kd4e
Member
There's a pot # R60 in the VHF-Hi models that's supposed to control Squelch. Could that be tapped and brought out somehow?
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Motorola RSS Settings for Ham Radio
- Thread starter kd4e
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petnrdx
Member
I knew you would.
kd4e
Member
If the software says 99 channels/modes and the control head counts to 99, does that mean I actually have 99 to program?
petnrdx
Member
No, you can just program one ch if you like. 1 up to 99.
Warning, you can't program say channel 5 to have the number like 88 as you could with the Maxtrac or GM300.
The Maratrac and M400 just increase the ch number sequentially one after the other.
I made that mistake trying to use the channel numbers as mnemonics.
Didn't work.
Would have been nice to be able to have say 52.58 be numbered as 58 but really be some other actual channel.
The 99 Ch Maxtrac works the same way, but the 32 channel ones don't.
Warning, you can't program say channel 5 to have the number like 88 as you could with the Maxtrac or GM300.
The Maratrac and M400 just increase the ch number sequentially one after the other.
I made that mistake trying to use the channel numbers as mnemonics.
Didn't work.
Would have been nice to be able to have say 52.58 be numbered as 58 but really be some other actual channel.
The 99 Ch Maxtrac works the same way, but the 32 channel ones don't.
petnrdx
Member
As for trying to "remote" POT R60, no that is the wrong one for what you wanna' do.
Sounds like you are thinking of the small pot on the RF board in the small inner radio chassis.
There is an L shaped Audio Squelch board that has a larger POT, R1132 if memory serves me.
The one you are referencing is only one of the two POTS that affect the squelch in that radio.
I don't know why they did it this way, but one kinda sets the lower threshold, and the other kinda sets the upper threshold.
Its in that manual supplement you saw on RB.
I suppose you could remote that POT (either POT) but the "leads" running from the interconnect board in the radio chassis
are being used by something else unless you have those ESP01 model boards.
I thought about doing what you ask, but I looked at it, and it was too much for me to bother with.
I just set the squelch fairly tight, and HOLD the MON button to open the squelch on the rare times where the squelch
cuts anybody off.
Sounds like you are thinking of the small pot on the RF board in the small inner radio chassis.
There is an L shaped Audio Squelch board that has a larger POT, R1132 if memory serves me.
The one you are referencing is only one of the two POTS that affect the squelch in that radio.
I don't know why they did it this way, but one kinda sets the lower threshold, and the other kinda sets the upper threshold.
Its in that manual supplement you saw on RB.
I suppose you could remote that POT (either POT) but the "leads" running from the interconnect board in the radio chassis
are being used by something else unless you have those ESP01 model boards.
I thought about doing what you ask, but I looked at it, and it was too much for me to bother with.
I just set the squelch fairly tight, and HOLD the MON button to open the squelch on the rare times where the squelch
cuts anybody off.
kd4e
Member
I missed that about the MON button - it has to be held to work? Cool to know that! I wonder if one of the wires to the control head, that I'm not using, could be repurposed ...
petnrdx
Member
Yes, a short push of the MON button will turn off the RX PL if the channel you are on has an RX PL programmed.
It puts you in carrier squelch.
If you push and hold down the MON button for several seconds, it opens the squelch.
It puts you in carrier squelch.
If you push and hold down the MON button for several seconds, it opens the squelch.
kd4e
Member
OK ... back at it ... the programming will accept 52.525 and 52.400 (both simplex) but will not accept 53.0500 (which will be a repeater entry).
Any ideas why, please?
Any suggested solutions, please?
Thanks
Any ideas why, please?
Any suggested solutions, please?
Thanks
Might be outside what the software allows. Try holding down the shift key when you enter the frequency numbers, and release it when entering decimal point; that works for some other older radios.
All sorts of useful info here: An overview of the Motorola Radio Service Software (RSS), the Radio Interface Box (RIB), their history, problems and some solutions
petnrdx
Member
I am pretty sure the shift key method didn't work on Maratrac OR M400 RSS.
I sent you a direct email too.
I sent you a direct email too.
kd4e
Member
No joy on Shift-Enter
kd4e
Member
I guess I need to find a copy of the Maratrac software that's been hacked for 6m.
Always a new adventure ...
Always a new adventure ...
kd4e
Member
I'm coming up empty on this. Does anyone have any information as to how I might edit the RSS so that I may enter 6 Meter repeater splits. The copy I have is not playing nicely. Thanks.
kd4e
Member
I'm reading this and it's early evening ... my eyes are glazing over. Maybe it will come together in my head in the morning?
EPROM Data Changes:
First you need to find the table. The simplest things to look for are the start frequency that represents 22.5 MHz (hex 1194), followed by the span size that represents 475 kHz (hex 005F) for the 5.0 kHz step size. You should also find values for the 6.25 kHz step size immediately following these (hex 0E10 and hex 004C). These are found exactly once in the EPROMs.
The next four words cover the 36-42 MHz band-split. Nothing needs to be changed here.
To alter the 42-50 MHz range so it covers up through 54 MHz, you only need to alter the step sizes. The next four words cover this band-split. You don't need to change the start frequency but you do need to change the span size from hex 006B to hex 00A0 (535 to 800 kHz) for 5 kHz step size. Similarly you don't need to change the start frequency but you do need to change the span size from hex 0056 to hex 0080 (537.5 kHz to 800 kHz) for 6.25 kHz step size.
If all these changes are implemented correctly the checksum at hex location FF90 (EPROM image file hex location 7F90) should be changed from hex FFFF to hex 4EFF. Some EPROM image files may fill unused locations with hex 00 bytes. The same technique is still used but the correction value will be different.
Remember that the words you're changing are each composed of two bytes, in ascending order, and these bytes may not both be in the same word. I have not given you exact addresses to change, since the table is located at different places in each firmware version. So you need to find the table and work down from there. If you read the firmware out of an existing EPROM, it occupies the address space from hex 0000 to hex 7FFF, but when residing in the radio, it occupies the space from hex 8000 to hex FFFF. I use Hex Workshop to hex edit all my binary files. I've set it up for Motorola byte order and to display 16 individual bytes per line on the screen.
Replacing the EPROM:
Before you replace the EPROM, you should go through all of the Logic Board Replacement screens (press F10 to exit each screen without entering or saving data) and write down all the settings. Wise old saying: It's better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them. Unplug the radio and replace the EPROM. Power the radio back up, connect a wattmeter, dummy load, frequency counter, and deviation meter (a service monitor will have all of these) to the antenna jack. Start RSS and go through the Logic Board Replacement screens, particularly the ones that have 16 alignment points for Deviation and Output Power. Remember that the alignment frequencies will change with the new firmware as the radio now covers the ham bands. Go through each of the 16 alignment points, pressing F8 to save these when you're finished. Remember, the frequency displayed by RSS will NOT be the actual alignment frequency the radio is transmitting on. Remember to affix some notation on the radio that states it now has ham-friendly firmware.
EPROM Data Changes:
First you need to find the table. The simplest things to look for are the start frequency that represents 22.5 MHz (hex 1194), followed by the span size that represents 475 kHz (hex 005F) for the 5.0 kHz step size. You should also find values for the 6.25 kHz step size immediately following these (hex 0E10 and hex 004C). These are found exactly once in the EPROMs.
The next four words cover the 36-42 MHz band-split. Nothing needs to be changed here.
To alter the 42-50 MHz range so it covers up through 54 MHz, you only need to alter the step sizes. The next four words cover this band-split. You don't need to change the start frequency but you do need to change the span size from hex 006B to hex 00A0 (535 to 800 kHz) for 5 kHz step size. Similarly you don't need to change the start frequency but you do need to change the span size from hex 0056 to hex 0080 (537.5 kHz to 800 kHz) for 6.25 kHz step size.
If all these changes are implemented correctly the checksum at hex location FF90 (EPROM image file hex location 7F90) should be changed from hex FFFF to hex 4EFF. Some EPROM image files may fill unused locations with hex 00 bytes. The same technique is still used but the correction value will be different.
Remember that the words you're changing are each composed of two bytes, in ascending order, and these bytes may not both be in the same word. I have not given you exact addresses to change, since the table is located at different places in each firmware version. So you need to find the table and work down from there. If you read the firmware out of an existing EPROM, it occupies the address space from hex 0000 to hex 7FFF, but when residing in the radio, it occupies the space from hex 8000 to hex FFFF. I use Hex Workshop to hex edit all my binary files. I've set it up for Motorola byte order and to display 16 individual bytes per line on the screen.
Replacing the EPROM:
Before you replace the EPROM, you should go through all of the Logic Board Replacement screens (press F10 to exit each screen without entering or saving data) and write down all the settings. Wise old saying: It's better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them. Unplug the radio and replace the EPROM. Power the radio back up, connect a wattmeter, dummy load, frequency counter, and deviation meter (a service monitor will have all of these) to the antenna jack. Start RSS and go through the Logic Board Replacement screens, particularly the ones that have 16 alignment points for Deviation and Output Power. Remember that the alignment frequencies will change with the new firmware as the radio now covers the ham bands. Go through each of the 16 alignment points, pressing F8 to save these when you're finished. Remember, the frequency displayed by RSS will NOT be the actual alignment frequency the radio is transmitting on. Remember to affix some notation on the radio that states it now has ham-friendly firmware.
kd4e
Member
kd4e
Member
kd4e
Member
The error happens when I try to enter 53.0300 in place of 52.5250
I've tried using the Shift key for the numbers, not the period, but that only works in the 2m rss ... no idea why only there.
I've tried using the Shift key for the numbers, not the period, but that only works in the 2m rss ... no idea why only there.
I absolutly recommend doing the firmware swap
it will keep the radio from being out of control for power and deviation
I dont think I have any eproms left from all the radios I did
but do have the modded firmware
you would need a UV eprom eraser
and a eprom programmer
it will keep the radio from being out of control for power and deviation
I dont think I have any eproms left from all the radios I did
but do have the modded firmware
you would need a UV eprom eraser
and a eprom programmer
kd4e
Member
Would this work or is it too modern?
github.com
GitHub - beneater/eeprom-programmer: Arduino EEPROM programmer
Arduino EEPROM programmer. Contribute to beneater/eeprom-programmer development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
Would this work or is it too modern?
GitHub - beneater/eeprom-programmer: Arduino EEPROM programmer
Arduino EEPROM programmer. Contribute to beneater/eeprom-programmer development by creating an account on GitHub.
it might
I bought a cheapie USB one off ebay for $25 or so
that was a few years ago before the world exploded
search for a USB TL866 Universal Programmer
and you will need a UV eraser
be careful what eprom you buy (you dont want to wipe the factory one right off)
as these things are now scarce as hens teeth and fake/bad ones are everywhere
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