Programming problem

[franko]

Hi all,
I keep trying to read several MTX900S units with the proper SW and keep getting "POWER FAILURE" message.

I'm using the following platform:
COMPAQ 486 25MHZ
DOS 6.22 ONLY
POLARIS PA-1 RIB
HOMEMADE CABLE

I made this cable a couple of years ago per Batlab info for MTX800,s
and have used this cable to read and prog many MTX800's with no problem. I've also used this platform to read and prog MAXTRAC 800'S, GTX moblies,GTX HT's all with homemade cables with NO problems whatsoever.

I've tried 4 MTX900S HT's and gotten the same message.Just to make sure all connections were good, I successfully read an MTX800 immediately after trying to read the 900.

I've also searched the archives, and read that n8uhn said he had to hook up the "BUSY" line.Could this be my problem also ?

I don't mean to ramble on so long, just wanted to give alot of the info.

Thanks to the board,
Franko

[KG6EAQ]

I think that the Polaris RIB has a different pinout than a regular RIB. You'd have to change your pinouts to match theirs.

[franko]

even though it works on all these other radios ?
Thanks

[Monty]

HI:

I always hate to say it, but I have herd
many stories on cases where ( it worked before )
or ( It works on other Radios ) only to learn later
down the line a Clone ( Especially the Cheap Polaris )
may have a problem.

Anyhow, your Clone Cable should be OK as there
is NO electronics inside the Clone Cable.

So, Chances are Pretty high you have a Rib Box
Bias issue OR you may need the Later Version Software
for the Radio being programmed.

Motorola DOES NOT supply or Support the DOS version
MTX Software anylonger, and Polaris does not have a
much better reputation

The 486-25 Computer Should be perfect, and the DOS 6.22
OS is ideal too...

So since it does not work on any of the MTX's, its probably
the RIB or RSS or BOTH

Also, be advised, the Polaris box is Missing all the
required circuitry for X9000's too

Monty

[n8uhn]

i cannot find a schemitac on the polaris rib.

the "busy" line i was refering to seperates all the simple rib's from the moto rib.

most simple ribs only have two lines going to the radio, bus + and ground, most ht's and mobiles other then the radius "rj45" plug radios need more then ground and buss+.


the ht-600 and other ht's need ground,data and busy (three wires)
going to the radio from the rib.

i did find a pinout difference on batlabs covering all the different
pin numbers on the two ribs - be sure to double check the connections compaired to the moto rib as most cable plans use the
moto pin numbers.

one other thing to check is the two pins which must be connected together at the plug going to the computer's com port - for the db-25 plug they are pin's 5 and 22, for the db 9 plug they are pin 8 and 9.

those two pin's must go to each other and the rib.

also search the archives and monty's comments - i found them very helpfull.

Bill

[quote="franko"]I've also searched the archives, and read that n8uhn said he had to hook up the "BUSY" line.Could this be my problem also ?

[franko]

Hi Bill,

I checked my cable that goes between the comp and the RIB and pins 8 and 9 are not connected to each other at the DB9. Should these be connected when using the Polaris PA1 ?

Also my prog cable does have the 3 wires you mention.

Thanks for the help

[n8uhn]

yes Franko,


moto rss does check the state of the two pins 8 and 9 - if it finds then not connected together - i gives an error.

connect (short together) pins 8 and 9 at the computer end of the serial cable, the now shorted two pins goes to the rib's busy line.

the ganz rib calls them "busy in".

there is a cable shown on the batlabs site called "rib to pc 9 pin" - that cable shows the shorted pins as well.

remember that the motorola rib uses a db 15 plug for the computer serial (com) port and most clones use a db9 or db25 - so be sure to convert the pin numbers properly.

remember that the two pins are shorted at the plug that connects directly to the computer - not the rib end .

Bill

Hi Bill,

I checked my cable that goes between the comp and the RIB and pins 8 and 9 are not connected to each other at the DB9. Should these be connected when using the Polaris PA1 ?

Also my prog cable does have the 3 wires you mention.

Thanks for the help