Motorola Spectra Programming Help

[lp]

I have a stack of Motorola Spectra VHF Radios that I am going to program, NO I DO NOT WANT Software, I already have that, as well as the RIB Box, Cords, Power Supply, etc... However here is my problem.

I get Serial Bus Error: Power Fault error in RSS, when I do anything to communicate with the radios (all don't work, not just one), and the RIB box lights up, and the radio reads "PROGRAM" but I just asked me to retry and I get the same Serial Bus Error.

Now I am using a Toughbook CF-27 with XP but I'm running it in DOS, I think maybe the computer is too fast?

Really need help here I got a lot invested into this as you can tell.

Thanks in advance.

 

[MaizeBlueFlyover]

Opening a "Command Prompt" or "MS-DOS" window in Windowx XP is not going to cut it. You need to run a true DOS OS like MS-DOS 6.22 on an older computer with a serial port.

I know some people have had luck booting into DOS on a Windows 98 machine. I use a true DOS environment on my spectra programming using an older 486 computer. I even go into the BIOS and disable all the caching and set the clock speed down on the processor as low as it can go.

 

[shaft]

You can download the image of FreeDos, burn it to a CD and either boot from it or install it on your laptop and dual boot the machine. FreeDos works just fine with RSS. Jut another option for ya.

 

[lp]

Okay, whats a good speed? I'd imagen around 33mhz-100mhz?

This is what I assumed was the problem to fast for the radio... At least I didn't screw up the radio, yet.

 

[lp]

You can download the image of FreeDos, burn it to a CD and either boot from it or install it on your laptop and dual boot the machine. FreeDos works just fine with RSS. Jut another option for ya.

If I need a DOS machine I will buy one, I don't feel like playing games, and messing stuff up.

Would a windows 95 computer work, in DOS?

 

[lp]

I just ordered an old IBM thinkpad, it has MS DOS and Windows 3.11 so I think THIS computer should work... If not its worth a try.

 

[zz0468]

I've found Spectra RSS to be fairly tolerant of computer speed, so before you spend the money of a slower old PC, you may want to try just booting straight to DOS 6.22. If you can boot of the thumb drive, or floppy, or something, that would work. I prefer to set up the system with dual boot capability. What's really needed though, is a real DOS OS, not a window in XP. IT WON'T WORK!

Also, look for a couple of programs called Mo'Slo and Slowdown. Those can be useful in slowing things down to the point RSS works, but there's no guarantee.

 

[zz0468]

I just ordered an old IBM thinkpad, it has MS DOS and Windows 3.11 so I think THIS computer should work... If not its worth a try.

That'll work just fine.

 

[mfn002]

I get Serial Bus Error: Power Fault error in RSS, when I do anything to communicate with the radios (all don't work, not just one), and the RIB box lights up, and the radio reads "PROGRAM" but I just asked me to retry and I get the same Serial Bus Error.

Same problem I have (without the "PROGRAM" readout). I get that Power Fault error and I have never been able to program my Spectra. I suspect it might have to do with a bad RIB or something, because I got that error even without the cable hooked up to the box. It gave me "ERROR 003" when I attempted to use the box to program an HT600 I had. I have a Sony Vaio PCGF610 that I got for Xmas in 2000 running XP. The software I use to program a GP300 I have works fine (I was able to program the radio on more than one occassion).

 

[rescue161]

Any computer can run DOS. I do as zz0468 does and have mine set up as a dual boot (Windows 2000 and DOS).

The fastest one that is running DOS / Windows 2000 is a PII 366 MHz with 256MB of RAM. It has zero problems programming Spectras or Systems Sabers, which are fairly finicky radios.

Look, "Restarting" your computer from Windows to boot DOS is NOT pure DOS. Opening DOS in a window is NOT pure DOS.

There are only a couple of ways to get true DOS:

1) Place a Startup disk from Windows 98 or DOS into a Floppy drive and cut the computer on. It will boot into pure DOS.

2) Install DOS on the computer and run it that way. If you still need Windows, then install DOS on a seperate partition and make it dual boot. That way when you cut the computer on, you have a choice as to which OS you want to run.

 

[RKG]

Just to be sure that something hasn't been overlooked: I trust you are aware that you must apply 12VDC to Pin 5 of the DB-15 on the back of the mid-power Spectra in order for the radio to power up? When you remove the accessory plug in order to inser the RIB-to-radio plug, you lose the "ignition sense" that normally powers Pin 5; this is why the Spectra RIB-to-radio cable has the red flying lead on it.

 

[mfn002]

Just to be sure that something hasn't been overlooked: I trust you are aware that you must apply 12VDC to Pin 5 of the DB-15 on the back of the mid-power Spectra in order for the radio to power up? When you remove the accessory plug in order to inser the RIB-to-radio plug, you lose the "ignition sense" that normally powers Pin 5; this is why the Spectra RIB-to-radio cable has the red flying lead on it.

I have the same problem. I've always had that ignition sense lead hooked up (radio powers on). Still, I get that "SERIAL BUS FAILURE: POWER FAULT" message on the RSS when I try to access the radio or try to test the comm when in setup mode. Now, the DATA light on the RIB I have will blink briefly before the message appears (It does the same when I use the HT600 RSS on an HT600 I have). I know it's not the computer I'm using, because I can successfully program another radio, a GP300, using the GP300 RSS.

 

[CCHLLM]

The protection diodes on one or more of the RIB I/O lines may have protected it at some point. I've seen the Spectras with bad caps nail the RIB because of a resulting mismatch or a voltage spike, but it took twice repairing it before I figured out that the Spectra was doing it on power up. Anyway, you can check them with a multimeter before pulling your hair out.

If you don't have the RIB schematic, just provide the revision number that follows the 4008 in the model number and I'm sure some of us can email the correct one to you or repeater builder or batlabs probably have it, too.

I keep spare diodes on hand for those frustrating times like you're experiencing. Hopefully it isn't something worse in the RIB, but ya never know til you get out the meter.