XTL serial cable program issue-weird "SOLVED"

[Dorf411]

This week I had to program a huge number of XTL radios and part way through the job my computer and cable would no longer read/write radios through the mic jack on the mobiles. I was able to finish the job using a cable through the assy connector but it was a major pita. I am looking for a solution to this problem so here are the details.

-All computers used are running Windows XP and the latest version of Astro 25 using a RS232 comm port. All cables are Motorola factory cables.

-Dell PC will no longer program an XTL via mic jack but will work via assy connector, I tried multiple factory serial cables it just won't work. My serial cables for XTS all work for what it is worth.

-Panasonic PC w/RS232 works fine on all cables, so cables are proven still good.

-Dell will program through the mic jack using a USB-RS232 converter but this is a lousy risky kludge.

Anyone have any ideas what may cause this? I am thinking maybe the serial port on the Dell PC is going bad and can't properly drive the converter in the cable used to program via the mic jack.

[Jim202]

This week I had to program a huge number of XTL radios and part way through the job my computer and cable would no longer read/write radios through the mic jack on the mobiles. I was able to finish the job using a cable through the assy connector but it was a major pita. I am looking for a solution to this problem so here are the details.

-All computers used are running Windows XP and the latest version of Astro 25 using a RS232 comm port. All cables are Motorola factory cables.

-Dell PC will no longer program an XTL via mic jack but will work via assy connector, I tried multiple factory serial cables it just won't work. My serial cables for XTS all work for what it is worth.

-Panasonic PC w/RS232 works fine on all cables, so cables are proven still good.

-Dell will program through the mic jack using a USB-RS232 converter but this is a lousy risky kludge.

Anyone have any ideas what may cause this? I am thinking maybe the serial port on the Dell PC is going bad and can't properly drive the converter in the cable used to program via the mic jack.

Many times when you change radios the computer interface to the radio goes dumb. The solution I found was to just do a re-boot on the computer and start again. Blame it on the great software the 2 year old's at the Motorola software factory in some off shore sweat shop have provided us dumb techs out in the field.

Jim

[Dorf411]

I am aware of that problem usually when I can't initially read/write a reboot of the radio will correct it. I tried that many times along with a couple reboots of the PC. I can't get my laptop to read any XTL radios through a serial to mic jack cable. But works fine using a cable that uses the assy jack or through a USB-Serial adapter.

[escomm]

I had a couple cables stop working when doing a project syncing several hundred O5 heads. I chalked it up to a crappy cable and warrantied it back to Motorola for a new

[Dorf411]

Yeah, but the cable still works fine on our Panasonic laptop and I have a nearly unused cable that won't work on the Dell anymore either. Both cables will work on the Dell if it is in the docking station when I program at my desk.

[Jim202]

Yeah, but the cable still works fine on our Panasonic laptop and I have a nearly unused cable that won't work on the Dell anymore either. Both cables will work on the Dell if it is in the docking station when I program at my desk.

Did your com port number change???

Jim

[Dorf411]

No

[N4KVE]

Many times when you change radios the computer interface to the radio goes dumb. The solution I found was to just do a re-boot on the computer and start again.

Jim

This has always worked for me. GARY

[Dorf411]

I have solved this problem by replacing the motherboard with a new one from the "bay". I still find it puzzling that the laptop would work for some radios and not others. I later found it wouldn't work when trying to console into a Cisco router and also wouldn't work on EFJ mobiles.

After replacing the MB it now works on all radios I had found to be giving me problems. Upon very close inspection we found some of the pads for the RS232 jack were cracked. The bench tech resoldered them but it is too much work to swap a laptop MB to test it.

Thanks for all the feedback.

[Jim202]

I have solved this problem by replacing the motherboard with a new one from the "bay". I still find it puzzling that the laptop would work for some radios and not others. I later found it wouldn't work when trying to console into a Cisco router and also wouldn't work on EFJ mobiles.

After replacing the MB it now works on all radios I had found to be giving me problems. Upon very close inspection we found some of the pads for the RS232 jack were cracked. The bench tech resoldered them but it is too much work to swap a laptop MB to test it.

Thanks for all the feedback.

Stop pushing so hard on the connector when your inserting it into the computer. It doesn't take that much to crack the I/O connections at the motherboard interface. Treat them gently and they will last much longer.

Jim

[Dorf411]

Why would you ASSUME that I push the connector too hard? I am certain the port was damaged many months ago when programming some radios, I walked through a door and the cable got caught on a door handle and tweaked the connector a bit. Everything still worked and has been working and I was able to straighten it out and reinforce it a bit. But like I said I was puzzled that some radios and systems would still work and others not which is why I didn't initially suspect the port was faulty.