TK-380 Programming Issues

[rcmanning]

I currently trying to figure out my point of failure while attempting to program my TK-380 (UHF + LTR trunking). I'm currently using an ebay version of the KPG-36 cable with KPG-49D v4.02 on Windows XP, and receive "Please check all connect and communication ports" each time I try to read the radio. The software seems to recognize the cable when I go to COM setup, so basically I'm at a loss. From my research in the past 2 weeks I've seen the following possible causes:

1. The cable, obviously
2. The radio firmware not "matching" the software I'm using?
3. Something about PassPort firmware being installed on the radio? (I can't find any information as to what PassPort is or does)
4. The software version not matching the operating system (I'm pretty sure I'm good on this as I'm using Win XP and KPG-49D v4.02is from 2005)
5. Something about the version of the radio V1.0 vs V2.0 (There is no visible marking on my radio but I think mine is V2.0 because PTT clicks instead of soft press --- Please confirm if this is true)

Before I go through the hassle of returning the cable, I would appreciate any guidance on what I'm doing wrong or need to do to read the radio. FYI I am unable to get the radio to tell me the firmware or checksum, if that matters. I've tried holding every button from OFF to ON + 2 seconds and nothing happens. The only thing that pops up at startup is a custom message from the original programmer(no clue who this is).

 

[kd4efm]

What firmware version is the radio reporting? Tools / transceiver information.
Asking because there is also PASSPORT FW for those models.

radio may have FW update disabled also.

 

[rcmanning]

What firmware version is the radio reporting? Tools / transceiver information.
Asking because there is also PASSPORT FW for those models.

radio may have FW update disabled also.

How do I do that? I've tried holding every button from OFF to ON + 2 seconds and nothing happens, same as if I just turn it on normally.

 

[kd4efm]

Did you do A+<pwr on> ?

 

[rcmanning]

Did you do A+<pwr on> ?

Yes I've tried every button including A

 

[a417]

I'm currently using an ebay version of the KPG-36 cable with KPG-49D v4.02 on Windows XP, and receive "Please check all connect and communication ports" each time I try to read the radio. The software seems to recognize the cable when I go to COM setup, so basically I'm at a loss.

The computer doesn't really "recognize the cable" in this regard. The computer just tries to send data out of a configured COM port, and the cable acts as an intermediary. The computer doesn't talk to the cable (like it may with some other vendors), and then use that interface...it just looks for a COM port and talks down it, and if the radio is correctly set on the other end, and the cable facilitates data transfer, the computer gets a reply.

The issue could be your ebay version of that KPG-36.

@kd4efm is on the best path, let's get your f/w version.

 

[FKimble]

Sounds like the usual driver problem with generic cables.

Frank