CODEPLUG PROBLEM WITH ASTRO SABER 2

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Sun Sep 30, 2001 3:03 pm

I am going to try and make this as simple as possible so I dont take up ten pages doing so.
I have a UHF a/s 2, H04RDF9PW7AN,which is listed on batlabs as being a 438-482 split radio. I was unable to read the codeplug with Depot or 8.0 so I then chanced on loading a codeplug for an astro that I had a few years back with a model # of H04SDH9PW7AN and whoa..The codeplug wrote to the radio and I now had MODAT and all alpha carried over and some direct (no repeater input freqs) freqs transmitted ok, mostly the ones on or about 456 or so.
ANY and ALL of the repeater channels that I programmed into the radio would not transmit.
I got a brief lighting of teh TX led and a short blurp and then a steady tone of I kept the tx button depressed.

I know that there may be a simple explanation for this such as a wrong setting or the such. Also I want to add that I suspect that the problem could be the fact that I have a model 3 codeplug into my mode 2 radio. If that is the problem then I would like to know how to put a model 2 codeplug back into the radio as I dont know if I can create one from scratch on the DEPOT rss or do I have to find one somewhere or??
Also, the only thing that I want to have in the radio is MODAT, dont need any secure or rather software encryption, and such (dont know if that applies or not) But I am new on this board and please excuse me if I am blind to something simple in your eyes.

IF I AM able to use my mode 3 codeplug as stated above, WHat changes do I have to make in the F9 menu with splits etc to make this radio work.

I verified that the radio does transmit on 450.000 in simplex mode ok and fine but when I make the transmit freq different than the rx one I get that darned error tone again.

If anyone would rather talk this over the phone, please send me an email with your # and I will gladly call you at my expense (I dont know if the above is proper but I thought I would mention it anyway just in case)

PS Just wanted to say that today I first came across the Astro section on BAT and was amazed at the content and wealth of info that you all list for everyone. ELroy Seems to be quite a whiz on the astro stuff.

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Sun Sep 30, 2001 3:51 pm

You have confirmed what I suspected. By putting an SDH codeplug into an RDH radio, you've got the wrong bandsplit and the wrong tuning data is being sent to the VCO. You need to tweak the codeplug by changing the RF base band down one frequency band, and then change the model number to an RDH number.
This is done in the hidden menus, accessed via the F9 button in one of the first screens.

Or, get a suitable RDH model codeplug and put it in the radio. It doesn't matter if it's a III model codeplug in a II model radio. It should take and work fine.

By the way, you can STILL use version 3.04 even if the codeplug's too new...by learning how to use the archive/srecord options. Experiment with it, and you will figure it out. I'm a little fuzzy on it myself.

Elroy

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Sun Sep 30, 2001 4:29 pm

I want to make sure that I have this right now. I see in the band selection area that there are quite a few choices, the one there now is UHF HI, but there is UHF LO, low, mid, uhf4, uhf3.5, uhf3, uhf2, uhf1, and some others which are out of the UHF band area. Which one do I use and can I corrupty/destroy anything by usign the wrong one? Also, I cannot find any reference to a model # changing field in the rss, the above menu where I saw the choices for band selection did not have any model # data which was visible. Thanks for the last quick reply and I wanted to say that you sure know your stuff. I'm sorry to post these long posts but I rather get the info. right from those who know rather than make a paperwieght.

Thanks

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Sun Sep 30, 2001 7:11 pm

There's something REALLY funny going on here.
There should be exactly TWO UHF bandsplits, and NO MORE. UHF Astro portables are offerec ONLY in the bandsplits of 403-470 and 450-520.

Something's clearly very fishy here.

There are, however, FOUR bandsplits for Astro Spectra mobiles.

Which begs the question, could your radio be programmed as an Astro Spectra???

Would it work??? At all???

Research time!!

Elroy

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Sun Sep 30, 2001 7:13 pm

By the way, the model number can be adjusted to match the radio firmware in the software's radio configuration menu, f9 from the get/save/clone menu, I think.

Elroy

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Sun Sep 30, 2001 8:14 pm

Elroy, I dont believe that it could be programmed any other way as I see the model # in the top L. hand corner of the screen when I am programming in the DEPOT rss.

It might be more simple if I could talk to you on the phone while I have the radio in front of me while programming it.
Let me know if this is acceptable to you and I can either give you my # or you can giev me yours. I'm not trying to be pushy but I am going nuts over this radio situation as I have a useless $1200 radio right now.

Thanks much Elroy/group

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Sun Sep 30, 2001 8:58 pm

Its me again and I changed the fq split to UHF low but I cannot find ANYWHERE a reference for changing the model #.

Please tell me where it should be.
Thanks much

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sun Sep 30, 2001 9:16 pm

I think your talking about the Hardware Configuration Screen. Where it say's
RF Band: 375Mhz
Band Selection: UHF 4 etc...
For an 'S' band radio, select UHF 2 Which is 450-520

I think you will also need to configure The Intermediate Frequency Data also.

Make sure you keep some type of working codeplug before doing any mods! Also lets wait and see if anyone makes any corrections to this post before you continue...

Good luck.

Nick

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Mon Oct 01, 2001 4:35 am

You need to tweak the codeplug by changing the RF base band down one frequency band, and then change the model number to an RDH number.

I believe that I have found the screen to change the RF base as I stated in my above article post but I cannot for the life of me find any reference to changing the model # can anyone point me the right way???
If the model # does not show up without me entering certain keys, what are they???

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Mon Oct 01, 2001 6:03 am

Can someone send me a codeplug for a UHF Model 2 AStro Saber, would like modat but at this point getting this thing to work seems like a slim to none chance.

Need plug for model H04RDF9PW7AN, 1 meg.
This radio is also going to be for sale since I cannot get it to work.

Thanks

Post by Pj » Mon Oct 01, 2001 7:00 am

I recently reprogrammed a VHF and a UHF range 2 Astro Saber 3 as a LAPD model (old version}.

What you have to do in LAB is to cange the model number to your radio on both sides of the F9 screen (radio information) and it would also be good to change the serial number to the serial number of your radio. In the LABTOOLS hidden menus, you have to adjust that RF section to match your radio. I used UHF2, and 375.

Now here is the kicker.

You SHOULD have a good codeplug that can be read by normal RSS of the same MODEL number. What you will have to do is load that file into normal RSS, then go into the SERVICE menu, and adjust the TX and RX VCO refrence freq. DO NOT READ THE RADIO. What you will have to do to get the radio up and running is to put a freq in the middle of the spectum, then program it into the radio. This should put everything back into place.

The problem is that the tuning values are out of wack, and with some codeplugs, you can retune until you are blue in the face, and it will never lock.

If you get a Saber 3 codeplug, you can always adjust the key setting in the hidden labtools to a 2 model, or just get a 3 case.

You can email me off list at [email protected] if you need more help.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Pj on 2001-10-01 11:02 ]</font>

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Mon Oct 01, 2001 9:48 am

Can anyone email me or post here telling me exactly where the model # changing area is in the hidden menus as I found the F9 and it gives me two lab options with each option having more options but NOWHERE in there do I see a model # or a reference to a model #

Sorry to keep yapping guys.

And again, ANYONE who would like to help me through this over the phone can either call me (email me for my #) or I can call you, Email me your #...
Just an option guys.....

Bye

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Mon Oct 01, 2001 1:37 pm

Hi all, Have a status update/
Are you all sitting down????
One) The radio was listed in Depot as an MTSX

Two) I followed the following directions and now I CAN get the radio to TX and RX on 408.000 rx and 409.000 tx.
This was not functional before (tx and rx on different bands)

Three)I cannot get this radio to tx on 467.xxx, It does however TX and RX 100% fine on 456.xxx..........

Can anyone tell me what settings I need to change to make the radio rx at least to 478 range and I dont care about TX over 468 or so.
ANY feedback on this situation is greatly apprecaited.

Also was wondering if there were any webpages, etc where AStro Systems are described in some detail such as astro siganlling, software encryption, modat, or whatever. I know there is some on batlabs here but I was looking for more of an explaining page to what the features of Astro systems are and what differnt features do and such.
Sorry to make this such a long thread but I am very interested in Astro radios as this is my second one to own and I find them very interesting as I am sure many of you do since there is a seperate section on it.

Thanks

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Mon Oct 01, 2001 2:16 pm

HI tis me again....
I have some success but not 100% YET...
My radio as per batlabs info since it is a model H04RDF9PW7AN should be 438.482 but I am NOT able to get the radio that high to tx and rx.
I loose lock at about 455 or so.
I want to have 478 rx in it, which is the highest fq I need to Rx on.
Highest TX I require is 469 or so.
I believe that I have SOMETHING set wrong as I should be able to easily get 440-480 in the unit but meanwhile all I can get the radio to go up to as about 455.000.

I think that there is a setting that I have off a notch or two that requires change and I dont know what to change.

ANy ideas?

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Mon Oct 01, 2001 2:19 pm

forgot to mention that I can get 438.000 into thr radio and also transmit on it fine so I def. think that I have a setting or two off but do not want to make changes blindly wothout knowing which to make so as to not damage the radio and or corrupt the codeplug.

I thought that the above info would possibly help anyone out there to figure out what is set wrong/

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Mon Oct 01, 2001 7:13 pm

Since I am not getting anywhere close to getting this radio to work in the way I require it to..Can ANYONE send me a 438-470 Model 2 Astro Saber Codeplug so I can program it into this radio and verify that at least the normal codeplug is working right as I am using an altered codeplug from a version 3 radio and am going nuts here with this.
Is anyone interested in making some $$ with helping me get this radio to work the way I need it to? I will PAY ANY of you who are able to help me through this and successfully make this radio work in the banssplit that I need it to. It is a 438-470 true radio as it is only 3 months old and purchased brand new and since I was unable to access the codeplug via DEPOT RSS, I just loaded another one into it from my old Astro Saber 3 and thats where the problems started, Now I have NO idea as to what is right and what is wrong in the settings, etc...

HELP.. I know some of you are out there who could easily fix this and make a few dollars.
But..I am not going to pay someone $200-$300 for this, Before that I will sell this radio in the band that is currently fine 403-438.

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Mon Oct 01, 2001 8:34 pm

I do think I'm going to be sick.

You just blasted any old codeplug into a radio that was only THREE MONTHS OLD because you didn't have new enough software??!!??

Well, BOOM! That's the sound of your WARRANTY getting dynamited!

Jesus Phucking Christ! (Sorry!) How much did you pay for that radio? I guarantee you that the price of new RSS for it is TRIVIAL in comparison!

I might get flamed for this and I might deserve it, but I'm thinking that I'm watching a monkey phucking a football.

You are utterly on your own. I can't help at all.

Maybe when I cool off...in about a month!

Grrrr....

Elroy

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Elroy Jetson on 2001-10-02 00:36 ]</font>

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Mon Oct 01, 2001 8:38 pm

Sorry, Yes and HELP?????????????

aNYONE I will make a large donation to batlabs or whatever you would like me to do.

I'm bent over here and helpless.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Tue Oct 02, 2001 4:20 am

CHEFA2001 What's your email address mate?

[email protected]