Syntor X9000 prog issue

[Sarge, USMC]

6 computers, all running ver 8.1. On 1, I can read a radio, and it gets to the end of the cycle, but tells me there's a serial bus error reading the MDC1200 eprom. It lets me continue tho, it just disables the MDC1200 option from that personality. On the other 5, once it reaches the same point in the cycle, it halts, telling me serial bus error, busy line locked, and won't proceed.

Ideas? Anyone ever seen this? I'm not running Windows in the background. I'm using machines with various processor speeds. I don't believe that's the issue.

[kf4sqb]

Huh. Never had one lock up and refuse to proceed before. The worse I've ever got was the errors you mentioned, and a "Press any key", or something similar, message. Press a key, and go on about your business. Either way, post a few details of your computers. Mainly, processor speed, what type of connection (true serial port, USB to serial adapter, PCMCIA to serial adapter, etc.), and exact operating system installed. I have successfully programmed several X9000s on a 550 MHz Pentium III with no issues, using R80.10.00 RSS, although none with MDC enabled. Either way, that would be the first thing I would try is a slower computer, say around an 80486 vintage, with a true serial port (no adapters), and running MS-DOS 6.22.

[Sarge, USMC]

I don't think it's a processor speed issue. The computer that "works" as it were is 1GHZ. Of the other ones, there are 2 that are P166's.

[kf4sqb]

What about the rest of the details? Also, are you using a Moto original RIB, or a good quality clone (like a Sandy Ganz), or a Fleabay special?

[Mike B]

A 1 GHz computer! No way that will that work correctly. The P166s are also too fast. The Syntor X 9000 software has internal timing loops done in software that just go kaboom on too fast of a computer. I have seen good working P333s lock up with a divide by zero error when just trying to start the program.

If you are using the Windows 95/98 type DOS box or booting these types of Windows OSs into DOS, then you have the wrong operating system. You need 100 % original DOS on a slow computer for reliable results.

http://www.open.org/~blenderm/syntorx9k ... #pgq_cfast

Just because you got the radio to read on a too fast computer, does not mean it is working correctly. In real world experience the MDC1200 tends to be especially touchy about the computer speed. Since working laptops from the 286/386 era are getting so hard to find, try for a slow 20 MHz 486 desktop or laptop. If you are able to disable caching in the BIOS, you have a chance of getting a working Syntor X 9000 programming computer.

Fortunately Motorola wrote somewhat better software for later radios, except for the ones that brick on any programming glitch. At least the Syntor X 9000 microprocessor configuration is so simple that its brick proof.

[txshooter]

Agreed a 1G machine is just way too fast. The X9000 was designed to work under the 286 platform. I have been sucessfull with 486's, but I have never been able to get a 486 to successfully program the radio.

Find a OLD SLOW 386, or a bunch of them, and use it for programming these radios. Great radios, but you have to have really old computer hardware to program them.

Also, remember you really need to operate in a complete DOS enviorment for these. DOS windows and MOSLO will not work! I have tried variosu different things and always had to go back to the 386.

[kf4sqb]

A 1 GHz computer! No way that will that work correctly.

Mike, not to second-guess you, as you know way more than I do about these radios, but isn't version 8.01, which Sarge says he's using, Pentium compatible? I've used it on a 550 MHz Pentium III several times with no issues, although I've never tried to program MDC in one. Still, I'd have to say that would probably be the best place to start.

Sarge, what about the rest of your setup details, like OS, RIB details, etc.?

[Mike B]

It got better with each new RSS version, but I never found Motorola really totally fixed this RSS. If the Syntor X 9000 radio could be bricked like some of the newer radios that followed it, I would be waving a big red flag about the computer speeds. However, since bricking is not a problem, you can try whatever you want. I have never heard of a 1 GHz computer being able to run it at all, but then again I have never personally tried a 1 GHz machine. Even the P166 did not work for Sarge. I suspect there may be something like only certain ranges of computer speeds that cause different problems. Maybe a P166 will not work, but the P550 and 1 GHz machines got past some of the timing problems. However, it appears to be clear the MDC1200 board is still very touchy about the computer speeds. Just another part of this RSS that never really got updated for higher speed computers. Even with the last version, reliable operation still requires an old slow computer. In the mean time, use whatever computer you can get to work with the features you are programming.

BTW, its alright to second guess me. I still have not learned everything in the universe , but I do know the answer is 42!

[kf4sqb]

I still have not learned everything in the universe , but I do know the answer is 42!

Ahh, a fellow Adams fan! Of course, the most important question, did you get the answer from the recent movie (not the greatest in the world, in my opinion), the old movies, or the book?

[Mike B]

It was all from the old stuff. BTW, I hear the 42nd movie sequel/release will be the one to watch .