XTS5000 Password Control

mrtor · Post by **mrtor** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 5:25 pm

Hi All

Quick question before we go down the wrong path. I have received pricing on 6 XTS5K's from 2 different Mot. dealers. One of them (not the one I would usually use) has offered a price that is around $6,000 cheaper (ie: around a grand off per radio) and they will program them all for free.

Now my understanding is that you can put a password in to stop the radio being read or written to.

On that basis, if I buy the radio from this M shop, and I am not happy with their customer service or service dept. down the track, does that mean if they put in a password that no other M shop can read or write to my radios?

$6k is the grand scheme of things is a lot of bucks but I don't want to be locked into a potential problem in the future.

Someone that has more knowledge on this hopefully can help me.

Thanks in advance
Mike

Post by **wavetar** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 5:53 pm

Yeah, that's basically what it means. I believe but haven't confirmed that you can overwrite a password protected radio with a non-password protected codeplug...even so you'd lose the current programming. As part of your tender, you should stipulate in writing that you do not want a programming password in the radios. They are your property, after all. Our shop has never used the password feature for any series of radio, never saw a need to.

Todd

Post by **alex** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 9:42 pm

If you are going to save $6000 - take the cash and buy the software and cable. Do the programming yourself.

There's nothing that says you can't - unless - those radios are going on a system for which you do not own, then it's a whole other ball game.

If there's no incentive for the other place to program it - just do it yourselves.

-Alex

Post by Pj » Tue Nov 16, 2004 9:57 pm

I find it interesting that you got pricing from two dealers. Its my understanding that MSS's have specific territories to work in, thus preventing a price war between essentially two company stores.

Radiogeek97 · Post by **Radiogeek97** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:29 am

PJ
I know that in my area Metro-boston that there are at least 3 full line M dealers in our area that routinely compete. I worked for 1 of them and the only time territory came up is when the dealer was from out of state.

Post by **wavetar** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 7:28 am

Pj wrote:I find it interesting that you got pricing from two dealers. Its my understanding that MSS's have specific territories to work in, thus preventing a price war between essentially two company stores.

Not the case here in Canada at least...we're free to cut the throats of the competition & vice versa.

Todd

Post by **xmo** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 12:00 pm

Motorola started this codeplug password business with its dealer radio products. Now it is available on the top of the line public safety radios. This feature as well as the ASK [Advanced System Key] feature greatly enhance control over the radio for the system administrator - BUT - radio owners need to understand these features.

I recommend that from here on - anybody looking at buying one of these radios used - whether from a private party, ebay, or wherever - be VERY careful. If the radio you get has a password protected codeplug - OR - has been programmed with an Advanced Syetm Key - you may find yourself with a paperweight.

As far as I can tell - there is no fix for these issues [outside of the Depot]. These new radios program with CPS only - so any of the old tricks that worked on Astro Saber / XTS3000 / Astro Spectra just are not there. The new CPS will not overwrite a password protected codeplug - or over-ride the ASK requirement - or fix a disabled radio - even if you have a previous codeplug archive file from that exact radio.

mrtor · Post by **mrtor** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 1:01 pm

Pj wrote:I find it interesting that you got pricing from two dealers. Its my understanding that MSS's have specific territories to work in, thus preventing a price war between essentially two company stores.

Not applicable here in Australia, you can get prices from as many (or in this case as few) as you like. They have price wars between them all the time. If they want your business, they trim the pricing a bit harder !

mrtor · Post by **mrtor** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 1:03 pm

xmo wrote:whether from a private party, ebay, or wherever - be VERY careful. If the radio you get has a password protected codeplug - OR - has been programmed with an Advanced Syetm Key - you may find yourself with a paperweight.

As far as I can tell - there is no fix for these issues [outside of the Depot]. These new radios program with CPS only - so any of the old tricks that worked on Astro Saber / XTS3000 / Astro Spectra just are not there. The new CPS will not overwrite a password protected codeplug - or over-ride the ASK requirement - or fix a disabled radio - even if you have a previous codeplug archive file from that exact radio.

Thanks xmo that clarifies what I feared. I think we better specify that there are to be definately NO PASSWORDS installed on the units once they are programmed.

We can buy the CPS & the cable for about a $1000.00 so it may be worth doing at the time of the radios being ordered, but as they will in theory only be programmed the once and then left alone......... hmmmm

Thanks for everyones help

Mike

cbus · Post by **cbus** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 5:37 pm

no turf restrictions here in australia. I have about 6 motorola dealers within an hours drive from me. if i find a cheaper price on the other side of the country, they just send it via courier.

I work them like im buying a car. tell them the price that another dealer has offered and they beat it, then go back to the first dealer and get them to beat the 6th dealers price etc