Astro saber flashcode question

willbartlett · Post by **willbartlett** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 3:33 pm

Hello all, Got my first AS, and I have a weird situation. The flashcode as read in the rss is 0000010000009, bur the radio will allow for astro tx and rx, verified through operation, and it supports digital modulation format C4FM in the astro conventional system configuration, as well ad rd lap. are these indicative of astro 25, or is this just a question mark? Radio is likely ex millitary surplus, don't suspect a hack job, but anything's possible. Also, is there a way to confirm a flashcode without an srib?

I Have a display added to the keypad, but I want to confirm options before I have to lab an ASIII s record into it

Tnx, Will

Also, radio is listed on case as 1 meg, with a dsp version of 5. something, I'll confirm if it's relevant to the question.

Thanks, Will

XDCLabs.COM · Post by **XDCLabs.COM** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 6:47 pm

By AS, do you mean model I without display? Sounded like it. Without a display the only way to confirm flashcode is RSS, and thats what you've already done. Well, the flashecode indicates no digital, but you say there is? Hmmm...

In any case, since you say that it has a 5 something DSP, I'd say it also has a 3 something host. In that case, what you have is a VSELP radio. It will not do APCO 25 IMBE even if you blast a APCO25 capable codeplug in it. In fact, it will

up your radio. What you need is a host/dsp upgrade, in addition.

Post by Pj » Wed Jan 29, 2003 7:16 pm

Try changing the digital squelch to Digital CSQ. If it lets you, it will support IMBE, if not, its VSLEP. If IMBE shows up in the flashcode decoder, no problem. If ASTRO READY shows up, no digital operation is in the radio. If neither comes up, you have VSLEP. Last I checked, VSLEP to IMBE was around $300. Astro ready to IMBE is about $700.

willbartlett · Post by **willbartlett** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 7:33 pm

Well, I just got through digging in the astro radio wide options, and it had a field for "max CAI data tx attempts" that's promising....... Also, Can't find an option for digital squelch or digital CSQ, let me know where that might be. Thanks for all the help. Also need to figure out the int mic audio cuircut, that's spotty, ext mic is fine.

Many thanks, Will

XDCLabs.COM · Post by **XDCLabs.COM** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 7:37 pm

When you're in the personality screen, go to "More Options" and then "Astro Options". In any case, the firmware version number (host/dsp) is what will ultimately determine VSELP/IMBE. SO what is the host and dsp number?

willbartlett · Post by **willbartlett** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 7:57 pm

I believe the Host is 3.20.01, DSP looks like 5.00.18. I'm reading that from the rss summary, I just wonder if that's entirely accurate, possibly an incorrect text file left from a previous (botched) flash? If it's truly vselp, I can live with that, I'm just puzzled by the availability of Astro (flavor?) digital tx capabilities with the (alleged) flashcode. Like I said, I believe it's Ex-Mil, who knows what they twisted Mot's arm to do......

Thanks all. I'll likely try to find someone who can Srib the radio and get an actual flashcode.

XDCLabs.COM · Post by **XDCLabs.COM** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 8:01 pm

It's VSELP for sure. So don't go about forcing an APCO/IMBE codeplug in it. You will turn it into a brick that keeps resetting. It seems like it does what you need it to do. My recommendation is, let sleeping dogs lie.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 8:17 pm

XDCLabs.COM wrote:It's VSELP for sure. So don't go about forcing an APCO/IMBE codeplug in it. You will turn it into a brick that keeps resetting. It seems like it does what you need it to do. My recommendation is, let sleeping dogs lie.

I thought that there was a way to force an IMBE codeplug into a VSELP radio, hence the ability to monitor iDEN traffic.

At least the Astro Saber page shows that it can be done.;

-Josh

XDCLabs.COM · Post by **XDCLabs.COM** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 8:21 pm

If you have DSP version less than 6.x.x, then the DSP does not have the ability to decode IMBE. It only knows VSELP. So if you have a VSELP DSP and you tell it to do IMBE with a IMBE capable codeplug, it'll get more than a little confused. I know this for a fact.

willbartlett · Post by **willbartlett** » Thu Jan 30, 2003 5:14 am

OK, Last question. Is the RSS summary display of Host, DSP and Flashcode a group of values read from Hardware, or is it just an ASCII nugget generated by the rss and stored inthe radio? I'm just puzzled by the disparity between what is displayed in the summary, and what options are available in the rss (CAI functions, C4FM, etc....). The serial number on the outside of the radio matches the rss summary, so I don't really know what to believe. Will reading the radio with an Srib show options as determined by actually parsing the Flash parts contents, or will it simply poll the codeplug for it's reported configuration?

Thanks, Will

XDCLabs.COM · Post by **XDCLabs.COM** » Thu Jan 30, 2003 5:46 am

The host/dsp version is read from a "know" memory location on the actual flash memory when you read in the codeplugm from a radio. So this can't be tampered with. That is why when you read the codeplug archived on disk, these values do not show up. As for the flashcode, it is in a "know" location within the codeplug.

As for the disparity between the flashcode and actual options that show up, I think it depends on how old the codeplug is. In the earlier days of flashport, I believe, such disparities were present. Just because you have a bit turned on in your flashcode, doesn't mean that you will ave the option enabled. Hence our friendly neighbourhood heckers could not enable options by hacking the flashcode and enabling options. These options require actual blocks of codeplug to be present in the file that enable the options.

willbartlett · Post by **willbartlett** » Thu Jan 30, 2003 7:53 am

OK, I'll try to find a astro system around here on uhf and see if I can decode it with the existing firmware, that'll clear things up fairly quickly. Guess it's time to start looking at lindsay blantons site to read up on known astro systems here in the chilly northeast.

Out of curiosity, If one were contemplating lab-ing an AS-III s-record into this radio to enable display and other non flash based options, Would you suggest trying to track down an analog only version or look for a vselp file? I'm obviously going to store this s-record before I do anything else to the radio......

ASTRO_25 · Post by **ASTRO_25** » Thu Jan 30, 2003 1:15 pm

This brings up an interesting question - has ANYONE ever forced an IMBE codeplug into a VSELP radio and been able to really monitor Iden traffic.

Confirmed accounts please!

willbartlett · Post by **willbartlett** » Thu Jan 30, 2003 1:35 pm

OK, Yeah, I wasn't second guessing XDC, I meant I was going to see if I could find a Vselp system, I doubt they're around. I'll look into getting it flashed for newer DSP, etc...

As for cramming the IMBE to try to listen to Iden, It's not worth risking the radio to listen to all the construction workers in my area calling Howard Stern to talk to BABABOOEY......

thanks all

Post by **wavetar** » Thu Jan 30, 2003 2:46 pm

The Batlabs page clearly presents it strictly as someone's theory. It's also someone's theory that an "exceptionally tuned" analog repeater can pass IMBE. Neither one has ever been done, to my knowledge.

Todd

nitornemo · Post by **nitornemo** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 4:21 pm

willbartlett wrote:I was going to see if I could find a Vselp system, I doubt they're around. I'll look into getting it flashed for newer DSP, etc...

thanks all

What would be the cost for the upgrade?

(and don't say 52 cents

)

ASTROMODAT · Post by **ASTROMODAT** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 7:55 pm

Per the current (Jan 2003) R3:

Q806 ASTRO VSELP to ASTRO CAI IMBE is $220.

Q808 ASTRO Ready to ASTRO IMBE is $770.

Q324 Software refresh is $83.

There are generally no discounts available for FLASHport upgrades, unless you have a Gov't Contract that covers this.

Larry

Post by Pj » Tue Feb 25, 2003 8:50 pm

What's a software refresh?

ASTROMODAT · Post by **ASTROMODAT** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 8:58 pm

It's an uplift to the current Host/DSP

ASTROMODAT · Post by **ASTROMODAT** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 9:39 pm

Not sure on the exact number, Shaun, but it is ordered by Option Q324. I think it very recently changed, though.

Post by Pj » Wed Feb 26, 2003 8:55 am

Hmm. Ok. I remember when I sent an estimate upgrade form to M for the same thing, they wanted close to 1k for each radio. I am guessing that they were just going to replace the controller then. That's good to know, thanks.

ASTROMODAT · Post by **ASTROMODAT** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 1:04 pm

If the Depot does the load, it's an additional $60 for the labor (on top of the material prices I mentioned). Of course, going this route gives you a guarantee, of sorts, in terms of the load process.

If you go it alone and you hose up the flash and blow the dongle, you're out the $770 with nothing to show for it.

Maybe PJ your 1 grand per radio quote included material, labor for the load and verification check, plus tax and insured shipping, which would bump you up very close to $1k per radio.

Got to have that IMBE...

And, gotta love that Motorola marketing Genius!

Larry

ASTROMODAT · Post by **ASTROMODAT** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 1:08 pm

Another good reason why we need the Batboard Dayton Team to visit the ICOM booth and ask them when their P25 IMBE radios will be available!