Batboard

I've got a UHF Astro Saber here that does something very odd...it only reads for about 15 seconds via the CPS and then it beeps once
and then the PC comes up a few seconds later and says "communications with radio failed". This particular radio does this now,
every single time I try to read it. I've tried two different RIBs, run them on wall wart power and fresh batteries, too, and my
other Astro Sabers all read and program normally.

Has anyone else seen this problem before and found the solution to it?


Elroy

Im getting that problem too, and I get a PM from another board member with the same problem. Any help for us?

Edit, mines VHF

Check the accessory connector pins and make sure they're not shorted out. I had this problem once on an AS1 of mine and one of the pins was fubar. Did the exact same thing.... One way I could check was attaching a speaker-mic. It would RX and not TX thru the mic or vice versa depending on the pin. But again, it all depends on which pin(s).

I tried a different housing on the radio. No change. No evidence of shorted accessory pins, either.


Elroy

My guess would be its a bad codeplug, its reading to a certain point, hits an error (possibly checksum or other) and resets.

Pull the s-rec, use lab to convert to an archive file and see if CPS opens the archive file.

Jason

Try a different programming cable. I had an RKN 4106A XTS cable with a ground short problem, that would give me an error code on some radios not others, and at certain times . It was sporadic. I bought a brand new cable and have not had a problem since.

What version of lab should I use? Mstx? Or should I use astro lab?

Thanks

????

I had the exact same thing happen to me not too long ago...and ended up being a cable problem. Short of that, I'd say codeplug. My cable tested ok, but sure enough, somewhere something didn't like it. Swapped in another one, and it works fine.

But why, out of five Astro Sabers, would only this ONE unit show this programming problem if it's a programming cable issue?

Answer me THAT!


Elroy

Magic

First, what RIB and cable are you using? OEM or aftermarket?

Secondly, what CPS version are you using?

OEM Motorola all the way, and CPS version 5.something.


Elroy

Have you tried to read the s-record with Astro Lab yet?

Jason

I don't have it. I'm not even sure I've got a working PC that's old enough to run it if I did have it.

Frankly it's been SO long since I last even saw the lab version that it'd be like starting over again.

And incidentally, it's because of lab that one of my Astro Sabers has errors in it that won't allow me
to use CPS to read it and then directly write its own codeplug back into it without making any changes.

And not only that, but via CPS I can't make any changes to the codeplug that WILL allow me to write
it back to the radio! I don't know WHAT to do with it.

I really hate it when people hack things so badly that they can't even be used afterwards. Don't
be sloppy when you hack. Be precise. Be methodical. And if it doesn't work, reverse your
hacks and put the radio back into its stock form....please.


Elroy