Harris M7300 Programming issues

[W6STO]

I have just acquired a Harris M7300 and RPM R8A. I am running RPM on my windows 11 pc. Using a generic DB9 RS232 cable to connect. I was able to overcome the issue of RPM not finding the comm port by editing the XML file using instructions that I found in these forums. The radio and RPM are now communicating to atleast some degree. When I try to read the radio the message on the control head does change to "code read", "Status" and a few other messages have appeared. This will then end in a variety of errors. Mostly "could not initialize radio make sure it is in program mode and serial connected" or "Radio was programmed with a later version of the programming software, please contact software services".

Does anyone have any insight on what I could do to resolve this? Is the RPM version issue the cause of this and is there a way to make this radio work with the version I have? Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[wa8pyr]

I have just acquired a Harris M7300 and RPM R8A. I am running RPM on my windows 11 pc. Using a generic DB9 RS232 cable to connect. I was able to overcome the issue of RPM not finding the comm port by editing the XML file using instructions that I found in these forums. The radio and RPM are now communicating to atleast some degree. When I try to read the radio the message on the control head does change to "code read", "Status" and a few other messages have appeared. This will then end in a variety of errors. Mostly "could not initialize radio make sure it is in program mode and serial connected" or "Radio was programmed with a later version of the programming software, please contact software services".

Does anyone have any insight on what I could do to resolve this? Is the RPM version issue the cause of this and is there a way to make this radio work with the version I have? Any tips would be appreciated.

Probably both.

The "later version of software" message indicates that you need a newer (probably much newer) version of RPM, if not RPM2.

Harris products are also very picky about what kind of USB-Serial adapter they'll work with, so you might try a different adapter.

On top of that, reports I've seen indicate that Windows 11 itself isn't exactly quite up to snuff as far as USB devices go.

If you can, try a computer with an actual hardware comm port, and an earlier version of Windows (once you get an updated copy of RPM that is).

 

[W6STO]

Probably both.

The "later version of software" message indicates that you need a newer (probably much newer) version of RPM, if not RPM2.

Harris products are also very picky about what kind of USB-Serial adapter they'll work with, so you might try a different adapter.

On top of that, reports I've seen indicate that Windows 11 itself isn't exactly quite up to snuff as far as USB devices go.

If you can, try a computer with an actual hardware comm port, and an earlier version of Windows (once you get an updated copy of RPM that is).

Thanks for the reply. I am using a DB9-DB9 cable to my computers serial port, no USB involved. So maybe my issue is just in the software version? I have continued trying to program and read and I have been able to get it to start to program but now it ends with an error message on the control head. Either ER 0110 or ER 05001. Do you know where I can find a list of what these errors are?

 

[wa8pyr]

Thanks for the reply. I am using a DB9-DB9 cable to my computers serial port, no USB involved. So maybe my issue is just in the software version? I have continued trying to program and read and I have been able to get it to start to program but now it ends with an error message on the control head. Either ER 0110 or ER 05001. Do you know where I can find a list of what these errors are?

All I can think of is call your local Harris dealer and ask. I do this for work and fortunately have a good relationship with our local Harris shop, so if I see an error message I don't recognize I just call them and ask.

I'd bet on your problem being the software version, and with an M7300 it's very likely that you'll need either RPM v14C or RPM2 (at least v10).

 

[W6STO]

All I can think of is call your local Harris dealer and ask. I do this for work and fortunately have a good relationship with our local Harris shop, so if I see an error message I don't recognize I just call them and ask.

I'd bet on your problem being the software version, and with an M7300 it's very likely that you'll need either RPM v14C or RPM2 (at least v10).

Thanks for the help. I got my hands on RPM r14c and now everything works.