Batboard

I've got a 403-470 ASTRO Saber 3, flashcode 000001-002000-5 (ASTRO-Ready and Conventional), and had a couple more questions:

- I have a DSP of A05.01.03, and a firmware of AP_R03.32.00. Based on the "A," I'm under the impression that this ready, even if 'frankenflashed,' would not support digital voice. What does it take to upgrade the DSP/firmware? (It's a 512K radio, so I couldn't get the latest firmware anyway. Am I SOL, or are there means of updating?)

- Does ASTRO-Ready mean IMBE-ready, definitely not VSELP-Ready?

- Is discussion of 'frankenflashing' frowned upon here? (And if it's okay to discuss, what's needed on the hardware side to do it? WIll a normal RIB and cable work, or do you need an SRIB/special cable?)

Oh, one more (not really flash-related, though):

The split is 403-470. I'd really like to be able to have 470.5125 (receive-only). Can this be done with ASTRO like it's commonly done with 'normal' Sabers, or is 470.0000 pretty much a hard limit?

About your second question. I have a R split (403-470 by the book) AS III but I can program it up to 477 via CPS with no problem. So *MAY BE* yours can take 470.5125 as well.

Good luck

A) that dsp is analog only, which means no matter what you do, no IMBE or VSELP even if you change the s-record. the A and M Prefixes on the firmware versions indicate that the DSP only contains the code necessary for analog voice. Prefixes I and N are Astro mode.

B) you dont need the latest firmware in it, you just want digital voice. if you want to have it flashed to a newer version, find someone to do it for you.

C) Astro ready only means its a conventional only radio. Astro mode actually refers to digital voice whether or not its VSELP or IMBE. Since its an astro ready radio, after you get it upgraded you will need to blow it a new s-record, or pay to have it done.

D) Frankenflashing as you call it can be done with a standard rib. You just need to find someone that has the software to do it for you.

As an FYI, if you have a radio that does not decode to "Astro Ready" or "IMBE-P25/CAI", the radio is VSELP.

I know it was discussed somewhere before, but I *think* if you go to your moto dealer, you might be able to get a firmware refresh/upgrade that will bring the firmware up for digital use (latest firmware release). I have heard conflicting information on this. You would still need the flash upgrade with the digital option though to speak digital.

If you legitly buy the digital upgrade, it will bump up your firmware to support it.

As for bandsplits, if you do the RSS hack, you can do 403-512 in the radio. However, CPS will stop you at 477 (at least mine does). I can RX 403 to 507, but haven't tried (or needed) to Tx that high.

compuman81 wrote:B) you dont need the latest firmware in it, you just want digital voice.

I'm not sure I follow you. Don't I need a newer firmware/DSP to do digital voice?

Also, if I were able to get the firmware updated... Could the radio do IMBE? Or is it permanently VSELP, no matter what?

FWIW, I blew in a different S-Record (knowing full well that it wouldn't enable digital), there are some frequencies well past 470. I get the "Fail 001" (VCO not unlocking) message when I stop on anything in the 480 MHz range. (Although I can't imagine that'd happen 500 kHz past the 470 MHz mark...)

You do need NEWER firmware but not the LATEST. IMBE came out a long time ago for the astro sabers, for example, a radio with host R4.01.00 and DSP I6.02.00 will do IMBE just fine. The audio quality won't be motorola's finest, but if you don't have an xts 5000 you won't know the difference. What i mean is motorola improved the audio quality and error recovery in the newer versions of firmware to reduced the garbled audio.

What it comes down to, is you need the radio upgraded. If you order the P25 upgrade from a dealer, the firmware file comes with the upgrade.

fogster wrote:Also, if I were able to get the firmware updated... Could the radio do IMBE? Or is it permanently VSELP, no matter what?

What it comes down to, is that depending only on the flashcode in the radio, and the version of Host and DSP, the radio will either do VSELP, IMBE, or just conventional.