Batboard

I have 7 MTS 2000 (48 Ch. Top Display) I am trying to program. I got 6 out of the 7 programmed but one of the radios gives me the following error message: "Communication with radio failed." All the radios have the same model numbers. Any ideas why this one radio would be giving me this error message and all the others work fine?

Could be any of the following:

1. Dirty accessory connector.
2. Dirty flex connector inside the radio.
3. Broken flex connector inside the radio.
4. Failed controller.

I suggest disassembling the radio (if you're comfortable doing that and you know how to do it properly) and re-seating all flex cables going to the controller board. I bet that fixes it.

You could also try swapping housings with another that did program, but the cause is likely in the housing/ flex assembly as d119 said.

Is there a take apart manual somewhere out there I can refer to?

Its pretty much just pull the knobs off, very carefully pop the bottom of the case open with your screwdriver, er I mean Motorola case removal tool... and then there is the flex.

No, not really. The following are the steps to remove the housing.

DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK - IN FACT, I DON'T RECOMMEND YOU DO IT AT ALL IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO IT PROPERLY.

1. Remove battery and antenna as well as any accessories.
2. Remove volume and frequency knobs by pulling directly upwards on the plastic knobs until they pull off and expose the shaft.
3. Remove the secure/clear concentric switch (below the frequency knob) by pulling upward on it the same way you did with the frequency knob.
4. With the battery, antenna, accessories and knobs removed, flip the radio over so the back where the battery attaches is facing you.
5. Using a case-cracker tool, which is essentially a flat piece of thin but durable plastic, pry upwards between the plastic tab and METAL CHASSIS FRAME OF THE REAR OF THE RADIO. Some people use a screwdriver to do this. Be aware that by using a screwdriver and/or too much force, you may rip/damage the gasket that surrounds the radio chassis, and/or break the plastic of the housing.
6. It should not take an extreme amount of force to open the radio. It should just pop out. Once out, carefully slide the rear of the radio downwards. There is a flex cable attaching the front casing to the actual radio frame assembly.

The flex can be pulled straight out of the socket, but to reinstall it you must lift the small plastic frame of the socket that the flex plugs into. THIS PART CAN BREAK VERY, VERY EASILY. It requires nearly no force at all. The frame of the socket covers one side of it only. It doesn't come off, it just lifts up. It is best to try to lift it from each end simultaneously. Once it's lifted, reinsert the flex into the socket and press down on the frame.

A pencil eraser used carefully on the metal contacts of the flex should be all that's required to clean them.

Again, if none of this makes sense or seems too much to deal with, don't do it. Take the radio to an MSS/PSP and request they remove the front cover and clean the flex contacts and reassemble the radio. It should take no more than 1/2 hour of labor, so if you go this route don't let them bang you too hard on the labor.

This has solved about 95% of the programming problems I've ever encountered with JEDI radios. VERY seldom in my experience has an issue like this actually been the result of a bad housing or broken flex.

I don't think it is a dirty flex as a speaker mic is not working with the radio. I am thinking about just taking to a service center. Thank you for your help.

The same flex that handles speaker mic audio also handles programming. Betcha it's corroded.

Sounds like the flex cable was unseated in the socket....Very common problem with Jedi radios.

Follow the above procedure and reseat the ribbon cable, and check for dirty corroded contacts on the ribbon as well.

You can easily verify proper operation without having to replace the cover, just snap on a battery with the case opened and power it up.

Nothing to short out with this test, but it will verify the ribbon cable was not properly seated, and you don't have to go through the entire teardown sequence again either.

Down and dirty, cheap and simple....K.I.S.S works best when Occam's razor fails!