Help with MTS2000 serial number mismatch issue

[kn6ujr]

I’ve been thinking about getting an MTS2000 to try out the 900MHz ham band. I found an 800MHz version at a thrift store, so although it’s the wrong frequency, I decided to buy it and see if I could figure out the programming.

I got a cable from BlueMax49ers and I am running CPS 2.03 in a Windows XP virtual machine, hosted by a Windows 10 computer. I have an FTDI USB serial adapter connected to the MTS2000 cable.

When I read the codeplug, it shows a different serial number than the one on the radio. I tried changing the conventional receive frequency and using the clone function. When I read the serial number in the clone function, it reads out correctly. However, when I try to program the radio (change the conventional personality to a different frequency and make it receive only), I get the error "Radio serial number doesn't match one in database." The Last Programmed information says the source was Labtool.

I am a new user, so this could very well be user error. Any suggestions for what to try next, or tutorials to watch?

 

[nokones]

The MTS2000 will not operate on the HAM 900 MHz band range. I believe the HAM 900 MHz freq pairs may not have been allocated when the MTS2000 900 MHz radios were released.

It is my understanding that you'll have to do some hex editing. The lowest frequency that can be programmed is 935 MHz.

I believe the MTX radios may have same freq. restriction. The XPRs, XTS2500, and the XTL2500 would be your best bet.

 

[mmckenna]

When I read the codeplug, it shows a different serial number than the one on the radio. I tried changing the conventional receive frequency and using the clone function. When I read the serial number in the clone function, it reads out correctly. However, when I try to program the radio (change the conventional personality to a different frequency and make it receive only), I get the error "Radio serial number doesn't match one in database." The Last Programmed information says the source was Labtool.

I am a new user, so this could very well be user error. Any suggestions for what to try next, or tutorials to watch?

Labtool will let the user mess with things that shouldn't be messed with.

Possibility it's a radio that was assembled from junk parts.

www.batlabs.com is a good source of information.

If you are looking for a commercial radio to use on 900MHz amateur, find a Kenwood NX-411 and the info on opening up the ham bands. There was someone selling a bunch of them a while back that were modified for ham use.

 

[N4KVE]

Some MTS2000’s work fine at 902/927, & some don’t. Many will not transmit on 927 T/A. But I haven't seen a XPR, XTS, or XTL that wouldn’t. 800/900 dual band XPR’s are under $100.

 

[MTS2000des]

What he said. 900MHz Jedi's are a crap shoot for working on the 927/902 ham band. Some VCOs lock on both high and low, some on one or not the other, and there is nothing that can be done. It all in how the stripline inductors on the RF board in the VCO module were made when they were "born" in the Florida or Penang factories three decades ago. Grab and XTS/XTL like he said.

 

[AM909]

... If you are looking for a commercial radio to use on 900MHz amateur, find a Kenwood NX-411 and the info on opening up the ham bands. There was someone selling a bunch of them a while back that were modified for ham use.

What he said. Probably thinking of Chris, KF6AJM, on the PNW-902MHz Pacific Northwest 902 mailing list. That group has a treasure trove of ham 900 stuff. There's also good Kenwood 900 stuff at KW902.com.

 

[kn6ujr]

Thanks for the helpful advice everyone! Sounds like another model would be a better bet. Do any of the other suggested Motorola radios work with the MTS2000 cable I already have?

 

[nokones]

Thanks for the helpful advice everyone! Sounds like another model would be a better bet. Do any of the other suggested Motorola radios work with the MTS2000 cable I already have?

Yes, All of the Jedi series, HT1000, MT2000, JT1000, MTXs, and some others but none of those radios will operate on/in 900 MHz band, and the XTS3000 with a RIB and a Serial Adapter and again I believe the XTS3000 also will not operate on/in the 900 MHz band freqs.