Batboard

Was curious if anyone has had any experience with using long lengths of cable to connect to the RIB? Currently I have a desktop PC with my programming software and several vehicles that will need to have to have their radios re-programmed. I was hoping I could get a 50' serial cable and use my PC to go from vehicle to vehicle to program the radios. Unfortunately I do not have a laptop and removing the radios from the vehicles to bench-program is not practical....... Before I order a 50' cable I was curious if it works?

One of my cables is probably 20 feet. I did not intent for it to be that way, it is just one I had on hand when a picked up a new Smart Rib. Works fine with no issues.

We were programming a fleet of radios in Alaska, in the winter time. We had two positions in a garage where the trucks would pull in that each had a 50' cable and we had no problems.


Tim

I routinely use a standard length serial cable to the rib, with an 80' cat5 cable run from a DB35/RJ45 modular adapter from the rib to the radio. I made matching sets of adapters for different radios, ASTRO Spectra’s, CDM/Pro series, GM300, MaraTrac, Quantar, MTR2000 and the list goes on.

I maintain a fleet of a couple hundred radios. I set this up in my rig and have all my people back in a circle around mine and open their trunks (trunk mounted Spectra’s). Works well for me, better that carrying the laptop, rib, power and cables from car to car. Plus, during the summer heat, I sit in the AC while programming.

I'll second Ranger522's comment. I too have used a long (I think mine is around 50', and is 8 conductor flat cable instead of Cat5) modular cable from the RIB to the radios with no problem.

i use the cat5 to extend mine too and never had any problems

i have about a 60ft cable from the office to the install bay, never had a problem but then ive never been game to do a flash upgrade.