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Upgrading XTS5000 Firmware

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 7:18 pm
by radef
Hello,

I'm new to the XTS5000. I recently picked up a pair of these from my employer cleaning house. I think they have some older firmware in them (details below) and I'd like to know what it takes to do firmware upgrades for these. My searching on this forum hasn't come up with much...so I hope this isn't a post that happens every 3 days. :)

My background has been with the HT750/1250/1550 series radios. I've done a lot of work on those including hardware repairs and firmware upgrades. I've got a legit MOL account and CPS for those radios and know how firmware updates happen for that series. I download from MOL then load into the radio.

My question is - is the XTS5000 the same? I'm using CPS from my employer at this time, so no MOL access for this radio. Are firmware upgrades available somewhere on MOL or do they happen in a different manner and/or are more involved? Or does this have to go back to Motorola or a local repair depot for the upgrade?

Also - am I missing anything with the version of firmware I currently have? Is there a reason for me to upgrade?

Again, both radios are VHF model 2s. Here's the numbers:

Model Number: H18KEF9PW6AN
Serial Number: 320CDQxxxx
FLASHcode: 580001-000000-0
Firmware: R02.50.20
Tuning: R01.09.07
Bootloader: R01.01.10
DSP: R02.50.00
UCM: R05.02.00
PSDT: R01.00.00

Thanks for the help.

Re: Upgrading XTS5000 Firmware

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:37 pm
by akardam
Firmware upgrades for the Expert series radios (such as your XTS5000's) are not free, unfortunately. However, as Motorola things go, they're not too terribly pricey - $75 per radio. If you have a MOL account, I *think* you can call Motorola and have them send you the order form for what they term a firmware refresh - basically an upgrade to the latest firmware (in this case, version R12.xx.xx). They would then send you a CD with the firmware on it, an an iButton authorization dongle that's good for however many refreshes you purchased. If you have an OEM service cable (USB is better but Serial will work), then the firmware refresh process is something you can do yourself once you have the refresh kit in hand.

Since the firmware version you mention is pretty ancient, I'd definitely encourage a firmware upgrade.

Re: Upgrading XTS5000 Firmware

Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:30 pm
by radef
Thanks for the information!

I put in a request on MOL. They responded by saying I'd have to go to a local dealer for the upgrades...since I was not a dealer. Guess I'll start looking around.

Anyone know any good folks to deal with in the Phoenix area?

Thanks!

Re: Upgrading XTS5000 Firmware

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:57 am
by radef
akardam wrote:Firmware upgrades for the Expert series radios (such as your XTS5000's) are not free, unfortunately. However, as Motorola things go, they're not too terribly pricey - $75 per radio. If you have a MOL account, I *think* you can call Motorola and have them send you the order form for what they term a firmware refresh - basically an upgrade to the latest firmware (in this case, version R12.xx.xx). They would then send you a CD with the firmware on it, an an iButton authorization dongle that's good for however many refreshes you purchased. If you have an OEM service cable (USB is better but Serial will work), then the firmware refresh process is something you can do yourself once you have the refresh kit in hand.

Since the firmware version you mention is pretty ancient, I'd definitely encourage a firmware upgrade.
Whoa - the local dealer says $400 per radio! I think I'll shop around. :)

Re: Upgrading XTS5000 Firmware

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:37 pm
by jmr061
radef wrote:
akardam wrote:Firmware upgrades for the Expert series radios (such as your XTS5000's) are not free, unfortunately. However, as Motorola things go, they're not too terribly pricey - $75 per radio. If you have a MOL account, I *think* you can call Motorola and have them send you the order form for what they term a firmware refresh - basically an upgrade to the latest firmware (in this case, version R12.xx.xx). They would then send you a CD with the firmware on it, an an iButton authorization dongle that's good for however many refreshes you purchased. If you have an OEM service cable (USB is better but Serial will work), then the firmware refresh process is something you can do yourself once you have the refresh kit in hand.

Since the firmware version you mention is pretty ancient, I'd definitely encourage a firmware upgrade.
Whoa - the local dealer says $400 per radio! I think I'll shop around. :)


Your Motorola dealer is SCREWING you if they are charging $325 for labor for a firmware upgrade that should take about 30 minutes max.

Jason

Re: Upgrading XTS5000 Firmware

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:54 pm
by WCHija
and that is why you call escomm

Re: Upgrading XTS5000 Firmware

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:16 pm
by radef
WCHija wrote:and that is why you call escomm
Roger that! Talked with Jeff and that's the way to go!

Thanks for all the input.

Re: Upgrading XTS5000 Firmware

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:19 pm
by radef
KB9KST wrote: Your Motorola dealer is SCREWING you if they are charging $325 for labor for a firmware upgrade that should take about 30 minutes max.

Jason
I'm new to the area and that was the first dealer I came across. I won't be calling them for much else!