Programming a Motorola MSF5000 repeater

[WA2TTP]

I have a chance to buy a MSF5000 repeater model C64RLB7106BT to upgrade my system. My concern is the programming software was designed back in the DOS days and I've heard it can be a pain to get going on modern computers. Anybody have any input on this issue?

[W5RDW]

No problem with ANY old or modern computers.

First, boot your computer with a DOS Boot Disk and the Motorola software will run on your computer....old, new, etc.). I did this many times when I had a 900 MHz MSF5000 on the air years ago. Also programmed most other Moto radios for 900 MHz.

The DOS Boot Disk can be downloaded free on the web......http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

[WA2TTP]

Thanks Roger that's encouraging.

Steve

[K4JJL]

I use an old Pentium 120 MHz to program all my old Motorola stuff.  It's an old white Compaq laptop running Win98.  I boot it in DOS mode using F8 to run the old RSS.  Sometimes you can get by programming with faster computers, but when the program does a lot of resets to the radio during the programming process, it can throw errors when the computer expects the radio to be ready to receive data, when, in fact, it's still resetting and self-checking.

[W5RDW]

That's good to know.

Here are the radios I programmed successfully over the years with an old Sony 400 MHz laptop and a recent at the time Dell desk top.

All 900 MHz radios:

MSF5000 repeater
MaxTrac
GTX Mobile
GTX Handheld
Spectra
MTR2000 repeater
Astro XTL1500
MTS2000

I got out of 900 MHZ radios when no one in our club seemed interested in the new band, even when they could have a free radio, etc. It was fun, however.

[WB6DGN]

C64RLB7106BT

I may be wrong, doing this from memory, but isn't that the older MSF that uses the "suitcase" programmer and PROM?  Think the PC programmable series (later ones) had an "X" as the middle letter in the model number.

If it is the PROM programmable station, check out BatLabs website.  There are several guys that still program those earlier units though some of them are a bit pricy.  They are excellent radios, however, and, especially for a repeater, programming is a one-time proposition.
Tom DGN

[WA2TTP]

Hi Tom,

The RLB is the same as the CXB in most ways but doesn't have as many factory options available for it.
I have the repeater now and it is programmable via a serial port and has the same digital display as the CXB.

The link below is where I found this information along with other ones.

http://www.repeater-builder.com/motorola/msf/msf-tour.html

Steve
WA2TTP

[WB6DGN]

The RLB is the same as the CXB in most ways but doesn't have as many factory options available for it.
I have the repeater now and it is programmable via a serial port and has the same digital display as the CXB.

OK. I was thinking of the CLB.  Between the MSF and the PURC stations, those model numbers keep me totally confused.
Tom

[K6SCA]

Only the CXB can be programmed from a computer. A CLB takes the Motorola R-1800 "suitcase" programmer.