HT1550 XLS service questions

[raff92]

Hey Everyone,

So I just bought a used Motorola HT1550 XLS and I want to make sure that it is working at its peak efficiency.

I have purchased a new front kit for the radio as well as a new iMPRES battery and charger and a whole bunch of other things.

The radio is Firmware version R05.13.09. I see on MOL that the newest version is R05.18.01 and that there are some significant improvements, since the current firmware in the radio is from 2008. I would also like to get my radio tuned and aligned.

My plan is to do all of this at a local Radio Shop (Not sure where yet) but my question is what should I expect to pay for these services and what will be done to my radio during the tuning and alignment?

Thanks!

[com501]

Are you going to install the front kit yourself? If so, no problem. If the shop is going to install it, expect them to charge for that.

For the alignment and flash upgrade expect an hour of bench time, and they may tack on an extra half hour to install your own housing if you opt for them to do it.

You can expect that when the radio is returned to you, it will have been completely aligned and programmed with 6.12.08. So you will need to make sure you have purchased the newest version of CPS and have an EID installed on your machine for wideband if you are using it in the ham bands.

[raff92]

Okay so I have the front kit and I have installed it myself without any problems, this was not my first time doing this.

I currently have R06.12.08 as well as a subscription to the Waris series CPS so no worries about that one.

So then going off what you said I should just expect them to charge me for around 1 hours of bench time for the Firmware upgrade as well as the alignment of the radio. I have never had this stuff done in a radio shop before so would someone mind throwing out a ballpark price on what I should expect so I know that I am not being ripped off....

Thanks!

[com501]

Most shops charge between $65 and $105 an hour. They should be able to quote you upfront. The firmware is a free download from Motorola.

[raff92]

The firmware is a free download from Motorola.

Okay thanks. I used to do the firmware upgrades by myself with all the official Motorola equipment right down to the cable with a RIB but I just don’t feel comfortable after trying an update (R05.17.01 or 02 I believe) and the radio was bricked and had to be sent to the depot. Turns out that Motorola had announced an issue with that update, although I cannot remember the version.

Anyway, long story short I know the progress and I have all of the equipment I would just like to have someone else do the Firmware upgrade at the time of Alignment.

Should this still just run me about an hour of bench time?

[com501]

Including two cups of coffee, a trip to the bathroom, three customer phone calls fielded, and a donut. Probably 10 minutes on Facebook, too.

[raff92]

Okay thanks I should be getting this done next week, I will let you know what they end up charging.