RS232 Prgm cable for XTS1500/2500/5000

[fineshot1]

Anyone have any experience with the RS232 ribless programing cables (from greedbay) for the XTS series.

I have one that I purchased from another user on another website(not here or greedbay but for him it was a greedbay purchase)
and I can not seem to get it working at all. He states it worked for him & have no reason to doubt his word. I take it I must
have something set wrong but just seem to be at a loss as to what. All my PC's run Win XP Pro and have only one RS232 com
port. One is a IBM ThinkCentre desktop and the other is a Panasonic CF-73 laptop.

Any insight to this would be appreciated - TIA......

[Einstein]

It would be helpful to know what it is not doing. Are you getting error codes? It is not seeing the radio at all,what?

[fineshot1]

It would be helpful to know what it is not doing. Are you getting error codes? It is not seeing the radio at all,what?

Duh - should have mentioned that.

No communications to the radio.

[Einstein]

When you have the software running, with the cable connected to the radio and computer, and try to read the radio, any error codes? Are you stating that nothing happens at all? The software should state something. Any error codes on the radio screen, assuming its a model II or III

It would be helpful to know what it is not doing. Are you getting error codes? It is not seeing the radio at all,what?

Duh - should have mentioned that.

No communications to the radio.

[fineshot1]

See error below

Radio Failed to Acknowledge.

Error Context: 24, Status: c0000386

The same error happens even if I have nothing plugged into the com port - hence "No communication to radio".

[Einstein]

See error below

Radio Failed to Acknowledge.

Error Context: 24, Status: c0000386

The same error happens even if I have nothing plugged into the com port - hence "No communication to radio".

You either have a Com port problem, but I think you stated that it was happening with 2 computers, or the cable is bad. That is what that error code means. I would try to see if you could get hold of another cable to test, and also make sure that the COM port settings in the software are correct. Further make sure the side connector is clean and that the connecter is fully seated.

[fineshot1]

See error below

Radio Failed to Acknowledge.

Error Context: 24, Status: c0000386

The same error happens even if I have nothing plugged into the com port - hence "No communication to radio".

You either have a Com port problem, but I think you stated that it was happening with 2 computers, or the cable is bad. That is what that error code means. I would try to see if you could get hold of another cable to test, and also make sure that the COM port settings in the software are correct. Further make sure the side connector is clean and that the connecter is fully seated.

I know the com ports on each pc work due to using them to program MTS2000's and other radios that require the RIB.

Not much chance of me getting another cable to test with unless I make a greedbay purchase from the original seller.

Thats why I asked if anyone had experience with these types of cables cause I suspect I may have something setup
wrong on my end - but I steered the XTS5000 CPS 12 to the Com 1 port and no joy so I was wondering if there was
anything else I may have over looked. I am trying to go from using a USB to an RS232 cable so thought I may have
missed something.

[Einstein]

Com ports ok. If you have another XTS radio to try, try that. Changing from USB to Serial port connection is straight forward in the software. Probably the cable. I have had one OEM cable that had a bad ground connection in it and was locking up all my XTS 5000's. Sometimes it would work other times would not.

See error below

Radio Failed to Acknowledge.

Error Context: 24, Status: c0000386

The same error happens even if I have nothing plugged into the com port - hence "No communication to radio".

You either have a Com port problem, but I think you stated that it was happening with 2 computers, or the cable is bad. That is what that error code means. I would try to see if you could get hold of another cable to test, and also make sure that the COM port settings in the software are correct. Further make sure the side connector is clean and that the connecter is fully seated.

I know the com ports on each pc work due to using them to program MTS2000's and other radios that require the RIB.

Not much chance of me getting another cable to test with unless I make a greedbay purchase from the original seller.

Thats why I asked if anyone had experience with these types of cables cause I suspect I may have something setup
wrong on my end - but I steered the XTS5000 CPS 12 to the Com 1 port and no joy so I was wondering if there was
anything else I may have over looked. I am trying to go from using a USB to an RS232 cable so thought I may have
missed something.

[cbus]

I get this error now and then on my USB XTS5000 cable. when it happens, I turn the radio off, change USB ports and it then works. seems to be something with communication with port problem (both CPS 9 and 12) on different laptops

[Jim202]

I have 2 comments.

1. Make sure the software is set to the com port your trying to use. This has to be made
in order for the software to know which port to talk to the radio with.

2. Not all USB ports on all computers will work on the Motorola software. I have a fairly
new HP laptop and it has 4 USB ports, 2 on each side. Only one of the ports on each
side will support the USP programming cable.

3. I have occasionally got the computer out of sync with how I am connecting the
programming cable to the radio. The simple solution is to disconnect the cable from the
radio and waiting about 15 seconds. Then re-connect the programming cable back
to the radio. This lets windows get back into the swing of things and allow the Motorola
software to communicate with the radio.

By the way, for those looking for the Motorola programming cable part numbers,
try going into the CD and going to the help section. Think that was where I
found the list of about 5 or 6 cables listed with the needed part numbers.

Jim

[fineshot1]

cbus & jim202 thanks - your comments are appreciated but aimed at usb cable anomalies and I am talking about
ribless RS232 cable problems here. There is no sync with an RS232 programing cable like there is with a usb cable
and I have even tried all of what you have suggested(even though its rs232) and no joy. I am beginning to think
its just a bad cable. I am simply trying to make sure I have tried all options before I return it.

[escomm]

2 questions:

Is the cable OEM?

What are the speed settings for the com port?

[fineshot1]

2 questions:

Is the cable OEM?

What are the speed settings for the com port?

This Ribless RS232 is not OEM. There are no markings on it what so ever.

Com 1 is setup for 9600 baud in the XP system device manager.

[fineshot1]

OK - here is what I am goint to do next.

This weekend I will install the cps on another pc that has not been used with a USB cable(only RS232)
and try the Ribless RS232 cable on that to see if it could possibly be a driver problem/conflict. I would
like to rule that out but I know its probably a long shot.

[escomm]

Totally doubtful. While you know what some will say about the aftermarket cable, you may have some conflicts in your com port settings. Since it's not OEM we can't necessarily assume the settings would be same for the aftermarket.

Do you have any other radios that use a serial cable? If so, try them, I'm sure you'll find that they work, I would imagine the odds of two com ports on two different computers crapping out at the same are slim.

At the end of the day, though, it's probably the cable itself that's no good.

[fineshot1]

Ok - the new install on the other pc did not work either. Guess I'm gonna have to return the cable.

[W8RW]

I have been through the same thing. I tried more than one computer, different COM ports, and more than one cable (from the same epay vendor). After the first one didn't work I sent it back and got a replacement. This did not work, either.

I had a friend try the cable and he says it works for him.

All experiments were done with an xts5000. I still have the cable but I haven't had a chance to solve the problem.

One thing you should make sure of: plug the cable directly into the serial port or by using a cable that has all conductors (not just 2,3,5). The electronics in the cable are probably getting power from other lines on the serial port.

[w2sjw]

I use one of those direct-RS323 cables myself for my XTS's, the only difference it that I have it permanently plugged in to one of the high-quality serial-to-USB converters that's built around the FTDI chipset. I've never had a single problem with the cable or the converter that way...

[fineshot1]

One thing you should make sure of: plug the cable directly into the serial port or by using a cable that has all conductors (not just 2,3,5). The electronics in the cable are probably getting power from other lines on the serial port.

Yes - I even tried plugging directly into the PC's com port with the programing cable and still no joy.

[PeterGV]

There have been several threads about folks (including me) having really terrible luck with non-OEM programming cables for Astro25 radios...

See: http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=76071
and: http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=74702

Don't know what to say about this other guy having good luck with the cable, and you not being able to use it,

Peter
K1PGV

[MTS2000des]

my experience with these cables is they are not worth the trouble- especially considering you risk turning a high dollar current production Astro 25 radio into a nice paperweight or wheel chock. The OEM USB cable is a small price to pay considering what a time and materials repair can run you if one of these Chinese junkers hoses your radio.