Batboard

Can an Astro radio with the latest Host/DSP versions be flashed for Astro25 (9600 baud) operation, or does it have to be a 'special' Host/DSP version?

Todd

Any 1 meg astro radio can be flashed to the 9600 IMBE trunking option (APCO25 complaiant). When the radio is flashed properly, the flash upgrade will update the firmware, if required.

Pj wrote:Any 1 meg astro radio can be flashed to the 9600 IMBE trunking option (APCO25 complaiant). When the radio is flashed properly, the flash upgrade will update the firmware, if required.

can a 512 do IMBE APCO but not 9600?

Also, anyone know the going cost for changing an AS3 Vocoder from VSLEP to IMBE?

Thanks.

Yes. As far as we know, the 9600bps control channel is the only option that requires a 1meg controller. I did have an AS3 with IMBE and a 512k control board.

If you have an "ASTRO ready" radio, the IMBE upgrade is around $700. If you have a VSLEP radio, the upgrade is only around 200-250ish.

PJ, do you actually have any Astro-25 capable radios? I'm curious to know the HOST/DSP versions in them. I thought the same as yourself, but if you have a look at the link below, you'll see why I'm confused. The guy sounds like he thinks he knows what he's talking about, but it doesn't make any sense to me...but, I'm not totally familiar with HOST/DSP versions.

http://www.trunkedradio.net/groups/show ... eadid=2537

Todd

He's referring to two different things in his message. HOST/DSP Versions in the subscriber units, -and- infrastructure software versions.

ASTRO_25 wrote:He's referring to two different things in his message. HOST/DSP Versions in the subscriber units, -and- infrastructure software versions.

Yes, and No. There is reference to the infrastructure versions (3.x/6.x), but he is also saying that Motorola went back to 6.xx.xx HOST versions for any radio flashed with Astro-25, and that the higher numbered versions will not support it. I think he is wrong. His Astro-25 radios happen to have that version firmware, and the correct flash, while his later firmware version radios do not have the correct flash to enable the RSSI meter. But I think they easily could be flashed to work...and keep their current firmware versions.

Todd

By golly, you are right!

I need to read posts on my pages more carefully!

Um ok, I know I haven't slept much due to work lately, so I am a little confused...

I have had a total of three Astro Saber Model 3 radios, and currently have two, 1 vhf and 1 uhf.

The previous one that I had came as IMBE which is the APCO approved CODEC for digital comms. The radio was a 512k board and had a HOST of R05.60.00 & DSP R06.05.02. At this time, that was pretty much the max of the firmware, but there was one or two minor revisions after that.

Astro 25 is Motorola's name for the APCO "Prodject 25" Digital Trunking standard. I am not sure if you are interchanging IMBE, APCO, Astro 25. Too many!!!

Option Q361 is the Digital APCO-25 (Prodject 25) IMBE Trunking. This is the option that requires the 1 MEG board and uses the 9600 control channel.

Q806 is the option that allows for the IMBE digital operation. This is the APCO approved digital format, and can be used on a 512k or 1MEG radio, and is conventional. No trunking involved, unless your radio has a trunking option.

Not all digital trunking systems are Q361. Connecticut State Police use a Smartzone system (H38) with IMBE digital operation (Q806) but the system uses the 3600 standard control channel. This is a new system.

Michigan State Police uses the Q361 option. As a for instance, the CSP radio could not work on the MSP system, but I believe that the MSP radio could work on the CSP system. There is a limitation with the Q361, but I don't remember if that was it or not.

Did I confuse you even more, or am I in the right direction? PM if you wish!

Yes PJ, you are in the right direction, and yes, there are too many interchangeable terms. The bottom line for me is...do the latest HOST/DSP versions support 9600baud trunking, or do you need a certain version (in the 6.xx.xx range) to support it, as the fellow claims? I think he's wrong, but don't know for sure.

Todd

I would say since the 9600 Astro-25/Prodject 25 whatever digital IMBE 9600bps control channel option requires a 1 meg board, the HOST & DSP would have to be at LEAST 7.xx.xx.x. 1 MEG boards start at revision 7. Anything under 7 would be a 512k board, and hence would not support the option.

I have never seen a radio with a 1 meg board with less than v7 firmware. I suspect that the radio he has/had/seen was a 512k radio hacked with the option, and I bet that if he was going to try is on a 9600bps system, it wouldn't work. Maybe you can hack it and make it work, but I seriously doubt it. Stranger things have happened.

You can have digital trunking on a 512k radio, but as I said before, it wouldn't be using the 9600 control channel.

Does this make sense? I actually slept last night!

Forgot to add, as of a couple of months ago, the lastest firmware coming out of the depot was HOST R7.10.00-DSP N08.02.06 for a 1MEG controller, and HOST version R05.60.00. DSP R06.05.02 for a 512k board (actually I think the DSP was up to .04)

Pj wrote: I have never seen a radio with a 1 meg board with less than v7 firmware. I suspect that the radio he has/had/seen was a 512k radio hacked with the option, and I bet that if he was going to try is on a 9600bps system, it wouldn't work. Maybe you can hack it and make it work, but I seriously doubt it. Stranger things have happened.

Now, this is not true. There are lots of radios with 05x/06x versions of Host/DSP with 1 Meg boards. I have an XTS3k with that.

I believe that the XTS and Sabers are on different firmware release schdules. In the beginning of the production, XTS3000's did only come with 512k boards. That has been proven.