Batboard

well I took my radio's into a MSS last thursday to have the latest firmware in them for some reason they were unable to load it into the radios. They told me they have never done any xts5000 firmware upgrades, and that I am the first one in my area to bring in a xts5000. They said they would send them to the depot to have the firmwear loaded. This is the first time I have had anything go to the depot for anything. Now my question is how fast should I expect to have my radios back?

The repair cycle time card says turnaround on non-warranty service will take 10 days for high tier portables. Although this is not a repair you can still use it as a yardstick.

Last time I sent something, it was a week or so turn around. However, after about 10 days I called up - and it had been sitting fixed in the warehouse for a few days for no apparent reason.

I was in no major rush to get the portable back from the depot, so it wasn't an immediate concern. I'd call and check if you don't see it back within 10ish days.

Ensure that anything you send in is tagged, and has all the as built options correct for the model/serial number.

-Alex

everything is properly tagged on them so that shouldn't be a problem. thanks for the replies

fire_master_21 wrote:everything is properly tagged on them so that shouldn't be a problem. thanks for the replies

hey ol buddy! watch out you don't get a MT2000 back !! later, Jim

fire_master_21 wrote:well I took my radio's into a MSS last thursday to have the latest firmware in them for some reason they were unable to load it into the radios. They told me they have never done any xts5000 firmware upgrades, and that I am the first one in my area to bring in a xts5000. They said they would send them to the depot to have the firmwear loaded. This is the first time I have had anything go to the depot for anything. Now my question is how fast should I expect to have my radios back?

I think your question should be WHAT radio will you get back ?

So far I have done just under 500 Apco 25 upgrade flashes. Most of them were on XTS5000's.

It is really a no brainer. It does not even require a Smart Rib. If an authorized MSS has problems, then I have problems with that MSS.

I sent in an Astro Saber for the latest firmware and Digital Id and they took well over a month to ship it back. I had to call Motorola every few days and find out what was going on then they tried to charge me $300.00 or $375.00 for a flat rate repair when I was quoted $165.00 by the depot. So finally M's billing department sent lots of emails to the depot and figured out what I was quoted and I paid $165.00 and they shipped the radio free. At least it didn't come back a MTS2000.

Well I tried to keep these radios in the U.S. and have it done locally. I used this http://www.usmss.org/index.html that batdude posted and found Creative Communications here in AZ and they have a office about 40 miles from me. Took it there and they said they have never seen a 5000 in person. There main office is in phoenix, so this local office said theycalled phx to help walk the local MSS through the process. No dice now I had to send them out of the counrty. My main concern is they come back with the same flash codes.

GlennD wrote:So far I have done just under 500 Apco 25 upgrade flashes. Most of them were on XTS5000's.

It is really a no brainer. It does not even require a Smart Rib. If an authorized MSS has problems, then I have problems with that MSS.

I bet most MSS's have never even seen an ASTRO radio in the flesh, let alone have CPS, cables etc for them.

Most MSS's take a hands-off approach to above price-book radios. Part of it is psychological, they just see Astro and push it back. But another part of it is many shops simply don't have a customer base that uses the radios, so they don't justify the cost of CPS, test equipment, cabling, parts stock, etc.

Exactly, if the shop hasn't seen an Astro radio before (likely due to Motorola undercutting them on bids to the few agencies that can afford them), then they certainly won't be doing firmware upgrades to them. I'm willing to bet the number of "Astro familiar" MSS locations runs about 10% of the total number.

Todd

You can do one of two things.

1) Call Motorola @ 1-800-422-4210 and speak to the folks at the Depot and get an RA to upgrade the radio. They will send you a request for upgrade form. Fill it out and send the form in and they will send you a cost estimate.

2) Contact the ADM for your area which would be Craig Thomas and go thru him to get the radio upgraded.

Also sometimes if the radio has been purchased second hand you may have some problems.

The third option is to contact me and I can order the upgrade and flash the radio, legally!!! I do this all the time for my customer radios.

Well it took a month and 1 day but, I got both of my radios back today! Both radios came back as xts5000's and with the flashcodes that they were sent off with. I am now a happy camper.

I had sent an XTS 5000 back to the depot for an 08/10 error that just would not quit. Got the radio back in 1 week with upgraded firmware and a new vocoder board. Much to my suprise the invoice stated no charge. Apparently the radio that I purchased off E-Bay some time ago had an extended warranty on it. Great price for the radio and an extended warranty. Amazing.

I was in the same boat buying mine used, but had a warranty still on both of them. They came back with the latest Host and DSP and new cases. I was only charged 5 bucks a radio when I got them back. Thought that was weird too.