Astro Saber IMBE in 512K Radio proof it does exist.....

[txshooter]

Contrary to popular belief IMBE was available in 512K Boards. I have several VHF Astro Saber 3's with 512K boards and IMBE. These have been tested with other IMBE Astro Sabers, Spectras, and a XTS5000. The 512K radios both transmit and receive IMBE with no issues and they actually sound pretty good. While the firmware is older, they actually sound better than some 7.X 1 Meg radios I have owned.

Here is what they are in. Non-Hacked from Motorola.....
Model #HO4KDH9PW7AN
HOST R04.01.02
DSP I06.03.00
Flashcode: 540001-000000-4
Q806 ASTRO Digital Operation
H14 Enhanced Digital ID Display
H869 Hardware Multikey Encryption
H35 Conventional Systems Operation

[akardam]

I don't think anybody routinely disputes that one could have IMBE in a 512k AstroSaber, just that you couldn't have the latest Host/DSP combo, and thus, sounds like poo. I guess as with all other things in life, it's rather subjective.

[txshooter]

I had heard they existed before finding these, but had never talked to anyone here or elsewhere that actually ever had on in their possesion. It was interesting to see the firmware revisions that many, myself included, may have assumed to be VSELP prior to actually having one of these in my hands. You are right, the sound is subjective. It is not as good as the latest firmware available, but really is much better than I would have expected.

[HumHead]

Yup. I've owned a 512K IMBE VHF unit for several years. It is, of course, an older firmware revision.

[d119]

Yup. I've owned a 512K IMBE VHF unit for several years. It is, of course, an older firmware revision.

Likewise. I too have a 512k VHF Astro Saber I that is IMBE.

[txshooter]

I stand corrected...

[Jason]

ditto on the poo sound

[Rayjk110]

You can also fit DSP 8.03.03 in a 512k vocon, but you'll have to have an older host to make up for it. Shouldn't be a big deal unless it's an 800meg radio and the host would have to support rebanding (07.72.00)

[akardam]

You can also fit DSP 8.03.03 in a 512k vocon, but you'll have to have an older host to make up for it.

That makes no sense. The Host ROM is 512k, the DSP lives in a seperate 256k ROM. They don't share the same ROM space, so there's no "making up for it".

The newer Host firmware won't fit into a 512k Host ROM. Since the Host/DSP come packaged from Mother M as one file, you're stuck with older Host and a first gen IMBE DSP. The only way you could mix and match that I'm aware, is if you rebuilt the CVN file with a 512k compliant Host and latest DSP and refreshed the firmware through official means, or did some direct ROM manipulation via other means.

[Rayjk110]

The only way you could mix and match that I'm aware, is if you rebuilt the CVN file with a 512k compliant Host and latest DSP and refreshed the firmware through official means, or did some direct ROM manipulation via other means.

That's what I was talking about. I know they both live in their own little "ROM"s, but it is possible to have a late DSP and an earlier host in a radio. The only user conflict to this that I can forsee is if you do this to an 800meg radio and you also require rebanding....

[akardam]

Ah. I was under the impression that earlier Host and latest DSP wouldn't play nice together, but maybe a way has been found around that limitation.

[Pj]

Yeah, I checked into that a long time ago for my 512k Astro Saber. DSP8 will work, but you will still be stuck with host 6.x...which conventionally, your fine. Of course, if youre rebanding, your screwed.

[alex]

Ray --

There is a certain matching of host/dsp which was designated by the factory which says we know for a fact host x, works with host y. After a certain period of time, demand for a feature or other issue showed the need to increase the amount of flash space in a radio, therefore, you saw the 1mb radios appear on the market. At that point there is no real logical reason - short of a customer complaining (and by customer think large city/state/federal) that they still need to support the older 512k radios. (think the now 4mb and 8mb differences in the 2500... large customers demanded features, they needed more flash space for the 2500's, hence now the 8mb radios.)

While they could physically stuff the DSP on to the same size chip and pair it with a older host, they apparently didn't - for whatever reason. They probably decided that it was easier just to ship out a bunch of new 1mb vocons to the person who demanded it - or these people had radios already under service contract, and they were all updated to 1mb under those contracts.

So again, can you physically do it through whatever backdoor means you may have? Apparently, you can from what your saying, and from what others have said as well.

However, this isn't viable for the customer with 20,000 portables in the field, or someone whose life may depend on the radio. It it something that may work for your backyard and high school shenanigans? Sure, why not.

So again, you have to chalk it up to perspective, and what's reasonable. Messing with the chips and screwing around with the radios isn't reasonable when you have a HUGE fleet of them, and there shouldn't be a need to do it in the first place in most instances.

Could they have? Apparently yes. Did they? Not as far as any one seems to know.

-Alex

[Rayjk110]

No no, I'm not recommending doing this for Public Safety personell, or people who rely on radios with their lives at certain moments. Altho I'm sure the radio would probably preform just fine, it's better not to chance that. But as for my Highschool Shenanigans and hobbyist use, it works just fine if you don't have a 1mb kicking around.