Tait T2030 V2 Trunked - Programming help needed.

[Chris 2E0IFA]

Many thanks for accepting me into the forum.
I have a pair of T2030 radios which are both being reported as an "unknown radio" by DOS and Windows versions of the programming software. The 3.01 Windows version of the programming software did allow me to upload the standard v3.43 firmware to one radio but returned a "corrupted RAM" message followed by "unknown radio" after the reset. I'm certain the programming cable is good as I can send and receive control commands from my laptop. Any advice gratefully received.

[DX-Digger]

when you read the radio does it tell you what version it is programmed with?
And you are running the TPA program not the CPA version?
Ive never played with the trunked models Mainly the 2020 models.
One tip which may help is in your comport setting turn off FIFO buffers
I had programming errors until i turned that off.
Sorry I cant help further like I say never done Trunked rigs.

[26mb04]

Search the forums on here. There is a way to reset the tait, I wrote the procedure up on here some years ago. I trust you're using the V2 software, the V1 version won't work. Trunking rigs will only give you about 4 channels on simplex IIRC. I think you can swap the trunking boards for simplex ones (if you can find them), but they must be the same generation. It's been a long time since I've messed with these.

[Ticktock]

I am in the same boat with two 2040 trunking units. Cable good,(checked the talkback on the serial port with hyperterminal - works fine). 3.01 TPA software - unknown radio message. Tried every combination of baud rate etc on the com port.....nothing worked.
Looked thorugh the archives here and can't find a solution. Yet.

[Agent 48]

The boards can be swapped for conventional.

The programming software for these is Windows based, and will work in Windows 98, it will probably run under XP as well.

These radios are so cheap now you can buy them for less than 20 quid and well worth it for the quality. You can also expand the 4 channel sets by modifying the head unit, you can program more than 4 channels into a 4 channel Tait radio, you'll still only get 4 channels but if you do the hardware mod you can then expand them.

These are very adaptable radios and perfect for tinkering with among radio hobbyists. Its probably possible to modify the trunking board but you'd have no CTCSS and only simplex channels.

These radios are cheap enough to buy now days. The commercial world has no use for analog PMR anymore so its all going cheap now. Taits especially are going very cheap, less than 20 pounds conventional with CTCSS.

The ones to look for are...

Band 2 66-88 MHz - Not as many were made & generally cost more because of there usefulness on the 4 Meter ham band.
Band 3 136-174 MHz - good for 2 meters & PMR & generally very usful
Band 4 175-225 MHz - these still have a use, they can be programmed out of band just below there designed frequencies and will tune up nicely on VHF PMR 169 - 173 MHz

Band 5 400-470 MHz - generally very useful they cover 446, 449 private PMR UK General and the 70cm ham band plus more.
Band 6 450-520 MHz - these can be dropped below to work on 446 and UK General/private PMR

[Agent 48]

I thought I would correct my post above...

Series 1 Taits have version 1 firmware on them and can only be read by the DOS programming software. You can upgrade the firmware to a later version which will then effectively turn it into a Tait Series 2 radio which can then be programmed with the Tait Windows application software.

Tait T2000 Series 1, Firmware version 1 = DOS Programmable
Tait T2000 Series 2, Firmware version 2 & above = Windows Programmable

The Tait T2030 is a trunked model however you can flash these with T2010 firmware to make them conventional T2010's.

These are amazing radios I think. I don't think I've ever seen a PMR radio that is so adaptable and modifiable like the Taits are.

I've got four T2030 models that I'm converting to T2010s

I did try to program 4 conventional channels into these but I don't understand the trunking programming software and nobody else understands it neither, no info on the net anywhere so easier to flash them to T2010 conventional.

just working out how to get firmware onto them without having to remove the eeprom. I don't see any options in the programming software for firmware update. My guess it that you have to take the eeprom out and pop it into an eeprom programmer erase it then drop the BIN file onto it containing the firmware...

On some you have to desolder the eeprom from the board, on others you get the square chip in a socket that can be popped out and put into an eeprom adapter for firmware update.

The T2030 Taits are the same as the T2010 Taits the only difference is that T2030 is Trunking and T2010 is Conventional, same hardware just different firmware.

[Min-2020]

Re: Agent 48 and the previous post/ above post. Regarding your last statement, you said the T2030 Taits are the same as the T2010 Taits. Same hardware just different firmware. Are you able to post pictures of the 2 boards so that I could have a look.
I`m pretty sure that with the series 2 models the logic boards are totally different in hardware. The T2010/2015 boards have a slightly bigger sized eeprom than the T2030 Taits. From memory T2030 Taits have the same sized eeprom as the T2020 Series 2 Taits. I don`t know the eeprom values off the top of my head but I`m sure I could dig up the info if need be.
I`m new here, this is my first post. I don`t know how to post pictures here yet or I would of posted pictures of the series 2 Tait T2030 and T2010 logic boards so you could see for yourself that they are totally different from each other.

If you wanna convert your T2030 models to T2010 you`ll need to change the logic board and the head.

[Min-2020]

I`ll try to post a link here to a picture of the Tait T2010/T2015 and the Tait T2030 Logic Boards.
You will see for yourself that they are totally different to each other.

Tait T2010/T2015 Logic Board-

Tait T2030 Logic Board-

If you need more pictures let me know. I should have pictures of other model/ version of boards.

Cheers,
Min.
PS: If external links like this are not allowed, I`m sorry and Admin please delete.