XTS5000 firmware upgrade - why bother?

hamptonbeach · Post by **hamptonbeach** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:13 pm

OK - once upon a time .. all the local and state police in NH used VHF-hi analog.
I used my 2 meter mobile and portable for ham, my work frequency and 'scanning' police etc ...
Then they went P25.
Rather than get a scanner and carry 2 portables, I opted to buy an XTS5000.
The firmware on it is ancient (2.02 I believe)

I have no issues with the radio at all. I don't believe I'd benefit from any of the new features the current CPS has to offer (that require host upgrade).
I like to have things current for no other reason than to "keep up with the Jones'" - so my question is simple ...

Why would I bother to pay M to upgrade the host to whatever is current?

Post by **Mfire39** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:40 pm

These are just my thoughts on it... For one, a firmware upgrade would get MDC to work on that radio. You would also get 850 chans, and MPL just to name a few. From the looks of that firmware version, my guess is that you have a 123ABC radio, and although it can be done, it might be hard for you to get an upgrade if this is the case.

I know that these are things that you may or may not use in the future, but they are nice features to have. Other than those changes, you probably won't even notice a difference when using the radio, unless you use or need these features specifically. Just my 2 cents

-Marc

hamptonbeach · Post by **hamptonbeach** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:47 pm

Well it's a model I, so I don't see how I'd get more than 48 channels, and I don't even have half of that in use, nor do I ever see using up the 48.
MPL and MDC are a non-issues to me too.

and nope its not an engineering sample - serial is 320CDEAxxx
Do the letters indicate when it was made?

I guess the real question is how much does M charge?
For $10 its a no-brainer, for $200 .. umm .. I'd need a real reason.

Fuel4300 · Post by **Fuel4300** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 3:10 pm

hamptonbeach wrote: serial is 320CDEAxxx
Do the letters indicate when it was made?

Yes, your serial number decodes to March of 2003 which corresponds to the old firmware.

hamptonbeach wrote: I guess the real question is how much does M charge?
For $10 its a no-brainer, for $200 .. umm .. I'd need a real reason.

A firmware refresh is in the neighborhood of $75. In addition to the serial number the radio needs to have legit tags for them to perform the upgrade.

-Mike

Post by **Mfire39** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 3:26 pm

Well since it's a model 1 and it doesn’t sound like you use much on it, I wouldn’t even bother with a firmware upgrade. Unless you want it upgraded just so you know you have new firmware in it, I don't think you would even notice a difference on the model 1.

-Marc

hamptonbeach · Post by **hamptonbeach** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:01 pm

yup - it has legit tags and $75 isn't a lot to toss at it ..

Do I have to send it back to depot, or can a local M dealer do it?

hamptonbeach · Post by **hamptonbeach** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:14 pm

Well I guess looking at the original programming date of 12/21/2002 should've given me a clue on the radios age

ya, firmware is R02.20.02 ....

Post by Pj » Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:28 pm

In addition to major upgrades/features, there may be minor fixes that are released.

You can check out http://www.k2jsv.com/batlabs/XTSXTL_releasenotes.pdf to see if there are any annoying problems that may have been addressed since your firmware was released..