XTS2500 Firmware

[radioeng462]

I have an XTS2500 Mod2 and would like to upgrade to the latest firmware which adds 15 talkgroups to the scan list. I bought the radio off e-bay (panter88) and the radio works good. However it has no tags on it and the radio ships I have talked to say they would send it to the depot for the upgrade. I am not sure what kind of issues I will have with mother M with the way the radio is. Any advice??

Thanks
Scott

[wa6ylb]

I have an XTS2500 Mod2 and would like to upgrade to the latest firmware which adds 15 talkgroups to the scan list. I bought the radio off e-bay (panter88) and the radio works good. However it has no tags on it and the radio ships I have talked to say they would send it to the depot for the upgrade. I am not sure what kind of issues I will have with mother M with the way the radio is. Any advice??

Thanks
Scott

A firmware upgrade costs $75 plus tax for the USB key to allow the CPS to upgrade the firmware. The latest firmware will also be needed to go along with the flash key. For those who have access to Motorola on Line, its a matter of downloading the firmware and placing it in the folder within the CPS file structure. You'll still need a flash key though.

What is the model of your XTS2500? If the last two letters are "AN", then the radio will be limited to Version 9.xx as the radio only has 4 MB on its controller board. "BN" radios can be upgraded to R16.00, which is the latest.
What version is your firmware at now?

Have you either read the radio or have viewed the values as shown (assuming you have a display model) by pushing the lowest side button 5 times after turning on the radio? Does your radio have a legit serial number, and not 123ABC1234? Motorola usually asks for the current flashcode, Model and Serial number in order to provide a flash key. While I have heard of folks being able to upgrade their radios with the 123ABC1234 serial numbers, it could be a problem at Motorola.
Wild flash codes also raise the eyebrows at Motorola too... The kinds with everything enabled! Most radios never have that much enabled as initially ordered!
If all of your radio values are OK, then a local Motorola dealer can order this flash key for you. If you have never done a flash before, or don't have the CPS / programming cable, then your better off finding someone that does, and or has done this before.

Watch out for shops that want lots of $$$ to flash your portable. It only takes about 7-8 minutes in the CPS to flash a portable.

B.

[radioeng462]

I just checked and it's a "AN" version..Oh well. It does have a legit SN though. Thanks for the info.

[gopher]

you can upgrade the DSP of the AN to the latest, the host will automatically update to 9. No flash key needed if using the flash zap method

[Mfire39]

No flash key needed if using the flash zap method

Keep in mind, the flashzap method only writes the Host/DSP. It will not update the codeplug structure to include current features.. Example, if you take an older (Pre-Host R12) XTS5000 that has 850 channels, and force the firmware in it, when you read the radio with current CPS, it will still show up as 850 channels because that method does not update the codeplug structure to match the current CPS you are trying to use. Certain things will work/show up, others will not..


-Marc

[freerider aust]

i have done the zapflash (r9.00.28 dsp 16.00.01 )method to a panter8888 4 meg radio with no problems i did read cp with cps 16 and then wrote it back before update. the zapflash update does note update tuner but radio works fine
i even bricked the radio but got it back to life !

[d119]

No flash key needed if using the flash zap method

Keep in mind, the flashzap method only writes the Host/DSP. It will not update the codeplug structure to include current features.. Example, if you take an older (Pre-Host R12) XTS5000 that has 850 channels, and force the firmware in it, when you read the radio with current CPS, it will still show up as 850 channels because that method does not update the codeplug structure to match the current CPS you are trying to use. Certain things will work/show up, others will not..


-Marc

AFAIK, if you read the codeplug from the radio, save it to disk, close it, re-open it and write it to the radio, the codeplug version is updated.

Using these methods should update everything except the tuning partition (which I don't think there have been any real changes to lately) and encryption module firmware.

[Mfire39]

AFAIK, if you read the codeplug from the radio, save it to disk, close it, re-open it and write it to the radio, the codeplug version is updated.

Yes saving it and re-opening it will update the codeplug version number, but not the codeplug structure.


-Marc

[d119]

I would think that if the version number changes, the CPS has updated the codeplug layout in the radio, otherwise there would be a problem...

[Mfire39]

I know, one would think... But on the Astro25 line, it doesn't work that way..


-Marc