Maratrac Firmware Upgrade?

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 9:57 am

Anyone know how to upgrade the firmware in a Maratrac? Done through RSS or some LAB software? Buy a new eprom from /\/\ for more than its worth? How do you do it?

matt7x · Post by **matt7x** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 10:39 am

Find a Maratrac radio with the same model # and newer firmware. Pull out the EPROM from the old radio put it in a EPROM programmer read the EPROM and save it incase something goes wrong, then erase the EPROM with a UV eraser. Pull the EPROM out of the newer radio read it and save it. Put the "OLD" EPROM in the programmer and burn the newer Firmware to the chip. Put all the EPROMS back in radios and your done. I've done this on several radios that the old firmware apparently did not support the "Advanced control heads" and it worked fine.

Max-trac · Post by **Max-trac** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 4:30 pm

5.05 is the newest I have seen.
Just plug in the new eprom (power it off first).
I did NOT have to blank and initialize.
The firmware is not model specific unless there was a special or something.....

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 4:42 pm

Ok, but how do i get a chip ready to plug in without having to buy another radio.

Can it be ordered, can anyone out there program an eprom ready to install??

Max-trac · Post by **Max-trac** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 5:11 pm

Like matt7x said, you need an eprom reader/writer and a blank eprom or UV eraser.....

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 5:33 pm

Ok, well this radio has firmware version 4.01, just pulled it apart and checked.

Is there a huge difference between 4.01 and 5.05?

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 5:54 pm

why bother it is just a maratrac

a work horse with a few fetuyres

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 8:44 pm

What do you mean why bother? Its a 100 watt radio built like a brick outhouse. What could be better?

And besides, i'm used to using Mitreks and Micors, a lot more hassle getting crystals then changing a firmware eprom and be done with it.

matt7x · Post by **matt7x** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 6:47 am

I just popped the lid on a fairly new Maratrac firmware version is 6.06. But now I cant get my Eprom programmer to work arrrrghhh..........

xxx2fan · Post by **xxx2fan** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 6:18 pm

Anyone know the nember of the maratrac eprom. if there is another eprom that will work generic eprom ???
Thanks for any help

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 6:20 pm

I think the last one i burned was either a 27C256 or 27C512. Don't recall for sure!

The latest version i have seen is 5.05.