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Q241 ASTRO Ready (Analog Operation Only)????

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 2:21 am
by zulu
I have a radio with Q241 ASTRO Ready (Analog Operation Only) in my flashcode but i am unable to program astro operation into my radio with the CPS any ideas why?
Cheers

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 4:40 am
by JAYMZ
You answered your own question.

Astro Ready means simply that it is a radio capable of doing IMBE Digital... but is not flashed for IMBE Digital Operation. You have an analog only radio. No way of going digital without an upgrade.

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 5:18 am
by jmr061
Yup Astro Ready isn't a very good term for someone who isn't familiar with the astro series. You will need your dsp changed over to digital and a flash upgrade. Is this a saber, xts or spectra series radio?

Jason

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 12:09 pm
by RFguy
Like buying a building lot that is "house ready". Does not include the house. It has the support ready (water sewer power), but no house.

Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 5:07 am
by K8TEK
Why anyone would buy a radio like that is beyond me. Buying an Astro radio not flashed for IMBE is like buying a Lamborghini without tires.

Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 5:58 am
by alex
K8TEK wrote:Why anyone would buy a radio like that is beyond me. Buying an Astro radio not flashed for IMBE is like buying a Lamborghini without tires.
Because the OP probably doesn't know any better, hense why he is asking about it.

Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 6:43 am
by xmo
"Why anyone would buy a radio like that..."
____________________________________

We do it all the time.

Regional systems usually have many users besides public safety. For systems that are mixed mode, some user agencies want the cheapest radio possible so they start out all analog.

Eventually, analog trunking is going to be gone, so today we tell them not to buy an analog only radio [e.g. MCS2000] but instead by a digital capable radio with the analog only flash.

That makes the price of the digital capable radio comparable to a radio that can't be upgraded. When the system gets upgraded to all digital - all the radios will need update re-flash anyway. That is the time to get IMBE put in those radios.

It's simply a case of being responsible with taxpayer $$$

Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 3:42 pm
by CTAMontrose
then why does motorola end up with the "astro ready" radios back, and replace them with XTS5000s and XTLs

its a sales guy who make WAY too much more money, and motorola convincing them "oh you COULD reflash it, but that would cost more than if we did this..."

Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 5:01 pm
by Bruce1807
Astro ready radios generally have all the hardware , just need a new flash.
I've done it with Spectras and 3000 radios

Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 5:06 pm
by CTAMontrose
uhh yeah i know that

what i was stating is that when have you ever seen an agency actually reflash their fleet? almost never.. motorola would rather sell them new fancy "we be astro already" 5000s, and take their "worthless analog" radios in on trade.

ive heard stories where moto would actually charge LESS to sell a new system and subscriber radios, than to reflash/reprogram the whole fleet.

hense the "astro ready" really means "screwed by moto rep"

Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 10:09 pm
by zulu
Yeah i thought so, any way of telling it to do astro without the upgrade? It's a spectra.

Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 10:11 pm
by zulu
oh well

Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 6:07 am
by mr.syntrx
K8TEK wrote:Why anyone would buy a radio like that is beyond me. Buying an Astro radio not flashed for IMBE is like buying a Lamborghini without tires.
Why would anyone buy an MTS-2000, for that matter? They still make nice analog radios.

I've got nobody to talk to on ASTRO, so I'd happily buy an analog ASTRO Saber or XTS for a few bucks,rather than paying $1000 for one with ASTRO, seeing as I'd only ever get use that to talk to myself.