Well,
Recently obtained an MSF5000 225W UHF Repeater
C84CXB7106BT
Upon power up observed firmware versions
3.25
and
4.22 (in that order)
Saw a message in another posting that this may be old firmware. What is required to upgrade the firmware in these beasts? Any advantages to upgrading from what I have? (Need simple repeat function on 443/448 with the internal id'er)
Thanks in advance for any assistance. . .
Tony, KA3VOR
MSF5000 Firmware question
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Big Towers
- Batboard $upporter
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Bernie will probably come on and answer your question and maybe even e-mail you some bits. Although I am not aware of what the "bugs fixed" were with the newer version firmware, one bug that I have found is making sure that the programming RSS is a proper version to match the Firmware. I am running a couple of VHF repeaters and have hosed one up using an older RSS, or vice versa. I now have a label on the programming connector cover/door saying something like "Use on Ver 5.x or greater RSS" so as not to do it again.
The firmware is simply a matter of getting the "file" and programming it into a EEPROM of the same type as the station Firmware CP in the unit now. Prom programmer and file and away you go. I am running a VHF station with the older firmware and it works fine, does what you want, freq, ider, PL, etc.
Hopefully you will hear from Bernie or someone else that can tell you the advantages of the new firmware.
The firmware is simply a matter of getting the "file" and programming it into a EEPROM of the same type as the station Firmware CP in the unit now. Prom programmer and file and away you go. I am running a VHF station with the older firmware and it works fine, does what you want, freq, ider, PL, etc.
Hopefully you will hear from Bernie or someone else that can tell you the advantages of the new firmware.
Tom
Mac Pass Radio, LLC
[email protected]
http://www.macpassradio.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/att-tower-owners/
Mac Pass Radio, LLC
[email protected]
http://www.macpassradio.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/att-tower-owners/
My two bits worth:
Tried to post earlier, but my computer crashed.
It sounds as if you have a secure station with out a TTRC board, as the V4.22 is the latest version (that I know of) for the secure board.
Maybe there is a V4.22 for the TTRC, but I have never seen one.
The issue with the version 5 firmware for the SSCB is not that it enables any sort of additional feature, it fixes some problems with earlier firmware.
Most notably you will notice that the front panel has a warning that the station could go to default settings due to static.
It is also possible that the EEPROM on the MPU chip could become so corrupted that the SSCB cannot be programmed.
Another issue is that the station will not operate, however the lock lamps are on and no error codes.
After a reset everything is then OK.
Perhaps only a minor annoyance, however when a customer has to wait until the weather clears so you can have a $600 helicopter trip to the site to reset the station, it is perhaps more than a petty problem.
I do not recall anything in the MSF specs that indicate that this is normal operation.
I view replacing the firmware with a newer version a maintenance issue, since the original was defective from the factory.
By the way, the V5 chip is on a 27C512. The V3 was on a 27C256.
"I have absolutely no idea where you might obtain such a chip or the data file"
Tried to post earlier, but my computer crashed.
It sounds as if you have a secure station with out a TTRC board, as the V4.22 is the latest version (that I know of) for the secure board.
Maybe there is a V4.22 for the TTRC, but I have never seen one.
The issue with the version 5 firmware for the SSCB is not that it enables any sort of additional feature, it fixes some problems with earlier firmware.
Most notably you will notice that the front panel has a warning that the station could go to default settings due to static.
It is also possible that the EEPROM on the MPU chip could become so corrupted that the SSCB cannot be programmed.
Another issue is that the station will not operate, however the lock lamps are on and no error codes.
After a reset everything is then OK.
Perhaps only a minor annoyance, however when a customer has to wait until the weather clears so you can have a $600 helicopter trip to the site to reset the station, it is perhaps more than a petty problem.
I do not recall anything in the MSF specs that indicate that this is normal operation.
I view replacing the firmware with a newer version a maintenance issue, since the original was defective from the factory.
By the way, the V5 chip is on a 27C512. The V3 was on a 27C256.
"I have absolutely no idea where you might obtain such a chip or the data file"
Aloha, Bernie
Bernie,
Should that read a Secure Station without a Secure Board? That may be possible. . . (As there is no secure board) Does have the TTRC Board. Cables came loose during transit and I may have something reconnected incorrectly.
Part Number for the new firmware? V5 for the SSCB
Also repeater is a early '90s vintage that has been stored for quite some time. . . (If I had the serial # in front of me I'd give the month/day but don't have it here at the house. . . )
I will double check part numbers in the control board area and double check that the TTRC board is plugged into the repeater correctly as that cable did come out on me when I hinged open the control board cover. . .
As a side note: Complete set of manuals showed up yesterday for the beast so I will look at the book to verify the cable that popped off is in the right spot. . . .
Thanks for the info!
Tony
Should that read a Secure Station without a Secure Board? That may be possible. . . (As there is no secure board) Does have the TTRC Board. Cables came loose during transit and I may have something reconnected incorrectly.
Part Number for the new firmware? V5 for the SSCB
Also repeater is a early '90s vintage that has been stored for quite some time. . . (If I had the serial # in front of me I'd give the month/day but don't have it here at the house. . . )
I will double check part numbers in the control board area and double check that the TTRC board is plugged into the repeater correctly as that cable did come out on me when I hinged open the control board cover. . .
As a side note: Complete set of manuals showed up yesterday for the beast so I will look at the book to verify the cable that popped off is in the right spot. . . .
Thanks for the info!
Tony