2000 just fine. I know that it can't be the software as it is the newest ver. of the Astro Software and the same that i used last time. I think it might be my programming cable but I am not sure. Can anyone help me???
Do you have an Astro Saber cable or adapter, or are you trying to use a regular Saber cable?
The Busy line of a "regular" Saber cable goes to pin 6 on the DB25 going to the RIB.
On the Astro, the Busy line needs to go to Pin 8 on the RIB instead. CHeck the Batlabs programming cable page for more.
If you don't feel like buying / building a whole new cable, you can build an adapter that swaps pin 6 to pin 8. Some people just put a SPDT switch in the DB25 housing, but I'm always afraid of what would happen if the switch got bumped during programming...
I have both a Astro Saber Cable (non-Motorola) and a Saber cable (Motorola) When I try and read the radio it acks like the radio is not turned on. I have changed batteries, and even radios and it tells me the same thing on both my Astro's. I think it might be my cable and want to try the adapter but I have no clue how to build one. Does anyone have one or want to build me one for a small fee??? Thank you
Matt - You need to stop putting negitive comments in threads. This is the second one I've seen today (other one I didn't bother moderating yet....), and yes, while the Nextel guys text is of an annoying size, it doesn't mean you have the right to go and rip on him. You could simply ask him to change the font and color to be what would be considered normal.
In this sense, I think he's asking a reasonable question, which if you want, you can take a reasonable amount of time and answer, else, don't bother posting.
Anybody who's spent much time at all on forums or IM's such as ICQ/MSN, or even just e-mailing people, should know that a post written entirely in large font is the equivalent of YELLING AT SOMEONE. It's one of those "unwritten rules" you're supposed to follow. It really puts people on edge when it isn't adhered to...I think that's why some people get a little testy for no apparent reason.
We all have but ONE heart. When it goes, you won't be worried about anything on the Batboard, even such things as important as font size. Relax, chill out, and do your heart a favor!
ASTROMODAT wrote:We all have but ONE heart. When it goes, you won't be worried about anything on the Batboard, even such things as important as font size. Relax, chill out, and do your heart a favor!
Font size wasn't at all what the original and moderated post was regarding.
I was one of the few that saw what had been written. I don't consider it anything as important to delete, but needless to say it didn't help out "Mr. Nexthell" out either.
Josh wrote:
Font size wasn't at all what the original and moderated post was regarding.
I was one of the few that saw what had been written. I don't consider it anything as important to delete, but needless to say it didn't help out "Mr. Nexthell" out either.
-Josh
I know, I saw it too. I'm just saying writing in an annoying font isn't helping out your cause...and may cause someone who's having a bad day to take it the wrong way, thus no helpful answers. Didn't bother me, I just assumed he was an on-line newbie.
OK OK OK OK< but what about my Astro problem??? I still need some help here. This was not a post to tick people off or anything, I just REALLY want to be able to read and write to my Astro's!!!!
Can't help you till you answer the following questions...
1. Has your setup ever worked with an Astro?
2. What error exactly are you seeing when reading your radio?
3. Have you correctly setup your COM port and tested it within RSS/CPS?
I am using the Same Cable and RSS I used last time, only on a diff. computer. The computer I am using this time is the same speed as the one I used last time. I have checked my Com port to see if I have it right and I have it set to Com 1 and the RIB is in Com 1. I will turn on the computer later and get the message it gives me when I read the radio. Thank you!!!
I have seent his problem before with a Astro that had been disassembled. THere is a flat ribbon cable inside the AS3 case that connects the contacts from the bottom of radios chasis to the top speaker/programming pins at the top of your radio. If the positive (+) battery contact is tightened too much, the flat ribbon cable can get misaligned.
If you've tried everything else, take the radio apart (remove the two spanner nuts). While radio is out of it's case, with a bright light look down into the case and see if there are marks where the radio's ribbon connector makes it's connection to the radio's contacts. These "presure marks" should line up. Make sure the contacts on the radio's chasis are prefectly straight.
In the radio I had with this problem, I could clearly see that the radio was not making proper connection to this ribbon cable.
OK I will give that a shoot. Here is the Error message the RSS gives me when I try and read the 2 radios.
Communications with radio failed
>REQUEST NOT ACKed/NAKed ERROR<
I think my cable is bad. If anyone wants to make me the part I need so I can use my Motorola Saber cable on the Astro's I will be willing to pay a small fee and what not. Any and ALL help is needed. Thank you all very much so far for your help!
I had a govt. customer with the exact same problem, we went round and round with the Com port setup for 2 days and I finally had him uninstall and then reinstall the astro software, it worked and I haven't heard from him since.
Tried that on 3 computers no luck. Its really odd because they worked fine and I don't see how if could be BOTH radios. I could try a Motorola RIB box. I have not tried that. I am useing a Polaris PA-II Rib box. Works with all my othe radios. Thank you
I have been trying to program my VHF Astro Sabers. It does not seem like the radio will read. I have checked to see if my RIB was working and I can read my other Sabers and Mt-2000 just fine. I know that it can't be the software as it is the newest ver. of the Astro Software and the same that i used last time. I think it might be my programming cable but I am not sure. Can anyone help me??? 
I am using the Same Cable and RSS I used last time, only on a diff. computer. The computer I am using this time is the same speed as the one I used last time. I have checked my Com port to see if I have it right and I have it set to Com 1 and the RIB is in Com 1. I will turn on the computer later and get the message it gives me when I read the radio. Thank you!!!
OK I will give that a shoot. Here is the Error message the RSS gives me when I try and read the 2 radios. 
OK OK OK OK< but what about my Astro problem??? I still need some help here. This was not a post to tick people off or anything, I just REALLY want to be able to read and write to my Astro's!!!! 
Tried that on 3 computers no luck. Its really odd because they worked fine and I don't see how if could be BOTH radios. I could try a Motorola RIB box. I have not tried that. I am useing a Polaris PA-II Rib box. Works with all my othe radios. Thank you