Pro-197 Losing System

[zzdiesel]

My 197 started having a problem a couple of months ago. A P25 system completely disappears from the memory. It is Missouri's new P25 VHF system. I notice that it's not stopping momentarily on the control channel. I have downloaded what's on it on Win500, and MOSWIN is gone. There is no freqs, TG's or anything. I can reload my backup file and all is well till it does it again. There is no pattern and/or reason for it. I leave it on 24/7. Anyone have any ideas?

[gewecke]

Originally Posted by zzdiesel

My 197 started having a problem a couple of months ago. A P25 system completely disappears from the memory. It is Missouri's new P25 VHF system. I notice that it's not stopping momentarily on the control channel. I have downloaded what's on it on Win500, and MOSWIN is gone. There is no freqs, TG's or anything. I can reload my backup file and all is well till it does it again. There is no pattern and/or reason for it. I leave it on 24/7. Anyone have any ideas?

That's kinda spooky! I've never had anything like that happen on mine,yet.
Try putting it back in directly, not that it should make a difference.

73,
n9zas

[Ensnared]

Originally Posted by zzdiesel

My 197 started having a problem a couple of months ago. A P25 system completely disappears from the memory. It is Missouri's new P25 VHF system. I notice that it's not stopping momentarily on the control channel. I have downloaded what's on it on Win500, and MOSWIN is gone. There is no freqs, TG's or anything. I can reload my backup file and all is well till it does it again. There is no pattern and/or reason for it. I leave it on 24/7. Anyone have any ideas?

When I have loaded various conventional and/or trunking information, I have sometimes mis-assigned such. So, when I suspect that I've messed something up because I'm not hearing it, I always go to "All Objects" in Win500 and see if there are objects which have not been mapped for scan lists.

I have a silly rule of thumb which has helped me. When I download anything, I always assign all frequencies and/or TG's to scan list 1. Then, if I'm on the road and discover my error, I can still use scan 1 one to hear what I've programmed. Later, you can correct it.

Also, I have also managed to program TSYS without TG's. Usually, I will get something called a "heap error" when this happens.

Finally, check to see if the trunking tables are correct. During one trip, I had the OKWIN system in Oklahoma loaded where the trunking tables were incorrect. Hence, I heard nothing. When I reset this to "default', I was able to hear things.

Hope this helps you.

[zzdiesel]

My statewide system in the 197 isn't mapped wrong & etc. It literally disappears from memory.

[Ensnared]

Originally Posted by zzdiesel

My statewide system in the 197 isn't mapped wrong & etc. It literally disappears from memory.

Beyond the things I wrote about, I don't know how to help you. I've not heard of this type of problem. I'm assuming you've installed all of the necessary firmware etc. I wish I could have been more helpful. Perhaps, someone will respond with another answer. Have you searched the threads for similar posts?

[QDP2012]

Hopefully, others on the forum will have a more accurate idea for solutions. I have not experienced this problem, but here are some suggestions for testing and troubleshooting, just in case you haven't already tried them:

• Make a file of the scanner's "bad-state" for comparison:
  After the scanner loses its info, have you then connected the scanner to the computer and saved a file of the scanner's current-state, before reloading it with the good data file? This bad-state file could be examined to see if:
  • only the TSYS is gone, or
  • the TGs still exists w/o a TSYS, or
  • all TGs for the TSYS are also gone, or
  • possibly some other indicator might stand-out.
  
  
• Clear scanner and load only the "disappearing" data
  Have you cleared the scanner, and then loaded a test file containing ONLY the TSYS and TGs in question, just to see if they will stay put by themselves, when nothing else exists?
  
  
• Possibly exceeded maximum number of objects allowed?
  Have you unintentionally exceeded the maximum number of objects (1800 max in active memory if remember correctly) in your good data file?
  
  
• Reassign to different Scan Lists
  Have you tried making a test file in which you reassign the disappearing TSYS and TGs to different Scan Lists instead of the one normally used, and then see if the objects still disappear?
  
  
• Firmware updates
  Were there any earlier attempts to upgrade BIOS/firmware? If so, might this be related to the current problems? If firmware upgrades have not been done, would it be worth trying? (I do not advocate unnecessary, or untested/unstable firmware upgrades on any system. Usually firmware updates are a one-shot deal, with no chance to revert back.)
  
  
• Environmental Issues
  Is the 197 located in a position or place where it can get overheated, or experience other thermal challenges, like improper ventilation, etc.?
  
  
• Specific location in memory might be failing
  Even though on-board memory does not involve a hard-drive, maybe there is a memory-location-specific problem similar to a bad-sector. This might not be the best, or even an accurate, way to test for this, but, a method for testing might be to:
  • Clear and reload the scanner with your data file
  • Then note the Object IDs for the TSYS and TGs involved
  • After the TSYS disappears, try to store a conventional-entry into the same ObjectID
  • If the conventional-entry stored in the same ObjectID later disappears, it might be another clue as to the real problem.
  
  
• Previous maintenance issues
  Are there any unexpected issues that might cause any of the buttons to misbehave, which would then create weird radio behavior?
  
  
• Try different software
  Have you tried using different software? Whether using Free... or Win... or ARC... or whatever software you currently use, have you:
  • Use your current software to load your good data file
  • Use your "new" software to save the scanner's configuration into the "new" software's file format
  • Cleared scanner
  • Try to reload scanner using "new" software?
  • There might be some minor difference between software packages that might make a difference.

I'm not sure what else to suggest, other than contacting manufacturer's customer support.

Hope this helps,

[zzdiesel]

Thanks. I downloaded what was in memory when it lost this system was gone. There was no trace of it in the TYS list and all the TG's in this system were gone. I have 30 TG's in the system. I use the latest version of Win500. I have done all of the firmware updates since I bought it in '09. It sets on my desk. It is cool in my room. I'll try ARC500 if & when it happens again.

[fxdscon]

The obvious thing to try here is an eprom memory test.

At the "welcome" screen press zero, and then quickly press 5 and "enter".

This will run through the eprom memory blocks, then reset the scanner.

You may want to run this a number of times.

.

[zzdiesel]

Thanks. Running the test now.

[zzdiesel]

I ran it several times & it passed.

[gewecke]

Still a strange occurrence, to note. Maybe even rare for a gre.
Hope it doesn't happen again.

73,
n9zas