Firmware Update for Motorola ASTRO25 Series Radios
Applies to: XTS1500-2500-4000-5000, XTL1500-2500-5000 Does not apply to: XTS3000, ASTRO SPECTRA, ASTRO SABRE with very few exceptions (ASTRO SPECTRA PLUS, SSE5000)
This article is intended for professionals who know what firmware, code plugins, adjustments, CPS, DEPOT, CVN are and know how to distinguish them.
This article does not contain any links to programs, firmware files, etc. – only methods.
No need to ask me for files, programs, etc. – everything can be searched on the Internet if needed.
If you don’t want to spend time searching for files, then the task is not important for you.
Perform all described operations at your own risk and risk. The author is not responsible for your radios.
There are three ways to update the firmware in these stations.
The first way is the official way. You need to pay to receive an update file (a set of update files) and a hardware key for the number of stations you need to update.
The effectiveness of this method is close to 100%, but the number of people interested in it tends to zero.
The second way is to use a cracked depot tool to update the firmware.
This is the path that most people who ask me this question are interested in.
Now I deliberately omitted the legal aspects; everyone decides for himself whether to pay for the update.
There is another option – update through recovery mode in CPS, I don’t want to think about it now.
So. To update the firmware using the second path, we need:
0. Arms straight and a clear mind.
1. The radio we want to update.
2. The programming cable of the station. An original one is ideal, RS232 or USB is not important.
Important – if we use an RS232 cable, then the COM port on the computer must be hardware (adapters USB to RS232 should not be used, the consequences may vary, including the need to re-solder the memory chip on the radio board)
3. A computer with Windows operating system, I recommend no higher than Windows 7.
4. Installed and running software: ASTRO 25 Tuner, ASTRO 25 CPS (portable or mobile, depending on which radio we work, wearable or portable) and ASTRO 25 DEPOT (portable or mobile).
5. A set of update files for the station (files with the extension .CVN, each station model has its own file!)
6. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), or a laptop with a working battery and the station battery powered by the station.
If the power runs out during the update, the station will most likely turn into an MGM.
If all the above conditions are in place, we can start the update process itself
1. Open the tuner and save the station settings to a file (with the extension .tun).
Of course, you can print it (for example, on a virtual printer).
Close the Tuner (the station will restart, this is normal)
2. Open CPS, save the codeplug.
3. Open the depot. Go to the menu Tools – Depot – Flash Radio: 4. In point 1 – select the update file for the station, in point 2 select the programmer port: 5. After selecting everything – press the OK button. The update process should start: The process is not fast, it can last 15-20 minutes via RS232, this is normal. Important! During this process we do not turn off the station, do not turn it off, do not turn off the computer, do not close the software, even if everything seems to have been hung for a long time and the software “does not” respond”! : 6. After the update process is completed, you will see a window that says success. This means that everything went well: After clicking the “OK” button, exactly what was updated is written: 7. We check if the values in the tuning remain the same – we read the station with the tuner, compare the values with those that were saved in the first paragraph. 8. If they are the same, then good. If they are different, upload the saved tuning back. 9. We rejoice, sing, dance, smile. 10. PS If something goes wrong (you can’t rejoice, sing, dance and smile). It is impossible to describe all the options of what to do specifically in this case. In most cases, it is possible to bring the station back to life using the software. Rarely – use a soldering iron, or rather, a heat gun and a programmer.
If we have all of the above, we can begin the update process itself.
1. Open Tuner, save the station settings to a file (with the extension .tun).
To be sure, you can print it (for example, on a virtual printer).
Close Tuner (the station will reboot, this is normal)
2. Open CPS, save codeplug.
3. Open DEPOT. Go to the menu Tools – Depot – Flash Radio:
4. In point number 1, select the update file for this station, in point number two, select the programmer port:
5. Once everything has been selected, click OK. The update process should begin:
The process is not fast, via RS232 it can last 15-20 minutes, this is normal.
Important! During the process, we do not turn off the station, do not turn it off, do not turn off the computer and do not close the software, even when everything looks like it has been hanging for a long time and the software is “not responding”!:
6. After the update process is completed, you will see a window labeled successful.
So everything went well:
After clicking the OK button, it will be written what exactly was updated:
7. We check that the values in the tuning remain in place – we read the station with Tuner, compare the values with those that were saved in the first step.
8. If they are the same, good.
If they differ, upload the saved tuning back.
9. We rejoice, sing, dance, smile.
10. P.S. If something goes wrong (and you can’t rejoice, sing, dance and smile).
It is not possible to describe all the options for what exactly to do in this case.
In most cases, the station can be brought back to life using software.
Rarely – using a soldering iron, or rather a hot air gun and a programmer.
