Astro dies upon insertion of programming cable

[cogburne]

I’m trying to program an ASTRO model T99DX+089W_ASTRO, ID D04KKF9PW5AN. As soon as I plug the cable into the mic port the radio goes dead. It initially powers on fine, but plug in the cable and it dies. It doesn’t matter if the cable is attached to the PC or not. Any ideas?

[Jim202]

I’m trying to program an ASTRO model T99DX+089W_ASTRO, ID D04KKF9PW5AN. As soon as I plug the cable into the mic port the radio goes dead. It initially powers on fine, but plug in the cable and it dies. It doesn’t matter if the cable is attached to the PC or not. Any ideas?

Ignore the head display and continue programming.

Jim

[KG4INW]

Sounds like an Astro Spectra Plus, that's normal.

[cogburne]

Thanks. It never occurred to me to go ahead and try to read the radio after the control head went blank.

[jmr061]

That would be normal for an astro spectra plus. Your model number indicates it is an astro spectra. You should be using a rib and programming cable that goes into the 15 pin plug in the back of the radio.

Jason

[cogburne]

So the USB to mic port won't work? It is a Mother M cable.

[wavetar]

Astro Spectra and Astro Spectra+ are two different beasts. If you have a regular Astro Spectra, then as they said, you need to use the RIB and rear accessory cable for programming. The 'plus' model programmed from the front mic port. I've only seen the RS-232 cable for it, I'm not sure if there was a USB cable for it. It sounds like you have the XTL5000 USB cable.