Codeplug, ASK and whatever else questions.

[merlin]

I have a codeplug out of Motorola foundry that is intended to 'un-brick' a radio for codeplug issues.
I thought 'cool', I can use it as a template for my purposes. I can open it in CPS, make all sorts of changes, but when I save it, nothing has changed. A radio hack site said 'simple' it is locked with ASK. Now in the bundle, there is no key to use it.
So what is the point of that ? ($$$ for the key?)
Now I can fix this problem in the radio, but won't have that for a few days yet.
Sort of wonder what use this is to site administrators if they can't un-brick a radio.

 

[merlin]

How might one create a codeplug for Astro25 from scratch. Can't seem to find documentation for that.
There is no 'FILE' 'NEW' selection, or will CPS even do that.

 

[Giddyuptd]

System administrators will have the ask keys to modify or edit trunked systems.

 

[mmckenna]

I always read the radio and started from there. Since the flashcode will dictate what the radio can do, that will impact what you can program.

 

[merlin]

Usually, that is where I start but looking to go from the ground up.
I guess for my question, radios weren't made with codeplugs, somebody created them.
Get your hands on a wiped radio, you have a bit of recycle aluminum there.

 

[merlin]

What if I have all the same stuff administrators have. I do have administrator key software, Just never used it and this part is my weakness.

 

[ElevatorsAndRadios]

Usually, that is where I start but looking to go from the ground up.
I guess for my question, radios weren't made with codeplugs, somebody created them.
Get your hands on a wiped radio, you have a bit of recycle aluminum there.

In theory, the only source of a fresh, made from scratch codeplug for a Motorola Astro25 radio should be Motorola themselves. The customer cannot just create codeplugs with Astro25 CPS to the best of my knowledge.

 

[bravo0122]

I remember System key is software base. Advanced System Key (ASK) is hardware base.

 

[jeepsandradios]

ASK is a hard USB dongle.

 

[clbsquared]

Read radio, save original, add 1 default entry to every drop down, delete all previous entries throughout the entire drop down save as new.
Keep in mind, that doing this will delete all trunking systems in the original codeplug. YOU WILL need a system key to create ANY trunking system moving forward.

 

[clbsquared]

What if I have all the same stuff administrators have. I do have administrator key software, Just never used it and this part is my weakness.

Every Astro 25 CPS came with a Key Administrator. That doesn't mean that you can use it to break into a radio with an ASK. You need the hardware portion (dongle) to do that.

 

[mmckenna]

I guess for my question, radios weren't made with codeplugs, somebody created them.
Get your hands on a wiped radio, you have a bit of recycle aluminum there.

Not exactly. The radios do have a blank codeplug in them. It also contains the info about the serial number, flash code, etc. Reading the radio the first time will load all that into CPS and then you build the file off that.
Even a 'wiped' radio will have what you need, just read it and start adding your stuff.

There is/was a website where people had uploaded codeplugs for this. Some of the Pro series software (if I recall correctly) had some default codeplugs that you could build off of. You might want to sniff around on the CPS disk and see if there are some, if not search the web for one that matches the flashcode of your incoming radio.

 

[mmckenna]

Codeplugs

click the link, this will take you to the Code Plug Supersite.

 

[Firebuff880]

Usually, that is where I start but looking to go from the ground up.
I guess for my question, radios weren't made with codeplugs, somebody created them.
Get your hands on a wiped radio, you have a bit of recycle aluminum there.

Actually, radios are made with Code plugs in away as the addition of the firmware to memory also set's the initial code plug values.

 

[merlin]

I'll try to cover what has been posted.

the only source of a fresh, made from scratch codeplug for a Motorola Astro25 radio should be Motorola

Starting CPS, I like the 'tips' One suggested a 'new' codeplug so presumed it could be done.

The radios do have a blank codeplug in them.

What is in the radio has been blanked +, no menu features save for the clock and it doesn't save(display)
Just 'boops' trying anything other than group/channel select. all buttons de-programmed.
I am hoping there is enough there to start with, otherwise I do have one codeplug(needs fixing) for a template or starting place. Reverting all to defaults would please me.
I got the radio, it is very nice shape for former fire dept. I just cant access anything in the radio yet, still need that programming cable. I'll check out that site, maybe get lucky.
Thanks people 73s

 

[merlin]

About NAS scanning and scan list. >I worked up a list, 8 voice channels+1 control channel for site 1
2 voice channels+1 control channel for site 2
Can I just shove all these frequencies into scan list ? >conventional, where does the control channel belong,, Same for trunking ?
Can I leave empty channels blank or should I fill them with say test frequency ?
Scan one site/other site/or both sites ?
Does the groups have to be populated ?
This is what I am trying to start with: (what are channels tagged SCC ?)

P25p1 State system 1 network, 12 sites, 20 channels
Control channel frequencies:
site 1 SysID=18B
Site BEE00.18B-1.1; CC=1-2060 774.88125 NAC=180
Voice channels:
Ch=772.54375
Ch=772.11875
Ch=771.09375
Ch=774.21875
Ch=773.49375
Ch=772.91875
Ch=771.88125
Ch=771.54375

site 2 SysID=18B
Freq=774.443750 NAC=180 Current site: 1.4
Voice channels:
Ch=772.16875
Ch=772.61875

Ch= 773.18125 scc
Ch= 773.91875 scc
Any takers for this? TNX
73s

 

[mmckenna]

What is in the radio has been blanked +, no menu features save for the clock and it doesn't save(display)
Just 'boops' trying anything other than group/channel select. all buttons de-programmed.

Yep, sounds like it's been blanked or just never programmed. When I retired about 400 MTS-2000's at work, I put in codeplugs that had one RX only channel and all the buttons were programmed for "unassigned". It wood beep/boop if anything was done other than turning it on. Since the radios had data in them that would still work at our other sites, we didn't want to dump them and have them end up in the wrong hands. Not uncommon at all for people that have no idea what they are doing to buy used radios and just start using them on whatever channels are in them.

I am hoping there is enough there to start with, otherwise I do have one codeplug(needs fixing) for a template or starting place. Reverting all to defaults would please me.

Well, there is no 'default', theres unprogrammed, or whatever someone left in there. When you get the right cable, you'll be able to read the radio.

 

[chrismol1]

Oh boy. Alright where to start....You have yet to build out the trunking system and trunking personality required for a NAS scan list. The control channels and talkgroups(in hex format) belong in the pre-built trunking system which you will add talkgroup members in a scan list of a Talkgroup Scan Type which is then set as the scanlist of a conventional channel with the Designated Voice TX member set to Selected Chan. Here's what I did when I was in learning. Scan the voice channels in a conventional scan list for a while until you get a hang of building trunking systems and understand. You really do have to understand each and every option in the programming. One false move will put you where you don't want to be as you've said before, I really don't want to mean, please don't take it this way, your missing fundamentals of the basics of trunking systems in moto software. As well, the defaults ARE NOT what you want in a NAS configuration. A lot of NAS is changing whats already default, please understand the radios in default are designed to be actual working radios. We are configuring them NOT to do what they want to do as default radios. There are dangerous setting such as voice tx member default, that we do not want for NAS. There is a lot that will overwhelm you when you get in there, it took me 3 months of reading to understand exactly all the parameters of a trunking system before I built one

Also, jump into the CPS Help files. Everything you ever wanted to know is in there. Use them with the tutorials as a start to understand whats going on in here. Its the CPS bible. Everything I've learned is from those help files. Here's a neat trick, if you RIGHT click on an item of the codeplug, "What's this?" it will open the applicable CPS Help file. Alternatively, you can go to Help topics and search a keyword

 

[merlin]

I know there is nothing in this. Zone A- blanked is the channel. If there is an RX freq, I won't know until I can read the radio.
This is really a very nice radio, reading the user manual, it has tons of features.
I'll get there. Hey, it came with the ruggedized NiMH battery and a NMN6191 mic in great shape.
The antenna is 800Mhz, hardly matters, this will be receive only.

 

[clbsquared]

You can program all of the voice channels as conventional if you wish to do so. And in your case, this may be your best option. Given that you don’t have a firm grasp of how a Trunking system should be set up in your radio. The trouble you’re going to have is the radio not being able to follow individual talkgroups. You’re going to hear every transmission that comes across those frequencies. And you could find yourself following 5 or 6 talkgroups at the same time with no distinction as to what Talkgroup you’re listening to. Like going to a restaurant and trying to follow the conversation at each table that surrounds you. All at the same time.
When you open CPS and read the radio, there’s going to be a “tree” that comes up. That “tree” contains drop down menus for each individual section within the radios codeplug / flashcode. You’ll see a “trunking” section. This is where you input your trunking information. Control channels , voice channels, band plan, offsets, type, talkgroups, system ID and so on. The first thing you’ll need to do is load the software system keys of each system you want to create within the “trunking” section. Without these keys, you’re dead in the water and your only choice will be to do as mentioned above. Scan the voice frequencies in conventional. As stated above, Trunking systems can be complex and they contain a lot of information that must be correct in order to work. Especially with NAS.

It may also be in your best interest to find someone willing to share a codeplug that’s already set up for NAS. Take your time and peruse their codeplug. This will help you better understand what you’re dealing with.