HELP, I need info about knock-off RIB boxes!!!!!

werdnuts · Post by **werdnuts** » Thu Jan 09, 2003 9:12 am

Hey,

I am a die hard Motorola (Original) Fan, but I have a friend who just got a CDM1550. He is looking for a cheap RIB box (ie: knock-off, clones, or whatever). I use all original programming (except for the program cable --- I can't justify spending so much on such a simple cable). Anyway, he wanted me to find out what you all thought regarding knock-offs and such. Any reccomendations on a brand or eBay sold RIB box that will work on CDM1550? Let me know.

Thanks!!!

werdnuts

Monty · Post by **Monty** » Thu Jan 09, 2003 10:12 am

HI:

Well?

Here is the issue your friend must deal with.

When programming Motorola products either
for a ( 1 ) shot deal, or ( 100's ) the Program
Platform Must be a stable one.

And when dealing with the CDM/Pro Series, its
even more important as { if } you should corrupt
the radio in the Write Process, it will
trun that radio into a brick.

I would [ Strongly ] suggest he take his radio
to a dealer, ( have them take the responsibility )
as most will program them for 25.00~35.00 depending
on how many channels.

AND even dealers have problems from time to time
as their Computer may have a glich, but at least if they
have the CDM/Pro Series RSS License, its a bit easier
for them to get the radio fixed.

Motorola developed this New License Requirement
for the very reason the CDM/Pro series radios are very
sensitive and easily damaged.

Rib boxes with the China style Battery Holders hanging out of them, or abnormal pressure on the DB25M connectors, flemsy Radio
Shack style on/off switches, coupled with a low battery in the radio or rib box, etc, and or a poor power supply could spell
immediate death to them.

I have lots of photos of Clone Rib Boxes ( and some radios ) damaged by poorly made Clones if you want to see a few, and
some of these are even offered by specialty websites....

But if you must go the Clone route, Sandy's Rib has a Pretty
good reputation ( except for the battery )

Clone Cables are just as good as the Factory ones ( providing )
good construction skills are used.

The use of Pirate Software...Personal Opinion..DON"T, there
are MANY revisions, and the revisions fix problems ( even in new radios )

Personally, I do not like being a Quality Control Tech for this
Newer Radio stuff, but as one can see, that is what Motorola
had in mind...Come out with a radio, let the customer find
out where all the problems are, then come out with new Software
and Firmware to fix it. Would not be so bad , but 3 ~ 4 Times a year?

And No, we don't get paid for returning them either !!

Monty

werdnuts · Post by **werdnuts** » Thu Jan 09, 2003 10:37 am

Monty,

You are preaching to the choir. To answer a couple of your questions, he really only wants it to program his own CDM1550. After spending so much on his radio, he doesnt have much left to spend. I dont mind programming it for him w/ all MY personal, original Mot gear, but if he is anything like me, it is too much fun changing features and such to get things 'just right' for him. Since I dont want to spend days, hour, etc re-programming every time he wants to change, I'd prefer that he has his own independence... I have seen a RIB on eBay that seems pretty popular. It is hard to judge if people have had problems w/ it, but that is why forums like this exist.

Here are 2 popular ones I see often.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 3106039148

and

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 1949846274

Any comments? Any experiences? All is welcome.

Thanks!!!

werdnuts

Aragorn · Post by **Aragorn** » Thu Jan 09, 2003 11:14 am

The first looks like every other RIB knockoff I've seen. I would go with that one if I had to go with either of those. Or, get one from Carolina Radio. I know folks with Carl's RIB and they have had no problems. I, myself only use a real Motorola RIB, cables, etc., and wouldn't use anything else.

Monty · Post by **Monty** » Thu Jan 09, 2003 12:09 pm

Here are 2 popular ones I see often.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 3106039148

and

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 1949846274

I have had perosns with experiences on both !

One unit has too many unsecured Contacts....Ever
here problems with a Telephone Jack? ( Noise ?) Well 2 is bad
enough, making it 4 is real tough...In other words, a Jack
on the Radio, a Jack on the end of the Program Cable,
Another Jack for the DB25F, and another Plug for the
cable..

And as a bonus, has adaptors !....Too many for me !

Does not look look like any support for a External Power
supply ( At least this one has a On/off switch )

====================================

The other one with the China style Battery that hangs
out of the Box !, has only 8 microstrands of copper
wire that feed into the connector, an with the weight of the
battrery, well, it will break sooner or later....Most persons
use a Rubber Band to hold the Battery to the Rib Box.

Powering On/Of by removal of the Battery? Not a good idea.

And well, they have their problems too.

PS:

THEY WILL most likey work, but again, a VERY STABLE Program
Computer AND a using Win98SE2 would be a good idea. As even
with the BEST hardware, you can get into trouble as the Windows
OS's have problems even working by themself...So in dealing with
those radios, I would urge a Stand Alone Computer that is not
Loaded down with Games, Photoshop, etc.

But if you are [ Very ] carfull, you should be able to squezze
by with both of the above.

But its a 1000.00 radio, so if your friend wants to take the
risk on a 50.00 Rib, its his choice.

But since I get so many of these radios in for Re-initilaization, and
repair, I hope you can understand why I only recommend the Factory Stuff, If he plans to make several changes.....over a perid
of time, its not a matter of ( If ), but a matter of ( when ) he will
lunch his radio, and then will cry about the 125.00~150.00 Repair.

He would have been better off just buying the Correct hardware,
and in the long run will save himself alot of grief and Money.

So, just make sure he has a good stable Computer, Win98SE2 is
a Good OS, along with a UPS for the Computer, and then perhaps
purchase whatever the budget allows.....

They all are about the Same....Except Polaris...They are NOT a
good Rib Box for Motorola Radio, and they do not have some
required hardware for some Motorola Radios...I guess they forgot
about the MCX/Syntor Series.

One last thing...READ the Radio Several Times !! If it will Read the
Radio, it { should } be able to write to it OK.....If you notice instability. well its his radio...

And [ If ] he makes a misstake, I have about a 50/50 chance
of making it play again if somethings does go wrong.

Monty

elkbow · Post by **elkbow** » Thu Jan 09, 2003 12:10 pm

I've got Ed's (the second link you supplied), along with a factory moto RLN4008B. Ed's has worked great for me, I program my CDM1250 with it, along with my maxtracs, HT's, spectra's, etc. I haven't had any problems. The only problem is the 9V connector. Since you have to take the battery on/off, the connector gets beat up. You can pull apart the case on his rib box and unsolder the old connector and solder on a new and it works fine. I am going to unsolder it again and add a different type of 9V holder similar to the factory moto rib.

central150 · Post by **central150** » Fri Jan 10, 2003 2:08 pm

I have Ed's RIB box also...It worked great for me too, no problems. I now have a Motorola RIB Box at my disposal, thanks to my Fire Dept. and the radio grant that they received....

Tony

MADDOGMAX · Post by **MADDOGMAX** » Mon Jan 27, 2003 9:50 pm

I bought the second programmer, works great, but after the battery wire broke i went and got one of those project plasitc boxes form radio shack, mounted the battery in it added an on and off switch , an led to show on and off ,and removed the rib from it case and remounted it in the bigger box, looks all most like the real thing from motorola, and i make all my own cables never had a problem .......yet

N4UMJ · Post by **N4UMJ** » Mon Jan 27, 2003 10:45 pm

Don't overlook John's Programmer seen here:

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?V ... =3&rows=25

works well on the Saber series.

The 9 volt battery is secured in a holder and will certainly stay put unless it is prised out. Overall very good construction quality and parts.

Eddie
N4UMJ

MADDOGMAX · Post by **MADDOGMAX** » Mon Jan 27, 2003 11:21 pm

looks all most like mine, but his has the RJ45 jack built in to it.

ExKa|iBuR · Post by **ExKa|iBuR** » Mon Jan 27, 2003 11:38 pm

With regards to the two RIB's in the DB25 housing..

I have friends that use both of them, and they swear by them.

I'm not a fan of the "china style" 9 volt battery holder, but, as one fellow said, it's easy to use a rubber band, and re-solder in a new connector.

Mike

Jay · Post by **Jay** » Tue Jan 28, 2003 12:34 am

I can agree with Monty on the potential problems of having with the RJ45 connectors, etc....However:

I do have that exact RIB, use it quite a bit and have never had any problems with it. It is from Carolina Radio.

Jay