Batboard

I've been using Motorola RSS for some time, mostly with my old 486-25hz Acer 730 laptop which is ideal for the application.
I would like to use my IBM Thinkpad 380ED with some of the newer stuff, but my first attempt, with Astro Spectra V8.50, fails the communications test. The error message displayed is, "Cannot acquire, busy line error."
I'm booted in DOS mode with CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT as suggested by Motorola. I've tried COM ports 1 thru 4. Same message.
RIB box is good (works fine with other computers).
Any suggestions? Thanks.

If this is DOS RSS, and if you trying to use the DOS emulation provided by a flavor of Windows, a likely problem is that Windows (even when running in DOS emulation mode) intercepts direct hardware requests and sometimes does not process them in a way that the DOS program can live with. If this is DOS RSS, I strongly suggest that you use a machine running in native DOS, either as the operating system on the machine or as an operating system under an multi-OS manager such as System Commander.

Thanks for your quick reply. I am running in "pure DOS," rather than the enhanced DOS mode accessed from Windows (98). I started the machine in DOS mode without going on into Windows and still get the error.

Are you simply using the F8 - command prompt selection at start up? If so, that is not a good DOS emulation, just Windows without the GUI. A couple of simple options that may work for you:

1) If it's a Win98 machine, go to your c:\windows directory, and find the 'MS-DOS Mode for Games with EMS & XMS Support' icon. Copy it to your desktop. Double clicking this will reboot your computer into a far better DOS emulation, one that's been proven to work when other methods fail. That's assuming it's a Windows issue, not a hardware issue.

2) Get a DOS 6.22 bootdisk from here: http://www.bootdisk.com
Boot your computer with the disk in the A: drive & you'll be ready to go with a 'real' DOS mode.

Other than that, get a DOS program such as COMMCHECK to test your COM ports while in DOS mode, to ensure they're working properly. Most IBM's I've dealt with are a pain in the a$$ to get working right.

Todd

One other thing to check. Some of the Thinkpads default to IR port enabled and Com port disabled in DOS.

U should be able to download a config utility from IBM that will run in DOS to reconfigure the IR disabled and COM enabled.

George

I use thinkpad 755C's. One thing that happens to me is that for some reason the serial port won't access, I have to reboot and then the serial port runs fine. It only seems to happen when I shut the lid on the computer and it goes into power save mode. Only happens rarely, probably not your problem.

The other thing is to check your setup on your old computer and make sure your rib and cables are fine.

Thanks, Todd, for your suggestions. Actually, I was using Windows shutdown and re-starting in DOS mode, not booting from a DOS boot disk.
I'll try one as you suggest and possibly get CommCheck as well.

Thad

A dime to a dollar says that going to native DOS will solve your problems. The "restart in DOS" on Windows exit is not native DOS.

I've tried making a DOS 6.22 boot disk. The machine hangs up trying to boot from it. I should have said the machine had WIN 98 and there is no DOS subdirectory-which is probably true of modern Windows.
Suppose I install MS-DOS 6.22 the old way-with installation disks, which will put a full version of DOS on the machine. Should I expect any conflicts with WIN98? Should I create an option on boot-up (Windows or DOS)? Will I need to re-partition my disk?
Thanks, fellows, for all your help.

Thad

go to http://www.bootdisk.com and download a new DOS 6.22 bootdisk.

Create a new floppy. Chances are your 6.22 floppy is corrupted.

George

Since you have Win98, try my first suggestion, it works as well as a boot disk (or even better, in some cases).

Todd

If you created the DOS Bootdisk correctly, it boot to 6.22 should have worked. In order to make the disk, download the 6.22 from the website. Put a blank floppy in your drive, run the executable that you downloaded and install on the floppy. Put the floppy in the drive, reboot your machine, it should boot from the floppy drive.

Like Todd said, try his first suggestion, running the 'MS-DOS for Games.....', that works great on my 266MHz laptop for converting HT600's and P200's to 6 channels.

I would not install DOS in the same partition as W98SE (or any Windows flavor). A better idea is to install System Commander. Then you can install DOS in a separate partition, and when you boot the machine it will give you a startup menu to select which OS you want to run. It is like having two machines in the same box.

Full working version of System Commander 7.05 (and many other programs) can be found here:

-----------------edit-----------------


Actually, I just remembered there's people underage here on the board (there's 'adult' ads on the page). If you want the program, I'll PM you the link.

Todd

There is also an issue with the design of the computer's serial port Tx & Rx and a impeadance mismatch. The Motorola RIBs have been known to load down the computer port causing a missed bit or two. A couple of resistors chsnged in the RIB usally corrects this.

which computers com port? the thinkpad or the acer? I have a TP 755cse.
I never had a problem until I tried to make a spectra "Zone driven". It didn't see all the modes in a couple zones.

Hey just for chuckles, check your power saving scheme. I had a laptop that always changed the power settings on its own when the battery went below 20% and shut off the comm ports to conserve power. if the rest of the suggestions dont work have a look in your bios power settings.

My $ .00002 worth.

Regards and best to all,
Mike

A problem I ran into just recently was that the 15-pin D connector on my computer-to-RIB cable (using the 'true' Motorola RIB and associated cabling) had some worn-out contact holes, such that at least one, possibly two, of the contacts had gone intermittent.

The problem was solved by replacing the original cheapie connector with a mil-spec part with machined crimp-type contacts. No more intermittents. Ever.

I would suggest taking a close look, under good light and a magnifier, at the contacts on your cables. Make sure that they're held firmly in place, and are not just getting pushed back into the housing when you mate the connectors.

73 de KC7GR