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Force MCS2000 to take codeplug???

Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:51 pm
by kb0nly
Is there any way to force in a codeplug in a MCS2000 that was programmed with CPS from an older version of RSS???

I have version 5.04 of the RSS and i had a couple MCS2000's tossed my way and when i try to read them i get the CODEPLUG TOO NEW bull crap. I spent a total of two hours worth of phone calls to various Moto dealers and even called the support line on my MOL account to see if i could reach someone different. Moral of the story i'm boned because they won't pony up and sell it to me, not that i could afford it, but i thought it wouldn't hurt to ask as i could have maybe sold a couple radios to make up for the cost of the CPS purchase, etc..

So tell me, how the heck do you do it?

Also, how do you get into these radios?? I have one here that has no audio, its receiving, it shows its receiving, but no audio. I tried two cables, two heads, three speakers, nothing. The radio must have a blown audio amp but i can't figure out how to dissasemble the radio to look into it further unless i take a sledge to it. ( does it show how pissed off i am tonight? )

Re: Force MCS2000 to take codeplug???

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:21 am
by motorola_otaku
You can backpedal one to RSS if you have an RSS-archived codeplug that matches its model number and flashcode.

To get one apart, start by removing the control head. It's held on by snaps around the top and sides. Then the top lid snaps off in the back and hinges up from the front. Pop off the metal shield underneath and bob's your uncle. 8)

Re: Force MCS2000 to take codeplug???

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:33 am
by kb0nly
Mine is a remote mount but with your description i was able to figure it out. I just didn't know if that plastic snapped on there or what.

What i found works really good is near the rear end of the radio on each side you can see a spot in the top casting where there is a change in the gap between the top and bottom covers, a bump out in the casting, inserting a screw driver there will pop it loose from the latch on each side.

Anyway... No saved codeplug so still not sure how i'm going to get them programmed yet. Still working on some other problems so i'm not worried about it yet. One has a high pitched squeal on its audio and you have to turn it all the way up to hear anything, the pitch increases the longer you have it turned on, sounds like the thing is working up to an explosion!! LOL

Tried a couple heads, cables, and speakers on it. It's the radio itself, so not sure what. Bad audio amp, bad connections, anything know causes for this problem??

Re: Force MCS2000 to take codeplug???

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:30 am
by Paul
About programming:

1. Keep your hair on (if any left).

2. Take away that sledgehammer.

3a. The academic approach: When you try programming a radio, the following dialog takes place between your radio and the RSS:

RSS: Who are you?
Radio: I am MCS2000, model... yadayadayada...
RSS: OK, take that... Or, I don't know you, goodbye Or, I'm sorry ma'am, this dress is too modern for your age, goodbye.

It depends on the RSS wether the codeplug will be sent or not. The radio will accept anything..

3b. The practical view: Use MTSX Lab RSS. The problem is that you don't have a saved codeplug. Once you get one,
read it with no unpack and send it to the radio with no pack/unpack.
This will overcome the "who are you?" dialog, and send the codeplug, no questions asked.
***WARNING*** Your radio will stay bricked if you send a wrong codeplug, until you send the right one.

Paul, SV2US

Re: Force MCS2000 to take codeplug???

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 5:02 am
by Batwings21
Umm, I'm pretty sure thats going to hose his sn and tuning data.... You need newer rss/cps

Re: Force MCS2000 to take codeplug???

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 7:29 am
by kb0nly
Ok i got it programming with a newer CPS. But i got some other problems and questions.

I read posts on here about editing the EXE file to get it out of band down to 144 for the ham band. Worked like a champ to let me program but it does something weird. Whenever i select one of the 145Mhz repeater pairs, selecting one of those modes on the radio that is, the little CALL symbol comes on the display, looks like a wavy line. And then that symbol is stuck on the display until i power it off and on with it set to another mode in the 146 or 147 range. It doesn't seem to affect operation other than it will randomly send a BOOP sound when i select one of those modes below 146 Mhz.

Any Idea Here??

The other radio is still dead, no receive audio, about to give up on it.

Re: Force MCS2000 to take codeplug???

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 9:01 am
by Batwings21
Did you check the acc connector audio jumper? It has to be either 1 and 2, or 1 and 3 I don't recall which but you could compare to your others.

Re: Force MCS2000 to take codeplug???

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 9:32 am
by kb0nly
Batwings21 wrote:Did you check the acc connector audio jumper? It has to be either 1 and 2, or 1 and 3 I don't recall which but you could compare to your others.
Yep, the jumper is fine. The problem is there is no audio unless you crank the volume up to max and then you can sorta hear what your listening to but its choppy and distorted.

Then after a few minutes of being on regardless of the volume controls position you get this slowly increasing squeal, it gets louder and louder and louder. And the front corner of the radio gets really warm, hot after a while actually. I took the radio apart and its the front corner with the components held to the casting with this spring like clip. So i assume its the audio amp getting hot?

I will have to do some more diagnostics but the best i can figure is the audio amp is blown on it?