Batboard

Hi all, i did a search here on the batboard but did not find an answer to my question.

I have a VHF MTS2000 with a flashcode of 001008-000000-0 which decodes to:

Decoding Flashcode: 001008-000000-0

H43 Trunked Radio Trace / Remote Monitor
H38 SMARTZONE Systems Operation

I'm wondering what i have to do to get different FLASHport options installed into this radio? I have talked to the techs at two different Motorola shops in the areas that i live and work and both have said that they do not do or have the capability to do upgrades to my radio. Both are busy with govt. public safety contracts including one that is the local shop for the statewide trunked radio system.

I'm not sure how common this capability is supposed to be but can anyone recommend a shop that is capable of altering the flashcode in my radio?

As an alternative, i have heard of 'whore flashing' is that an option for this radio? What are the risks associated with this?

Any batlab members have this capability?

I had considered buying a different radio that might have this capability but i am leary of doing so because of the speed that the statewide digital trunked radio is spreading, i'm not sure how much longer this radio will be useful.

Thanks in advance for your replies and help.

Well, what flashport options do you want? There isn't THAT much out there for the analog radios, most of the fancy flash options are for ASTRO dual-mode analog/digital radios.

The correct way to go about upgrading your radio is to first decide what options you want. Then contact your local MSS and tell them that you don't care what they are busy with, you're a paying customer and you want to make a purchase. Bear in mind that these flash options are NOT cheap.

The MSS should then order a Flashport upgrade kit that contains a dongle. They then connect the radio, dongle, and SmartRIB to a PC, and flash upgrade the radio.

It can be "back doored", but it's not recommended if you don't know what you're doing. MTS 2000 radios above certain firmware versions are "toolproofed", in other words, they look for unauthorized upgrades and if they detect one being installed, the radio bombs out and becomes unusable.

There are workarounds to restore the radio back to normal operation, but I don't know of them. I don't perform upgrades either.

The best course of action is probably to sell the portable you have and just buy one with the features you want. You've already got SmartZONE operation, what is the radio missing that you need?

and good luck if this is a Euro MTS (eg, serial number has an "I" in such as 466IWWxxxx) as I doubt any MSS can order a Flash upgrade for a non-US radio. OTOH, if the firmware is 6.27, toolproofing may not be an issue

Thanks for your responses...

I'm hoping to get Quick-Call receive and MDC decode options on my radio. I haven't found very many MTS radios with these options on flea-bay.

I'll look up the firmware and post here when i can.

I would be hesitant to 'back door' a flash code myself because i definitely have no idea what i'm doing.

I do have the software and can program the radio but i would like to get better functionality out of the radio by getting QCII and MDC. I work full time as an EMT and i'm going to school to be a paramedic, having these features would be pretty helpful...

Radio Info

Serial number does include the 'I'

Model H01KDH9PW1BN

Version in R06.27

I dont know aout the MTS but look at getting a Motorola HT1550 XLS. These radios should have everything you are looking for including enhanced trunking capabilities with new firmware.

Medic28944 wrote:I dont know aout the MTS but look at getting a Motorola HT1550 XLS. These radios should have everything you are looking for including enhanced trunking capabilities with new firmware.

It should, 'cept that none of the Waris/Pro series will do SmartZone trunking.