Motorola XTL Firmware

[LowderK]

ok i’m looking for someone that can help me update the Firmware in a couple XTL 5000 mobiles…. i have the latest software along with the forbidden stuff…. but i’m never done it…. i was told it is possible without an Ibutton but have no ideal how or where to start…. thanks in advance for any help

 

[LowderK]

reason needing to update is to go from W series heads to O series

 

[nokones]

reason needing to update is to go from W series heads to O series

Are you changing the TIB on the radio?

 

[MTS2000des]

Not using an iButton results in a codeplug version left not updated so you get "new" firmware with an "old" codeplug version and features in the firmware may not work.
Unless they are being used on trunking systems (legitimately not whacker crap), or the HOST/DSP is woefully out of date (like below 12.xx), no reason to go through the headache. FWIW the only real improvements to the DSP started at 12.xx which does give better P25 audio but honestly, why bother if it works, don't fix it?

The process of firmware upgrading can be risky unless one is using genuine OEM cables, iButton, etc. The XTLs are cranky radios and sometimes one has to devote 2-3 hours to update a single radio if it fails, is way out of date (requires incremental bumps) etc. I've done hundreds of them in my career and even with the right stuff, ended up with around 10-15 unrecoverable bricks.

 

[KE4ZNR]

The XTLs are cranky radios and sometimes one has to devote 2-3 hours to update a single radio if it fails, is way out of date (requires incremental bumps) etc. I've done hundreds of them in my career and even with the right stuff, ended up with around 10-15 unrecoverable bricks.

Yep. I have a shelf of radios from over the years that will not come back to life no matter what. At some point we will end up drilling a hole in them and junking them but for now they are holding our shelf firmly on the ground....



RIP pain-in-the-ass radios....

 

[LowderK]

this is a dash mount radio…. i have a w7 head from factory on it now but want to goto a O5 dash i have the head bridge and new O5 head….. but when i install it and try to change anything i get a fail and then matiance mode on screen…. i know the head is good because it works on my other VHF radio with newer firmware

 

[MTS2000des]

Do you let the head marinate in maintenance mode? If the host in the brick is lower than your CH, this could be an issue, if it's higher, it will download the updated host code from the brick to the head. Welcome to the world of 20 year old radios where GCAI and CANBUS were in it's infancy.

 

[crazyboy]

Despise XTL firmware upgrades. I swear you look at them the wrong way and poof bricked. I understand why you want to do it, just know the risks are high.

 

[KD9RTX]

Do you have the correct dash mount flex cable?

 

[LowderK]

yes i have correct cable and Deck firmware is low like 10 and head is 19 maybe

 

[n3obl]

I always use a rear serial cable when I do the firmware version upgrades.