Astro Saber II, flashcode help :-)

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MT
Posts: 67
Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2001 4:00 pm

Astro Saber II, flashcode help :-)

Post by MT »

Hi.

Just got offered a Astro Saber II Vhf with the
following flash: 000001-002000-5

A couple of questions (if someone can help?)

How much can this radio do?
Can this radio do MDC1200?
Des-xl?

Anything else I should know?

Best regards
mt

P.S Im a astro beginner :D
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Radio99
Posts: 66
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2001 4:00 pm

Post by Radio99 »

This radio is basically a conventional Astro Saber on VHF

The radio cannot do MDC

Options Installed on this Flashcode:

000001-002000-5

H35/G48 Conventional Operation
Q241 ASTRO Ready (Analog Operation ONLY)
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MT
Posts: 67
Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2001 4:00 pm

Post by MT »

Hi.

Thanks for the answar :)

Can something be done easily to get some more
options like MDC1200?

The seller claims that the codeplug allows MDC.
Can he be trusted on that?

I have the codeplug from the actual radio, can it be
determined if it has MDC, if someone could look at
the CP?

mt
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akardam
Posts: 2251
Joined: Thu Mar 04, 2004 10:53 am

Post by akardam »

Every Astro radio, regardless of flashcode (and with the exception of some very old firmware revisions) should at minimum, be able to encode MCD PTT ID's and MDC Emergency. Most should also be able to decode MDC PTT ID's.

If you have MDC needs above and beyond these basics, let us know what they are and someone can tell you if your radio meets those needs as it is or not.

As for DES-XL, an Astro Saber can do it, as long as it is equipped with the appropriate encryption hardware.

Finally, before you purchase any Astro or Astro25 radio, in addition to the flashcode, you should ask the seller what the HOST/DSP firmware revision is.

Hope this helps.
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MT
Posts: 67
Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2001 4:00 pm

Post by MT »

Hi :)

I need basic ptt id encode (decode, only nice to have :) )
and I would like to have status as well.

Can this be done?

I wont expect to get "everything" out of this radio. But Im a total astro beginner, so I have no idea what these can do/wont do :)

Can options be added somehow?

Hope someone could clarify some of these things for me or
maybe tell me if this radio is "upgradable" somhow :)

You could always drop me a PM, if it was possible to get some info/something useful from the codeplug
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Tom in D.C.
Posts: 3859
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 4:00 pm
What radios do you own?: Progreso soup can with CRT

Astro Sabers, etc.

Post by Tom in D.C. »

Here is some more help...

http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.php?t=61128
Tom in D.C.
In 1920, the U.S. Post Office Department ruled
that children may not be sent by parcel post.
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escomm
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Post by escomm »

IIRC, you will need Digital ID to decode MDC (encoding is not a problem). I know it sounds silly, but my 3k won't decode MDC and whored-out AS3 decodes it all day loing.
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fogster
Posts: 386
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What radios do you own?: XTS2500/5000, XPR7550/5550

Post by fogster »

Yes, "Digital ID" is a Flash feature that displays the MDC ID. However, my ASTRO Saber with the most basic of flashes does support MDC.

As far as adding options, you can purchase Flash upgrades. (They're ungodly expensive, though...) You should search the board for information about Flash upgrades if you're interested in adding features.

By the way, even though it's an ASTRO radio, it won't do digital voice, as that Flash feature isn't present in your Flashcode.
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MT
Posts: 67
Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2001 4:00 pm

Post by MT »

Hi guys

Hmm, I will take the chance and see how much
it does, when I get it.

Can the radio be upgraded to digital, later?
(Q241 Astro ready, does this mean its possible?)

Is it posible to do some sort of cloning with another
astro maybe, and get more features?

Regards
mt
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fogster
Posts: 386
Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 10:38 am
What radios do you own?: XTS2500/5000, XPR7550/5550

Post by fogster »

MT wrote:Can the radio be upgraded to digital, later?
(Q241 Astro ready, does this mean its possible?)
Maybe-kinda-sorta. I haven't bought the upgrade, but I understand they're quite expensive.
Is it posible to do some sort of cloning with another
astro maybe, and get more features?
It's called Frankenflashing. It's risky (and not entirely legal), but basically, you use ASTRO Lab (a piece of software developed exclusively for Motorola internal use--totally not legal to possess, so don't ask on here for it, and certainly don't call Motorola up!) and copy the contents of one radio to another. The Flashcode transfers, but so does the serial number, etc. But, the firmware is not changed. The catch is that, from my experience, radios that didn't come doing digital (IMBE) don't have a firmware (HOST/DSP) that supports it. (As a sidenote, I remain convinced that there are a few people who have figured out how to clone the firmware and aren't saying anything... No real proof of this, though.)

(The other hazard with Frankenflashing, besides the chance of screwing things up, is that Motorola won't be too happy if you ever send it in for service.)
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MT
Posts: 67
Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2001 4:00 pm

Post by MT »

Hi again..

Ok, I dont think I want to go down that path :)

I hope the radios does the MDC things that I need.

Regards
mt
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