Another RS ERROR ie. Programming Cable

RadMarv · #1 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 05:18 AM

On the RS website USB Scanner Programming Cable - RadioShack.com you will read the following...

Quote:

Scanner programming ease.

With compatible software, you can program your scanner through a PC or laptop USB port. Includes an adapter to program both mono jack (PC/IF) and stereo jack scanners. Also includes a CD with a USB driver for Microsoft® Windows 98, ME, XP and 2000. Conforms to USB 2.0 standards with automatic fall-back to USB 1.1 when used on earlier USB ports.

These scanners are compatible and always require the 3" cable adapter: 20-196, 20-427, 20-428, 20-466, 20-496, 20-515, 20-522, 20-523, 20-524B, 20-525, 20-526, 20-527, 20-162, 20-163, 20-164, 20-135, 20-136, 20-137, 20-106, 20-197 and most new RadioShack models.

These scanners use the cable without the adapter: 20-501, 20-426 and many Uniden brand scanners.

Early versions of the 20-524 (20-524 and 20-524A) do not have a PC interface and cannot be programmed by a PC.

Includes an adapter to program both mono jack (PC/IF) and stereo jack scanners
Includes a CD with a USB driver for Microsoft® Windows 98, ME, XP and 2000
Conforms to USB 2.0 standards with automatic fall-back to USB 1.1
Most scanners use the 3" stereo to mono adapter (included)

What's in the box

CD-R (Driver + O/M)
Mono-stereo conversion cable

DIRECTLY FROM THE ONLINE PDF MANUAL http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/uc/rs...0047_PM_EN.pdf ...

Quote:

cable features

• Compatible with the following scanner models: 20-196, 20-427, 20-428, 20-466, 20-496, 20-515, 20-522, 20-523, 20-525, 20-526, and 20-527.

• When combined with the conversion cable, your cable is compatible with the following scanners: 20-426, 20-501, and 20-524B.

• Allows scanning from newer laptops that do not have RS-232 serial interface ports.

• Full duplex capability - use with future RadioShack scanners for PC remote control applications.

Although the USB interface cable supports high speed USB communications, actual data transfer speed is set and limited by the scanner’s hardware.

The MANUAL IS CORRECT but does not include the same list of scanners listed online.

The online information is incorrect just reversed.

The online information should read...

These scanners are compatible and DO NOT require the 3" cable adapter: 20-196, 20-427, 20-428, 20-466, 20-496, 20-515, 20-522, 20-523, 20-524B, 20-525, 20-526, 20-527, 20-162, 20-163, 20-164, 20-135, 20-136, 20-137, 20-106, 20-197 and most new RadioShack models.

These scanners use the cable WITH the adapter: 20-501, 20-426 and many Uniden brand scanners.

Evert · #2 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadMarv

The MANUAL IS CORRECT but does not include the same list of scanners listed online.

Note that the online manual is dated September 2005. Thus does not include the newer scanners. That is also the date of the manual on the 20-047 installation disk that came with my cable.

I think the long list in the Manual are scanners that were (are) programmable with the old 20-289 cable. That cable has a TS plug and uses TTL 3.x volt signals. Apparently these scanners have a TS jack and can be programmed using the 20-047 cable with or without the conversion cable. For sure that is true for the Pro-97 (20-527) and the Pro-2055 (20-428).

The newer scanners (20-162, 20-163, 20-164, 20-135, 20-136, 20-137, 20-106, 20-197) included on the RS site apparently have a TRS jack and operate full-duplex and thus will work only with the TRS (“stereo”) plug.

Evert · #3 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadMarv

On the RS website

………… These scanners use the cable WITH the adapter: 20-501, 20-426 and many Uniden brand scanners.

I have been wondering for some time why these two scanners are classified as “must use the conversion cable” type.

According to the RS support site both of these scanners used the 20-289 cable and have the PC/IF port. That would seem to put them in the same class as the Pro-97, Pro-2055 etc. that should work with or without the conversion cable.

The only thing I can think of is maybe these two scanners have a TRS jack and the Ring section is actually connected to something that is only used at the factory.

Then if the 20-047 cable was used with these scanners without the conversion cable, the electronics on the cable may detect the “live” Ring section and attempt to communicate with it probably with an unexpected protocol, resulting in a train wreck.

The ring section of the jack on the conversion cable is not connected to any part of the plug at the other end and so there would be no confusing signals sent to the scanner.

Sorry, RadMarv, just thinking out loud as to the why’s of the list.

fmon · #4 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 07:49 PM

GRE makes the cable and this is what came in the pdf for 30-3290 bluegreen cable.

Quote:

GRECOM Scanners: PSR-100, PSR-200, PSR-300, PSR-400, PSR-500 and PSR-600
RadioShack Scanners :PRO-92, PRO-93, PRO-95, PRO-96, PRO-97, PRO-99, PRO-2053, PRO-2054, PRO-2055, PRO-2067 ,PRO-2096 , PRO-163 , and PRO-164 scanners.

For use with PRO-83, PRO-94 and PRO-2051 scanners using conversion cable.

USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 compatible

Allows scanner programming from newer laptops that do not have RS-232 serial interface ports
Transmit Data (TXD) and Receive Data (RXD) LED indicators illuminate during data transfer
Full duplex capability - use with future RadioShack scanners for PC remote control applications

Compatible with Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows 98 and 98SE.SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
IBM PC or compatible computer equipped with Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection and Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows 98 and 98SE

NOTES:
Although the USB interface cable supports full speed USB communications, actual data transfer speed depends on the scanner’s hardware
Application software is not included with the cable. Use the cable with any of the application software packages available for the scanner models listed above.

Evert · #5 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 09:43 PM

Looks like the GRE list is way out of date – shows only 13 Radio Shack w/o conversion cable while RS site shows 20 (albeit erroneously saying they “always require the 3" cable adapter”).

Note neither list includes the RS Pro-160 (20-160) and GRE does not show the Pro-162 (20-162), which use the main cable without adapter.

Just shows that one can not rely much on the general descriptions of these devices being accruate or up to date. Probably better to check the documentation of the newer scanners.

I doubt that any of these scanners or the cables would be damaged by using the conversion cable or not, so if if does not work one way just try the other. Start without because most Radio Shack scanners with PC/IF ports will work that way.

BTW: Do not use a regular 'stereo to mono" adapter for Radio Shack scanners because that is not the same as the conversion cable aka adapter.

fmon · #6 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evert

BTW: Do not use a regular 'stereo to mono" adapter for Radio Shack scanners because that is not the same as the conversion cable aka adapter.

Dont see why not, cloning from one scanner to another requires a stereo plug on each end. I use an off the shelf stereo patch cord

Evert · #7 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmon

Dont see why not, cloning from one scanner to another requires a stereo plug on each end. I use an off the shelf stereo patch cord

??? Using a "stereo"plug on both ends has nothing to do with using a mono adapter attached to a conversion cable.

A mono adapter connects both the Ring and Tip sections of the mono adapter’s jack to the tip of its plug.

Thus using a mono adapter with the subject conversion cables will connect (short) the tip and ring sections of the conversion cable together and this is not a good thing.

The conversion cables supplied by RS connects only the tip sections together. The ring section is not connected to anything.

fmon · #8 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evert

??? Using a "stereo"plug on both ends has nothing to do with using a mono adapter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmon

Dont see why not, cloning from one scanner to another requires a stereo plug on each end. I use an off the shelf stereo patch cord

Yep, guess my comment is irrelevant.

Evert · #9 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmon

Yep, guess my comment is irrelevant.

Well, I would say it was puzzling if not irrelevant.

fmon · #10 (**permalink**) 08-15-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evert

Well, I would say it was puzzling if not irrelevant.

Goodness my way is not good enough?

change Icon to puzzling for those who give a damn at this point.

Evert · #11 (**permalink**) 08-15-2009, 10:22 AM

Well, I just do not like to say that anyone's comments are irrelevant, that is why I tried to temper it with “puzzling”.

If you prefer “irrelevant” that is ok by me because your original comment was both puzzling and irrelevant. Do we have an icon for that?