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MCS-2000 Programming Questions

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phillydjdan

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I've been seeing some cheap MCS-2000 type 2's on fleabay, and am considering buying one. I'd like to program it myself, but I have a couple questions first. I'm familiar with programming some other radios (Spectra, CDM's, HT-1000's, Radius series, etc) but none that uses Flashport and none which did trunking or used a system key. I have RSS versions R03.10.00 and R04.00.00, but I've never used them before. If I were to get a radio that had a system key, is there a way to reprogram the radio without having that system key? Is a system key only for trunking radios? What would I need to do to program some conventional channels into one of these things? I'm worried that I'll buy a radio and programming cable and will get stuck trying to read or write to the radio because it has a system key or something. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
 

N4KVE

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A system key is only needed to program trunking systems. You don't need a key to program conventional freq's, menu's, scan lists, or buttons, etc. However, if the radio you purchase has been programmed with software newer than what you have, you won't even be able to read the radio you plan to buy GARY N4KVE
 
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Devilz311

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The system key for trunking systems is a file stored on the computer itself, not the radio.
 

phillydjdan

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So what you're saying is as long as I have the same version (or newer) of the programming software (and providing I don't have a RIB or cable issue), I should be able to read and write to the radio without any problems, so long as I'm not trying to program a trunked system? Even if there's already one programmed in the radio?

I just located a version of the windows CPS for the radio, and it appears to resemble the CPS for the CDM & HT series. Is there any big differences between the two?

Ok, now my curiosity is piqued. I've programmed different types of radios for conventional channels, but I'm totally new to the prospect of trunking systems (although I have several scanners that I've programmed for trunking), Is there anywhere I can find some comprehensive information on how to program a trunked system or the various features, etc, that go into trunking systems? I'm the type of person that thirsts for knowledge, so I'm curious about this stuff. Like, what does a system key do? Is there many differences between the way a scanner and a radio are programed? I'm just looking for general or hypothetical info , not anything specific to any system. I don't want to program one, just want to learn more about it. Any help teaching me the in's and out's would be appreciated.
 

jim202

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The MCS2000 is very sensitive to low programming voltage. I have found that most of the knock off RIB devices do not provide the required voltage to program this radio. Proceed with an open mind when trying to do the programming on this radio.

Jim
 

Devilz311

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So what you're saying is as long as I have the same version (or newer) of the programming software (and providing I don't have a RIB or cable issue), I should be able to read and write to the radio without any problems, so long as I'm not trying to program a trunked system? Even if there's already one programmed in the radio?

You can program anything conventional-wise without a problem. As far as the trunking goes, you can assign the talkgroups to different channels and scanlists, you just cannot change any of the trunking data or create talkgroups.

I just located a version of the windows CPS for the radio, and it appears to resemble the CPS for the CDM & HT series. Is there any big differences between the two?

I think the biggest annoyance of the MTS/MCS CPS over the Professional CPS is the Personality assignments. In the Professional series it's listed in the tree view by name rather than just by the number as in the MTS CPS. There are other differences in the layout of the two programs, but the general idea is the same. Personalities have the data, which is then assigned to a Zone and Channel.
 

oemctx4

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Jay
I guess I meant that CPS doesn't program "any" radio. My bad I should have explained that. I love the MCS2000 Model 3
Don #4
 

phillydjdan

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Lol yeah, I went back and started the software again, and sure enough, it said MCS200 CPS version 2.whatever. So I was confused. Ok, so I guess to play it safe I should probably try and find the latest version of this CPS. That'll be fun...

I've seen discussion about using the mic connector vs. the accessory connector, and I think if I do this I'll get the accessory connector programming cable. I believe my RIB is not Moto, but I've seen various people give differing results, so I'll try that and see how it goes. I've had low power Spectras give me problems where it would take a few tries to get the thing to read or write, but it eventually worked.

Now, is the system key just a different phrase for "password"? From what i was able to Google, you would need the system ID, and the system key. I guess that file contains what basically amounts to a glorified password. Am I right on that?

I'm seriously considering turning to Type 2 or Type 3 MCS's instead of CDM's. They seem to have more features (a bigger display is a plus for me). Looks like the only negative I see is that there's no speaker in the head (which isn't a deal breaker by any means). And they are certainly cheaper!
 

Devilz311

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Now, is the system key just a different phrase for "password"? From what i was able to Google, you would need the system ID, and the system key. I guess that file contains what basically amounts to a glorified password. Am I right on that?

Basically. The system key is a file (it's a .key file) that "allows" the CPS to modify the trunking information in the codeplug. The file itself just contains a few lines of code.

I'm seriously considering turning to Type 2 or Type 3 MCS's instead of CDM's. They seem to have more features (a bigger display is a plus for me). Looks like the only negative I see is that there's no speaker in the head (which isn't a deal breaker by any means). And they are certainly cheaper!

I like the MCS Type III's, the only downside is that they are Flashport radios, so any other option is going to be an add-on. With the CDM Radios, everying is included, like the rest of the Waris radios.
 

N4KVE

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The MCS2000 is very sensitive to low programming voltage. I have found that most of the knock off RIB devices do not provide the required voltage to program this radio. Proceed with an open mind when trying to do the programming on this radio.

Jim
I have absolutely no problem programming my UHF MCS2000 with a Sandy Ganz [Radio Stu] rib. But I do use the acc connecter. GARY N4KVE
 

phillydjdan

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I like the MCS Type III's, the only downside is that they are Flashport radios, so any other option is going to be an add-on. With the CDM Radios, everying is included, like the rest of the Waris radios.

What kind of flash features would a basic MCS-2000 come with? I mean, I really only need it to transmit and receive on the band it's supposed to, in analog conventional mode, with PL or DPL, and it needs to have scan capability. Other than that, the other features don't matter to me. It would be nice to have MDC-1200 signalling, though.
 

bezking

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MDC1200 is a flash option that you would need to get. Scan, Conventional, Repeater Operation, and PL/DPL are standard on every radio.
 

RKG

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Are you aware that the maximum size of a scan list on an MCS2000 is 15+1 for conventional (10+1 for SmartNet)? The scan feature is fine for "working" applications (where, by definition, scan lists have to be short to avoid interfering with the user's function), but not a substitute of a hobbyist scanner for hobbyist purposes.
 

phillydjdan

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I was not aware of that, but isn't the CDM/HT series the same way? Or am I thinking of the Spectra? Either way, 15+1 is fine for what I need.
 

phillydjdan

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Ok, so an update on my quest. A friend of mine had an old model 1 800 MHz radio collecting dust, so he let me mess with the programming, and the cable and software worked with no problems. So I purchased a UHF model 2 off of Fleabay, through Wiscomm. It arrived today, and I had no problems reading or writing to the radio. It is now powered up and working great! It even has MDC in it :) Thanks for all the help, fellas!
 
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