Batboard

Hello, and thanks for reading this. Here is my problem. I have a VHF range -1 Quantar that I can’t read now. All of the lights on the controller are flashing. First off, I just got the unit from the seller and when I powered it on, the station fail light was on. It has not been hooked up to power for some time. When I read it I got a message telling me I needed to condition the EEPROM. At that time I did a warm reset, and I was going to put it into RSS mode, but it would not go. After the warm reset all of the lights started to flash at the end of the power up sequence. Now when I try to read it, I get an error telling me it can’t see the Quantar. I have tried another computer, and cable. Yes I’m using a NULL modem cable. I assume that it has something to do with all of the lights flashing. I hope this is nothing major; I just got the unit for P25 use on 2 meters. This is my first Quantar, and I can’t find anything about all of the lights flashing at once in my set of Service manuals. I also have the RSS manual. Yes, I’m in true DOS.

Thanks,

Jim.

I don't think that this is much help, but here are 2 service bullitens



Land Mobile Product Sector PSB - 799A(supersedes PSB799)
1301 East Algonquin Road APC - 218, 225, 448, 482, 509, 680, 743
Schaumburg, IL 60196 Date - September, 1997
(847)576-0180 Expires - N/A



SUBJECT: EEPROM MEMORY RETENTION PROBLEM RESOLUTION FOR STATIONS

MODELS AFFECTED : ALL QUANTAR/QUANTRO, DATA BASE STATIONS, ASTRO-TAC RECEIVERS, AND ASSOCIATED SCB FRU KITS SHIPPED PRIOR TO APRIL 1997.

SYSTEMS AFFECTED : CONVENTIONAL, TRUNKING AND DATA

SYMPTOM : Memory EEPROM IC 51-84293T01/T02/T03/T04) used in each of the above models, has been found susceptable to memory corruption in unprogrammed portions of its memory. All memory locations that have been programmed by either the factory or RSS appear to hold information correctly, only the remaining unused, unprogrammed portions of the code plug are prone to failing. This condition results in a checksum failure when the device is checked upon a reset. For Quantar/Quantro stations the symptom typically observed with this checksum error is the inability to read the station codeplug with the RSS or the station may not come out of reset. The Quantar/Quantro RSS Status Screen indicates an "NVM 11" error. For Data stations, the Radio Network Controller (RNC) will report that the base station is in the test mode and Ru Test 4 will fail.

SHORT TERM FIELD FIX: For all stations in the field regardless of this issue, we strongly advise that all codeplug information be archieved to a disk file. Reprogramming a failed unit with an archieved file or a training codeplug will restore operation while still retaining alignment information.

SOLUTION : A new version of Quantar product Radio Service Software (RSS), RVN-5002N version 9.03.00 and later versions has been developed to allow the user to condition the EEPROM in each station, and to repair failed EEPROMS in stations experiencing the checksum errors. (A prior version of Quantar RSS 9.02.01 will allow conditioning, but won’t always repair already failed EEPROMS). Conditioning writes a specific pattern to the unused portion of the EEPROM IC memory to prevent memory corruption from occuring. The EEPROM conditioning only needs to be done once. After the EEPROM has been conditioned, the RSS will no longer present the conditioning screen to the user.

Upon first use of the RSS with the station, user will receive a prompt if the code plug has never been conditioned. Follow the RSS instructions for further details. If no RSS prompt appears EEPROM has previously been conditioned and no further action is necessary.

NOTE: When upgrading a station to a later version codeplug, the RSS may inform the user that the codeplug needs to be conditioned again, even though it had been previously conditioned. This is normal and is required to condition any new codeplug data sections added during the upgrade.

NOTE: Conditioning is only attempted when the PC running the Quantar RSS is connected to the front RS232 port of the station. Due to subtle differences in the port operations, conditioning when connected to the rear port of the station is not possible and will not be attempted by the RSS.

No reference to warranty is implied or intended.







LAND MOBILE PRODUCT SECTOR PSB # 813
1301 E. ALGONQUIN RD. APC # 675 676
SCHAUMBURG, IL. 60196 DATE: JULY 97
(847) 576-0180 EXPIRES : N/A

SUBJECT: PROPER TERMINATION OF THE ETHERNET CABLE CONNECTING IR STATIONS

MODELS AFFECTED : T5365A

SYSTEMS AFFECTED : TRUNKING INTELLIREAPEATERS

ISSUE : Failure to provide proper termination of the Ethernet cable connecting IR stations can result in station resets which affect system access. Also, failure to provide a network access point will cause unwanted site resets prior to and after the software downloading process. To prevent these problems, properly install an IR Site termination kit pt. # CLN6886A on Ethernet cables at each site. This kit contains (2) terminators, (1) T-connector, and an insulating cover strip for the T-connector. Only (1) IR site termination kit is needed per site.

SOLUTION : Follow the guidelines in the Quantar price pages and product planner when ordering stations to ensure that the IR site termination kit is ordered (1 per site). Install cables as shown in the Quantar instruction manual. (68P81095E05).

NOTE: The Ethernet uses a floating ground and must not be grounded to chassis ground. Use the insulating pad included with every T-connector to prevent inadvertent connection between chassis or rack grounds and the T-connector.

From 68P81096E59-B, Tab: "Routine Maintenance," p. 8: "All LEDs Flashing On and Off in Unison: Station is in Software Download mode, either initiated by the RSS or due to software failure."

Note that in this context, "software" refers to the station operating software, contained in EEPROM or flash memory, not the station parameters sent to the station via RSS.

Hook up your laptop and RSS (to the front DB-9) and see if the RSS can do a memory refresh even though the station appears to have failed communication for regular purposes. If so, you should be back in business (though you may have to reload your archive). If not, the SCM needs to be depot'd.

Thanks for the replies. RKG, I can't find the memory refresh in the RSS. I have rev 12.06.

Thanks,

Jim.

Well, I can't find it either, though my laptop is not connected to a station, so I can't explore F2.

From the RSS Manual (68-8105E35-R, at 4-4): "When reading the codeplug, you may see a screen advising you to 'condition' the codeplug. Follow the instructions on the screen to perform this task. Conditioning the codeplug is required only one time." This implies that access to the conditioning routine is only available after a read detects the need for it; if you can't read the station, you may be out of luck.

I should observe that I've never "conditioned" a Quantar or encountered the need to.

Hey guys, we recently had four of the Astro Tac receivers do this very thing. Turns out, we could remove the eeprom daughter board from a good unit, stick it in them and they worked. We were able to isolate it to the eeprom board. We tried to locate the recondition on the software and were unable to do so. We ordered new eeprom boards from the factory, but received newer versions and were then unable to program with our software. To date we have been able to fix two of the four. We are presently requesting two new eeprom boards with the same version of firmware that we originally used. We also would like to get our hands on the latest software, but our M rep is very unresponsive. Of course we are a public municipality and not worth their time I guess. Our version of eeprom software is 020.010.012 and our software version is R012.03.00. Good luck.

BigEE, yes it was the EEPROM board. I was able to get one form a fellow batboard member. The one I got was rev10.?? , and my RSS (12.06) worrked just fine. I did have to reconditon the EEPROM. We have it up and runnig on two meters in mixed mode.

Jim.