Astro Spectra CPS

[ecollins11]

I have a question so here it is I have a Motorola Astro Spectra that I'm going to program I have the Rib Box an cable ordered I found a sample code plug it has the same model number of the radio that I have I deleted the freqs and zones and entered the freqs and zones so I will have the code plug ready to program into the Astro Spectra when I get cable and rib box or do I have to download the code plug from the radio and start over or can I use the code plug that have ready ? The Astro Spectra CPS the drop down tools menu has flashport Read Radio Configuration can I read the radio config without it deleting the new code plug that I have ready ?

 

[cmdrwill]

I would NOT put any 'sample code plug' into the radio.

FIRST Read the radio and save that code plug in the CPS AND in another safe place.
Then make your changes to the radio's original code plug you just read.

This way you have saved the original code plug in case something goes sideways.

 

[ecollins11]

I was planning on reading and saving the original code plug and burning it to CD and put it in a safe place, I guess I can copy and paste from the code plug I was working on to the original code plug from the radio.

 

[ElroyJetson]

Don't try to stuff a sample codeplug into your radio. For one, the CPS won't even let you do it unless the model number and feature set is an EXACT match.

It's MUCH smarter to read out the radio, save the codeplug, and edit it. Start by deleting everything you don't need and start adding a little at a time. Write the codeplug under development to the radio, test the radio, then add more to the codeplug. Keep at it until you've developed the entire codeplug you want.

This actually saves a lot of time as compared to trying to do it all at once and then have to track down all the things that didn't work quite as planned.

 

[MTS2000des]

Everything given so far is sound advice: ALWAYS READ THE RADIO FIRST before doing anything, and SAVE THE CODEPLUG!

However, you can use a sample codeplug or a codeplug with a different flashcode/feature set by opening up two instances of Astro Spectra CPS, the first pane has your created codeplug, the second with your radio codeplug open. A top level drag and drop will copy over all VALID fields and OVERWRITE whatever is present in the target radio.

You will still have to clean up any invalid fields and correct things like IDs (trunking and conventional), and build menu trees as some settings do not carry over.

I always prefer to build off an "original to the radio" codeplug, but if you have one that you can work off of, drag and drop is your friend.

 

[SteveC0625]

I was planning on reading and saving the original code plug and burning it to CD and put it in a safe place,

That's probably an extra step that isn't needed. Use the CPS to save a copy of the original codeplug in a work folder where you plan to keep your codeplugs. As you work, whatever your shoot into the radio, save a copy of that in the same work folder with a slightly different name. Rather than burn a CD, just use a thumb drive or SD card for your off computer backup.

You will find that you will modify the codeplug several times. Burning a CD each time for a backup just isn't necessary.

I have dozens of codeplugs for my agency's radios and my own plus a few clients as well. I keep them in separate work folders, one for each different CPS that I use. I then backup those folders on a regular basis to two separate thumb drives; one is a 32 gig that stays plugged into a USB port most of the time, and the second is a smaller thumb drive that is used for general backups. The big thumb drive is used for backups of all my work on my laptop, not just radio programming.