Simple and probably dumb question

[mancow]

We have a group of Astro Sabers that need to be programmed. We have the software, cables etc...

I talked to the shop and we decided that instead of driving to their location we would send them codeplugs from the radios. They told me they could modify the codeplugs and then email them back with the proper trunking system information programmed. That way we can just dump them in here.

Will that work since we don't have a system key at our location? I don't have any reason to doubt the shop but it seems like we would have to have the key.

[515]

Yeah, that should work, as long as you send a unique codeplug for each radio. You won't be able to do any cloning without the system key.

[mancow]

OK, thanks!

[515]

Guess I should add that I've only done this in the days of standard system keys... The Advanced System Key could throw a wrench in a plan like this. So I'd probably check and see what key the shop uses, first.

[mancow]

I know they do use the dongle type keys. I thought the same thing as you and I asked about advanced system keys. He still assured me that it shouldn't be a problem. I guess we'll see.

[Jim202]

I think the program will barf if you don't have the system key available when you try to stuff the
codeplug into the radio.

Jim

I know they do use the dongle type keys. I thought the same thing as you and I asked about advanced system keys. He still assured me that it shouldn't be a problem. I guess we'll see.

[akardam]

Classic (or the "original") systems keys were just files on the programming PC that let you change trunking information. Don't have the appropriate system key for system 1234? Can't program it. However that did nothing to prevent you from reading and writing the radio, and changing other parts of the codeplug.

The Advanced System Keys are a whole nother matter entirely, being a hardware dongle based solution (actually based on the same iButton technology that's behind the FlashPort refresh/feature keys). Multiple levels of access, and generally if the radio was ever hit with an ASK, you need to have that (or at least an) ASK present when programming.

Needless to say I would keep backup copies of the codeplug, just in case.

On the other hand, if it turns out they've flubbed on what they were telling you, and they have in fact used an ASK on the radio, they should be able to provide you with a client copy of the ASK, which will let you continue to program the radios in the future. The same addage as above applies, that you wouldn't necessarily be able to modify trunking information for the system that the ASK applies to, but you could continue to modify everything else.

Disclaimer, this is all based on somewhat limited, contrafictory documentation and theory. I've yet to play with an ASK myself.

[515]

I've emailed codeplugs to an authorized shop that had the old file-type system key for the system, they added the trunked zone to the codeplugs, and emailed them back. I then had no problem dumping this codeplug into the radio, without the system key. The important part was to have the appropriate codeplug for each radio (you keep track of which radio goes with each codeplug, by serial number). You can't take one codeplug and clone it to multiple radios without the system key. Besides, they need to assign a unique trunked unit-ID to each radio anyways.

At least with the file-type system keys, you only need the system key to add, edit, or remove the affected system from the codeplug. I was still able to edit the conventional stuff just like we always were.

I've never messed with the advanced system keys, either. But I've heard you may not be able to even read the radio after it's been touched by one, unless you have an appropriate ASK.