FLASHcodes when buying on eBay

[HarrisonRHW]

I'm on the eBay circuit looking for an XTS3K (see my other posts for why).

I have read the very extensive, and very thorough Akardam guide (THANKS for that!) but I am trying to figure out a safe way to determine if a seller is lying about the flashcode or not, especially when you get to the "whore flashes" that seem to have options that aren't even available on A25 portables, according to the guide (i.e. FDNY Signaling on a UHF portable). If the seller doesn't show a picture of the flashcode label, is there a good way to tell, or should I avoid buying one unless the seller has everything that Akardam says should be listed?

[avguy]

I would only buy from a seller that specializes in radios if you don't want to take a chance.

[akardam]

I thought my ears were burning...

The short answer is you're never going to be 100% assured of the condition of a bit of equipment until you get your hands on it, especially including radios. That having been said, with regards to whacky flashcodes on the likes of a XTS 3000, there's any number of different "whoreflashes" out there, called that because they usually have close to all the options turned on. 99% of the users out there will never have a need to use even 25% of the fancy features you can turn on, but there you go. The good thing is that with a very few exceptions (software encryption being one), there are no options or combination of options that will keep a radio from working. Some of the options just don't mean anything on the Astro line, others are just mere fluff and if you don't use them you should have no problem.

As always, assume any used radio you buy is going to need a complete checkup, unless it has factory tags and the contents of the radio (serial, flash, etc) match them 100%.

[tvsjr]

Also, don't forget that a radio may have a digital flashcode (commonly a whore), but not have IMBE in the DSP. The only way to assure IMBE functionality is to ensure the first digit of the flashcode is odd AND the first letter of the DSP version is either I or N. If the DSP is A or M... no digital for you. It's easy to shove a digital s-rec into a radio... but it's meaningless without a digital-capable DSP.

[n7maq]

Post a want add here on the board (if you have I'm sorry I did not see it when I looked back) with your needs. If you go with a reputable seller from here, you will have a better chance of ending up with a radio that does not need an alignment before use.

Jim

[HarrisonRHW]

Thanks for the help.

I will probably end up posting a WTB link on here, but the issue is I am still trying to figure out what flashcode I need, which isn't hard, but what is hard is trying to figure out how to prevent the cost from getting out of hand. Plus I am going to be new to the FLASHport stuff, so I was planning on picking up a Panter88 radio, but I will have to wait until he throws up another series of radios that can handle conventional systems, but can do digital IMBE voice, which leads to another question -

Most radios don't seem to have H38 as an option - is this necessary to do conventional channels? I could have sworn I was told that radios with Type II Smartnet support could do them as well. I don't see why not as these radios would need conventional channels to revert to.

[akardam]

If you spend some time reading up, there's plenty of information on what flashcodes mean, what flashcodes are desireable, etc.

To answer your system package question, each higher level of system package includes the capabilities of all packages below it. So, H38 SmartZone includes H37 SmartNet and H35 Conventional capabilities. If you really only need conventional operation, you could pick up a radio with trunking and just not use it.

That being said, I'd be surprised if Panter would be listing any XTS3000's any time soon, all of his stuff recently has been the Astro25 line.

[Pj]

FDNY signalling is used on UHF. FDNY uses UHF for all fireground operations. VHF is used for dispatch and routine incident traffic.

[HarrisonRHW]

PJ that is actually helpful info in trying to confirm lies and truths.

What exactly is the tone set? - I assumed it was a fancy title for MDC Status

[Pj]

Nope. Basically what it is - is an ASTRO data packet that is transmitted after voice, but the voice is analog. This allows for more radio ID's than MDC allows. Also there are distinct audio alarms that the radios will emit when the emergency button is hit, sorta like a pass alarm.