TK-360 Help

[callalou]

@Silverbk - I just bought a couple of TK-360 off of ebay, and wanted to play around programming them. However I am some similar problems with errors. I am using the same software, I am able to connect to the radio, however during the reading from the radio. I was able to download the radio information once, then I keep getting the following error, when I try again:

"Error
- Check Connection [Retry] or [Cancel]
-Take Radio Out of Scan
-Take Radio Out of Transmit"

When I unplug the programming cable, and power cycle the radio, I get beeps on all 4 channels? Is there something that I am missing. I am a Telecommunication Professional, however I have never played with radios (This is why I bought them). I put a breack out box between the computer and Radio, and I can see RD/TD flashing. I could not find any information on the com port setup, so I have been playing around with different speeds, data bits, flow control etc. Usually, I have the manufacturers specs on what equipment I am configuring, but since I have nothing on these radios I would appreciate any help, thanks.

 

[mikewazowski]

Post moved to its own thread.

 

[W3DMV]

Need a little more info.. What computer/windows system are you using and
the Kenwood software disc model and version ?

 

[callalou]

@W3DMV - I am using WinNT, Dell Latitude. I use this computer to configure, routers, muxes, channel banks... etc. with no problems. I know I am communicating with the Radio, but I have no experience with them. It's probably the cable, but I would like to solve this technically, so I could learn about them. My goals were to down load the configuration to see how the radios are setup, then try different settings to see the effects, but I would like to communicate properly with the radio first.

Let's say it is the cable, and we say the X232 IC is good inside the cabling, I am looking for a way to put this on a Break Out Box and basically jumper the pins I don't have voltages on like RTS or CTS on the DTE side, however I don't know if I am suppose to use Flow control, Parity, and Port Speed...etc. I would like to start there first, and if all else fail... Then I will go out and buy a cable.

I am only doing this, because I have a Passion for Telecommunication and Troubleshooting, and I am trying to get into Amateur Radio, and get off of the CB channels, thanks again.

 

[callalou]

Oh! The Kenwood Radios are TK-360 4 ch. Programming software KPG-27D ver 5, Cable I picked up off of EBAY, it stated the TK-360 was one of the radios the cable can be used. The computer is an old Dell Latitude CPx, I currently have the Serial Port set to Com Port 1. I am not using an external mouse to avoid port and IRQ conflicts. I tried to set this up, where I could eliminate the computer. That's why I have this gut feeling its the Cable. I was able to download the configuration from the radio, but just once.

I only saw information on 1 channel, so I thought I had to swith the channel on the radio, and select the same channel in the software example Ch 2., then select Read from Radio, but now half way through the down load it Stops, and gives the ERROR that I have mentioned above.

 

[W3DMV]

Sorry I'm not going to be much help. I worked part time for a Kenwood dealer some
years ago and worked on 360's.
We used KPG27D software, running under DOS on old Dell laptops. The cable supplied
by Kenwood was a KPG-22
One thing you might check, we had lot's of problems with the programming jack
on the radio. The dust caps are almost always missing and a small amount of crud
would cause erratic programming problems. We used mini "Q" tips with some contact
cleaner and it was effective in many cases.
Good luck. Wish I could be more help...

 

[callalou]

@W3DMV - It's cool. I would like to get into Amateur Radios, but I don't have a clue where to start. I might check out the local Community College to see if they have some classes. I have a Degree in Telecommunications, so configuring communication equipment using the Serial port have been the way we did it back in the day. Now we have USB and the OS is PNP, so you never know where the OS is going to tie in the COM Port and to what IRQ.

I also have an Old Protocol Analyser I used as an Engineer at CompuServe. We monitored the connection between the DTE and DCE for troubleshooting. However, since I am not working in the field anymore, I am dying to power it up, and trouble shoot this issue.

Would you know what the COM port setting should be to communicate with the radio? I want to say I am dropping RTS, and I don't know if I am suppose to be using FLOW control or not?

 

[ramal121]

There is no hardware flow control. On the computer side RTS is strapped to CTS and DSR is strapped to DTR. You're not going to have a problem there unless it is with the comm port itself. Speed and protocol is set by the software, you cannot change anything.

Usual problems are bad connections (as mentioned before the two pin connectors are notorious for this). USB to serial converters are problematic with older equipment. A true RS-232 port is always preferred. I sometimes have to mash the connector into the radio or torque it to the side to get it to read/write.

Let me ask, do you really have an older TK-360 or a newer TK-360G? Different software for each of these.

 

[callalou]

@ramal121 - Thanks for the response, I actually have the TK-360 (4 Chan model), and I am connecting through an RS232 DB9 Serial Interface. I agree, I saw there are no changes in the software for the user to change the com port settings, I have been manually changing things through the Hardware Device Manager.

Since you guys have the experience, and both of you are telling me to check the connector, I am going to 1) clean out that port, maybe since they are old radios it has some kind of build up in it and 2) I am going to change port setting s back to 9600 bps, and see what happens, stay tuned for more, thanks.

 

[LDanF1952]

Access code for TK-360G

I just purchased a TK-360G off of ebay and I am attempting to program it. My problem is, it will not allow me to read the radio info until I input an access code. I have no idea what the password is or what to do at this point. Any suggestions?