Astro 25 CPS Rev 11.00 is out, FPP functionality enhanced.

[n7maq]

This is a copy of the read me file.


===============================================
ASTRO 25 Portable CPS R11.00.00
===============================================
IMPORTANT!!
- VISTA is NOT a supported operating system! Any attempts to run the CPS in
VISTA might expose fatal errors in the operating system!
- FLASHport via USB has been updated in this version of the CPS. If both CPS's
are used, BOTH of them MUST be upgraded to R11.00.00 for FLASHport to work correctly.
- This version of the CPS is compatible with Tuner version R05.02.00 OR higher.
If Tuner versions lower than R05.02.00 are installed in the same computer as
this version of the CPS, the Tuner will NOT communicate with the radio.
New Radio Features Supported:
=============================
NOTE: FIRMWARE VERSION R11.00.00 or HIGHER IS REQUIRED FOR THE
FOLLOWING FEATURES TO WORK IN THE RADIO:
• POP25 option for XTS 1500
• Intra-WACN Roaming support
• Remote Monitor for XTS/MT 1500
• 200 Scan lists expansion
• Configurable Minimum and Maximum Volume levels
• DTMF Mic
• One Touch on XTS 2500
• Radio remembers last channel per zone
Detailed information for each of these features can be found in the CPS help. Help can
be accessed from the CPS menu by selecting Help-> CPS Help Topics

NOTE to Front Panel Programmer (FPP) users:
The FPP functionality has been enhanced to allow more than 240 Conventional Personalities,
and more than 15 zones. After 15 FPP zones, all others must be configured as non-FPP zones.
For FCC compliant FPP users, a 'Protected Zone Password' in now required to access the FPP
feature in the radio.

The following CPS features do not apply to FPP:
- Saving Invalid Archives (SIA)
- Zone Channel Wizard
- ImportPlease make sure to read the on-line help for additional information.
NOTE: Due to memory limitations, SSE 5000 radios will not be upgraded to firmware version
R10.00.00 or higher.
New CPS features supported:
===========================
• POP25 Batch Programmer
• Enhancements for Advanced System Key(ASK): (R10.00.00 CPS)
1. Multiple Ranges
2. Versioning
3. Password Protection
4. "Unlimited" key now has the option of NOT to 'write protect' the radio
Please verify the Advanced System Key iButton is NOT expired before writing to it.
-Please note that field 'Failsoft Connect Tone' can only be Advanced System
Key protected if 'Connect Tone' is also protected. Specific protection for
this field is not supported.
System Requirements:
====================
Operating Systems: Windows 98 Second Edition,
Windows NT 4.0 (SP 6a or higher)
Windows 2000
Windows XP Home Edition (See Note)
Windows XP Professional (See Note)
Note: XP upgrade from other operating systems
is not supported if the CPS was previously installed
on the old operating system.
Windows ME and Windows 98 First Edition are no longer supported.
You may choose to proceed with the installation, but some
features might not function properly. Upgrading to
a supported operating system is highly recommended.
NOTE:** VISTA is NOT a supported operating system.
Attempting to upgrade any operating system to VISTA once the
CPS has been installed and executed, will NOT allow the
upgrade to VISTA !
Hardware Requirements:
----------------------
Processor 400 MHz or higher Pentium grade Processor
Memory 512 MB RAM minimum for all supported operating systems
Hard Disk Space 1 Gigabyte Drive with 450 MB minimum free space (for a
Typical Installation, including Help Audio-Visual
Tutorials) or 60 MB minimum free space (for a Compact
Installation)
Peripherals Microsoft Windows supported Mouse or Trackball
Microsoft Windows supported Serial Port
for radio communication
Microsoft Windows supported Printer Port
for report printing
CD-ROM for software installation
NOTE: For computers that are not equipped with a
serial port, radio communications may be possible
with the use of an off-the-shelf USB to RS232
converter, such as the IOGEAR USB to Serial/PDA
Converter Cable.
Known Issues:
=============
1) Drop down items in table fields cannot be accessed when using Windows XP
Professional "Windows XP Style" display. If this issue is encountered,
change the display setting to "Windows Classic Style" for proper
functionality.
2) Attempting to Read from or Write to a radio with the CPS while the Tuner,
Data Link Manager, or synchronization software for a PDA is open and
communicating with a radio will cause a communication failure.
3) Due to French import laws, the Microsoft encryption support used to
create archive (.cpg) files with the CPS (Customer Programming Software)
is not available on the French version of the Windows Operating Systems.
Therefore, there is no way to save archive files when the CPS is
installed on the French version of Windows. Until import laws are
changed such that Microsoft can provide encryption support, this feature
can not be addressed.
4) Under Tools->FLASHport->Read Radio Configuration, closing the dialog box
by pressing the 'X' in the upper right of the dialog while the application
is still busy (the cursor is shaped like an hourglass) may terminate the
application.
5) Memory issues have been reported when 3 or more sessions of the CPS are
open at the same time.
6) Please install the CPS before attempting to connect the radio to the PC
using the USB cable.
7) If Logitech MouseWare version 9.76 is installed on the PC, it causes
Tools>Reports to fail and enter corrupt data in the registry. This occurs
when an ampersand is entered as part of a Zone Channel name. If the
MouseWare is either removed or upgraded to MouseWare version 9.79.1 or
later, it resolves the problem.
Once starting to read or write codeplug via POP25, the process can't
be cancelled. Depending on the size of codeplug, this process could
take long time (3 to 8 minutes).
9) Please avoid saving an invalid codeplug with "~" characters in table fields.
Doing so may cause the application to terminate.
10) If an Advanced System Key(ASK) fails to load, close the currently open codeplug
and reopen it. The System Key should be active, even though an error
message may appear.
11) When formatting an Advanced System Key, the 'Initialize' message may appear
several times. Please select 'Cancel' to proceed.
Installation:
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=============
1) It is no longer required that the previous version of the application be
uninstalled before installing this release. Note that this does not allow
multiple versions to be installed, rather the already installed application
will be upgraded.
2) When the Installation CD is inserted into the CD-ROM drive, the
installation will start automatically if auto start is enabled for
the PC. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.
3) Windows NT Installation: If the Install does not find the shlwapi.dll in
*\WINNT\System32 directory, Internet Explorer 5.01 SP1 or above must be
installed to facilitate the XML installation, which is required for the
FLASHport feature of the CPS.
4) Please refer to the CPS Programming Installation Guide, which is
included with this software for more detailed information.
5) If a file installed by the CPS later becomes corrupted, the Repair
option on the Installation CD may be used to restore it. It is very
important that the Installation CD for the same version that is
installed on the computer is used for Repair. Use of a different
version in an attempt to Repair an installation will result in further
corruption.
6) Windows 98 Second Edition Installation requires that Internet Explorer 5.01
or greater is already installed.
Connecting the PC to the Radio:
===============================
Do not use the Radio Interface Box (RIB), Smart Radio Interface Box (SRIB)
or any of the cables that plug into those boxes. Use only the following
direct PC to radio cables:
XTS 5000 / XTS 2500 / SSE 5000 / XTS 1500 / MT 1500 / PR 1500:
RS232 cable = RKN4106
USB cable = RKN4105
XTS 4000:
RS232 cable = NKN1027A
USB cable = NKN1029A
When using the USB cable, be sure to always click "Yes" on the Digital
Signature window whenever it is displayed by the operating system. Note
that the USB cable can be used only with Windows XP Service Pack 1 or higher
and Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 or higher operating systems. The CPS or
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Tuner application must first be installed before attaching the USB cable and
turning the radio on.
For additional cables information, go to Help-> CPS help topics -> Index -> Part Numbers
Programming Hints:
==================
1) For trunking customers, the first time the CPS is started, navigate to the
User Settings Dialog under the Tools menu and set up the directories where
the system key files will be stored.
2) To retrieve data from XTS 3000 or ASTRO Saber codeplugs, first read
the codeplug into the ASTRO Saber / XTS 3000 CPS and use the top node
drag and drop feature to copy the data into the XTS 5000 or XTS 2500
codeplug. Drag and drop is a very powerful and time-saving tool, but the
data should always be verified before writing to a radio. The Drag and
Drop Report can help with this verification. Please view the Drag and
Drop Tutorial included in Help for more information.
3) To get help on a field, press F1 while focus is on the field, or click on
the Help button on the tool bar (an Arrow with a question mark) and then
click on the field for which help is desired.
4) For more information on the features available in the Windows CPS, we
suggest viewing the audio-visual help tutorials. They can be accessed
from the CPS menu by selecting Help->CPS Help Topics, and then doubleclicking
on CPS-User...Audio & Video Tutorials, then The Tutorials Menu.
Then select the appropriate tutorial.
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[jmr061]

Have you are anyone else installed ver 11 yet and if so any issues discovered?

Jason

[RKG]

In particular, we have stayed away from v.10 because of reports that it locks one into an FPP-based 1-for-1 relationship between channels and "personalities." Has that been cured?

[n7maq]

Have you are anyone else installed ver 11 yet and if so any issues discovered?

Jason

I have not tried it yet.

Jim

[mikegilbert]

In particular, we have stayed away from v.10 because of reports that it locks one into an FPP-based 1-for-1 relationship between channels and "personalities." Has that been cured?

I sure hope that's not the case. My XTS2500 'tactial radio' had the 240 linked to 15 zones problem. I've got a legit q52/q53 XTS5000 on the way- it better not be locked in a similar fashion...

[HLA]

i'm using it but i havn't had to work on a radio that hasn't already been fixed since v10 link problems. when i open an old saved codeplug from before v10 with the new v11 it still gives me those errors and makes me fix them.

[akardam]

In particular, we have stayed away from v.10 because of reports that it locks one into an FPP-based 1-for-1 relationship between channels and "personalities." Has that been cured?

Uh, yeah, that's how legit Q53 or Q53/Q52 radios were supposed to operate, prior to R10. R10 or later, anything above the first 15 zones x 16 channels will be unlocked... but not FPP.

[libuff]

yeah to restate, prior to CPS10, the FPP portables were limited to 240 total, now u can go to the 512 or 850, but the first 240 is FPP, others are not. the issue, which im not sure if they fixed was the fact that they locked every fpp channel to MDC personality 1, Astro Personality 1, etc. you could only have 1 MDC personality on ALL of the fpp channels. i wonder if they changed that? because it was definately not that way in cps9.

[cablemonkey]

How can I determine which version of CPS I have? In my 'about CPS' dlog I see R05.02.01 Is this Rev 5?

[txshooter]

You have the revision you stated.....you found it on your own...

[cablemonkey]

Ok thanks for that but the reason I asked is that I'm interested in enabling FPP on my XTS3000 and I see this topic about Rev 11 and I'm curious because I just received the version I indicated as the 'latest and greatest' from Ma M.

[txshooter]

Ok thanks for that but the reason I asked is that I'm interested in enabling FPP on my XTS3000 and I see this topic about Rev 11 and I'm curious because I just received the version I indicated as the 'latest and greatest' from Ma M.

Well since the XTS3000 is not ever capable of being FPP and the Astro25 CPS does not work with that radio you are in no fear of every having that issue. The Astro Saber / XTS3000 CPS is the software used for your XTS3000......

[cablemonkey]

I think I see my problem here...

[jpatrou]

I have an older XTS5000 with FPP, which was Rev 04, which I just upgraded to Rev 11. And like everyone else with a XTS5000 below Rev 10, I had 240 channels, 240 personalities, no more no less.

I am happy to report that I now have up to 240 FPP channels, Zones 1 to 15, and up to 850 channels. I say "up to 240 FPP channels" because now starting with Zone 15 and working backwards I can disable FPP per Zone. You are still limited to 255 max Personalities, but you get them back to use, as you delete FPP Zones. You must have at least one Zone as FPP and it must be Zone 1. The channels that are still FPP are still linked/locked to their own personalitys. So I can go in and disable FPP on all Zones except Zone 1, which locks channels 1 to 16 to the first 16 personalities, but I still have the remaining 834 channels the remaining 239 personalities to use, and I can have up to max of 50 Zones (Not sure if that varies per flash code).

[e231]

that is correct, with cps11 for astro 25, you can back down the # of FPP zones to 1, but will still be "stuck with" 16 fpp modes. The signalling is still slaved to that first selection I believe, though. I worked with this the other night some and then ran across the thread searching for something else. I am glad they finally offered a solution to the fixed 240.

Cablemonkey, on the other does have the latest and greatest, only it is for his XTS3000. They did post, on MOL, however this latest version 5.02.01 would not ship, but would need to be downloaded from MOL, I think.

[RESCUE161]

Is FPP available for the XTL5000?

[jmr061]

No mobile has it, yet.

Jason

[cablemonkey]

They did post, on MOL, however this latest version 5.02.01 would not ship, but would need to be downloaded from MOL, I think.

Maybe that's why it was such a hassle getting them to ship me a copy (as specified in our procurement contract).

[MotoFAN]

What P/N it has?

[Farewell]

Hi, I am new to Batlabs and new to the world of ASTRO portables. What does FPP mean? I have an XTS 2500 using Rev 09 software on the way and will be replacing my HT1250 with the 2500. I currently use all for MDC 1200 profiles on my 1250 (for different personnel numbers depending on each place I am working). Will I have a problem assigning a channel in zone one with one MDC ID and a channel in zone two with a different MDC ID?

[Tom in D.C.]

FPP means Front Panel Programmable, which is controlled by the flashcode.
If you have your radio flashed for FPP you want the complete version done,
which consists of Q52 and Q53. The only problem with FPP is that its use is
restricted to the Feds whose licenses are issued by NTIA and to hams. An
ordinary public service licensee is not permitted by the FCC to use an FPP
radio in its licensed service (PD, FD, etc.) I'll leave it to someone else to answer your
MDC questions but it's hard to imagine you'd lose any features by upgrading
your radio.

Also, you can do a search on this Board for threads and posts about FPP.