Function 5 freeze on AOR 8600 MK2

[dd367]

In putty "force echo" appears to do the trick, at least now I can see what I am typing , its unusual as the echo is normally on,,, anyway commands MRa00 shows Question mark ? MQ shows Question mark ? PC0 shows Question mark ? and GD%% certainly does freeze the radio, hitting enter on the radio does not end the session, the only way to get any response from the radio after typing GD%% is to unplug it and plug it back in. its the same problem if I try to clear the select channels with aorctrl software.

 

[AOR-262]

The reason you're getting a '?' reply when sending the command 'MRa00' is because Memory Bank 'a' and Channel '00' doesn't exist. You will also get a '?' response if you send the command 'MQ' and the Memory Channel is protected OR the Memory Bank is protected. You'll need to unprotect the Memory Channel or Bank to be able to modify or delete it -- see commands below.

As for the device still freezing, this maybe caused by the Terminal Emulator software you are using. Even after sending the command 'EX', check your Terminal Emulator 'Handshake' is disabled as this can act as a 'connection keep alive'.

Pressing the 'ENT' key should force close the RS232 connection and your keypad should now be re-enabled. You can confirm this by looking for the dot with a circle around it has disappeared from the display of the 8600.

---

WM - Write Protect Bank

To set: WMxn<CR>
Where x is bank (A-J or a-j) and n=0
(protect off), n=1 (protect on)

To read:
WM<CR> or WM%%<CR>

Responds with a listing of 10 banks starting from the last queried bank.

OR

WP - Write protect
enable To set: WPn<CR>
Where n=0 (disabled)
or n=1 (enabled)

To read: WP<CR>
Responds with WPn as above

 

[dd367]

At the time I tried those commands I had deleted the banks.
OK if I make a new memory in a00 still there are select scans stuck in which cannot be deleted.

GR command shows the following and even though there are no protections set they cannot be deleted.
each time I run GD%% the radio freezes

despite what memory I add to a00 all the 36 select scan below are renamed to whatever I programmed to bank a00

GR
GR00 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR01 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR02 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR03 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR04 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR05 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR06 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR07 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR08 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR09 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR10 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR11 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR12 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR13 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR14 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR15 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR16 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR17 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR18 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR19 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR20 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR21 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR22 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR23 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR24 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR25 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR26 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR27 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR28 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR29 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR30 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR31 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR32 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR33 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR34 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR35 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR36 MXa00 RF0088000000 ST100000 AU1 MD0 AT0 TM
GR37 ---

GD%%
freeze, there is no way of exiting with EX command or pressing enter. the only way of exiting is by unplugging and plugging back in.

It appears impossible to remove these select scans.

 

[dd367]

ps. I can add up to 100 select scans and I can delete all of them except GR00 to GR36

there are no protections set. all other functions and commands are working fine.

 

[AOR-262]

Have you got the program AR86ctrl v1.41?

(if not, download it from here: Klaus Botschan - AR8600 and AR8200 control software - Ar86ctrl

Let me know when you have it installed and up and running. I will send you a test file.

 

[dd367]

yes I have AR86ctrl v1.41 installed

 

[AOR-262]

1. Load this file (file attached to this message) into Bank 'a'.

2. Disconnect the RS232 cable from the rear of the receiver

3. Press '2VFO' and then press 'SCAN'

4. Using the Arrow Keys, press either the Left or Right 'x' amount of times until you see 'a00' on your 8600 screen -- manually going though all channels using the tuning dial checking for any that may be flagged with 'SEL' (for selective scanning).

5. Reconnect your 8600 to your RS232 cable, open the AR86CTRL program.

6. In the 'Lists', select Bank 'a:'

7. Right click the mouse and select 'More Memory Commands' and then select 'Delete ALL Channels in Bank"

 

[dd367]

I did exactly that , all was OK up to step 7. then it says at the bottom of the window

error on command MQa%% occurred

 

[dd367]

ps if I issue that command from the command line in putty it does in fact delete the whole of bank a

 

[dd367]

in fact step 7 did delete all the channels even though at the end it gives the error. GR still shows the 36 select scans but only if bank aa0 has something in it, if the a00 is empty it will not display the select scans it just freezes.

 

[AOR-262]

I think I've exhausted all possible options for this issue you're having with your 8600. I have recreated the problem you're having but I am easy able to remedy it. It could possibly be a hardware fault or corruption of the firmware. It seems as if your 8600 works ok apart from the issue you've got? Whether you choose to have an AOR dealer or AOR themselves take a look at it, that's up to you.

 

[dd367]

Thanks for all your help. Yes I think its either a hardware or firmware problem. Actually other than the "select scan issue" all is OK so I will probably leave it be as the radio is still usable. I could try to reinstall the firmware , I will ask AOR if that is possible.

 

[dd367]

FIY, resizing bank a to 10 / bank A 90 has wiped off 35 of the 36 select scans.

 

[biffa18]

iv seen a few on ebay with that problem ..AOR must be aware of that flt !

 

[dd367]

yep AOR know about it. actually its not a problem as long as you keep some freq stored in a00

 

[AOR-262]

Resizing a Bank will erase the remaining contents.

Default Bank size is A50/a50, B50/b50 etc ..

If you resize a memory which currently contains 50 channels to a new size of 10
channels, the last 40 channels will be deleted and data will be lost! Potentially when you resize
memory banks, programmed data may be lost so it is suggested that you carefully organise
your memory data before resizing memory channels. Individual memory channel protect will be
ignored but if a whole memory bank is protected, resizing will be inhibited.