Batboard

I have a UHF 25W MCS2000 with a Model 2 head. The model number is M01RHM9PW5AN

I am using DOS RSS version R05.07.00 - originally I used an earlier version but got the "codeplug too new" problem.

When I uploaded the codeplug , the RSS front button screen indicated that ALL the buttons were "blank" even though the Zone Up/Down , Mon and Dim buttons were originally working. All the other buttons bleeped when pressed. The RSS also indicated that the Microphone keypad buttons were all programmed with the usual front buttons eg 1=Mon , 2= LPwr , 3=Chan , 4=Home etc - unfortunately I don't have a keypad mic.

Anyway , I set all the mic keys to blank and all the front buttons to the required values.

When I downloaded the codeplug , I am able to use the rotary encoder to change channels and the Zone Up/Down buttons works , but NONE of the other front buttons - they just bleep. The radio does TX and RX OK.

Any thoughts?

Corrupted codeplug?

Maybe I need to use later Windows CPS even though DOS RSS appeared to work

Maybe the MCS2000 has some custom firmware - the "fully programmed" mic keypad seemed odd? The Radio Software version is 00.12 and Codeplug version is 000A. The RSS also indicated that 1 DEK box was installed??

Maybe programming the MCS2000 via the accessory socket will help? I am currently using the mic socket.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

UPDATE

I have reverted back to the original unamended "1 channel" codeplug.

When I read the radio (using either the mic or accessory socket) , the RSS screen shows ALL the front button paras to be "blank" - while the microphone buttons [I don't actually have a keypad mic] are all progged with values (Mon , LPwr , Chan , Home, Del , Dim ,Menu , Sel , Mon , Home). I decided to just increase the number of channels and leave all the button paras as per the original codeplug.

The RSS also shows that 1 DEK (direct entry keypad) is in use - although all values are shown as blank. No DEK is connected.

Although the RSS screen shows all the front buttons as blank , the following are actually programmed - Mon , Sel , Menu , Dim , Call (= nuisance delete) , Phone, Scan (=?? screen just flashes), Emer (=High/Low power toggle), Srch (=Monitor toggle), Zone Up/Down.

H/L and Home buttons do not appear to be programmed - you just get the error bleep.

Via the Menu button , I can access Zone , Chan , Pwr , Dim , Scan , Prog , View , TxIN , Sts , Hand and Dir.

If I try and change any of the Front Button values using the DOS RSS , all I get is blank buttons with the error bleep when pressed - EXCEPT the rotary encoder and Zone Up/Down buttons!!

I guess the problem could still be a corrupted codeplug OR maybe I do need to use some CPS software. While I usually get "codeplug to new" when the RSS is to "old", I remember that I once used some "old" LCS2000 RSS which successfully read the codeplug - you only got the "data mapping error" when you tried to write the amended codeplug. So maybe the last version of the MCS2000 DOS RSS will still read/write even though you actually need to use a later CPS version???

Any other thoughts?

Thanks

What's the full model number on the radio? IIRC, wasn't there a Euro version of this radio that had some funky HHCH?

I wouldn't mind having a look at your codeplug either...

Its a 25W 403-470MHz unit with a model 2 head.

The full model number is M01RHM9PW5AN

Type MR504A

Software option H37

Radio Software ver 00.12

Radio Codeplug ver 000A

I have a few more questions:

- Does the RSS/CPS normally auto-detect the type of control head attached? If I changed from , say, a Model 2 to Model 3 head , do I need to use a different codeplug or does the RSS just recognise the new head?? Or do I need to change anything in eg. service mode?

- the Model number (M01RHM9PW5AN) - both on the label on the underside of the radio and as displayed in the RSS DOES indicate a Model 2 head , I think?

- Does the "Radio Software ver 00.12" indicate some custom firmware?? I have an "almost" identical 10W MCS2000 (so a different codeplug!!) where the "Radio Software ver" is just blank!! That MCS2000 had no prog problem.

- Is not being able to prog just the front keys a usual feature of a corrupted codeplug??

I will extract the original codeplug and try and import it into the Windows CPS and see if that manages to "see" the front panel buttons.

UPDATE

I have installed the Windows CPS R02.02.00 (on a different laptop) and just read the codeplug from the archive - I did NOT upload from the MCS2000.

Again , all the parameters of the Model 2 control head were blank - even though most have a function.

Again , the keypad mic had paras installed on each key.

The CPS identified the Controls as - Model 2 Control Head and Model 2 Keypad Mic

Other info from the CPS includes:
- DEK A VIP in : VP1 Horn Ring ; VIP Out : Horn Ring Trns
- Codeplug: 000F
- Firmware: unknown (my RSS says 00.12 for Radio Software)
- System Package : H37
- FLASHcode : 000004 - 000000 -6

Other things I have noticed:
- the order of the paras (ie Mon , LPwr , Chan) on the Keypad mic (on keys 1,2,3...) is exactly the same as the functions on the Model 2 control head reading from left to right!!!

Its almost like the MCS2000 is REQUIRING a keypad mic to be attached!!! If it does not see a keypad mic , then it forces the keypad mic parameters onto the control head in the same order!!!

So maybe I am using a custom codeplug for a custom "hand held control head" but the RSS just sees it as a "standard" keypad mic?? BUT, the model number on the MCS2000 (M01RHM9PW5AN) does indicate that its just a standard Model 2 set??

I also noticed that the CPS says that more than one button CANNOT be defined with the same selection - but the mic has 2 Mon and Home paras - I don't think thats the problem as I previously set all the keypad values to blank.

I will next try amending the keypad values - hopefully the paras I want will then be transfered to the Model 2 control head in the correct order

Any other thoughts?

Thanks

UPDATE

I have now established that the button values programmed into keys 1-9 on the RSS keypad mic screen end up being programmed into the 9 "bottom row" keys of the Model 2 control head reading from left to right - so I have been able to program most of the required buttons in the correct order!!!

The Zone Up/Down keys appear to work without programming anything. The only buttons which I cannot prog on the Model 2 head are the top H/L and HOME keys . I was hoping that button values attached to the UP , MIDDLE and DOWN keys on the RSS mic screen would appear on theses 2 keys - but sadly this is not the case - you just get the error bleep.

Its all very strange - but at least I've managed to program most of the main control head front buttons!!!

I'm still interested in why this has occurred - corrupted codeplug? , custom firmware for special hand held control head etc

Any more thoughts?

Try turning the keypad mic off...

I tried to find an option box in the RSS/CPS to disable the keypad mic but could not find anything.

Do you know where I should look?

Thanks

You've got something screwed up somewhere.

I don't think the model number you provided is that of a Model II or III radio... Shouldn't those be W6 and not W5???

Drop the radio into service mode and confirm the model & serial number with that on the tag. Don't be surprised if they don't match. Don't be surprised if they do match.

My $0.02 is that you obtain an SREC for a radio that matches the configuration of the one you have, upload it to the radio, then do a full alignment.

My guess here is that you've got some sort of hardware/software mismatch as opposed to a corrupt codeplug; what is the origin of the radio?

It's also possible there's an RSS/CPS conflict as you'd previously pointed out. You really ought to have a look at this thing with CPS, and that Radio Software 00.12 is very suspicious IMHO. My MCS is *OLD* and it has R05.37.00

The model number exactly matches the list on the main Batlabs site - its a UHF not 800/900MHz MCS2000. The Batlabs site states 25W Model II head 403-470MHz.

The RSS "Radio Info" screen matches the exact model and serial number on the bottom of the radio.

I got the MCS2000 from a hamfest - it was unused and still had the plastic on LCD. The radio had been programmed onto just one ham 70cms repeater- which seemed a bit odd. I would guess that the radio was probably ex-emergency services - there are lots of surplus sets following the move to digital by the emergency services.

Hardware/software mismatch - I'm starting to think this could well be the case. Maybe the radio is a "standard" set which has been flashed with some custom firmware. When installed into a vehicle, the standard Model 2 head is replaced with a custom "data control head". Any spare sets still have the standard Model 2 head as this is how the radios came from the factory!! Well thats my theory!!!

I checked out the codeplug with CPS (by extracting the codeplug - not by uploading from the set). Again , the CPS still read the codeplug as having "blank" Model 2 control head keys.

The radio is working well - I have managed to program all the buttons I really need - except the H/L and Home buttons. The "H/L" button is useful as a "High/Low" power toggle even though H/L stands for Horn/Loudspeaker (I think) !!!

g8tzl2004 wrote:The model number exactly matches the list on the main Batlabs site - its a UHF not 800/900MHz MCS2000. The Batlabs site states 25W Model II head 403-470MHz.

The RSS "Radio Info" screen matches the exact model and serial number on the bottom of the radio.

I got the MCS2000 from a hamfest - it was unused and still had the plastic on LCD. The radio had been programmed onto just one ham 70cms repeater- which seemed a bit odd. I would guess that the radio was probably ex-emergency services - there are lots of surplus sets following the move to digital by the emergency services.

Hardware/software mismatch - I'm starting to think this could well be the case. Maybe the radio is a "standard" set which has been flashed with some custom firmware. When installed into a vehicle, the standard Model 2 head is replaced with a custom "data control head". Any spare sets still have the standard Model 2 head as this is how the radios came from the factory!! Well thats my theory!!!

I checked out the codeplug with CPS (by extracting the codeplug - not by uploading from the set). Again , the CPS still read the codeplug as having "blank" Model 2 control head keys.

The radio is working well - I have managed to program all the buttons I really need - except the H/L and Home buttons. The "H/L" button is useful as a "High/Low" power toggle even though H/L stands for Horn/Loudspeaker (I think) !!!

It actually stands for Horn/Lights but you've got the idea. Just for fun, you should inquire on here about the possibility of digging up an SREC for that radio and reloading it.

Another thing I'd be curious is what version firmware does the radio service mode indicate on the LCD display when the radio is placed into service mode?

S-RECORD - am I right in thinking that you lose all the previous alignment info and need to realign? Do you need a "modified" RIB? ie. adding the switches?

Codeplug - can you use MTSX-LAB to just force in an identical codeplug?

Service mode - I think the LCD just displayed CSQ1 when I went into service mode - I've seen this before - I've always assumed it just means Carrier SQ 1?? I used the DOS service mode.

I only went into service mode to lower the SQ thresholds. Interestingly , the 20KHz SQ thresholds appears to have been tweaked. 25KHz SQ settings just ranged from 39-37 , 12.5Khz ranged from 43-41 , BUT 20KHz ranged from 33-43!!! Assuming all thresholds are set to open at the same SINAD , am I right in thinking that the 20KHz SQ thresholds should be "in-between" the 12.5 and 25KHz settings??

I will enquire about codeplug info in hardware/software section.

Thanks

ver 00.12 ????? if that number is correct then that radio is one of the first msc's to ever leave the factory and is older than ancient and probablly the reason you can't get things to work right. where are you getting that number from, the sticker on the radio or in the info page of the cps or rss? but back to that ver 00.12, if that is right there have literally been over 60 updates since and that radio was made 5 years before cps was even invented. i'd look into updating that first then everythign you are looking at should start working. now if it was 5.12 then you have something more recent and more workable with current cps.

The RSS info page definately says "Radio Software version 00.12"

The serial number is 623IVL*** which means the MCS2000 was made in June 1995 (I think)!!

I am using the last version of RSS (R05.07.00) to program the radio. I only used CPS to look at the codeplug archive.

I have a similar MCS2000 (10W not 25W version) which was also made in 1995 which programs no problem with an earlier version of RSS. I had to use the later version with this MCS2000 as I got "codeplug too new" with the earlier RSS version.

Do you need a "modified" RIB (ie. switches added) to update the firmware? Or can you do it with just a standard real RIB?

Apart from the control head button issue , everything seems to work OK except the "MS1" user defined memory key - which I don't really need. I am only using the radio in conventional mode - not trunking.

As a general comment , although the MCS2000 is old , it has great flexibility - I wish my more recent Motorola's gave as much flexibilty in programming features - 160 channels , high/low front button power toggle , variable SQ , carrier SQ defeat, SQ delay settings, alpha tagging , deviation toggle (via different zones) etc etc !! OK for a $33 radio - and it still had the plastic on the LCD !!

firmware will have to be done by motorola, you will have to go to a local shop and get the paperwork to fill out and fax it to them then they will give you a price and then you send it in. when it comes back it will have alot of new features you've never seen before that start working. with that old firmware that radio can't even do narrow band correctly or mdc correctly.

I guess "early" rather than "custom" firmware looks likely. Maybe early firmware did not include a keypad mic - so when the keypad mic feature was added , a firmware update would be required to match the newer RSS. I guess if I had used very early RSS , then everything might have matched up - although this was never an option as the previous owner had already used later RSS.

As my MCS2000 was also "new" but made in 1995 , then it makes sense that the firmware never got updated.

I used to assume that the reason you could not use "older" RSS when a newer version had been used was because the newer RSS automatically updated the firmware!! Obviously this is not the case.

Getting Moto to update the firmware is unfortunately NOT a cost effective solution!!!

Narrow 12.5KHz dev seems to work OK - the only funny is that when you open the SQ to get white noise , you do not get "clean" white noise - it sounds like there is some QRM. But this disappears when you inject a very very weak signal. My other MCS2000 also has this effect. If you did not open the SQ , you would never know there was an issue. WIth 20/25KHz filtering , the white noise is clean.

If there has been "60 firmware updates" , does this mean that MCS2000 users have had to send in all their radios 60 times?!!!

I've researched the Batlab archives and it looks like it might be possible to flash the MCS2000 with updated firmware - the only issue appears to be things like temp compensation which needs to be done in the Moto factory, but as its for ham radio purposes , then its not really an issue.

ok.i can go one up on your firmware version with 00.10

Same issue with my radio and control head, dumping a S Rec from another radio worked.

one thing i noticed with my radio is that this radio does not have RSSI meter on the screen as my main rig does.