Few questions about 512K Astro Saber firmware

[MotoFAN]

Hi all!

I have a few questions about 512K Astro Saber firmware:

1. What's it the differences between I06.05.02 and N06.05.02 DSP firmware?

Accordingly to the "Guide to ASTRO Digital Radios" they are both Analog/Digital. How to determine which one I muse use for my Digital AS (it's currently loaded with I06.02.00).

2. Host firmware R05.60.04 is compatible with x06.05.02 DSP firmware or requires only x06.05.04 DSP firmware?

3. What version of DSP firmware is the latest for 512K Astro Saber? x06.05.02?

[Hightower]

Sometime during the production of the Astro Sabers/XTS3K, a newer DSP was developed. The older DSP IC became unavailable so Mot started using the newer DSP.

Old DSP = I
Newer DSP = N

If your DSP is a "I" type, then only "I" DSP firmware will work. Put the wrong DSP firmware in the radio, and it will come up with some fail code and not work what so ever.

The host and DSP you list is either the latest or close to the latest you can use in that radio with a 512 vocon.

[Pj]

Wasn't a Host 6/DSP8 released for the 512's? I remember some discussion about that, and I am pretty sure one of my last astro sabers had that combo...but its been awhile.

[Hightower]

Wasn't a Host 6/DSP8 released for the 512's? I remember some discussion about that, and I am pretty sure one of my last astro sabers had that combo...but its been awhile.

Host 6.xx.xx is specially for 9600 trunking.

As far as I know the last 512K firmware/DSP combo is Host 05.06.xx/DSP 06.05.xx

[Mfire39]

3. What version of DSP firmware is the latest for 512K Astro Saber? x06.05.02?

Host R05.60.00 / DSP 06.05.02 for 512K boards...



-Marc

[Batwings21]

Wasn't a Host 6/DSP8 released for the 512's? I remember some discussion about that, and I am pretty sure one of my last astro sabers had that combo...but its been awhile.

I beleive r0F had mentioned doing this, putting dsp 8 on a 512k board, the hard way.

[MotoFAN]

Thanks to all. Other question.

How to find out which Astro options are compatible with 512K Astro Saber (FW 04.01.00.00, DSP I06.02.00) but which aren't?

Q806 ASTRO Digital Operation [ ap ]
H14 Enhanced Digital ID Display [ ap ]
H15 ASTRO Data [ ap ]
H101 Repeater Access [ ap ]
H869 Hardware Multikey Encryption [ ap ]
Q498 Hardware Multikey Encryption w/ OTAR [ ap ]
H43 Trunked Remote Monitor/Radio Trace [ ap ]
H46 Trunked One Touch Status Message [ ap ]
H39 Selective Radio Inhibit [ ap ]
H35 Conventional Systems Operation [ ap ]
H37 SMARTNET Systems Operation [ ap ]
H38 SMARTZONE Systems Operation [ ap ]
H07 Software Multikey Encryption [ ap ]
H29 Software Singlekey Encryption [ ap ]
Q354 OTACS Over the Air Channel Steering [ ap ]
Q353 OTACR Over the Air Channel Reassignment [ ap ]
Q352 User Definable ID [ ap ]
Q351 MODAT [ ap ]
Q947 APCO Packet Data Interface [ ap ]
Q241 Analog Only Operation [ ap ]
Q387 Conventional Voting Scan [ ap ]
Q173 SMARTZONE OMNILINK Multizone Operation [ ap ]
Q182 Radio Control Protocol [ ap ]
Q361 ASTRO 25 9600 Baud Trunking [ ap ]

Please help!

[MotoFAN]

Astro Vehicular Adapter (AVA)

AVA will no work? I have purchased NTN7227D for it :( You sure?

[Pj]

Don't fear too much.. MSS's can do a firmware upgrade for you for ~$75.

[akardam]

Considering that the 512k firmware upgrade kit is long NLA from Motorola, the OP's only real option is to either get a 512k vocon already upgraded with the firmware he needs, or go in search of a 1m vocon.

[MotoFAN]

Don't fear too much.. MSS's can do a firmware upgrade for you for ~$75.

As I know, majority MSS's can't update 512K saber because have no 512 firmware.

[MotoFAN]

What's FW version reqired for AVA support?

[MotoFAN]

The following options will not function:
- SmartZone Omnilink (inter-zone roaming)

Ok, minus Q173.

- SoftID (Q352) decode (at R04.xx.xx it may not encode either.)

Ok, minus Q352.

- ASTRO25 9600 Trunking (Requires a 1M vocon and R06.xx.xx host firmware)

Ok, minus Q361.

- Multikey may or may not work properly.

What exactly? I have "H869 Hardware Multikey Encryption" from factory. Of maybe you mean "H07 Software Multikey Encryption"?

- AES-256 encryption

This is flashport driven option or UCM driven? I didn't see any mentions about in flashcode decoder.

[Pj]

AES I believe only came out on a UCM, but for some reason I want to say it was available for a *very* short time on a "normal" board. I'd have to look at Doug's list to see.

What are you going to use the radio for?


-Larry-

Do you have a list of firmware differences for the ASTRO Saber and/or XTS?

[MotoFAN]

Host R05.60.00 / DSP 06.05.02 for 512K boards...
-Marc

Accordingly to the r0f's guide, latest DSP FW Version x06.05.04, but not x06.05.02.

[MotoFAN]

Do you have a list of firmware differences for the ASTRO Saber and/or XTS?

I hopes, Yes. But why you asking? Above placed options list is for Astro radios (Astro Saber/Astro Spectra), not for Astro25 (XTS2500/5000 & etc.). What's wrong?

[Mfire39]

Host R05.60.00 / DSP 06.05.02 for 512K boards...
-Marc

Accordingly to the r0f's guide, latest DSP FW Version x06.05.04, but not x06.05.02.

.02, .04, gold jacket, green jacket, no big difference......


-Marc

[MotoFAN]

.02, .04, gold jacket, green jacket, no big difference......

Not a big, but truth is valuable.

[Pj]

What Marc is trying to say...is that the xx.xx.yy versions of firmware are usually pretty insignificant. Usually its a tweak that no one would actually notice but the engineers. Its the first and usually second set of xx's that you need to be aware of.

[Mfire39]

.02, .04, gold jacket, green jacket, no big difference......

Not a big, but truth is valuable.

Truth is valuable? You post asking for info on old 512K firmware, you get your answer, and you're going to nit-pick it because it's off by .02? You will not even know or notice what that .02 does, it's nothing to be worried about..


-Marc

[Pj]

What is your current flashcode, and what are you planning on using this radio for? You may be fretting over nothing.

[alex]

Ok, OP got the answers he was looking for - enough is enough.

-Alex