Batboard

Hello,

1) I hope this doesn't contravene forum rules, but I have heard that there is a Windows version of the RSS for the old GP-300 radios. Can anyone confirm? Where can I purchase this software? I still have literally hundreds of clients using P-110's and GP-300's all over Africa and programming is a huge headache at the moment. If our ancient 386 dies (which it could do at any time) , we're really in a lot of trouble.

2) Would it be illegal to write your own RSS? And if not, has anyone tried to do so?

3) If there isn't a Windows version of the RSS, and no-one has written heir own, does anyone know a good way of programming the P-110/GP-300 with a modern machine? I've tried Moslo, but with no success. Also, it's becoming more and more difficult to find a computer with a serial port, and DOS progs don't understand USB ports etc.

Any input will be very much appreciated.

Regards,
Marc

i use a pentium 233 and a pII 450 to do p110's and gp/gm300's with no issues. i've never heard of windows based software for those radios. if somebody were to write their own software there shouldn't be an issue, i don't think motorola wrote the 128ch rss for the x9000's? but i may be wrong.

I do believe there is a Windows version of the GP300 RSS, but it didn't exist in North America. Where you're overseas, you might be able to track it down. I don't know if it supported P110's or not.

As per the Pentium Compatibility Matrix, as long as you are using the latest available version of the DOS RSS, you should be able to read/write the radios on much, much more modern computers. I have literally used my 1.7GHz Celeron laptop to program thousands of radios across dozens of models with zero issues.

As far as writing your own RSS, that's an issue for lawyers to decide. I do know there was at one point a company writing software for the P110/GP300/GM300 radios, which allowed for board blanking & such. They were eventually shut down by Motorola. Now that those particular models haven't been sold in many years, it might be a different story. That however is strictly my own opinion.

Todd

i'd think if you were writing your own software and not selling it for proffit there isn't much anyone can say.

Even if you were to write your own software for the GM300s, and it isn't a copy of the original in any form, then I seriously doubt Circle-M can challenge your ideas in court as there are no copyright violations since the entire RSS package would be wholly different from the Circle-M variant.

Breaking down the packages would show one to be absolutely different from the other, so how can Circle-M show any violations of copyright if only the radio is the sore spot here.

People change Eproms on their car's computers without any car manufacturer getting fussy, the same claims can or should be able to be made against Circle-M as well since you have designed a completely different method of handling codeplug data, so no copyright violations occurred.

And as Alex stated, since the Maxtrac/GM300 platform has been discontinued, I seriously dout there would be real money/profit gained by trying to sue you to shut down.

China still has a huge pirate software business and Microsoft gets nowhere there either, I doubt Circle-M would far any better with you as well.

Design your own version of RSS and sell it, I think African laws and enforcement are far from the minds of governments trying to decide what wars/tribes are worth beating down instead of helping a U.S company make more money.

If you are using windows XP or Windows Vista it will be to fast and you can have problems programming. I am sure others will agree, if you use win 95, win 98 or win 2000. you will achieve the reults you need. good luck.