Posted: 1/7/2015 10:46:14 PM EDT
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I have a Vertex FTL-2011 that I am trying to program. I down loaded the software and bought a serial to RJ-45 cable off Amazon but it doesn't seem to work. Anyone done this before?
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Yes. First thing is that you probably need to run the software under DOS. The old Vertex DOS software usually didn't want to communicate with the radio when run in a DOS box in Windows. Can always try it though.
Where did you get to in the process? Also note that the 4/12/24 channel models use a different software than the 99 channel alpha display models. What kind of radio and which version software? |
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there is your problem. Quoted:
use only DOS 6.0/6.22(Slow PC-66Mhz) there is your problem. I've used much faster computers without issue... the Vertex software does not have the timing issues that /\/\ does. Some have apparently had success running MSDOS or FreeDOS in a virtual machine window, but as you've discovered it generally doesn't work in a dos box in Windows. You need a DOS, or Win 95/98 machine that you can boot to DOS. There are a bunch of the older LMR radios that I wish Chirp would support, it would make it a lot easier. As an alternative, a Linux live run disk set up with FreeDOS ready to run as a VM would be handy. |
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I've used much faster computers without issue... the Vertex software does not have the timing issues that /\/\ does. Some have apparently had success running MSDOS or FreeDOS in a virtual machine window, but as you've discovered it generally doesn't work in a dos box in Windows. You need a DOS, or Win 95/98 machine that you can boot to DOS. There are a bunch of the older LMR radios that I wish Chirp would support, it would make it a lot easier. As an alternative, a Linux live run disk set up with FreeDOS ready to run as a VM would be handy. Quoted:
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use only DOS 6.0/6.22(Slow PC-66Mhz) there is your problem. I've used much faster computers without issue... the Vertex software does not have the timing issues that /\/\ does. Some have apparently had success running MSDOS or FreeDOS in a virtual machine window, but as you've discovered it generally doesn't work in a dos box in Windows. You need a DOS, or Win 95/98 machine that you can boot to DOS. There are a bunch of the older LMR radios that I wish Chirp would support, it would make it a lot easier. As an alternative, a Linux live run disk set up with FreeDOS ready to run as a VM would be handy. this I wish chirp would support LMR |
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I got it. I have an old chassis with a floppy drive. Then I found an old 40 mb hard drive with MS-DOS 5.0 and put the 2 together and it ran. I had to remember how to run DOS. Hooked up the patch cable, ran the program, set the frequencies and wrote to radio. Tested radio and hit 3 different repeaters.
Not to bad for free radio. Cost $21.00 for the cable from Amazon. Can get as many radios as I want. Thanks for all the help. |
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this I wish chirp would support LMR Quoted:
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use only DOS 6.0/6.22(Slow PC-66Mhz) there is your problem. I've used much faster computers without issue... the Vertex software does not have the timing issues that /\/\ does. Some have apparently had success running MSDOS or FreeDOS in a virtual machine window, but as you've discovered it generally doesn't work in a dos box in Windows. You need a DOS, or Win 95/98 machine that you can boot to DOS. There are a bunch of the older LMR radios that I wish Chirp would support, it would make it a lot easier. As an alternative, a Linux live run disk set up with FreeDOS ready to run as a VM would be handy. this I wish chirp would support LMR They do…in the form of the Kenwood TK-7102/8102/7108/8108. I put in a request for GM300's 2 years ago…maybe if there was enough support to get the Radius chassis the guys would get on it. So far…nope. I generally use a Dell laptop with P3 running Windows 98SE for running radmble (for the Radius radios, 1989 is the date if I remember correctly), the 7th revision of the Maxtrac RSS, the 5th revision of the GM300 RSS, the SM series RSS and the Jedi series RSS, 3 version of the Kenwood KGP49D (for TK-x80 Ver. 1), the CS of the Icom F300 series radios. Fixing to load FreeDOS onto a P3 CF-28 Toughbook. I also have heard that that disabling the cache helps a lot with some of the Motorola RSS pickiness. |
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They do…in the form of the Kenwood TK-7102/8102/7108/8108. I put in a request for GM300's 2 years ago…maybe if there was enough support to get the Radius chassis the guys would get on it. So far…nope. I generally use a Dell laptop with P3 running Windows 98SE for running radmble (for the Radius radios, 1989 is the date if I remember correctly), the 7th revision of the Maxtrac RSS, the 5th revision of the GM300 RSS, the SM series RSS and the Jedi series RSS, 3 version of the Kenwood KGP49D (for TK-x80 Ver. 1), the CS of the Icom F300 series radios. Fixing to load FreeDOS onto a P3 CF-28 Toughbook. I also have heard that that disabling the cache helps a lot with some of the Motorola RSS pickiness. Quoted:
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use only DOS 6.0/6.22(Slow PC-66Mhz) there is your problem. I've used much faster computers without issue... the Vertex software does not have the timing issues that /\/\ does. Some have apparently had success running MSDOS or FreeDOS in a virtual machine window, but as you've discovered it generally doesn't work in a dos box in Windows. You need a DOS, or Win 95/98 machine that you can boot to DOS. There are a bunch of the older LMR radios that I wish Chirp would support, it would make it a lot easier. As an alternative, a Linux live run disk set up with FreeDOS ready to run as a VM would be handy. this I wish chirp would support LMR They do…in the form of the Kenwood TK-7102/8102/7108/8108. I put in a request for GM300's 2 years ago…maybe if there was enough support to get the Radius chassis the guys would get on it. So far…nope. I generally use a Dell laptop with P3 running Windows 98SE for running radmble (for the Radius radios, 1989 is the date if I remember correctly), the 7th revision of the Maxtrac RSS, the 5th revision of the GM300 RSS, the SM series RSS and the Jedi series RSS, 3 version of the Kenwood KGP49D (for TK-x80 Ver. 1), the CS of the Icom F300 series radios. Fixing to load FreeDOS onto a P3 CF-28 Toughbook. I also have heard that that disabling the cache helps a lot with some of the Motorola RSS pickiness. Hmm I may have to just try some other kenwoods and vertex for shits and giggles 
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Excellent.
If that one is the 150-174 model and hasn't been retuned, the VCO may not be stable on 2m and the RX sensitivity is usually down just a little. The VCO is easy to retune with just a voltmeter, I can give you the instructions. I've probably retuned 10 of them, between the FTL2011s for 2m and FTL1011s for 6m. Tuning the receiver front end would require a signal generator, but I might have an easier upgrade... if I can find my notes, they generally all take nearly identical adjustments to the pots, so I could give you a diagram showing the pots and how much to adjust each one. As far as Chirp, I'd really like it to support the Vertex FTL1011/2011/7011 series, as well as VX3000 and VX4000 models. The VX4000 models would be especially helpful, as the factory software won't allow amateur frequencies to be entered without hex editing. Kenwood TK630/730/830 would also be pretty handy. I'm sure a lot of the /\/\ stuff would be handy, but it might be a nightmare with all the firmware variations they do. |
| I am operating on 2 meters. This radio is 4 channel has a range of 136 mhz to 160 mhz and can program ctcs tones. It is an old radio we used at work and used to be on 150.xxx mhz. No longer use radio comms and all the radios have been removed from the trucks. Got a couple boxes of them. Also have some crystal controlled Standard that are single channel and not worth messing with. |
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I am operating on 2 meters. This radio is 4 channel has a range of 136 mhz to 160 mhz and can program ctcs tones. It is an old radio we used at work and used to be on 150.xxx mhz. No longer use radio comms and all the radios have been removed from the trucks. Got a couple boxes of them. Also have some crystal controlled Standard that are single channel and not worth messing with. Look up info for the Standard's on Repeater Builder…rock bound rigs make some of the best repeaters. There is a reason there are still GE Mastr IIs and Motorola Micors still on the air today. Gamma, I've actually just acquired CE49 to use with my VX-4000's…need to figure out what exactly I need to mod to program below 148. |
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Look up info for the Standard's on Repeater Builder…rock bound rigs make some of the best repeaters. There is a reason there are still GE Mastr IIs and Motorola Micors still on the air today. Gamma, I've actually just acquired CE49 to use with my VX-4000's…need to figure out what exactly I need to mod to program below 148. Quoted:
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I am operating on 2 meters. This radio is 4 channel has a range of 136 mhz to 160 mhz and can program ctcs tones. It is an old radio we used at work and used to be on 150.xxx mhz. No longer use radio comms and all the radios have been removed from the trucks. Got a couple boxes of them. Also have some crystal controlled Standard that are single channel and not worth messing with. Look up info for the Standard's on Repeater Builder…rock bound rigs make some of the best repeaters. There is a reason there are still GE Mastr IIs and Motorola Micors still on the air today. Gamma, I've actually just acquired CE49 to use with my VX-4000's…need to figure out what exactly I need to mod to program below 148. Have to hex edit... I found a discussion at one time on one of the radio forums. It looked like a pain and not very straightforward. Also looks like the radio would need some retuning to work below about 145. There are other radios that work easier on 2m... I was thinking about moving a low band up to 6m but I already have too many 6m radios and no one to talk to on them anyway. |
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Have to hex edit... I found a discussion at one time on one of the radio forums. It looked like a pain and not very straightforward. Also looks like the radio would need some retuning to work below about 145. There are other radios that work easier on 2m... I was thinking about moving a low band up to 6m but I already have too many 6m radios and no one to talk to on them anyway. Quoted:
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I am operating on 2 meters. This radio is 4 channel has a range of 136 mhz to 160 mhz and can program ctcs tones. It is an old radio we used at work and used to be on 150.xxx mhz. No longer use radio comms and all the radios have been removed from the trucks. Got a couple boxes of them. Also have some crystal controlled Standard that are single channel and not worth messing with. Look up info for the Standard's on Repeater Builder…rock bound rigs make some of the best repeaters. There is a reason there are still GE Mastr IIs and Motorola Micors still on the air today. Gamma, I've actually just acquired CE49 to use with my VX-4000's…need to figure out what exactly I need to mod to program below 148. Have to hex edit... I found a discussion at one time on one of the radio forums. It looked like a pain and not very straightforward. Also looks like the radio would need some retuning to work below about 145. There are other radios that work easier on 2m... I was thinking about moving a low band up to 6m but I already have too many 6m radios and no one to talk to on them anyway. I may have commented on that thread once or twice…haha. Just haven't read my TxDOT surpluses 4000's. Been playing too much with my PM400 and 1225's. For what it's worth, trying to get a split site 6m repeater up here in Lubbock (another ham is also putting up a split site 10m repeater). |
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I may have commented on that thread once or twice…haha. Just haven't read my TxDOT surpluses 4000's. Been playing too much with my PM400 and 1225's. For what it's worth, trying to get a split site 6m repeater up here in Lubbock (another ham is also putting up a split site 10m repeater). Quoted:
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I am operating on 2 meters. This radio is 4 channel has a range of 136 mhz to 160 mhz and can program ctcs tones. It is an old radio we used at work and used to be on 150.xxx mhz. No longer use radio comms and all the radios have been removed from the trucks. Got a couple boxes of them. Also have some crystal controlled Standard that are single channel and not worth messing with. Look up info for the Standard's on Repeater Builder…rock bound rigs make some of the best repeaters. There is a reason there are still GE Mastr IIs and Motorola Micors still on the air today. Gamma, I've actually just acquired CE49 to use with my VX-4000's…need to figure out what exactly I need to mod to program below 148. Have to hex edit... I found a discussion at one time on one of the radio forums. It looked like a pain and not very straightforward. Also looks like the radio would need some retuning to work below about 145. There are other radios that work easier on 2m... I was thinking about moving a low band up to 6m but I already have too many 6m radios and no one to talk to on them anyway. I may have commented on that thread once or twice…haha. Just haven't read my TxDOT surpluses 4000's. Been playing too much with my PM400 and 1225's. For what it's worth, trying to get a split site 6m repeater up here in Lubbock (another ham is also putting up a split site 10m repeater). I have some GE Mastr II base stations if you need a repeater  I'd probably put one up if duplexors were available at a reasonable cost.
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I have some GE Mastr II base stations if you need a repeater I'd probably put one up if duplexors were available at a reasonable cost.Quoted:
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I am operating on 2 meters. This radio is 4 channel has a range of 136 mhz to 160 mhz and can program ctcs tones. It is an old radio we used at work and used to be on 150.xxx mhz. No longer use radio comms and all the radios have been removed from the trucks. Got a couple boxes of them. Also have some crystal controlled Standard that are single channel and not worth messing with. Look up info for the Standard's on Repeater Builder…rock bound rigs make some of the best repeaters. There is a reason there are still GE Mastr IIs and Motorola Micors still on the air today. Gamma, I've actually just acquired CE49 to use with my VX-4000's…need to figure out what exactly I need to mod to program below 148. Have to hex edit... I found a discussion at one time on one of the radio forums. It looked like a pain and not very straightforward. Also looks like the radio would need some retuning to work below about 145. There are other radios that work easier on 2m... I was thinking about moving a low band up to 6m but I already have too many 6m radios and no one to talk to on them anyway. I may have commented on that thread once or twice…haha. Just haven't read my TxDOT surpluses 4000's. Been playing too much with my PM400 and 1225's. For what it's worth, trying to get a split site 6m repeater up here in Lubbock (another ham is also putting up a split site 10m repeater). I have some GE Mastr II base stations if you need a repeater I'd probably put one up if duplexors were available at a reasonable cost.I current count, I have 1 GE Master Pro (haven't IDed it for low or high vhf), 1 VHF GE Mastr II mobile, 3 UHF GE Mastr II mobiles (well, 3 made one working one), 4 VHF GE Custom MVPs, and 3 UHF GE Custom MVPs...I'm set for repeater conversion projects at the moment. I will add, GE Mastr II mobiles and GE Custom MVP's are stupid easy to make split site repeaters out of...receivers can be swapped turning them into one way crossband repeaters. |