Programming Issues With WS1010

[FiberOne]

I recently had to replace my Radio Shack Pro-51 due to the squelch malfunctioning. I picked up a Whistler WS1010 400 channel that is, surprisingly, very similar to the Pro-51. I have no problem programing the unit manually as that method is the same with both units. I already have a spreadsheet with the frequency and channels that I created since the Pro-51 didn't have Alpha Tags. Well, neither does the WS1010! For the ease of quickly entering the info, I download two software packages to try them out. I also ordered the programming cable. First is the ARC404 from Butel. I like the mass "copy and paste" feature. The second program is the PSREdit100. Tedious to populate but it does have a column for channel information. The ARC404 got my money and I quickly had my channels and banks ready to upload to the radio. I am using Windows 11 and have the proper drivers installed and the USB port set to COM9. There are traffic lights on the USB plug and they flash when I send. My problem is some frequencies don't end up in the banks I assigned. For instance, I filled in the info to bank 3 and some of them it show up in bank 6. Which I had locked out because I have yet to assign anything and don't need to scan empty banks. When I download from the radio to the computer, nothing changes on my list. I then tried the PSREdit100. This program goes through the motions with the flashing transmit lights, but nothing gets sent. I even went as far as initializing the scanner to first clear all the channels. Then I manually entered all the frequencies, I have them grouped the way I want to match the spreadsheet. I then used the ARC404 to read the scanner and populate the bank list. I wanted to check and compare them to my files. All 400 channels show 20971.518 with Delay ON and Lockout ON. I unplug the programming cable and the scanner is still functioning as it should. With all the channels I programmed in still there.
Anyone else experience something like this? Any suggestions or changes I should try?

 

[wtp]

pro 51- 29-54 108-174 406-512 806-956 MHz
ws1010-29–54 108–174 380–512

could the difference and problem be the freq are in the 8 or 900 range ?

 

[FiberOne]

I have not entered any frequencies in that range. Even before my Pro- 51 malfunctioned I don't recall having any that high. Nothing in my spreadsheet either. Most of the agencies I listen are in the 380-512 range. Nothing higher than 482.8375 which is an L TAC for our sheriff dept. What surprised me was the 20971.518 that was populating all the channels of the software after I uploaded from the scanner to the computer. I'm wondering if both software are translating the data incorrectly. I did successfully enter all my channels manually and the scanner works great. The programs just don't load them and the ARC404 was the only on I tried to upload to.

 

[tvengr]

If your cable has a mono adapter on the end, remove it. Make sure you are plugged into the PC/IF jack, not the headphone jack.

 

[FiberOne]

If your cable has a mono adapter on the end, remove it. Make sure you are plugged into the PC/IF jack, not the headphone jack.

Um... thanks for your suggestion.
I realize how easily a newbie might make that mistake of plugging the programming cable into the headphone jack as they are the same size. However, there is a white graphic of headphones right next to the jack and it is on top of the unit. Whereas the data jack is on the side of the unit with a raised PC/IF. Butel also included an on screen notice after you initiate the upload that informs you to use the three-conductor stereo plug. So I was covered by that. The data traffic lights on the USB cable plug were also flashing which is an indication that I don't think I would get if I was plugged into the headphone jack. My problem is I was finding some of the frequencies in different banks than what I entered using the software. Plus, I did a clone function with the PSREdit software and all 400 channels registered the same frequency of 20971.518 when the program was done. Yet the scanner is still working correctly with all the manually programmed channels I had entered.

 

[tvengr]

There are 2 versions of the WS1010. One is 200 channels and the other is 400 channels. When you Upload to Scanner, are you selecting the Whistler WS1010 US - 400 channels model?

 

[FiberOne]

Yes sir. On both software packages.

 

[tvengr]

Which programming cable are you using? Please attach your ARC404 programming file so that I can take a look at it. You will need to zip the file to be able to attach it. Click on Attach files and open the zipped file.

 

[FiberOne]

The programming cable I ordered from Valley Enterprises. Even though many of them looked similar, I clicked the the one that specifically stated it was for the Whistler WS-1010. There was no indication that there was a difference between the 200 and 400 channel units. I received the Radio Shack 20-546 FTDI USB Programming Cable #PCX3015.

Now for the ARC404 file you are requesting... Do you want the one which I entered in the information, or the one that the software read from the scanner? If it is the latter, I'll have to try that function of their program as I only tried the one on the PSREdit100. After seeing all 400 channels with the same 20971.518 frequency, I gave up for the night.

Just curious. What will you be looking for in the file?

 

[tvengr]

Please give me the file you upload to the scanner to program it. If you download and install ARC500 for the free trial period, there is a driver installer that works with the Radio Shack cables. Go to the Scanner tab and click on Install USB driver. I just want to make sure you are not getting data errors due to the wrong driver.

 

[FiberOne]

Alright, I've installed the generic drivers from ARC500. The file you've requested was a PITA to find on my laptop. It has a bin extension and is listed as a video file. I also tried to save it as RS CSV Data files option but couldn't find it afterwards.
Since both ARC404 and ARC500 appeared to install "generic FTDI CDM" drivers, wouldn't they be the same? And if so, would the 500 overwrite the 404 or do I now have a duplicate set of drivers? And will which drivers will the 404 be using?

 

[tvengr]

I did a quick test file and saved it in the Documents folder. In the File Explorer, I looked in the Documents folder and sorted by Date Modified. I see the file at the top of the list. The strange thing is that it the Type says PSREdit500 File. I opened the file with ARC404 and it successfully loaded the file. You can save the file the same way and find it in the Documents folder where you know it will be. That is the file I want you to attach.

 

[FiberOne]

Please be patient... I am in a different state than my scanner this week, visiting my mother. As soon as i return I'll emulate what you did and send it to you.
Thanks.

 

[FiberOne]

Well tvengr, this morning I booted the ARC404 and plugged in my WS1010 to copy the channels to the program. I followed the same steps as I did the first time. The only change was that I followed your suggestion and loaded the driver file from ARC500 first. I have reserved a spot for your statue on my dashboard. All the frequencies matched my XL spreadsheet and I have saved the copy to my HDD. Do you still want a copy of the file?

 

[tvengr]

Do you still want a copy of the file?

That won't be necessary if everything is OK now. Glad to hear you got it working. Let me know if you have any other questions. Please make sure that my statue is belted in so I don't go through the windshield.

 

[FiberOne]

Thanks again for your expertise. I'll make sure you are safe!