How to prove your flashcode to /\/\otorola

Hightower · Post by **Hightower** » Sun Nov 18, 2001 3:35 am

Have a Astro Saber III that has been recased with no factory sticker. This radio has been flashed with many options. If for some reason the radio goes completely dead and has to be sent back to the depot for service, how can I prove what flashcode options were in the radio before it went dead? I'd hate to loose anything.

Post by Pj » Sun Nov 18, 2001 6:57 am

This best thing that I can suggest is to keep a current copy of the the codeplug, and to print out the F9 screen that has the DSP/HOST/Serial # and flashcode. That way you can send the sheet along with the radio. If the radio has been flashed by Motorola, a most recent copy of the paperwork with it...that would have the current flashcode.

If not, its a 50/50 chance it will comeback with what you had in it...

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Sun Nov 18, 2001 8:30 pm

That's a good idea. But, you also want to put, in writing, that you do NOT authorize Motorola to make any adjustments in the feature set of your radio for any reason since the radio is your property. This should come with a letter stating as much, ON LETTERHEAD from your attorney!

The law doesn't allow them to mess with the contents of a computer based device that's your property. It's exactly the same situation as if you were to put in a performance chip in your Z28 and then sent the car into the dealer's shop for other work, and they removed the performance chip and put in the standard one. You could sue them for that. It's your property and that's that.

Elroy

Hightower · Post by **Hightower** » Sun Nov 18, 2001 11:33 pm

Good idea guys! Thanks for the input. I'll have to print out radios information and store it in a safe place. I'm just trying to protect my investment.

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Mon Nov 19, 2001 3:58 pm

Another thing: If you know how to archive your codeplug (It's been mentioned recently) then it doesn't matter WHAT they do to your radio and what features they remove, you can put it all right back in via the archive options. Any radio that comes out of the depot is going to have up-to-date firmware in it (if a vocon replacement is required) and it should handle your archive just fine. There are a few compatibility issues, but none that I'm aware of that will result in a non-functional radio. However, be aware of the fact that IMBE firmware needs an IMBE codeplug, and VSELP firmware needs a VSELP codeplug, and never mix the two or the radio will work incorrectly in digital mode.

Elroy

FatBoy · Post by **FatBoy** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 10:18 am

Elroy,
If the above is true, "it doesn't matter what they do to your radio as long as you have backed it up properly, etc," how difficult would it be to modify a codeplug for features not currently in your radio?
Thanks, FatBoy.

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 4:20 pm

Practically impossible. You can look in the radio's converted archive file, and actually SEE the flashcode that's in the archive, but if you try to change it you'll probably disable the radio completely, because there are other values that have to be changed to match any flashcode change, and there is no available guide on how to do that. If you were to start messing, one serious possibility is that you might put the radio into a mode where it can ONLY be read via depot version flash ribs and special software. I've heard of this happening.

Another possibility is that the radio may get so screwed up that it won't even complete a selftest.

If you want to start hacking in the s-records or archive files, first take the value of the radio, in cash, out of the bank and place it on top of the stove. When you start hacking, turn the stove on to HIGH. That's about equal to what you may end up doing to the radio, just burning money.

It'd be a different story if the files were thoroughly mapped and the interactive logic
in the codeplug were understood, but that's not the case. Don't mess with it unless you write the radio off first, and don't ask for help if you blow it to hell.

Elroy

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 10:25 pm

Oooh, Nobody light a match.
In Theory it's nice, but would not want to make my radio a paperweight!

Post by Pj » Sat Nov 24, 2001 4:23 am

I looked into the codeplug s records and the such, and unless you are deep into programming (computer that is) and had the map of how motorola built the data file, its pure guessing. I have been able to change around the file enough to allow the RSS to read the plug, but it will reset many varibles to 0, and it will kill the radio once it is programmed into it.

Not worth the chance.
Be warned.