Batboard

Hello all,
I am new here and having a problem with a radio I just bought.
Its a MCS2000 III 800MHz. I have CPS R02.02.00, cable, and RIB.

I am going to be using it on a SmartNet system, and yes I have the System Key.
Problem I am running into is that prior to me getting the radio, where ever it
came from, it was hit with an ADVANCED System Key so the radio can not be
programmed to at all without it. Which sucks because we do not have advanced
system keys for our system, only regular.

I even tried to get just do conventional, and it will not do that either. I
am pulling my hair out.

Is there a newer version of the CPS that allows for it to still be programmed
without an advanced key? I can read it, set it all up, but when I write it says
something like can not continue without Advanced System Keys.

Is there anyway around this, I read that maybe dumping an old, pre-ASK
codeplug into the radio with LAB will work, but I got the radio from eBay and
only have the codeplug that is in the radio.

Here is the specs if that will help, straight from the start up test screen.

R05.42
CNTLHD20
M01UGN6PW6BN
Not Posting Serial unless its needed, but it matches sticker on radio
FLSHCD
000008-
000000-2

I have a 800MHz PRO7550 that I use at work and programmed it myself and it
works, but this was going to go in my new unit, and now I probably can not even
resell it without letting the buyers know they better have a system key.

Please tell me there is a newer CPS that fixes this lock.
Thank you.


***Well now I think I broke it, maybe bricked maybe not. I tried using depot for
MTSX to read it, then write to it with out changing anything, then using MTSX
RSS to read it, and write it, hoping to trick it, so I can use the MCS RSS to
program it pre-ASK. I saved the codeplug that was read using the depot, and
well as the codeplug that was in it when I first got it.

Now the issue it that it now shows the channel name on both lines, and nothing
else work. I messed around with it after it did that trying to see if I can
change something, and using the MTSX RSS I can change the channel name, which
then shows on the display to what ever I change it, but still nothing else.

I can read it with the MCS CPS I have, and change things, and it shows the
channel name that was changed in the RSS, but it will not write to it. It says
it is programming and all that, but after it resets, nothing changes, no buttons
work, nothing. I tried loading the org codeplug, and still nothing.

Any ideas how to change it back? I dont think it is truly bricked as it still
turns on, shows no error or fail codes, and the channel name can still be
changed. I have an OLD version of depot, is there a newer one that will work or
something else I can try.

MTSX Depot is R02.00.01
MTSX RSS is R02.00.01
Also tried MTSX RSS R06.07.00
MCS2000 RSS 05.04.10?
MCS2000 CPS 02.02.00

ANY Ideas? I will try anything.

Use MTSX lab and dump a codeplug into from a similiar radio

If you dumped an S-record into it from a similar radio that might work but just dumping a plain archive probably won't work as lab seems to bugger things up in an MCS2000 codeplug when unpacked. Before doing anything with lab did you read and save a copy of the S-record? If not then you're probably out of luck other than forcing an S-record in from a radio with same model, same flashcode that hasn't been hindered by an ASK. The radio would have to be re-alligned but after that you should be good to go.

I too purchased one of these radios from Ebay and have run into the same problem. If all else fails I have a copy of my original S-record that you can push into your radio to at least restore it to it's original state minus the goofyness caused by MTSX Lab if you'd like to do that, but be warned it will need to be re-alligned. I'm actually trying to gather info on a procedure that might rectify the issue and if you're interested in trying it shoot me a PM. A similar procedure has already worked for me on an ASK hindered MTS2000 that has toolproof firmware.

Joe

Read the desired target codeplug (can be a regular codeplug, doesn't have to be an s-record) with MTSX LAB version 3.00.02. *TIP* - use regular RSS to first save the codeplug with your desired serial number by manually entering the serial number in the cloning screen, then saving.

Ignore the 'codeplug too new' error...the RSS is telling you it doesn't understand the codeplug structure, and can't 'unpack' it to display it. However, it did load the 'packed' codeplug into memory. Go into the 'read/write with no pack/unpack' screen & write the codeplug to the radio. The codeplug will be forced in, serial number & all. The radio will require a proper service alignment after this procedure, as the tuning values also transfer over from the codeplug.

You can try the above with your older LAB version, however for some reason, I do not believe it will work...it's been a long time, so I can't really be sure, other than to say it definitely works with 3.00.02

If you need a good 'donor' codeplug, PM me your email address.

Todd

wavetar wrote:Read the desired target codeplug (can be a regular codeplug, doesn't have to be an s-record) with MTSX LAB version 3.00.02. *TIP* - use regular RSS to first save the codeplug with your desired serial number by manually entering the serial number in the cloning screen, then saving.

Ignore the 'codeplug too new' error...the RSS is telling you it doesn't understand the codeplug structure, and can't 'unpack' it to display it. However, it did load the 'packed' codeplug into memory. Go into the 'read/write with no pack/unpack' screen & write the codeplug to the radio. The codeplug will be forced in, serial number & all. The radio will require a proper service alignment after this procedure, as the tuning values also transfer over from the codeplug.

You can try the above with your older LAB version, however for some reason, I do not believe it will work...it's been a long time, so I can't really be sure, other than to say it definitely works with 3.00.02

If you need a good 'donor' codeplug, PM me your email address.

Todd

Can a CPS read and saved codeplug be used for the target codeplug? Also can you elaborate on how to change the serial number using regular RSS? I'm a little confused on that.

N6LAU wrote: Can a CPS read and saved codeplug be used for the target codeplug? Also can you elaborate on how to change the serial number using regular RSS? I'm a little confused on that.

Yep, you can use a CPS codeplug, at least I have in the past. LAB 3.00.02 seems to treat them the same as a DOS RSS codeplug.

To change the serial number of a codeplug, go into the cloning screen and manually enter the serial number you wish the codeplug to have (normally you could read a connected radio at this point to populate the field with the serial number, but you can also enter it manually. Exit out of the clone screen and then save the codeplug normally. Re-open the codeplug and it's serial number will have been changed to what you entered.

wavetar wrote: Yep, you can use a CPS codeplug, at least I have in the past. LAB 3.02.00 seems to treat them the same as a DOS RSS codeplug.

Excellent. Bearing this in mind I wonder if one could just read the ASK hindered radio's codeplug with CPS, make the desired alterations, then save said codeplug (CPS let me save when I tried in spite of the ASK hindering), and use your method to write it to the radio with no donor codeplug required. Perhaps possible. Also regarding the LAB R03.02.00 you keep mentioning, do you by chance mean LAB R03.00.02?

wavetar wrote: To change the serial number of a codeplug, go into the cloning screen and manually enter the serial number you wish the codeplug to have (normally you could read a connected radio at this point to populate the field with the serial number, but you can also enter it manually. Exit out of the clone screen and then save the codeplug normally. Re-open the codeplug and it's serial number will have been changed to what you entered.

Ah, I see. Thanks, I wasn't quite sure how to do that.

Joe

N6LAU wrote: Also regarding the LAB R03.02.00 you keep mentioning, do you by chance mean LAB R03.00.02?

Probably...it's been a while.

wavetar wrote: If you need a good 'donor' codeplug, PM me your email address.

Todd

Todd, the donor codeplug you sent has a model# of M01UJN6PW6BN whereas the model# of the target radio is M01UGN6PW6BN. This indicates that the donor codeplug is from a 30-35 watt radio and the target radio is a 10-15 watt radio.

My question is this: If you take all the original tuning values from the target radio before forcing the donor codeplug in and then plug those same values back into the radio after you have forced the higher power codeplug into it, will everything work as it should or will there be a problem due to the power difference?

N6LAU wrote:

wavetar wrote: If you need a good 'donor' codeplug, PM me your email address.

Todd

Todd, the donor codeplug you sent has a model# of M01UJN6PW6BN whereas the model# of the target radio is M01UGN6PW6BN. This indicates that the donor codeplug is from a 30-35 watt radio and the target radio is a 10-15 watt radio.

My question is this: If you take all the original tuning values from the target radio before forcing the donor codeplug in and then plug those same values back into the radio after you have forced the higher power codeplug into it, will everything work as it should or will there be a problem due to the power difference?

They are reference values, not actual power levels, so it should be ok, but I'd suggest having it checked out with a service monitor to be sure it's all ok.

I had the same thing happen to an 800mhz MCS2000 that I made some changes with using MTSX lab 02.00.01. I did save an s record and then made some minor changes and tried a writeback. Came up with a fail code. I tried a restore with lab, and the channel name was on two lines. I didn't realize that I was restoring the s record wrong. I rechecked the proper method on how to restore a saved s record and seen I was doing it wrong. Once I followed instructions exactly how batlabs described, I was good to go. Hope this helps someone.

Forgot to mention there was no ASK. Once I got it restored, I used CPS to add my system.

Quick question. Will this work on IMBE Astro Saber, with a higer flash code (5.0001.0008 for example)? As i understand the older lab software couldn't handle IMBE radios.