Need help programming MTS-2000

[W2PSK]

Hello everyone. I have a laptop that I've used to program MCS2000's and HT1250's. I am familiar with the CPS and how it works. I recently purchased an MTS-2000 model H01KDH9PW1BN (VHF model). I have the CPS for that, R01.13.00. I have a ribless cable that plugs into the USB port on the laptop just like for the Motorolas I've programmed. When I read the radio, the radio goes into Programming mode but a few seconds later, the CPS says "Communications with radio failed".

Does anyone have any suggestions? I am confident the CPS work with this laptop since the other CPS software for the other Motorola radios works. Do I have a bad cable? It put the radio in programming mode, so I assume the cable is ok. Any help here would be appreciated it.

As a last resort, is there anyone in the central NJ area that can program an MST-2000?

 

[MTS2000des]

What operating system is the CPS installed on. These legacy radios will only play nice on 32 bit versions of Windows XP and Windows 7. It may work with 32 bit Windows 10, but anything else won't work reading/writing. It could also be the ribless cable itself, as these radios never natively supported USB and thus, whatever driver is loaded by the chipset mfr is getting hosed.

These are 20+ year old radios and usually work best with period correct operating systems and programming cables/RIB box.

 

[W2PSK]

The laptop is Windows 7, 32 bit. The other CPS's for the MCS2000 and HT1250 worked on those radios and this CPS works to the extent where it puts the radio into programming mode but it's not reading. The cable is of dubious quality, so I just bought one from bluemax49ers on ebay. I've bought cables from him in the past and they've always been good quality and worked as expected. Hopefully that's the issue. If not, I'll be looking for someone in my area that can program it. I'm not sure I want to find an old lap top and find Win95 just to program this one HT.

 

[a417]

dubious as in it's damaged, or you're not sure if it's the correct one?

We can only emphasize what the esteemed @MTS2000des said so much...

. It could also be the ribless cable itself, as these radios never natively supported USB

If you have a RIB (or access to one), the MT2000 can be programmed with 3 wires from it.

 

[W2PSK]

dubious as in it's damaged, or you're not sure if it's the correct one?

Dubious because it came with the radio when I bought it and it looks like a cheap Chinese cable. That's why I bought one from bluemax49ers on Ebay. His cables are always good quality and have always worked for me. Keeping my fingers crossed that will fix the issue. If not, I just wasted $60.

 

[chrismol1]

If it goes into programming mode thats a good sign it does communicate but is unable to send or receive. It sounds like its some sort of usb-serial cable and a driver/communication issue. Make sure the correct driver is installed for the USB cable. Its been a while since I was in MTS2000CPS, does the CPS have a option to extend read/write timers? Also try going into the device manager to usb-serial com port whatever it is and see if theres FIFO buffers

 

[W2PSK]

If it goes into programming mode thats a good sign it does communicate but is unable to send or receive. It sounds like its some sort of usb-serial cable and a driver/communication issue. Make sure the correct driver is installed for the USB cable. Its been a while since I was in MTS2000CPS, does the CPS have a option to extend read/write timers? Also try going into the device manager to usb-serial com port whatever it is and see if theres FIFO buffers

I don't see anything in the CPS to control read/write timers. In Device Manager, the com port is a "Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port" on COM6. I don't see any mention of "FIFO buffers".

 

[MTS2000des]

What firmware version is the radio at? I had really ancient (pre 1998) MTS2000s with oldy moldy firmware that just would not play nice with CPS- something early like below 5.44, and it exhibited exactly what you describe, using a genuine RLN4008 and OEM Jedi service cable, Windows XP laptop with 32 bit XP- in other words- the exact factory setup. Radio would go into read but bomb out.

Again, these are old radios- the last one of which rolled out of the factory in 2005. Most of them are made in the 90s. If yours is really old and firmware never updated to when the first CPS came out for them (1Q 2002 IIRC), this may be the foundation of why 1.13 won't talk to it. Earlier CPS like 1.0?

These old radios can become a time vampire.

 

[mbnv992]

The oldest MTS2000 I have has a firmware of 5.44 and programs in CPS with a USB programming cable just fine. It’s also running an ancient T61 Thinkpad laptop 32bit windows Vista.
In fact, that setup programs my xts5000’s, 3000’s Astro Sabers, mts2000’s Astro Spectras etc etc just fine for years now.

 

[W2PSK]

A big shout out to bluemax49ers on ebay (BlueMax49ers | eBay Stores). Once again, his cables worked! I bought his cable and it's working with my MTS-2000 on my Windows 7 laptop. If you ever need a cable, check that guy out!

 

[a417]

I don't see anything in the CPS to control read/write timers. In Device Manager, the com port is a "Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port" on COM6. I don't see any mention of "FIFO buffers".

It's usually under the advanced tab on a driver info tab, some versions of drivers don't even expose it to the user anymore.

 

[W2PSK]

It's usually under the advanced tab on a driver info tab, some versions of drivers don't even expose it to the user anymore.

See the reply above yours. I got it working with the new cable.

 

[a417]

See the reply above yours. I got it working with the new cable.

I got that, glad you got it sorted! I was pointing out where old drivers used to have the FIFO buffer settings.

 

[speedway_navigator]

There was a problem with so many fake Prolific chips being sold the Prolific folks did a firmware update that only worked on their chips. It caused a lot of issues when this happened around the 2014 time frame.

 

[W2PSK]

There was a problem with so many fake Prolific chips being sold the Prolific folks did a firmware update that only worked on their chips. It caused a lot of issues when this happened around the 2014 time frame.

Thankfully bluemax49ers on ebay sells the real deal. never been disappointed with his cables.