Astro Saber &
To follow up (and hopefully not sound too redundant) with what everybody said - So the easiest way I've found (without putting your HEX editing skills to the test) is: 1.) Use the linked FDB Tool to change the FlashCode of your radio. 2.) Grab yourself an iButton and do a refresh firmware bump (SmartRIB required for that). During the bump, a combination of the SmartRIB and CPS will upgrade your code plug to match the feature set of whatever you changed the FlashCode to. Before you go through any of that, one big thing to check first is: Does the VOCON show a DSP with an 'A' before the version number (when you're in Service Mode or in CPS under 'Radio Information' - 'Tracking' - 'DSP Software')?
If it does have that 'A', that means there's an analog DSP loaded into the radio's VOCON. You can change the FlashCode all day long, and you still won't get any IMBE functionality.
Speculation from another forum board seems to think that: Loading the 'Analog Only' version of DSP code into the radios was Motorola's way of getting around having to pay DVSI for a license of the IMBE codec. Seems logical enough. But anywho, if you do have an 'A' version of the DSP code, you'll need a SmartRIB (or access to one) to reflash the VOCON. That's a big thing (IMO) you don't have to deal with on the ASTRO 25 series. Just use Depot to force a the code plug into the radio and away you go. A real RIB can be turned into a 'dumb' sRIB. A real sRIB has many modes of operation, one being pass-through flash mode.
Take your gaming to the next level with ASTRO gaming controllers designed for pro gamers and optimized for PS4 & PC. Browse our pro gaming controllers today! Motorola ASTRO Saber. Flying free don besig pdf printer download. Most of this information is for the Astro Saber, but since the XTS3000 and its family are programmed by the same RSS, a lot of the information will be relevant for it too. In actual fact - aside from cosmetics and accesory/antenna connections, the two radios (XTS-3000 and ASTRO Saber) are 'electrically identical'.
Astro Saber & Xts 3000 Cps
Pass-through flash mode is rarely used by Motorola software, only in very rare circumstances. A super rare piece of DOS software is capable of running a real sRIB in 'dumb' or 'pass-through' mode. In this mode, the sRIB doesn't buffer the data, but just dumps it straight into the radio. Because the DOS software is capable of dumping the rom or hex file straight to the radio, a real sRIB is not needed, however a modified RIB into a 'dumb' sRIB can be used only with the rare DOS software. Modification from RIB to 'dumb' sRIB is 4 changes. Once changed, it will no longer function as a RIB unless you use a 4 pole double throw (or is it double pole 4 throw?) switch. Basically a switch with 4 separate contacts.
The proper flash cable is still needed. If the radio has 'A' firmware, even a proper digital CVN and flash upgrade iButton will not change it to a 'I' or 'N' firmware which is digital. The DOS software is needed to change an analog only DSP to digital DSP. Guys, If a radio has 'A' or 'M' DSP firmware (analog-only), what you must do prior to performing a firmware update is read the s-record from your radio, and modify the existing flashcode (and correct the EOB and EOL checksums) so digital is included. It's as simple as changing 000-x to 100-x (example). The 1 at the beginning means ASTRO Digital CAI, which includes the IMBE vocoder option.
Once this is done, and dumped back into the radio, you can use an iButton/SRIB and the digital firmware CVN, and perform the update. It will upgrade the host firmware, and change the DSP firmware from A/M0x.xx.xx to N08.03.05 or I08.03.05 (latest/final CAI DSP firmware). This may sound complicated, but it's not. If anyone here who is stuck with analog-only firmware just wants someone else to do it for them, there are numerous people on the communications.support forum who are able to perform the upgrade for a reasonable fee + return shipping. Myself (Mars, in Canada), MattSR (Australia), JMR061, Yaesu, mwb9122 (all in USA), etc.
See this thread: Hope this helps. Once you modify the flashcode by adding the 1 at the beginning of the code (by using FDB tool or other tools such MTSX lab to read S record??), will the Astro Saber then be capable of digital operation WITHOUT actually updating the firmware? I presume the answer is definitely 'no' and that you always need to update the firmware? But can I then use a modified standard RIB (by adding 4 switches to turn it into a 'dumb' SmartBIB) and the special DOS software to write digital firmware to the Astro Saber?a bit like the dirty method with astro25 radios?
Motorola Astro Saber Programming Software
Astro Saber & Xts 3000 Cps
With astro25 stuff, I think an 'analog only' radio already contains digital capable firmware and its just a matter of using depot to 'switch on' the P25 capability by writing a digital flashcode to the radio?
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