REVIEW: AN/PRC-148 MBITR, working replica by United-Star

[Primus]

So tried again with a freshly charged battery on a third computer with no luck. I also took it apart to see if I could spot anything "obviously" wrong with it but couldn't (doesn't mean anything though).

I'll see about getting another serial/2 pin connector to test, if it still doesn't then it's has to be something with the radio itself...

[Pollux77]

I opened my radio too a few days ago and checked for obvious flaws on the soldering, but I couldn't see anything too. Mind you I'm not an electronics specialist... Any Ideas where I might check with a multimeter or a continuity tester?

[Gerkraz]

Two questions:

1) Is there any way to get my motorola single-pin headset to interface with this radio?

2) Is there any group order for these? Or should I simply buy it from EB Airsoft?

[LoneWolf91]

Originally Posted by Gerkraz

Two questions:

1) Is there any way to get my motorola single-pin headset to interface with this radio?

2) Is there any group order for these? Or should I simply buy it from EB Airsoft?

TechSeller has a group order going,
http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=121068

[Conker]

Originally Posted by Gerkraz

1) Is there any way to get my motorola single-pin headset to interface with this radio?

There are probably adapters on the market, but I'm not familiar with them. You'd still be better with directly using a 2-pin Kenwood style though.

Originally Posted by Gerkraz

2) Is there any group order for these? Or should I simply buy it from EB Airsoft?

As lonewolf said right above, yes, here: http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=121068

Originally Posted by Conker

I've put a big yellow post-it on my computer screen to remind me to record the whole procedure and post it on YouTube. I *should* be able to do this sunday on monday.

Video done, I'm uploading it as we speak. I'm doing the same procedure as explained in post 2 though, so there's nothing extraordinary... I personally didn't have any problem doing it.

[Conker]

Originally Posted by Lucky131

Pin Out -> First page, second post (it's ABCD and not BCDE like Conker wrote ...)

<br>Are you sure? If you are, I'll update it according to what you're saying.

Originally Posted by LOW TIDE

1. I do have it plugged into a serial port directly
2. when I click on READ it says "Receive no Data"
3. When I click on TOOLS the Radio Information is not highlighted
4. When I click on PROGRAM the Test Mode is not highlighted
5. My radio is preset with 452.125 as Channel 1, and has 10 channels all on 452 except for 10 which is 453.025!

1. Good
2. Same here
3. Same here
4. Same here
5. Did you change the stepping the "Edit" -> "Optional Features" menu?
As I said before, software functions don't all work. However, it allows to program the radio correctly so that's what's important as long as you know it when you buy it.

Originally Posted by Ares Ops Hartmann

Sometimes it says "Receive no Data" for no reason. Then you have to repeat it by just clicking several times till it works. If it still does not work it could be a COM port or driver problem (it usually is).

Unfortunately that's true. While the software has many problems, I highly doubt it's a physical connection on the board... these seem pretty good.

Originally Posted by Ares Ops Hartmann

And is the Model number, under the "Model", then "Model infrmation" on the tool bar, is it supposed to say RDA1846 and UHF 400-470MHZ?

Yes, at least that what happens with me and it works well so...

Originally Posted by Ares Ops Hartmann

Thats just normal. It does not show "PC" if it is connected only. It shows "PC" only if you are exchanging programming data with it (writing/reading the channel data).

What Hartmann said. Just quoting for thruth

Originally Posted by Lucky131

Have you even read the manual dude???? You know that there is the option to Lock the Keypad and all switches if you press the ALT button for 3 seconds????
Start reading .....

QFT! We're doing our best to help here, but neither of us are making money off of us... helping =/= spoonfeeding. Read the first posts and the manual before asking any questions!

Originally Posted by Ares Ops Hartmann

You guys could help me too: Was anyone lucky to use the "F-Key" operations successfully as they are explained in the manual (Scan, Dual Channel Mode, Emergency Signal etc)???

I'm getting to this question now...

[Ares Ops Hartmann]

Originally Posted by conker

i'm getting to this question now...

cooool...

[LOW TIDE]

Conker,

1. should the Edit=>Optional Features=> stepping be set to 6.25? I saw this earlier in the thread but hasn't been confirmed or mentioned again.
2. And what should it be set to Wide or Narrow?
3. Will it always show PC on the radio itself when exchanging information
4. Could someone tell me each setting they have set under the Edit=>Optional Features
5. the >> on the software out beside the channel frequency settings, what should settings be

*to clarify, when I click on Write to Radio on COM1, it says "Data Fail". its only when I change to COM3 that it says "Receive No Data" and after I have typed in a frequency or several frequencies, if I click on "Read" from radio, it wipes out all the numbers I've typed in to the software program

[Primus]

I think I may of just found out what the problem was with my radio. It's the damn wiring inside the serial connector, they are broken at the solder joint.

If I could figure out the wiring I could try to repair it myself. There is a green and black wire and the solder points are labeled MTX/DRX and GND, anybody have a clue?

[alexandrexxx]

Hello, as I have no com port like the wire provide with the radio I bought a USB-kenwood type wire but each time I'm trying to programm the radio it writes "wrong com port". I tried all the com port (1 to 4). I am DESPERATE with this radio!

[Ares Ops Hartmann]

Surely that is an USB driver problem. If you dont have had a CD ROM with the driver with your purchased cable and you did not install some other driver before, you will have no chance to get it running on windows... (except you get the driver on other ways...) (And please use "periods" and full stops in your posts to end a sentence, thank you).

[alexandrexxx]

Sorry dude, I'm French and it's a bit difficult to write perfectly in English. So, I have already set the USB driver and it works cause the computer can detect it.

[Primus]

And yet another update, a co-worker provided me with a Kenwood/USB programming cable with no luck and he even gave me some Wouxun programming software which is very similar to the RDA1846 software with which I tried to just read from radio. No luck there either.

I think at this point it's safe to say I have a defective radio and I'm really hoping RSOV will step up to the plate and replace it for me.

[Conker]

@alexandrexxx: This is definitely a driver issue with the adapter. Even if the computer can detect it doesn't mean it's working properly (it may just be a setting to change in the driver's configuration).

Et je te pardonne pour tes fautes

[Primus]

Originally Posted by alexandrexxx

Sorry dude, I'm French and it's a bit difficult to write perfectly in English. So, I have already set the USB driver and it works cause the computer can detect it.

Go to Control Panel / System / Hardware / Device Manager

Expand Ports (COM & LPT)

From there you should see a Prolific USB-to-Serial COmm Port (COMX)

Right click and go to Properties / Port Settings / Advanced

At the bottom change the COM Port Number to with 1-4 and that is not in use)

Set your software to that port and try programming again.