Quantar stuck in RSS only mode

[MassFD]

I have a Quantar that is stuck in what I think is RSS only mode, the searches I have done say that when the PA, WL and station control are all in fail and the wl goes to OK than back to fail it in stuck in RSS mode. I can access some functions via RSS (10.something dos version) but other functions get a Cannot perform function in RSS only mode.

Anyone know how to recover from this, I have tryed loading a default code plug. The station takes it but on reset it's gone.

I also have the later windows RSS but have not tryed it yet as it requires XP or greater and SP3. All the laptops I have that meet the requirements do not have serial ports. Working on building an older laptop with XP so I can try the new RSS

[W6WAW]

(Got back to a real computer so that I could search and edit my post.)

It is quite possible that you might have a bad chip on the SCM.

There have been discussions here about how the EEPROM that stores the codeplug can become flaky with age. Apparently, this problem is not that uncommon with the XICOR X28HC64. Several people have suggested replacing it with ATMEL 28C64 if possible.

I think that if you search here for "XICOR" you may find some helpful information

[wa6ylb]

If you read the station, do you get correct settings values? I believe W6WAW is correct - the 28C64 is probably at fault.
I've seen others in the past talk about this.
B.

[MassFD]

I did find that in the Windows based RSS there is an Enable/Disable station that puts the station in RSS only mode. The pop up box also says that if a station resets 10 times in 10 minutes it will default to RSS mode and can be returned to operation by sending an enable from the RSS.

Since we just had a huricane blow thru here and power was very unstable during and after it the reset 10 times thing is not so far fetched.

Will be back on site Tuesday to try this out and also to see what chip is on the board.

This station is a backup to a backup so it's not that important but I would like to get it runing again

[MassFD]

OK tryed the Windows version of the RSS, No go on geting it out of RSS only mode

Then while playing around I found if I loaded an earlyer code plug and the RSS warned about the codeplug being an earlyer version the station would reset and boot correctly. A power cycle would result in a station fail and reloading the codeplug would not fix it but loading an even earlyer codeplug would all it to boot.

I am in aggreement with you guys that the 28HC64 is bad

Anyone have a suppler for them, Mouser, newark and allied are all ng, I did find some on E-Bay anyone have anyone they can recomend??

[W6WAW]

Digikey has had them at times in the past.

Hope you find one.

[MassFD]

Well I got and installed the 28HC64 I purchased off E-Bay today and got another wierd problem. When I go to program the station I get a message that the station is password protected. I used the procedure outlined in the RSS to delete the lost password and I can then program the station up to the point that it writes to NVRM then I get a serial communications error and the program fails.

I am thinking that I may have received a chip that was previously used in a password protected station, the E-Bay add listed it as new but you know hao that goes. I have another coming from another source that a member pointed me to (thanks) so I will give it another go whan it arrives.

Anyone one have any other ideas, am I missing something like is there something special that I need to do when replacing this prom?

[MassFD]

Replaced the 28HC64 today and the station programmed and booted as it should, Only problem I had was using the Windows based RSS it did not program my Wildcard Tables.

They were in my saved copy that I loaded to the station but when I read it back from the station they are gone. Re-Entered them and sent it back to the station and all is well

Thanks for pointing me to the problem with the 28HC64, much better than spending $1800 on a new station control board.

[MassFD]

Just a thought, is alignment tuning data stored on that chip?? Should I have done an alignment before puting the station back in service?

[The Pager Geek]

YES!!!

The tuning data is not written as part of the codeplug read/write. Once the prom is replaced, all the tuning values are defaulted.

tpg

[MassFD]

Went back today for a quick check, station used to run 31Watts out (after duplexer) in now doing 15watts. Deviation (analog) does not sound bad, did not have the service monitor with me today. Will have to return with the test equipment and run the alignment procedure.