AStro Saber3 1Meg VS 512k...What's the difference?

[themedic66]

So I have an astro saber 3 512k with a flashcode of: 800001-000000-2(H15 ASTRO Data/H35 Conventional Systems Operation). All i want the AS3 to do is P-25 IMBE Astro Digital operation, and Digital ID. So here's the catch, the frequencies that I want to monitor and use are IMBE Digital. I have been told that I have a VSELP radio, and that VSELP and IMBE are NOT COMPATIBLE?. So what can I do to get this radio to do IMBE digital?

THANKS AGAIN!!!

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Hello all, I have two radios to choose from an Astro Saber3 1Meg or 512k...What's the difference? What are the limitations of the 512K compared to the 1meg. The 1Meg costs more than the 512K so that's why i'm asking. Thanks!!

[Batwings21]

The 512 k boards are older, and have less memory, therefore they cannot hold the newer host firmware. They can do IMBE p25 digital in the newest versions, but the 1 meg board is the way to go.

[txshooter]

It really depends on what you are trying to do. If the board is already IMBE capable and has everything in the flash you need, the 512K radio may be for you. I have had several of them and they are good radios, but you will not be able to put a whore flash in them. Also all of the 512K radios I have personally seen are conventional only (No Trunking.) Now if you donlt need trunking....

They are a good way to get into digital without spending a lot of money......

[Hightower]

It really depends on what you are trying to do. If the board is already IMBE capable and has everything in the flash you need, the 512K radio may be for you. I have had several of them and they are good radios, but you will not be able to put a whore flash in them. Also all of the 512K radios I have personally seen are conventional only (No Trunking.) Now if you donlt need trunking....

They are a good way to get into digital without spending a lot of money......

tx,
A whore flash can be put into a 512K controller without any problem. Had many AS3's with 512k's with a 4F1E flash.

Are you confusing internal vs. external codeplugs?

512k boards can most definently do trunking - why wouldn't they? That was an option with Mot released the Astro sabers long ago.

512k controller's last firmware is Host 5.6.x / DPS 6.5.x, which won't work with rebanding 800 TRS (when they eventually reband).

If I had the choice, I would DEFINENTLY go with a 1 meg controller for the simple reason you can go above host 5.6..x for future upgrades should they be released.

Motorola has basically stopped developing new firmware for both 512k and 1Meg Astro line. Now only if a major problem is spotted will motorola issue an upgrade for the 1Meg radios. Highly doubt if they will ever release another firmware for the 512k's

[txshooter]

I didn't say they were not capable, I simply said I personally had never seen one with anything other than a conventional flash.

I was under the mistaken assumption that the Whore Flash did not work well with these if at all. Hey, ya learn soethign new everyday.

[Hightower]

tx

I can see where your comming from....

Many 512k's are from the older era when trunking was not nearly as common place as it is now. As the 1meg controllers were rolling off the production line, TRS were gaining in popularity across this country.

When you whore out a Astro product, your just changing the external codeplug - nothing to do with firmware. However some features might require certain firmware to work properly...

[a1emt]

Another question for the Astro Saber afficianados

I am looking at an AS III, 800 MHz with the following flashcode / options.

540008-000480-0
Q806 ASTRO Digital Operation [ ap ]
H14 Enhanced Digital ID Display [ ap ]
H869 Hardware Multikey Encryption [ ap ]
H38 SMARTZONE Systems Operation [ ap ]
Q173 SMARTZONE OMNILINK Multizone Operation [ ap ]
Q361 ASTRO 25 9600 Baud Trunking [ ap ]

Seller says this will do Analog 3600 (smartnet/smartzone) and 9600 P25 trunking in the same radio. Another source tells me it can only be one or the other, but not both.

Anyone with experience with this type flash?

Thanks

Jim

[Pj]

9600 trunking REQUIRES a 1meg board. Smartzone will work in a 512k radio, as I had one.

I have seen DSP8 in a 512k radio, but HOST will not go above 6.x.

For the common user, a 512k radio will do just fine. Towards the end of the depot service life, any radio going into the depot came back with a 1meg board if a repair was needed on that board.

So all the options but Q361 will work. Q361 also required a specific HOST revision to work properly. I don't recall what it was, but its in several older posts here.

[Hightower]

Another question for the Astro Saber afficianados

I am looking at an AS III, 800 MHz with the following flashcode / options.

540008-000480-0
Q806 ASTRO Digital Operation [ ap ]
H14 Enhanced Digital ID Display [ ap ]
H869 Hardware Multikey Encryption [ ap ]
H38 SMARTZONE Systems Operation [ ap ]
Q173 SMARTZONE OMNILINK Multizone Operation [ ap ]
Q361 ASTRO 25 9600 Baud Trunking [ ap ]

Seller says this will do Analog 3600 (smartnet/smartzone) and 9600 P25 trunking in the same radio. Another source tells me it can only be one or the other, but not both.

Anyone with experience with this type flash?

Thanks

Jim

Short rundown on Host firmware:
5.06.xx ----> last to work on 512k and 1M radios and supports 3600 trunking
6.xx.xx ----> only fits into 1M boards AND supports p25 9600 trunking
7.xx.xx ----> only fits into 1M boards and supports 3600 trunking.

If the AS3 on eBay is the one I think, it supports 9600 trunking from the info I know of.

Host 6.xx.xx is very rare to find in radios or at least I've only seen a handfull of these.

a1emt, next time, start a new thread rather than hijack an existing one - thanks.

[Hightower]

I have seen DSP8 in a 512k radio, but HOST will not go above 6.x.

Must be late Pj It should be 512k radios will not go above 5.x

6.x is 9600 trunking, which will only fit into a 1M.

[Pj]

Yeah...it was one of those numbers...but I was pretty sure that 1meg started with the 7.x and up. I haven't seen any 1meg below 7, unless they were ASTRO25 flashed...but as we all know, many combo's were available.

[a1emt]

Thanks for the info. Why does H38 show up in the flashcode if the radio is only capable of 9600 trunking?

Jim

[Pj]

H38 is SmartZone, which is different than ASTO25/9600.

As you buy more expensive trunking options, you get the lesser ones included. If you order SmartZone, you also get SmartNet, so on and so forth. A couple of the ASTRO25 platform radios like the 1500, its either ASTRO25 or Smartzone, but not both in the same radio. The 2500's where like that at first, but now support both in the same radio.

[Pj]

While doing some reseach for the PT/MW-800s in one of the board here, I came across this tidbit from a SRN in 2002...

At least at that time frame, the proper HOST/DSP combo's for an ASTRO25 XTS3000 or ASTRO Saber is:

HOST 6.10.00 and DSP 8.01.00

Also of note, it lists the ASTRO Spectra with the ASTRO25 option of having HOST 10.10.00 with DSP 8.01.00. This is listed differently than the ASTRO Spectra Plus which showed a HOST of 1.04.00 and DSP 1.04.00.

I was not aware of an ASTRO Spectra other than a Plus able to have the ASTRO25 option.

[themedic66]

So I have an astro saber 3 512k with a flashcode of: 800001-000000-2(H15 ASTRO Data/H35 Conventional Systems Operation). All i want the AS3 to do is P-25 IMBE Astro Digital operation, and Digital ID. So here's the catch, the frequencies that I want to monitor and use are IMBE Digital. I have been told that I have a VSELP radio, and that VSELP and IMBE are NOT COMPATIBLE?. So what can I do to get this radio to do IMBE digital?

THANKS AGAIN!!!