Newbie question about Astro flashcodes

[jland138]

Maybe this is a dumb "more money than brains question", but I've been looking at acquiring a Astro P25 VHF radio. When I check the flashcodes of various models for sale, I see that the code makes a distinction between "Conventional Systems Operation" and "SMARTZONE Systems Operation" (XTS3000). If I'm only interested in monitoring a non-trunked P25 system and scanning 2 or 3 channels, am I restricted to only purchasing a "Conventional" radio, or is a SMARTZONE capable of doing this a well?

[Batwings21]

Most of the time, higher modes of operation will include the lowers ones. So yes having trunking in a radio will not prevent it from working in a conventional system.

[Tom in D.C.]

Maybe this is a dumb "more money than brains question", but I've been looking at acquiring a Astro P25 VHF radio. When I check the flashcodes of various models for sale, I see that the code makes a distinction between "Conventional Systems Operation" and "SMARTZONE Systems Operation" (XTS3000). If I'm only interested in monitoring a non-trunked P25 system and scanning 2 or 3 channels, am I restricted to only purchasing a "Conventional" radio, or is a SMARTZONE capable of doing this a well?

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1. All the XTS radios do conventional FM analog.
2. To do what you describe you simply enter the P25 channels you want, put them in a scanlist, then scan away.
3. To receive P25 your radio's flashcode must begin with either a number 1 or a number 5.
4. For all practical purposes, unless you're an authorized trunked system user you won't be able to do any P25 trunking operations.

[FireCpt809]

I have an Astro saber II UHF high split with a flash of 80000010000002 acording to Akardam it is

Flashcode: 800001-000000-2

H15 ASTRO Data
H35 Conventional Systems Operation

Is this P25 capable? If it is great.. If not not a big deal

[akardam]

"No IMBE and no Analog Ready makes Homer something something..."

VSELP?

"Don't mind if I do!!!!"

[MattSR]

Nup, shes VSELP digital ASTRO, not P25.

[jland138]

One more question. I sometimes see portables listed for sale that say "no tags". Does this mean that the gear has been hacked so that flashcode might really indicate a feature that the hardware is not capable of handling? Most of the used pro hardware I have is made up of former desk or dashboard queens and haven't see this much when referring to mobile gear.

If I never need the hacked features in the flashcode, does it matter? Or, does it indicate other problems?

[Tom in D.C.]

Absence of factory ID labels can indicate everything from nothing to really serious/bad things, but it's most often thought to mean that the radio might be "parts built." Proper interpretation of flashcode, operating system, features, what works with what, etc. etc. takes some amount of study, including what OS will allow trunked operation and what ones will not, so it can get pretty complicated.

Fortunately, most if not all of everything you need is on this Board, but it will take some searching. None of us learned this stuff overnight so be patient and just take it one step at a time.

Regards,

[FireCpt809]

Nup, shes VSELP digital ASTRO, not P25.

Not a big deal ... 99% of everthing here is conventional analog