HELP!!! VX-800 Screwed Up!!!

mfn002 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009, 04:07 PM

I recently purchased a used VX800U. When I tried to program it, it would read fine, but wouldn't program. After a few tries, the only thing the display on the radio says is "ERROR_2". Now, it won't read at all. What does this error mean?

mfn002 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 10:31 AM

It still goes into "CLONE" mode, but otherwise still gives me "ERROR_2"

w5gm · #3 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfn002

I recently purchased a used VX800U. When I tried to program it, it would read fine, but wouldn't program. After a few tries, the only thing the display on the radio says is "ERROR_2". Now, it won't read at all. What does this error mean?

What type computer are you using to program the radio? DOS? Windows?

mfn002 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009, 03:01 PM

I'm currently running it off of Windows, because I only have a USB programming cable. I'm going to hook it up to a USB-to-serial adapter and hook it up to my pure DOS laptop and I'll see what happens. When I got the radio and tried to key it up, it would give me another error upon pushing the PTT key. It read OK a few times, but I was unable to download new channel data into the radio. It would give me the error: "COMMUNICATION WITH RADIO FAILED". Could this have to do with the way I'm running the software?

MTS2000des · #5 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009, 04:28 PM

sounds like a corrupted codeplug, and yes, assuming you are using DOS RSS, it is very easy to hose a codeplug when trying to write to it under Windows. Most DOS RSS isn't Windows friendly when it comes to reading and writing, due to the mere fact that Windows won't allow direct control of the serial hardware. The fact you are using a USB 2 Serial adds even more to the equation, as you are relying on device drivers within Windows to work with software that doesn't even know what USB is!

I would try using a real serial version of the programming cable and a true DOS environment (e.g. download a DOS boot disk and make a small partition you can access from DOS with your RSS) and I'll bet you'll be able to load a good codeplug and clear the error.

Or get the Windows version of the software (assuming it's available for the VX800).

n3obl · #6 (**permalink**) 08-15-2009, 05:14 AM

there is windows version for vx-800. I would program a blank default codeplug and see if it clears it,

Frank

mfn002 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-15-2009, 12:26 PM

It's RSS CE31 v1.20 for the VX-800. The radio is a UHF VX-800U. It's an older, non-DTMF model. As for trying to upload anything to that radio, I highly doubt it would work. When you turn it on, all it gives me is the ERROR_2 message on the screen. It doesn't respond to anything at all as far as programming goes. In fact, the RSS stopped detecting that a radio was even hooked up. However, I can get it to go into clone mode by pressing all of the side buttons at once.

As far as the cable, I have a USB aftermarket model. It worked fine for a while, then the radio stopped responding. I NEVER was able to program ANYTHING into the radio, but I was able to read and edit the codeplug.

mfn002 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-15-2009, 01:44 PM

Ok. I just tried what n3obl suggested. As I suspected, the radio won't read or program. The RSS will give me the "TURN RADIO OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN TO BEGIN PROGRAMMING" message. I do this, and then nothing. The radio will still say "ERROR_2" and it will act as if nothing was happening. The RSS will just continuously show that message. Oddly, there are no error messages on the RSS indicating a problem. I tried this on an older (2000) laptop with only USB 1 ports.

MTS2000des · #9 (**permalink**) 08-15-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfn002

It's RSS CE31 v1.20 for the VX-800. The radio is a UHF VX-800U. It's an older, non-DTMF model. As for trying to upload anything to that radio, I highly doubt it would work. When you turn it on, all it gives me is the ERROR_2 message on the screen. It doesn't respond to anything at all as far as programming goes. In fact, the RSS stopped detecting that a radio was even hooked up. However, I can get it to go into clone mode by pressing all of the side buttons at once.

As far as the cable, I have a USB aftermarket model. It worked fine for a while, then the radio stopped responding. I NEVER was able to program ANYTHING into the radio, but I was able to read and edit the codeplug.

How are you able to use DOS based software with a USB cable without running some version of Windows? DOS does not support USB.I'll bet if you use the proper serial cable (OEM versus cheap Chinese knockoff) on a real DOS machine (no Windows shell or DOS box within Windows) you will probably get it to accept a codeplug, unless there is something physically wrong with the hardware.

mfn002 · #10 (**permalink**) 08-16-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTS2000des

How are you able to use DOS based software with a USB cable without running some version of Windows? DOS does not support USB.I'll bet if you use the proper serial cable (OEM versus cheap Chinese knockoff) on a real DOS machine (no Windows shell or DOS box within Windows) you will probably get it to accept a codeplug, unless there is something physically wrong with the hardware.

It's the DOS function on Windows XP. I'll go ahead and get the serial cable for it and hook it up to my DOS machine (AST PowerExec 3/25SL Color laptop). At this point, I've almost lost all confidence in this radio ever working again.

mfn002 · #11 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009, 10:39 AM

Okay. I've finally fixed the programming problem and have successfully programmed the radio (it was looking for it on the wrong COM port). However, I noticed that the channel text tag on the radio flashes and it won't RX. Is there some other problem here that I don't know about?

I also have another question:
The software allows me to program up to 10 groups. But I cannot find a way to access more than three of them at a time. How do I fix this?

auxscan · #12 (**permalink**) 01-14-2010, 10:26 AM

Take it to a dealer, if they can fix it then you're good. I serously hate spending money but if its worth it then I won't mind. I own a vx800 and its a trouble-maker but I leave the programming to my dealer.

mfn002 · #13 (**permalink**) 01-14-2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auxscan

Take it to a dealer, if they can fix it then you're good. I serously hate spending money but if its worth it then I won't mind. I own a vx800 and its a trouble-maker but I leave the programming to my dealer.

Wow. I completely forgot about this thread. I've given up on it. I now have a VX-120, but, strangely, I cannot get channels 1-4 to program. When I read it with the software, it shows those channels programmed. When I try to switch between those channels on the radio, I find that they start at channel 5, instead of 1. Admittedly, both radios were "parts" radios, but both worked; so I thought maybe I could fix them. The VX-800 was a total loss, but at least the VX-120 works.

auxscan · #14 (**permalink**) 01-14-2010, 03:33 PM

Take the channel slector off and place it right. It may be off, channel wise. My vx800 was off by one channel it would skip the first channel in the group. So I took it to my friend and he started laughing. He said the knob was off on selecter. And just as you may think, he was right. so play around with the channel knob until you get it right. hopes that helps.

mfn002 · #15 (**permalink**) 01-14-2010, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auxscan

Take the channel slector off and place it right. It may be off, channel wise. My vx800 was off by one channel it would skip the first channel in the group. So I took it to my friend and he started laughing. He said the knob was off on selecter. And just as you may think, he was right. so play around with the channel knob until you get it right. hopes that helps.

I don't know if that's what the problem is. The knob moves through all 16 positions. I did notice that when it hits channel 5, the radio beeps. I don't really know what that means. Anyways, the screw that holds that knob on has the head stripped off, so there's no real way for me to get it off.

auxscan · #16 (**permalink**) 01-14-2010, 03:48 PM

Im pretty sure thats the problem. good luck trying to get out whats jammed in the channel selector. When the radio beeps on a certain channel in a group its means its the priorty channel in the group or radio. In your case ch 5 is your prioty channel.

mfn002 · #17 (**permalink**) 01-14-2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auxscan

Im pretty sure thats the problem. good luck trying to get out whats jammed in the channel selector. When the radio beeps on a certain channel in a group its means its the priorty channel in the group or radio. In your case ch 5 is your prioty channel.

Oh well. I do have a Motorola Visar to fall back on now, so it isn't a big deal. I tried a screwdriver again, and it just stripped more (soft metal?).