Batboard

Hi all,

This might get a bit confusing, so I'll try to spell it out as simply as possible. I'm beating my head against a wall here and getting nowhere.

I have a VHF XTL5000 that currently has a W7 control head on it with firmware 4.00.00. Trying to upgrade it for a mate of mine to 12.00.11 and convert it to an O series head. I'm using CPS 12.00.00.

The first problem I ran into was I was using a USB to accessory connector cable, discovered that USB wasn't supported with firmware 4 so ive swapped it to a Serial to W7 mic connector cable. CPS communicates with the radio just fine, I'm able to read and write the codeplug with no problem at all.

Next problem I've run into which is where I'm stuck, during the firmware upgrade from 4.00.00 using cvn file 12.00.11 the upgrade fails at (i think) block 11 with "failed to read radio component's version". I don't seem to be able to find any info anywhere on this error message, once I power the radio off and back on it recovers the codeplug and the radio works just fine but still at version 4.00.00!!

I have my suspicions as to the problem but I won't elaborate, i'd really like some feedback / suggestions from some of the experts!! Anyone got any ideas on a recommended solution? Need to get this done in the next day or so as I'm going away and would like to get the radio back to him before I go. I'm really stuck here so any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks in advance.

Couple of notes:

Motorola states that if your planning on going from W to O series you need to do the firmware upgrade first, then change over to the O series heads. Once that is complete you should then use the change control head feature in CPS and follow the on screen instructions.

You may have to "step" the radio through one or two firmware updates to older firmware before jumping straight to 12 as well. If you have an older CVN file and flashes left on the iButton your using I would try doing that.

Also, you may want to reference Doug's thread about the parts to convert the radio. Some radios like older TIB's, CHIB's, and even control head. This has to do mostly with remote mounts: http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=78409

Good luck!

-Alex

Hey Alex,

Thanks very much for that, greatly appreciate your response. Your thoughts on having to go through a few steps up in the firmware is what I was expecting might be the problem.

I should have clarified, I'm trying the firmware uplift with the W7 head still on the radio. Have got all the necessary parts here, and was leaving the O series conversion till last....

Thanks mate, I might give that a shot!

As it so happens I upgraded an XTL5000 with a W series head from R04 to R12 just the other day. I was using the 6155 cable into the microphone connector of a dash-mount configured radio. Didn't have any issues.

I guess the questions would be:

It soulds like you have one of the right cables (there's a few options), namely the same as the 6155 I mentioned above. It's unclear as to whether you have a dash mount or remote mount configuration. If it's a remote mount, are you plugging the cable into the radio body itself?

Are you connecting the serial cable directly to a serial port, or using a USB->Serial adapter? If that's the case I'd try with an honest to goodness serial port and see if your results differ.

Thanks for the response. Good timing that you've just done one yourself!!

Yep using the same cable as you, and the radio is in Dash Mount configuration not remote mount so yep the cable is plugged directly into the mic socket on the front of the radio.

Using a desktop PC so yep it's a legitimate serial port not a USB to serial adapter. Interesting that I can read and write the radio no problems, it's just on the f/w uplift that is rails reading some of the compenent versions currently in the radio..... I'm at a loss as to what to try next!

Sure sounds like you've got everything lined up OK. I'd get on the phone with Motorola support and discuss the issue with them.