So here's the scoop - I am trying to program my CDM1550. I have an HT1250 I have been using for a while and I program it with a Windows Vista and Windows 7 computer through a USB to serial port adapter (one I got at Radio Shack, gigaware if I remember right is the company). I got the same kind of serial cable for my CDM radio - has an 8 pin RJ-45, only 4 of the pins are used. Neither the Vista or 7 computer will read the CDM.
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Next I tried a Win98 computer that has a real serial port on it. After working out the software that wouldn't read the CDM either. I tried my HT1250 to verify that the set up would work and no problems there - it read the HT1250 just fine. Every time I try the CDM I get an error message about not being able to open the port. Another note is the CDM has a remote kit on it, the faceplate isn't on the body. CPS version is R06.12.05AA.
There is one zone and one channel on the CDM. I verified the functionality of the radio through my service monitor and it checks out great. So that part works. It is just the communication between the radio and computer. My only two thoughts are the version of CPS on the rig is newer or the cable isn't correct. The cable is new, Kawamall for the CDM radios. A friend of mine says if the CPS version won't work there would be another message than the port availability I am receiving.
Can anyone verify this? Any other ideas? So here's the scoop - I am trying to program my CDM1550. I have an HT1250 I have been using for a while and I program it with a Windows Vista and Windows 7 computer through a USB to serial port adapter (one I got at Radio Shack, gigaware if I remember right is the company). I got the same kind of serial cable for my CDM radio - has an 8 pin RJ-45, only 4 of the pins are used.
Neither the Vista or 7 computer will read the CDM. Next I tried a Win98 computer that has a real serial port on it. After working out the software that wouldn't read the CDM either.
I tried my HT1250 to verify that the set up would work and no problems there - it read the HT1250 just fine. Every time I try the CDM I get an error message about not being able to open the port. Another note is the CDM has a remote kit on it, the faceplate isn't on the body. CPS version is R06.12.05AA.
There is one zone and one channel on the CDM. I verified the functionality of the radio through my service monitor and it checks out great.
So that part works. It is just the communication between the radio and computer. My only two thoughts are the version of CPS on the rig is newer or the cable isn't correct. The cable is new, Kawamall for the CDM radios. A friend of mine says if the CPS version won't work there would be another message than the port availability I am receiving. Can anyone verify this?
Any other ideas? Install the cable on the PC, and fire up the CPS. Then open up Devices and Printers on the PC and make sure that the cable is on the right port. Then, in the CPS, click on File and then Read Device. You will get a little window with a single drop down that lets you assign the port in the software.
Assign the proper port and click on OK. Now, that sequence is the only way you can properly assign the port within the CPS. If you click on the Read Device icon, you will get a message that starts out, 'Couldn't Open Port.' Hear this well: A lot of people try to short cut the information that I just offered you by pressing the Read Device icon thinking they know better, and then they complain when it doesn't work. File - Read Device - Select the port in the drop down - Click OK I've had good luck reading and writing through the mic connector on remote installs. Some have reported problems but still others have the same results that I do. If the CDM was programmed with a newer CPS than what you have, you'd still have no trouble reading the radio.
You would get the appropriate error message when you attempt to write to the radio. If you're having no issues reading and writing to the HT on any of your 3 pc's, then the CDM should be fine as well. The only difference is the cable. Fix the port and have at it. I'm thinking out loud here: If the HT1250 cable works on the same USB adapter, then the drivers for the adapter should work fine.
When I plug my adapter in without a serial cable attached, it recognizes a device has been attached. Then I leave the adapter plugged in, and change the serial cable to whichever I need. This way it doesn't change the COM port number.
Also, when I plug my adapter in to a different USB port, it assigns a different COM port number. For example the top USB port is COM3 and the bottom one is COM4. Check to verify the COM port is correct in the device manager. (StartRun'devmgmt.msc'Click OK) There is no reason why the HT1250 would work and the CDM would not unless the cable is bad. If you were trying to read a radio with a newer codeplug it would give you a 'Codeplug too new for this configuration' error. I got the port settings right. That took a little digging, but I've been trying that - as well as re-assigning the port the USB converter is on by going back in Advanced Settings.
I've tried COM3, COM1, and COM10. COM3 works fine with the HT1250. I did follow your directions to plug in the cable first (USB converter), then open CPS. The cable defaults to COM3 and so does CPS. My friend has a cable I can try.
I suppose that is the only other option at this point. I am not sure how the cable I have is wired and how they are supposed to be wired. I am using the latest CPS version which is R06.12.08 I don't know about that advise against using USB directly. I tried the serial connector on an older PC using Windows XP pro. It worked ok but with the latest CPS running great on Windows 7 Pro using a direct USB cable, I can't recommend anything else as being better or working better. I suppose with older CPS versions, things may be different. It's not a CDM thing either because I also have a UHF HT1250 portable and it too programs well using a USB direct cable.