X9K still giving serial bus errors, throwing in towel.

rtech · Post by **rtech** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 11:00 am

Thanks to all who have helped me in the previous weeks.

This UHF ver is working with test freqs from the previous owner. I am still getting the "serial bus error, power fault" in the RSS. I think it is the aftermarket RIB. I am going to sell off the RIB and PC to cut my losses.

Anybody know a good place that programs X9K's in the Phoenix area? I'm working on a budget here. I only need 12-16 channels programmed and once it's done, I may never need to reprogram again. I have thrown $$$$ after $$$ on this and still do not have a usable radio.

Thanks to all who reply and all who have assisted me in this futile effort.

Alan Ryan

kd9000 · Post by **kd9000** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 7:24 pm

Are you using an older, slow DOS computer? i.e. ~20 MHz?

Ken

RapidCharger · Post by **RapidCharger** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 10:31 pm

This very same thing happened to me 2 days ago. I went and bought an aftermarket programming cable, and used it with an aftermarket rib. I got the serial bus error message too. Tried everything I could think of. Finally gave up and took it to a local radio shop who programmed it while I waited 10 minutes before closing on Friday afternoon. I would highly recommend them but they are no where near pheonix.

mancow · Post by **mancow** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 10:41 pm

I had this same problem with mine. I was using an epson 486 slc 33mhz laptop. My 286 desktop pc worked great but the laptop would give the error. I finally cured the problem by disabling the cache in the bios setup. After that it worked great.

you might give that a try

mancow

rtech · Post by **rtech** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 12:07 am

Thanks everybody. I fixed the problem by getting a REAL M RIB. Imagine that? I'll be selling off the aftermarket RIB. It will work for all else M, except x9K, so it would seem.

My PC is a 386-25, everything cache turned off and running DOS off the floppy. How's that for slow???? It works fine now.

I just need to master the scan function.....

Alan

George · Post by **George** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 5:58 pm

Here's the perfect example and a living testimony to the maxim...He who buys aftermarket crap pays for it by burning up time in labor trying to straighten out what should never have happened in the first place.

We want to save money and :o over Motorola's pricing of their stuff. Sure we can use aftermarket products, but was it worth it?

Not that I sell the material and equipment but how many programming problems do you think I have had since I have ONLY used Motorola programming cables and RIB units? A great big ZERO!

Buy it once, buy it right and not have problems.

Okay fine, send a firestorm my way, but I have not had problems with anything, ever!

George

rtech · Post by **rtech** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 8:06 pm

I'm not sure it'a a living testimony. We all know x9000's are tempermental at best.

With this NEW "M" rib, on the same radio, I am now getting a verification error after getting it programmed last night without a hitch. I wanted to add a few things and change some mode names. Go figure. What changed? Now I am stuck right now with a programmed radio that I am not completely happy with, due to time constraints. I will need to find out why it's giving me the new errors in the rss. When I can pull the unit out of service, I'll work on it more.

I think think this aftermarket rib would be just fine for nearly any other mot radio. I have heard this from other people as well. X9000's are a different breed. It's well documented. I have seen lots of these rib's out and about in use. I know what the problem was and the rib didn't provide everything that the M rib did.

Not a big deal, I was only out time and frustration on my part. Live and learn.

Thanks,

Alan

kf4sqb · Post by **kf4sqb** » Sun Jul 27, 2003 3:22 pm

A lot of aftermarket RIBs won't program the X9K because they don't include the "busy" line in the radio end of the interface. Very few radios use this line, but the X9K is one of them. I myself have a homebrew RIB that programs the X9K fine, but the only computer I have that is slow enough is an old 486/25 desk-top system that I disable the internal cache on to slow it down slightly. My radio is not easy to remove from the vehicle, so I have to lug the pc, moniter, keyboard, etc... out to the truck for programming! If I can ever get the blasted thing to let me into the BIOS to slow it down, I have a 486/33 (too fast!) laptop that I am setting up pretty much exclusively for /\/\otorola programming. Works for everything but the X9K!

George · Post by **George** » Mon Jul 28, 2003 12:02 am

What's kinda funny about this is I have gone through several machines looking for a good overall combination and the best one, although not really supportable anymore, is an original IBM PC/XT. Lacking that, the machines I have successfully used is my current bench computer, a PIII/600 with all the cache disabled. It's very solid with every flavor of X9000 RSS I have tried. My laptop for in the field use is an IBM model 720. Not elegant, but IBM made nice things like 12 volt adapters and stuff like that for those machines. The other desktop machine I have is an H/P Vectra 486/33. It has worked with every X9000 RSS I have tried also. There is a catch...you must disable the internal serial ports and use a GOOD 16550 add-on board to make it right. I have two of these machines that are identical right down to the board positions and I don't have any problems.

The IBM and the H/P are almost free for the hauling from most surplus houses and enjoy good support from their manufacturers.

George

George · Post by **George** » Mon Jul 28, 2003 12:12 am

Alan,

In your case, I would question your serial port. The machine should be fine, but errors like that are related to, in my experience, serial ports getting buffer overflow.

Also, what kind of problem are you having with the Scan?

KF4SQB,

I sympathize with having to carry the computer to your truck. May I suggest a really long serial extension cord? I have used one over 140' long between the computer and the rib with no problems. Just thought I would mention it as it may save you some work.

George

kf4sqb · Post by **kf4sqb** » Tue Jul 29, 2003 8:09 am

Yeah, George, I thought about that too. If I can ever get my old Compaq Contura Aero 4/33c working like I want it to, my problem will be solved properly!

April · Post by **April** » Thu Jul 31, 2003 2:01 pm

Yes, the RIB's have a fault in the design and ECHO Comms is working on
modifications for all aftermarket RIBS, even the /\/\ ones!!. Some mods are very easy you can do your self.

I am sure they would like to see your aftermarket RIB and verify the problem for you, making the info available for others here on BL. They may be able to make yours work in trade for the mod info to make it work.
What do you have to loose?

Aj

EM-01 · Post by **EM-01** » Fri Aug 01, 2003 1:39 pm

MOSLO!!!!!!!!! MOSLO,MOSLO

I have a 386/25 and I still need moslo with the x9000. The verification error in a nutshell is that the computer is still too fast, sure it might work once or twice but it's a fluke.

You can get Moslo off of the Batlabs site, http://www.hpaa.com/moslo

It works.

Good Luck

X9K still giving serial bus errors, throwing in towel.

X9K still giving serial bus errors, throwing in towel.

X9K Problems

:-)