MD-9600 / RT-90 Installation

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F1RMB
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Re: MD-9600 / RT-90 Installation

Post by F1RMB » Tue Oct 03, 2023 5:23 pm

Are you flashing the correct firmware (also hardware version matching) ?


Cheers.
---
Daniel

sq9hht
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Re: MD-9600 / RT-90 Installation

Post by sq9hht » Tue Oct 03, 2023 6:51 pm

Hello.
I understand you're asking me if I installed version v1, v2 and so on. I was installing version v5, since this is a new radio, so I assume that's basically the version to start with.
When I installed other hardware versions on other radios, the whole installation went fine, the radio turned off and then I could turn it on with the Power button everything worked basically fine, at most the hardware version error manifested itself in the fact that it did not transmit on the set frequency. But in my life I have never seen such a situation that the radio did not want to exit programming mode on its own.

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F1RMB
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Re: MD-9600 / RT-90 Installation

Post by F1RMB » Tue Oct 03, 2023 6:58 pm

Looks like the firmware bin file is corrupted, or there is a problem with the USB cable. When the device boots in boorloader mode, that means the firmware is unable to boot.

Try to re-download/flash a fresh copy.


Cheers.
---
Daniel

SA0BUX
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Re: MD-9600 / RT-90 Installation

Post by SA0BUX » Tue Oct 03, 2023 8:50 pm

F1RMB wrote:
Tue Oct 03, 2023 6:58 pm
Looks like the firmware bin file is corrupted, or there is a problem with the USB cable. When the device boots in boorloader mode, that means the firmware is unable to boot.

Try to re-download/flash a fresh copy.


Cheers.
---
Daniel
The firmware file is a ZIP file in the latest versions so it is easy to test if the file is corrupted.
Last edited by SA0BUX on Wed Oct 04, 2023 4:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

G4EML
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Re: MD-9600 / RT-90 Installation

Post by G4EML » Tue Oct 03, 2023 9:32 pm

Also, double check that you have selected the correct radio type on the firmware downloader page. I have sometimes tried to load a MD9600 when the downloader was set to MDUV380 and it behaved as you are describing.

N1LSJ
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Re: MD-9600 / RT-90 Installation

Post by N1LSJ » Wed Nov 08, 2023 7:00 am

G4EML wrote:
Tue Oct 03, 2023 9:32 pm
Also, double check that you have selected the correct radio type on the firmware downloader page. I have sometimes tried to load a MD9600 when the downloader was set to MDUV380 and it behaved as you are describing.
I'm not safe in assuming a brand new radio shipped from China by Retevis is a V5? :o

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F1RMB
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Re: MD-9600 / RT-90 Installation

Post by F1RMB » Wed Nov 08, 2023 8:18 am

It's safer to check the HW version (and it's a 5 minutes job, 8 screws to remove).

N1LSJ
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Re: MD-9600 / RT-90 Installation

Post by N1LSJ » Fri Nov 10, 2023 3:55 am

Well, had a heck of a time getting the driver installed. I had my RT-3S working fine with my desktop but my SSD crapped out and I had to restore a several month's old backup as my latest was bad :( . I'd post a link to the driver but I hear tell that's not allowed here :o . PM me if you want/need it :) .
Anyways loaded the OpenGD77 firmware V5 and the codeplug I made for my RT-3S and seems to be working. Just about to figure out what keys do what and verify that the V5 firmware was the right one :mrgreen: .

UPDATE: It transmits into a dummy load on both VHF and UHF just fine power-wise. Not sure if it's on frequency but can I assume if it transmits at all I have the right firmware?

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Re: MD-9600 / RT-90 Installation

Post by VK3KYY » Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:36 am

N1LSJ wrote:
Fri Nov 10, 2023 3:55 am
UPDATE: It transmits into a dummy load on both VHF and UHF just fine power-wise. Not sure if it's on frequency but can I assume if it transmits at all I have the right firmware?
Does it receive ?

N1LSJ
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Re: MD-9600 / RT-90 Installation

Post by N1LSJ » Fri Nov 10, 2023 6:21 am

VK3KYY wrote:
Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:36 am
Does it receive ?
Dummy load makes for a very poor antenna :mrgreen:
But on second thought it still should "see" one of my other HT's nearby - I'll try that tomorrow after I change the fuse.

UPDATE> It's transmitting and receiving fine. Just a minor bug I found in the OpenGD77 firmware.

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