CPS vs. RSS

LCFD1 · Post by **LCFD1** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 9:27 pm

Okay, Ive been reading this site fairly regulary for a year or two, but I have what might seem like a dumb question. I am starting to see people sayin things like: "Oh, that requires CPS, not RSS....".

What exactly is the difference between CPS and RSS? I know that CPS is typically newer. I have a version of CPS, and I would imagine that the older RSS would do pretty much the same thing.

I typically deal with the CDM1250, HT750, HT1000, and the Radius. When our department purchases our own software to start doing our own programing/changes, do I have anything to be concerned about regarding these issues?

thanks for any info...

-Sonny

elkbow · Post by **elkbow** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 9:41 pm

Sonny,
Most of the older Radio's use the RSS (Radio Service Software). The newer radio's use the CPS (Customer Programming Software). Because everything is now windows based, Motorola had to keep with the times. The newer model radio's such as the Waris line uses the CPS. There are others out there that have both, older versions of the RSS and newer versions of the CPS. Where there are both, alot of people like sticking with the RSS.

Personally I like the PRO Series CPS for my HT1550 and other Waris radio's. But, I'm also used to using the RSS, which I don't mind at all....

Dave

LCFD1 · Post by **LCFD1** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 9:53 pm

Thanks for the info, its starting to make sense. But, in cases where there are both CPS and RSS for a particualr radio, Why do people tend to lean towards the RSS?

Thanks for the reply

-Sonny

Post by **wavetar** » Tue Apr 06, 2004 3:47 am

LCFD1 wrote: But, in cases where there are both CPS and RSS for a particualr radio, Why do people tend to lean towards the RSS?

-Sonny

Mainly familiarity. Most people here have been programming their radios with DOS RSS for many, many years. They know it, they like it, they don't want to change. For the most part, CPS doesn't add any extra functionality to the radio over RSS, so there's no real need to change.

CPS offers a couple of advantages:

1) It is Windows based, and as such can be run on any modern (read: fast) computer. No need to drag along the 286/386/486 laptop/boat anchor most people here advocate to do any programming.

2) CPS for Astro radios & MCS/MTS offers 'drag & drop' functionality between unlike models. This means you can take your 150 modes already programmed into your MTS2000, and drop them into your MCS2000 within seconds...with DOS RSS you have to do it all manually. Saves many hours of programming time for someone like myself who might have to create a 5 or 6 'template' codeplugs for several different model/flashcode radios for a given customer. If you're just programming your 1 or 2 personal radios, RSS tends to be quicker.

Unfortunately, this functionality doesn't exist for the HT/CDM CPS though.

I like CPS. It means I don't have to have a second computer with me all the time, or rebooting between Windows & DOS 20 times a day. I have had zero issues with stability, never corrupted a codeplug with it, and saved a lot of man hours in programming time somewhere in the area of 1000 radios with CPS so far.

I'll let someone else list the cons for CPS, as I'm sure they'll do a much more thorough job than myself.

Todd

phrawg · Post by **phrawg** » Tue Apr 06, 2004 5:16 am

I think we may be mistracking just a bit on what is being said here.

RSS is simply the term used for programming software generations back.
CPS is the term used for programming software for all of the new generation radios like the warris series. It is not a matter of I think I will use rss today and cps tomorrow on the same radio. That doesn't exist.

What it really is, is a big pile of horse hockey by /\/\ to be able to create
a new order of things so they can need a new software license
agreement and restrict who they sell to by virtue of the fine print.
cps falls under this new agreement umbrella. They used the necessity
of becoming windows usable to create a transition that they could
use as an excuse for the change. Just before the CPS series and new agreement they experimented with windows based RSS in the mts,mcs
etc series and you could get both or your choice. Now you are hosed.
New agreement ( approved at their whim ) new software
( totally win based ) and a new name for it to "justify" it all. Phrawg

Post by **wavetar** » Tue Apr 06, 2004 2:34 pm

I find that to be a bit cynical. In reality, Motorola was very resistant to change to Windows based programming. I remember being in Shaumburg 7 years ago ('97) & many techs in the class were complaining about the fact all programming software was still DOS, and much of it requiring older 386 computers. The instructors agreed newer Windows compatible software was needed, and said that later products would have it. When asked if current products would be switched over, it was said NO. The main reasons being cost of software development & the fact that their software engineers at the time were still very much DOS-only literate. The reality of the change behind developing CPS for Astro & MTS/MCS radios was the fact many tenders were being written which specifically called for Windows compatible software. Go figure, most agencies didn't want to spend thousands of dollars per brand new radio, only to find out they had to obtain an 'ancient' computer to program them. And in many cases, LOTS of ancient computers if they had the radios spread out over a large geographical area. The fact Motorola hasn't handled the licensing portion of their newer software very well has nothing to do with the fact that technology necessitated change & Motorola's marketplace demanded it.

Todd

ASTROMODAT · Post by **ASTROMODAT** » Tue Apr 06, 2004 4:10 pm

I have used RSS for many years, and I am very familiar with DOS. I much prefer CPS over DOS RSS. Typically, folks that prefer DOS RSS are people who either don't want to pay the $ to buy the new CPS, and/or they are "afraid" of Windows and comfortable with DOS, IMHO. CPS is WAY easier to use, and it is WAY more flexible, etc.

It's a losing battle to try to stick with the old DOS based RSS programming software. If you ever send a radio to Elgin for repair, uplift, etc. they ALWAYS use the LATEST version of programming software. For ASTRO radios where there are tons of older versions of RSS in shops/peoples hands, plus there is the latest version of CPS (4.0), Motorola will repair the radio and they will ALWAYS use the latest version of CPS. Once they do this, you can NEVER AGAIN program that particular radio with any previous form of the programming software, so you may as well use CPS, and stay current as they up-issue.

There are still a few radios and equipment using DOS based RSS, such as the Quantar repeater and its companion DIU3000. Both are slated for uplift to Windows based CPS this month (April). Some of the really old stuff, like the MRTI2000, will never go to CPS, as they have been long discontinued.

Larry

mavericknet · Post by **mavericknet** » Tue Apr 06, 2004 7:12 pm

If you can get CPS, I'm just getting pissed at these F'in people and the licensing, it's like buying a car, and when you got work work on the motor you find the hood was welded shut.......

These guys have pissed me off enough to buy one bloody share of their stock so I can go :o at a shareholders meeting about how piss poor some of the executives are... GRRRRRRRRRRrrrr..... I wonder if my attorney general would be able to help with this... it sure wreaks of restraint of trade, or even a merchantibility (sp?) issue.

Hightower · Post by **Hightower** » Tue Apr 06, 2004 8:23 pm

Started long ago programming with RSS for years, then started using CPS (because I had to for certain radios), I actually like CPS better now. I feel it's easier to program radios faster.

RSS is very stable in DOS, while CPS is also stable in the Windows environment. If you have a radio that has both a RSS and CPS version, try 'em both and see what you like.

At least you can multitask with CPS and do other things while programming.

radioracer · Post by **radioracer** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 5:22 am

I agree that CPS is easier to use but there are some things that you can do with the RSS that you can not do with CPS, but those things are things that most people cant find and could care less about. The XTS radios do have a RSS and CPS version of software they use them both at the RSC
( repair center ).

Post by **wavetar** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 7:21 am

radioracer wrote:I agree that CPS is easier to use but there are some things that you can do with the RSS that you can not do with CPS, but those things are things that most people cant find and could care less about.

Such as...??

radioracer wrote:The XTS radios do have a RSS and CPS version of software they use them both at the RSC
( repair center ).

I assume you're talking about the XTS3000, not the XTS2500/5000. That information would have been correct last year, but as of CPS version 3.0 (or later) there is no longer compatibilty between the RSS & CPS. The depot will write your radio with CPS 4.0, which the latest RSS 9.05.00 cannot read. I just programmed 7 factory fresh XTS3000's & they could not be read by the RSS right out of the box. Had to use CPS.

Todd

sc9020 · Post by **sc9020** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 9:34 am

On Ht 1000 radios....Is there a Windows based ver of cps and can they be programed by a p3 computer? Or is it still all DOS ?

Thanks

RKG · Post by **RKG** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 10:11 am

The HT1000 uses DOS-based RSS and there is no plan to upgrade to a Windows application.

ASTROMODAT · Post by **ASTROMODAT** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 12:43 pm

It appears to be Motorola policy to not uplift DOS based RSS programming software to Windows based CPS for discontinued radios. They do seem to be nearing 100% CPS functionality for all cuurent models, with the biggest exceptions being the Quantar repeater and the DIU3000, which are both scheduled for conversion sometime this month (unless they have been slipped out).

Larry

videonerd · Post by **videonerd** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 12:50 pm

In terms of RSS versions... what is their "Professional CPS" and "Professional Entry Level CPS" software, and do they cover a range of radios?

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 1:04 pm

Ironic part of this thing :
Radio Service Software (RSS) Easy to obtain after filling out the papers.
Customer Programming Software (CPS) Not for sale to most 'Customers'

tvsjr · Post by **tvsjr** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 2:07 pm

videonerd wrote:In terms of RSS versions... what is their "Professional CPS" and "Professional Entry Level CPS" software, and do they cover a range of radios?

I believe Professional Entry Level covers radios like the CP200. Never used it.

Professional CPS covers the HT750/1250/1550, EX500/600, and their ilk.

Post by **wavetar** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 9:31 am

tvsjr wrote:
videonerd wrote:In terms of RSS versions... what is their "Professional CPS" and "Professional Entry Level CPS" software, and do they cover a range of radios?
I believe Professional Entry Level covers radios like the CP200. Never used it.

Professional CPS covers the HT750/1250/1550, EX500/600, and their ilk.

Close. You are correct on the Professional series, of course, but the Entry Level Professional series was for the now defunct "CT" series. The newer "CP/CM/PM" series is programmed with Commercial Series CPS.

Todd

RESCUE161 · Post by **RESCUE161** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 9:55 am

I thought the radios could be programmed with DOS after ver 3 CPS, just not "read".

Just like the GE/MACOM/TYCO/Etc...

Post by **wavetar** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 10:04 am

RESCUE161 wrote:I thought the radios could be programmed with DOS after ver 3 CPS, just not "read".

Just like the GE/MACOM/TYCO/Etc...

Yes, you can dump a same model/flashcode DOS codeplug into the radio & thus 'revert' it back to being programmable with RSS, but otherwise you're stuck with CPS once it's been programmed with ver 3 or higher.

Todd

ayaresr · Post by **ayaresr** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 5:36 am

I tried using the CPS with windows and kept getting an error about the radio not being hooked up or some other communications error. Anyone know what might have caused this? I am looking at getting the RSS, but if I can get the CPS to work right, I may try to get the newest version of that instead.
Thanks, Ryan

Victor Xray · Post by **Victor Xray** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 7:19 am

More information needed. Which CPS? Which radio?

Your problem description almost sounds like you're trying to run 1225 CPS on Win XP/2000 ... which is not supported and has been discussed several times in the past.

ayaresr · Post by **ayaresr** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 6:26 pm

It was on windows 98 with an MTS 2000. Professional CPS 6.0.0

Tom in D.C. · Post by **Tom in D.C.** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 6:44 pm

Just to cover all the bases, I have two Vertex VX-900s that allow themselves to be both read and programmed on both the DOS and the Windows programming platforms from Vertex. The Windows platform is easier to read and a bit easier to use but the point is that both systems work interchangeably on the same radio.

Cost of the programming software: $0.00, and it's all mine and legal.
Cost of the service software: $0.00 (a DOS program but slick)
Cost of the programming cable: $75.00.

Post by **wavetar** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 7:56 am

ayaresr wrote:It was on windows 98 with an MTS 2000. Professional CPS 6.0.0

That would be your problem then. The MTS2000 has it's own CPS, titled 'MTS2000'. You are trying to read it with the Professional series CPS, which is for the Waris line (HT/CDM/PRO radios). Completely wrong software.

Todd

CPS vs. RSS

CPS vs. RSS

RSS and CPS...and Vertex