Batboard

Hi folks
I saw an earlier thread that is similar to my problem but not exactly so I'm creating a new post with a more appropriate title.

I'm trying to firmware upgrade 2 different MCS's (one model 1, one model 2) and they both exhibit the exact same problem... the radios will display FAIL 01/90 when attempting to enter bootstrap mode. During the flashport upgrade process, the window pops up that says please turn off then turn on radio. So I turn the radio off, but when I turn the radio on, instead of the radio showing a blank backlit screen, it says FAIL 01/90. Clicking OK on the window prompt returns a radio communication failed error, and when I click OK, the radio reboots and comes back looking like normal, no fail code.

My setup is: CPS R02.02, radio powered by Astron, SRIB powered by radio through programming cable, and my programming cable is an exact clone of the 25pin under-belly cable which should be the correct cable for flashing according to this thread

Has anyone experienced this problem before? Any ideas on what's going wrong?

Friendly bump

I've never had a problem with flashing MCS radios, so it's hard to give good advice, I suppose. I've always used the factory cable, so althought I can't say for certain it's your homebrew cable at fault, I'd start there. Perhaps someone else reading this can confirm their homebrew cable based on the Batlabs info worked for a flashport upgrade? Anyone?

Otherwise, a word of advice would be to never trust the powering of the SRIB to the cable. I believe the B+ coming out of the MCS accessory connector is only rated for 250mAh, so it may be getting dragged down, affecting either the radio or the SRIB in such a way as to cause the error. Use the A/C adaptor.

Yes, I forgot to mention why I am powering the SRIB from the radio. When the SRIB was powered by the AC adapter, I always got the "Reading Radio Failed, Check cables" window right off the bat when attempting to do a Flashport Read Radio Config . A friend of a friend said he was familiar with that problem and to let the radio power the SRIB instead. I assumed he was correct because now the Flashport process proceeds further into the Read process (up to the "power off then on the radio" window).

Let me ask - does the OEM flash cable have an ignition sense line? I think Fail 01/90 means the control head has power but cannot communicate with the body, so I'm wondering if the radio needs power on the ignition line in addition to the primary DC line in order to go into bootstrap.

The OEM cable does not have an ignition line. The radio will power on/off properly during the flashing procedure though...unless it's a very old firmware version. I recall flashing 105 MCS units that had 1994 era firmware in them, and they were set for soft power off on ignition. They would not turn on with a button press, they required ignition or no joy! We had to first set them to not require ignition, then upgrade, then reprogram for ignition again...huge PITA! But, never an error 01/90 code either.

I've never had a problem with our 3 SRIBs when using the A/C adaptor, so there's definitely an issue with yours, although I can't say it's causing your troubles.

I don't think it would hurt anything to try running an ignition line into your cable & see if that fixes your issue.

Can anyone actually confirm the schematic for the cable is correct for flashing? It works fine for programming. I am having the same bootstrap issues at VX. How exactly does the radio go into bootstrap mode if there are no crossed lines for the bootstrap? I note the MCS cable does not have a boot pgm rx/tx data pin like the MTS cable does.

Found an OEM cable, radio then bootstrapped no problem. The schematic as listed will not work for flashing.

Thanks for the info Jeff! Glad to get confirmation on where the problem was.


Does anyone have a REAL diagram of the MCS flashing cable?

You can find it on my homepage.
http://www.agh-technik.bravehost.com/jedimob.gif
If the link doesn´t work,first go to:
http://www.agh-technik.bravehost.com
and then click on the link.

Andreas

Andreas, it still won't let me load the image after going to your homepage. But does your diagram have a 2.2k resistor in it? I saw a thread here with MPT2100 info and I think you posted a pic with a resistor in line. Is that it?

Yes,there is a 2,2k resistor in it.
Try to follow the links from the main site.you only have problems when you go directly to the file link.

Andreas

Thanks Andreas! I'll give this a shot.