{ "numMessagesInTopic": 2, "nextInTime": 2123, "senderId": "j2huDDIsTtvgmpPC3wix0Y8LdATX2qFHNQ-HNkFZwHVLF0GJyy73v7HNOnC0JQmanDLDkx_fvgVKIUzFUS-GHg8JIvEPtg", "systemMessage": false, "subject": "RE: [GE-Mpa] MPD programming", "from": ""Doug Bade" <kd8b@...>", "authorName": "Doug Bade", "msgSnippet": "Split not programmed initially would indicated blown tracking information.. This would indicate corrupted programming. It may be corrupted or your reading", "msgId": 2122, "profile": "kd8b2005", "topicId": 2121, "spamInfo": { "reason": "12", "isSpam": false }, "replyTo": "LIST", "userId": 281894931, "messageBody": "
Split not programmed initially would indicated blown tracking information.. This would indicate corrupted programming. It may be corrupted or your reading setup may be corrupted. You do not describe what you are using to read it. If the radio is working correctly then it leaves the most likely problem of your programming setup or wrong software. Not all MPD were programmed with CNV. Some were programmed with EDACS1 some had an alternative processor that required some additional command line switches to program correctly.
I use a 1.6ghz Pentium mobile Toughbook for DOS programming of GE radios. They key is A REAL RS232 comm port on the board.. and booting with a DOS boot cdrom and accessing a Fat32 partition on my hard drive where all the programs are. CPU speed tends to affect Motorola DOS programmed radios way more than GE stuff… REAL DOS under Win95 and Win 98 were suitable and sometimes you COULD run SOME DOS GE RSS in a command window. However 95 and 98 could be built over DOS and would allow you to exit the GUI to a REAL Command Prompt that was REAL DOS. It is always preferable to be in REAL DOS mode when working witht eh old DOS sw. There are always exceptions.
XP and NT 4.0 and newer OS’s use an entirely different communications port stack. DOS RSS is intolerant of the timing inconsistencies in the interpreted shared version of the comm driver that runs in these operating systems. There are a few exception but mostly fail.
Most 10 year old Celeron computers are fine IF running DOS and a real comm port.. On Desktop’s you can install an above board PCI comm board if the motherboard had no comm port on it.. The UART hardware is the critical part for DOS compatibility issues.
As I noted, I run a 1.6ghz Pentium M… speed is not normally the issue..
Doug
KD8B
From: GE-Mpa@yahoogroups.com [mailto:GE-Mpa@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of the_l_is_for_l
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2011 11:05 PM
To: GE-Mpa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [GE-Mpa] MPD programming
Hi all,
I am just starting to tinker around with this. I am sorry if this sounds really, really stupid, but - I've searched and searched and not been able to find anyone reporting this specific problem.
My (standard) MPD is in fine shape, and works; just need to program different frequencies into it.
On a READ operation, the CNV software goes like this:
"Radio handshake sequence" (which it DOES get through)
"Reading radio personality"
... then of particular note, the error message "Split not programmed - refer to documentation".
After receiving that message, the cable needs to be detached AND the radio power-cycled AND the cable re-attached, before even attempting to try anything again - or else it's just "communication error - check connections" ad infinitum.
I've read many old posts advising things like, "use DOS 6.2 and an old computer"; "use the OEM RIB box if you can get it"; and so on.
I just want someone with a smidgen of experience with these things to confirm for me - does the above sound like a common symptom of having too new of a computer? Or is the trouble perhaps something else? I don't want to have to go on a wild goose chase to find a 386/486 computer to use, if that's not even what the problem is. I've seen some people say they were able to get by just fine with a slightly newer machine, by booting to DOS mode on Win95/Win98.
For now, the oldest machine I've got is a Celeron that's about eleven years old. I guess that's probably still "too new", but like I said, it would be nice to be sure.
Thanks for any input...
EKL