MR8100: All I want for Christmas...

tip

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... is programming software (WIN10 friendly) for my working MR8100 scanner, and...

...source for on/off switch:

Capture.PNG20231124_150636.png

TIA
- Tip
 

tip

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Thanks... got SCAN to launch in DOSBox... now waiting on cable that I thought I had, from Amazon!
 

tip

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Well... after much playing around, got the scanner connected to the PC, I can see it in device manager. Set the comm port to COM1, modified the dosbox config file, but SCAN nor MR8100 software cannot see the radio. Ant tips?
 

mc48

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Computer Settings for Win7 | Win 10 Control Panel → Device Manager → view Hidden Devices (reveals Ports (Com & LPT) Expand to show the USB Serial Port (Com #) Right click and go to Properties → Port Setting Tab Bits per second: 1200 Data bits: 8 Parity: None Stop Bits: 1 Flow Control: None Go to Advanced ... button --> set COM Port Number: COM1 Select OK and exit the Control Panel.

Programming the MR8100 and testing connectivity Start DosBox Change the working directory to the MR8100 folder. Initiate the MR8100.exe >C: mr8100 If you press F7 you can change the default directory so that you are now working in a new file. Give it a new name like GardenGRV, so now you are working/editing a new file. To test connectivity, Hit F3 and you will either: A: a progress bar moving right to left indicating that the data retrieval from MR8100 B: a BEEP and a message “Radio link failed!”. If it’s BEEP Error Message, then there is an issue with the physical connections, com port setting in computer or DosBox config. If it’s the former then you will be able to use the keyboard and mouse to begin programming the Frequencies, Alpha Tags, Bank IDs and other settings into the MR8100. For the process of programming the MR8100 the .RFT file from SK Consultants will now come in handy.

This info is from member techynyc
 

tip

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Computer Settings for Win7 | Win 10 Control Panel → Device Manager → view Hidden Devices (reveals Ports (Com & LPT) Expand to show the USB Serial Port (Com #) Right click and go to Properties → Port Setting Tab Bits per second: 1200 Data bits: 8 Parity: None Stop Bits: 1 Flow Control: None Go to Advanced ... button --> set COM Port Number: COM1 Select OK and exit the Control Panel.

Programming the MR8100 and testing connectivity Start DosBox Change the working directory to the MR8100 folder. Initiate the MR8100.exe >C: mr8100 If you press F7 you can change the default directory so that you are now working in a new file. Give it a new name like GardenGRV, so now you are working/editing a new file. To test connectivity, Hit F3 and you will either: A: a progress bar moving right to left indicating that the data retrieval from MR8100 B: a BEEP and a message “Radio link failed!”. If it’s BEEP Error Message, then there is an issue with the physical connections, com port setting in computer or DosBox config. If it’s the former then you will be able to use the keyboard and mouse to begin programming the Frequencies, Alpha Tags, Bank IDs and other settings into the MR8100. For the process of programming the MR8100 the .RFT file from SK Consultants will now come in handy.

This info is from member techynyc
Thanks for the response... yep had done all of the above.

I decided to look again at the DosBox config file, and lo and behold, I found that I had fat fingered the serial1 entry. Corrected it to the following and all is well (i had misspelled 'directserial'!

serial1=directserial realport:com1 →(COM port number must match in Device Manager and MR8100)
serial2=dummy
serial3=disabled
serial4=disabled
 

techynyc

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Its gratifying to read that my many hours of tinkering with DosBox and the MR8100 has helped a fellow RR member!
I no longer have any MR8100 so I cannot update my notes (future DosBox updates may require additional configs.)
Vintage PC game forums on the Internet also rely on DosBox to emulate/connect via serial connections which helped me figure out how to setup DosBox Com port for the MR8100 interface. The image in OP appears to show that the protective cover is missing on this unit. As noted by other members, this would indicate that the volume knob will turn the unit on/off. There were two model 8100 I had both so one had the on/off switch(ideal for home/base use) In the alternate version the On/Swithc was omited with a hard rubber cover. The alternate version could easily be turned on while wearing gloves which was ideal use for mobile applications like the CA Highway patrol circa 1980s.
 
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