Astro Saber Flashing Questions

Jocko · Post by **Jocko** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 3:20 pm

I have 2 UHF (SDH) Astro Sabers one with APCO 25 and one without. I was told that I could clone the APCO radio into my non-apco radio and it would have apco in both? Is this true? Thanks for your help? Thank you.

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 6:15 pm

That MIGHT work...but you MUST verify that the target radio has sufficiently high DSP and HOST firmware revisions or some features will NOT work. As a rule, the target radio's DSP and HOST firmware must be EQUAL or GREATER than the firmware in the donor radio.

If they ARE exactly equal, you may be assured of success. You're also pretty likely to be successful if the target radio's versions are higher.

You need HOST version 4 and DSP version 5-something for IMBE compatibility in a radio. If you have these adequate versions,
IMBE will work.

If the target radio's HOST begins with 3 or the DSP is below 5, it will NOT work and you're much better off not even trying it because it might very well screw up the radio.

Elroy

Jocko · Post by **Jocko** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 6:59 pm

Thanks Elroy for the fast response. Here is the setup of each radio:

Model # (both)H04SDH9PW7AN
Radio #1 Flashcode: 8401018F00004
Radio #2 Flashcode: 5800010400004

DSP radio#1: unknown
DSP radio#2: 06.04.12

Is there a way to find the DSP ver. for radio #1? The rss shows unknown. Also how do i find host ver.? And finally is it possible to copy modat in both radio since it is in radio #1(non-apco) only. And then to clone APCO do I follow the instructions on the batlab astro page? Thank you for your time.

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 7:50 pm

On 2001-10-15 22:59, Jocko wrote:
Thanks Elroy for the fast response. Here is the setup of each radio:

Model # (both)H04SDH9PW7AN
Radio #1 Flashcode: 8401018F00004
Radio #2 Flashcode: 5800010400004

DSP radio#1: unknown
DSP radio#2: 06.04.12

Is there a way to find the DSP ver. for radio #1? The rss shows unknown. Also how do i find host ver.? And finally is it possible to copy modat in both radio since it is in radio #1(non-apco) only. And then to clone APCO do I follow the instructions on the batlab astro page? Thank you for your time.

what about the host version of both radios?

Jocko · Post by **Jocko** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 8:59 pm

I assume that is the Radios Software Version?

Radio #1 3.16
Radio #2 5.60

I guess it wont work because the sw version is below 4.0? Is this correct? Thank you.

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Tue Oct 16, 2001 7:17 am

Radio #2, at 5.60, is current for a 512K controller. If that radio is the donor, then no, you're better off not trying this trick. Radio #1, which I presume to be the recipient, doesn't have the firmware to support IMBE.

You will not be successful if you try this transfer.

LA flashcode recognized.

You can not read the DSP and HOST revisions out of a saved codeplug. It has to be done by reading the radio and then looking at it in the RSS, or by simply putting the radio into selftest mode and reading it directly on the LCD display.

No, you cannot transfer modat from the LA coded radio to your Apco coded radio. Why would you even want to try? Modat is a silly little noise unless you're in a system that actually USES it. It's amusing to hear it once, maybe twice. It's irritating by the third time you hear it. Do it ten times and the guy you're talking to will want to kill you or at least your radio.

Elroy

Jocko · Post by **Jocko** » Tue Oct 16, 2001 1:48 pm

Thanks for the info. If I was to send radio #1 to Mot. can it be flashed upgraded to APCO? Or does it need a hardware upgrade? Also would they get bent out of shape becasue I have the LA codeplug? Thank you.

Post by Pj » Tue Oct 16, 2001 3:08 pm

Most likely they would get bent out of shape due to the flashcode, but you cannot just send the radio in. What you have to do is get ahold of the area Motorola representive that deals with the radio shop. This person actually works for Motorola. What you need to do is call the Motorola service shop in your area (the one's that actually deal with area police or fire departments). They will in turn contact the motorola dude to get the software upgrade. The whole thing will most likely take a week to do.

Jocko · Post by **Jocko** » Tue Oct 16, 2001 3:15 pm

Any idea on the cost for the APCO-25 Upgrade?

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Tue Oct 16, 2001 5:16 pm

One, you don't want to send the radio in with that flashcode. NO WAY. You won't get it back without a big argument and it might require a lawyer's intervention. You'd be much better off to blast a plain jane codeplug into the radio with no suspicious features at all, then get it flashed and upgraded, and THEN just clone it from the other radio.

And as PJ said, you don't send the radio in for a flash. You get the flash sent to whomever it is that has flash harware and is duly licensed, with the aid of a sales rep. And even then, you want to drop in a plain jane codeplug first. The reason why is that the flash is coded to your existing radio model number and flashcode. Again, you don't want M to be nosing about an LA-coded radio. Somebody would notice when they went to code your flash upgrade files and he'd hit the alarm button, so to speak.

IF you have the original codeplug that was in that radio, put it back in if it is to be upgraded through any 'official' channels.
You can always pull cloning stunts later, once your firmware is updated.

Elroy