XTS5000 Programming Cable

[WatnNY]

WatnNY another option is find som one local with the cable. Build your code plug and put it on a zip drive and ask them to shoot it. When i worked back in the shop I had a few hams that would do that as they didn't make many changes and buying the software and the cable normally cost more than the radio. Maybe even try the local motorola shop.

This is exactly what I'm saying. Changes I'll make will be mostly minor after I get the radio programmed once. Not all of us have big budgets (I'm retired) and when we go all out on a radio and software, we just don't have the money for a $300 programming cable, which is freaken ridiculous to begin with! The programming cable for my XPR6550 was NO WHERE near that.

Mike

 

[WatnNY]

When I bought my 6550, I went to the repeater owner who works for a 2-way shop, so he programmed my radio with a local code plug right then. There are many guys on our system with 6550's who do not have the CPS to program their radios. When a new repeater comes on line, they see the guys who can program their radio, & it gets done. Many people say Moto radios are too expensive because you have to include the price of CPS, & a cable, whereas a Tytera is $125 total. But like I said many guys are on the air locally every day who do not have the ability to program their radio, but has a friend who can.

Gary, thanks for the reply - and I like your idea - problem with that is if I only want one freq changed, or maybe something else very minor, I don't want to spend the $50+!

Mike

 

[ElroyJetson]

I sure didn't mean to start an argument! I just blew my wad on the radio, I DON'T have $300+ for an OEM cable! I'm a freaken hobbyist (ham, CAP) not a professional programmer!

Mike

So what? So am I. I did spend several years as a bench tech but I got the job because I was an experienced radio head thanks to my hobby. Now that I don't do that anymore, I'm still a radio hobbyist.

You don't have to be a professional race car driver to want to buy yourself a 175,000 dollar Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0. Which is basically a street legal race car.

If you can afford it, and you want it, you get it. There's no need to JUSTIFY a buying decision to anybody but yourself.

I have nothing but OEM programming cables for my Motorola and my Harris radios. My experiences with aftermarket cables have all been bad ones. I got tired of applying hammer to thumb and then wondering why my thumb hurt all the time. So I stopped doing that, bought OEM cables, and never have problems with screwed up programming anymore except for the occasional case of Windows going stupid and deciding to pause the serial port in the middle of a radio write session.

 

[cmdrwill]

Trouble is the Motorola XTS5000 programming cable also is a test cable to connect the radio to the test set. That is why they cost big bucks. Kawa Mall has serial 9 pin cable for thirty dollars that WORKS just fine.

 

[N4KVE]

Funny, my factory cable does not have the test wire on it. Just the USB to radio cable. Factory marked RKN4105A. Maybe that's why it was $50 from a friend who sold his 5000.

 

[WatnNY]

For the guys who have used the Kawa Mall $30 cable - any problems with using it in conjunction with a usb to 9db converter?

Mike

 

[cmdrwill]

For the guys who have used the Kawa Mall $30 cable - any problems with using it in conjunction with a usb to 9db converter?
Mike

Now, there IS the rub, my computers have a real serial port.

Check with Kawa Mall, IIRC they have the USB types also.

 

[ElroyJetson]

That reminds me...I'm looking for a Motorola RLN4460 test interface box. It's what connects to the extra DB25 connector on the newer genuine Motorola serial programming cables.

 

[sfd119]

For the guys who have used the Kawa Mall $30 cable - any problems with using it in conjunction with a usb to 9db converter?

Mike

None

 

[WatnNY]

None

SFD119 thanks for the reply!

Mike

 

[WatnNY]

None

SFD119 thanks for the reply!

Mike