Laptop Won't Program Astro Spectra

Randy B · Post by **Randy B** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 4:35 pm

I have a 1.8 GHz HP desktop that programs my Astro Spectra just fine. However, my Compaq M700 400 MHz laptop will not program it. I know that the laptop is older and slower than the desktop, but it is still within the required specifications to run AS CPS.

When trying to program with the laptop, CPS freezes for about a full minute before giving the "communication with radio failed" error. When I click "ok" on the error message, my Astro Spectra resets.

I'm running Windows 2000 on the laptop and Windows XP on the desktop.

Any ideas as to what I can do to make the laptop program the Astro Spectra? Has anyone else run across a similar problem?

RESCUE161 · Post by **RESCUE161** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:19 am

Are you using a real serial port on the laptop or a USB converter?

Randy B · Post by **Randy B** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:18 am

Nope, not using a USB converter. I'm using a real serial port.

RESCUE161 · Post by **RESCUE161** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:16 am

Are there any conflicts with the com port? Is anything running in the background that could be taking control of the com port?

HLA · Post by **HLA** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:17 am

it seems like you have something else using the serial port too. use device manager and shut down everything that you don't need to program the radio.

Randy B · Post by **Randy B** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:07 pm

Doesn't appear to be anything else using the serial port. I checked device manager. No conflicts either. Says it's working properly. One thing I did not mention in my original post was that it runs XTS series CPS just fine and programs without a problem. So I thought maybe the problem lies in either my Astro Spectra cable or the RIB. I tested it once more on my desktop and was able to successfully program the Astro Spectra with the desktop. So the problem is certainly not with the cable or RIB. It has to be something in this laptop.

Will · Post by **Will** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:34 pm

I wrote this years ago for the very same problems you are having.

There have been reports of problems using the RIB on different computers. It looks like one of the problems might be a lack of negative voltage swing on the Busy out and RX (data out) lines back to the computer. You might want to try and change the value of R14 to 1.5k and R11 to 1K.

Some research has been done with the original RIB, and some modifications have been make to some of the values to make the circuit more compatible with RS232. The modified schematic can be found here.

http://batlabs.com/images/rib_mod.jpg

Zap · Post by **Zap** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:21 pm

I'm having trouble with an astro saber. I have not read it yet.
It was last programmed with CPS 5.01 (not me), so having not needed CPS before, I installed it and when reading with serial RIB and cable,
"open radio failed, Error Context 24, status c000039e"

with this setup undisturbed, it will read in astro905, but "codeplug too new", so won't finish.
Com check shows good, and radio resets clean from F6 test.

HOWEVER...

CPS INSTALL 7.00.00 wrote: Connecting the PC to the Radio:
===============================
Do not use the Radio Interface Box (RIB), Smart Radio Interface Box (SRIB)
or any of the cables that plug into those boxes. Use only the following
direct PC to radio cables:

XTS 5000 / XTS 2500 / SSE 5000 / XTS 1500 / MT 1500 / PR 1500:

RS232 cable = RKN4106
USB cable = RKN4105

Do I NEED to have a different cable for astrosaber CPS, or perhaps upgrade my RIB as per WILL's post (this thread).

Is anyone using CPS and old RIB/cables for AS?

Does anyone have a schem/parts list for ribless cable for astrosaber?

RESCUE161 · Post by **RESCUE161** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:13 am

You are trying to use Astro25 CPS which is for XTS5000s, XTS2500s, SSE 5000s, XTS 1500s, MT 1500s and PR 1500s. It will not work. You need Astro CPS which will program Astro Sabers and XTS3000s.

You will still use the same cable and RIB, you just need the right CPS.

Post by **escomm** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:12 am

meep, the 5k's are all ribless cables!

Bruce1807 · Post by **Bruce1807** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:32 am

The other item is Comaq are real quirky when it comes to programming.
I gave up on their laptops ages ago.
Now I use an ML900

Zap · Post by **Zap** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:59 am

RESCUE161 wrote:You are trying to use Astro25 CPS which is for XTS5000s, XTS2500s, SSE 5000s, XTS 1500s, MT 1500s and PR 1500s. It will not work. You need Astro CPS which will program Astro Sabers and XTS3000s.

You will still use the same cable and RIB, you just need the right CPS.

You are right. I have R04.01.04 CPS and it reads it fine except code plug too new. But at least now it works.
I do not have CPS 05.01.00

...very

MikeOxlong · Post by **MikeOxlong** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:18 pm

I was given an Itronix GoBook 3 as a loaner while my GoBook 2 was in for repairs.

Damn thing would not program any of my Astro Sabers at all.

This is using the latest CPS (Astro Portable), true blue Motorola rib and cable and a real 9 pin serial port.

I ended up using a USB->Serial convertor until I got my GoBook 2 back.

The radio exhibited the same sort of symptoms: appeared to be locked up until an error popped up. Clicking on ok would reset the radio.