Question about Astro & Modat

[BobL]

Hello to the group!

I had a Motorola Astro Saber from 1996-2000 & used Dos RSS 4.0 to program it. The radio was a 450-520 split & did Modat & I was able to program it into the ham channels. I still have the code plug from the radio but I can't bring it up it into Astro Lab version 3.04. I have been looking on ebay for a an Astro Saber & I have found one with the following specs : Motorola Saber Astro III

Model H04SDH9PW7AN

UHF 450-520 MHz.

FLASHport 0000010020005

DSP A08.02.02

1-Meg of Memory

I have e-mailed this person & got no helpful info, can someone tell me if I can program this radio with the above software & maybe even use my own codeplug from before? I use to know a lot about this kind of stuff but I have been away from it for 7 years & any help would be appreciated!

Thanks to the group for there time,
BobL

[N4KVE]

Basically it all depends on what was used to program that radio last. Also that flashcode is bare. No trunking & analog only. Just last month I picked up a similar radio with Imbe & trunking for $215. Recent host/dsp & the seller was very helpful & programmed my freq's. Got it here on the board. I'd pass on that radio. Hope this helps. GARY N4KVE

[Batwings21]

The specs you listed on that radio are analog only firmware, so if you are wanting digital it will not work.

[motorola_otaku]

If you have Astro Lab 3.04, I'm assuming you also have a little file called LA_ROVER.S

That is a S-record for the old-school MODAT-blasting pre-P25 LAPD Astro Saber, model H04SDH9PW7AN. It was intended for old radios with 512K VOCONs and HOST firmware in the 03.xx range, but it'll work happily in that Ebay-advertised radio since it's analog-only to begin with. Use F5 - Archive/Srecord Disc Files to read the file (don't unpack it) and F4 - Read/Write with no Pack/Unpack to load it into the radio. After that, you can read and write to the radio with Astro Lab all day long.

However, since the radio firmware is analog-only, not even VSELP or any of its associated options will work. The resulting product will be good for only analog communications.

Oh, and don't forget to read and write down the tuning values out of the radio before loading the new s-record into it.

[BobL]

Why didn't I think of that, lol?

All this trouble for MODAT?

It would be more cost-effective for you to buy a DVR keychain and record MODAT onto it so you can press the button whenever you feel the need.

Do not use Lab 3.04 to program your radio. You'll end up with a codeplug checksum error real quick.

[dxon2m]

If you have Astro Lab 3.04, I'm assuming you also have a little file called LA_ROVER.S

That is a S-record for the old-school MODAT-blasting pre-P25 LAPD Astro Saber, model H04SDH9PW7AN. It was intended for old radios with 512K VOCONs and HOST firmware in the 03.xx range, but it'll work happily in that Ebay-advertised radio since it's analog-only to begin with. Use F5 - Archive/Srecord Disc Files to read the file (don't unpack it) and F4 - Read/Write with no Pack/Unpack to load it into the radio. After that, you can read and write to the radio with Astro Lab all day long.

However, since the radio firmware is analog-only, not even VSELP or any of its associated options will work. The resulting product will be good for only analog communications.

Oh, and don't forget to read and write down the tuning values out of the radio before loading the new s-record into it.

On a similar note, if my saber firmware/dsp is analog only. I can use astro lab to jam a whored out analog codeplug all day long?

[Batwings21]

It should be an srecord. sometimes astro lab can cause checksum errors, mostly with imbe radios, but I never tried analog. Thats why people use mtsx lab to push srecords to astro's. But LA ROVER should work fine for you.

[motorola_otaku]

Worst-case scenario: if you get FAIL 01/92 after using Astro Lab, just use MTSX Lab to load LA_ROVER. It could care less what data the s-record contains, or what its intended target is.

[dxon2m]

I should've said s-record and not codeplug, my oopsie there.

Problem is I only have MTSX Lab R02 and not R03 so I can only use astro lab. Unless R02 will work with analog only radios too, i'm kinda SOL

[BobL]

Where would one find this file LA_ROVER.S?

[Batwings21]

If you have astro lab 3.04 you should also have la rover its in the zip file from what I understand.

[BobL]

I want to clarify how the reading of the LA_ROVER.S file is to be written into the target radio? So if I understand the above post I will hit F6 - Archive/Srecord Disk Files, then F4 - Read Srecord (Disk file name is LA_ROVER.S)
& then F8 - Write Srecords. Is that right? What is the next step? How will I know if all went well? All I am looking for here is to get the Modat working, there is no call in my area for any digital or trunking. The Radio has the following info:

Model Number = H04SDH9PW7AN
Codeplug = 000A
Firmware = 3.20.01.00
DSP Software = I05.00.18
System Package = H35
Flash Code = 000001-000000-9
Flashport = 1 Meg

Thanks again to the group for their time!

[motorola_otaku]

Ehn, you're almost correct.

I will hit F6 - Archive/Srecord Disk Files, then F4 - Read Srecord (Disk file name is LA_ROVER.S)

Yes.

Then, you:
1.) F10 to exit out of that menu.
2.) F4 - Read/Write with No Pack/Unpack
3.) F8 - Write to Radio

The firmware in your radio is of that era and VSELP-capable, so you're golden.

As for grabbing the tuning values, before dumping in the new s-record hook the radio up like you're going to program it and hit F2 - Service, then go through all of the available sub-menus and write down every value you see. Then, after loading the s-record, go back into F2 -Service and reset all the values to the ones you have written down. This is a vitally important step, and the radio won't work right otherwise if you don't do it.