WTB-Motorola Specrta Rib Cable

acarleton2000 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 02:31 AM

Hi, Looking for a programming RIB Cable for the Motorola Spectra Mobile Radio. I actually built my own cable but Im not so sure its up to par! When I read the radio if was fine but I went to program it and I got an error!! No good so I want to get the real deal or at least the correct after market cable!

Thanks!

jparks29 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 06:28 AM

What computer and power supply are you using?

Spectras are very picky when it comes to programming equipt (proper slow computer) and supply voltage...

acarleton2000 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 07:46 PM

Well its not the slowest computer in the world, a old Fieldworks Laptop 233 Mhz CPU and running in dos!! ha ok well its getting there! Power supply is an EF Johnson Power supply putting out 13.8V DC??

Thanks for your help!!

b7spectra · #4 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 09:21 PM

HOPEFULLY that should work. Fastest one I ever used on my Spectra's was a P100 booted into DOS on a Win98 machine. Your power supply should work just fine.

If you are good with a soldering iron, go to batlabs.com and build yourself one.

ElroyJetson · #5 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 11:05 PM

High or low power cable?

I built my own high power cable, using good quality 12 conductor general purpose cable and good shielded connectors, and made it 20 feet long so I don't have access problems when the radio is
inside the vehicle. Add that to the 10 foot PC to RIB cable and the 8 foot extender cable, and the total 38 foot long cable assembly is perfectly reliable. Never had a problem with it.

Elroy

kb0nly · #6 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 01:00 AM

If you can read it you should be able to write it, your cable should be fine, chances are you have a computer related problem. Your not trying to run in a dos window right? Your booted into native old dos?

acarleton2000 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 02:13 AM

ok here is the scoop, I orderd a cable for the moto spectra and recieved it tonight and just incase it was my cable I used the new one and programmed the backup codeplug into the radio ha using a dos window inside Win98 and it worked!!! you guys will have to imagine the look on my face when it worked!!!

If fact I changed a few things in the codeplug and tried again. It has worked all 5 times with no problems. I also scrapped the Johnson power supply and got an adjustable supply and set it to a perfect 12V DC.

Not sure what the deal was to begin with but with everyone's help here the problem was solved!

So Thank You to all who helped!! Id probably be using it for a paper weight by now!

-acarleton2000-

b7spectra · #8 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 07:35 PM

Just be careful using a DOS window. It's better to be safe than sorry and having a 8 pound paperweight!

acarleton2000 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 12:13 AM

Ha I agree, I honestly thought it was kinda heading that way already so I didnt figure I had anything to loose! But I just got a 133Mhz laptop up and going running all DOS!! Works good so far! Thanks for your help!