Batboard

Hi everyone,

This question has been asked multiple times on this forum (and others), but I have not found an answer that works for me, so I’m going to ask it a different way.

I recently bought a new computer with Windows 7 64-bit, and I downloaded the latest versions of the CPS software (06.12.09) and Minitor V software (1.7.2). I have a RIB, a RIB to serial cable, and a RIB to HT1250 cable, all which came directly from Motorola. It’s all connected to the computer via a USB-to-serial adapter.

Long story short, I can program pagers just fine, but no luck with HT1250 radios. I’m getting the “Cannot connect to radio, ensure RIB and radio are powered on, and that all connections are OK” error message, which is momentarily preceded by a “Program not responding” message in the program title bar. I have uninstalled and re-installed the USB to serial adapter drivers, uninstalled and re-installed the CPS software, ensured I was using the correct COM port within the CPS software, tried different serial port speeds in Device Manager, made sure all the connections to the computer/RIB/radio were OK, changed the battery in the RIB, and made sure that the RIB and radio were both powered on. I know the problem is not with the USB to serial adapter, because I can program pagers fine. I know the problem is not with the RIB or cables, because I can program radios with my old (Windows XP) computer. I have the latest version of the software, which is supposed to address the Windows 7 and 64-bit issues. I’m out of ideas. If anyone thinks they can help, please share your thoughts! Many thanks.

Jason

Jason, I'm using a system very similar to what you have with no trouble programming the HT Waris series. What I've seen in the past is that some USB to serial port adapters don't emulate a serial port very well. I would suggest trying an adapter based on the Prolific Technology PL-2303 series of chips and using the latest(I believe it's 1.9.0) Prolific driver available on their website. If you check the Prolific website, you'll see that they warn of knockoff(counterfeit) adapters being sold as Prolific-based stuff that don't emulate a serial port well. In addition, their current driver package contains a standalone program that will identify a true Prolific chipset adapter and tell you which version of their chip that your adapter is using.

Al and PFD R-11, I would like to know what hardware (cables, adapters, gender changers) you may be using to program with CPS. I have a "plugable" brand USB adapter which terminates in a DB9 male connector, and Prolific driver installed. The input on the RIB is a DB15 male. It would be great to use my new Lenovo laptop for CPS rather than keeping my old Dells working for this purpose.

Figured out the cabling, using original Motorola PC-RIB cable and Plugable USB adapter, set adapter as COM2 in Device Manager, selected COM2 in Astro Spectra CPS, still no communication with radio. Must be a port settingneedss changing?

This may be silly but have you physically looked at the accessory connector of the radio? I have had those get dirty and could not make a good connection causing error to read. This has been very common on radios not using the dust cover when a microphone is not in use. Just a thought. The computer not responding is something not common in my experience.

Good Luck.

~Frato

I would check your com-port settings to see what port you are using, you can also switch the com port if needed, this sounds dumb, but have you restarted you machine since installing CPS, this would cause the software not to be able to read the radio, a simple reboot would fix that. also try using a different port.