Official DMR Upgrade for PRO-18 and PRO-668 by Whistler

[KT4HX]

The problem is there are multiple threads for this and what is in one may not always be posted in the others. So one has to read them all to get a better sense of what is coming. Such as once the upgrade has been performed, you will have internally have a WS-1080 that will be eligible for all future upgrades using EZ-Scan and for factory service support if needed. Unfortunately all this info is a bit scattered.

 

[Paco-Jerte]

I'm surprised some people who already upgraded their radios are actually gonna spend $60 +shipping to send their radios into Whistler to get an 'official' version.

That makes 2 of us :wink:

 

[Wackyracer]

That makes 2 of us :wink:

Some people want to be spoon feed and find the process of a unofficial update to be too much work!

 

[skinnyb82]

Some people want to be spoon feed and find the process of a unofficial update to be too much work!

It isn't because we're too stupid or lazy (or need to be "spoon fed" due to gross incompetence) to apply the unofficial update. In fact, I applied the unofficial update back at v3.8. It's because we want official support for our 668s. It's because RS is in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, liquidation, and when that's concluded, RS will cease to exist. I (along with many others) would like to have someone (Whistler, I guess) provide support for my scanner. Do you like to have a manufacturer stand behind a product such as your car? Yeah I can fix a defective evaporative emissions purge valve assembly but that doesn't mean I don't want my car's manufacturer to replace it instead if there's a recall. Or the company that manufactured your fridge, oven, dryer, washing machine, TV, Xbox, PS4, whatever. That doesn't make me lazy, obviously, since I just replaced that specific part on my car (TSB issued by Ford about that part, just short of a recall).

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[scan18]

Some people want to be spoon feed and find the process of a unofficial update to be too much work!

Ok, then can you please spoon feed me the steps for the unofficial process on how I can get CPU version 4.7 on my Pro-668 so I can get the added handling for certain multi-block PDUs so I can monitor my local system? I'd be very interested in seeing those steps outlined from you.

For what it's worth, I was able to upgrade my 668 to version 4.6 with no issues by following the steps. No spoon feeding was necessary.

 

[wa8pyr]

I'm surprised some people who already upgraded their radios are actually gonna spend $60 +shipping to send their radios into Whistler to get an 'official' version.

That makes 2 of us :wink:

Eric's hack, while sorely needed for those of us with these orphan scanners, offers no official support or guarantee of future functionality. This official upgrade, on the other hand, means the radio will effectively become a WS1080 and will receive support and upgrades from Whistler. . . officially.

I think it's pretty telling that Eric himself has announced that he will no longer pursue the project and is sending his scanners in to be officially upgraded. Probably going to do it myself as well; while hacking my Pro668 has been fun and has breathed new life into an almost useless paperweight, I'd rather have a radio with official support and upgrades.

 

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

It was a fun project to start out. I wanted it to work out of the box, but additional work was needed by the time I released the tool. The obfuscation change added more work and eliminated any US developer from distributing software because it was a decrypt rather than a transcode. I do not want to continue the move-countermove scenario.

I think $60 is reasonable to get factory support, especially for Radio Shack Pro-668. Radio Shack is going away. According to the FCC filing, the Pro-668 is the same hardware as the WS-1080. The differences are the firmware and the case.

Now I can introduce myself to Wendy next year at Dayton and likely get a warmer reception.

73 Eric

 

[Wackyracer]

Ok, then can you please spoon feed me the steps for the unofficial process on how I can get CPU version 4.7 on my Pro-668 so I can get the added handling for certain multi-block PDUs so I can monitor my local system? I'd be very interested in seeing those steps outlined from you.

For what it's worth, I was able to upgrade my 668 to version 4.6 with no issues by following the steps. No spoon feeding was necessary.

It can be done by members other then Eric if they choose to do so. In simple terms (i'm not a programmer) There are 2 parts, one to get the firmware the proper size and the other to get it assembled so it installs.

Time is money, pay the money to Whistler and you won't have to worry about keeping it up to date anymore.

 

[DJ11DLN]

Ok, then can you please spoon feed me the steps for the unofficial process on how I can get CPU version 4.7 on my Pro-668 so I can get the added handling for certain multi-block PDUs so I can monitor my local system? I'd be very interested in seeing those steps outlined from you.

Go through the process and send it to Whistler. Eric has stated several times that there will be no more "hacked" FW beyond the current 4.6 as Whistler's offer makes this unnecessary.

As has been stated above, a lot of this info is scattered and disjointed. It is spread among 3 (possibly more now) threads in different sections. Being semi-retired -- and because I generally just click the "Today's Posts" button and read what is active rather than sifting the whole site -- I've been able to keep up...more or less. I realize that this isn't as easy for folks who don't have the spare time I enjoy, or who only read the sections that are of interest to them. Perhaps one of the moderators will try to merge these threads at some point and make getting all of the pertinent info a little less haphazard.

 

[scan18]

Go through the process and send it to Whistler. Eric has stated several times that there will be no more "hacked" FW beyond the current 4.6 as Whistler's offer makes this unnecessary.

As has been stated above, a lot of this info is scattered and disjointed. It is spread among 3 (possibly more now) threads in different sections. Being semi-retired -- and because I generally just click the "Today's Posts" button and read what is active rather than sifting the whole site -- I've been able to keep up...more or less. I realize that this isn't as easy for folks who don't have the spare time I enjoy, or who only read the sections that are of interest to them. Perhaps one of the moderators will try to merge these threads at some point and make getting all of the pertinent info a little less haphazard.

Yes, I am well aware. I was being sarcastic in my previous post because Wackyracer (and a couple of others) seemed to be quite surprised that anyone would pay for the "official" upgrade. I was trying to indicate that there are plenty of examples (as you've pointed out scattered among a few threads) of why people would do it, and it has nothing to do with being lazy or needing to be spoon fed. In my case, it is the only way I can get version 4.7 which I need to monitor my local VHF P25 system.

 

[Ghstwolf62]

It can be done by members other then Eric if they choose to do so. In simple terms (i'm not a programmer) There are 2 parts, one to get the firmware the proper size and the other to get it assembled so it installs.

Time is money, pay the money to Whistler and you won't have to worry about keeping it up to date anymore.

Yes I'm hoping the guy who made the last one possible will step up and continue. I know he put up a program that was supposed to automatically do what you say but its some weird thing requiring something called "Compiling" to make it work. No clue plus I think you need some weird OS to do it.

https://gist.github.com/x27/9a73ef3e5d557bd09684b7f907ba134c

I think that is the link.

I have neither the money or desire to spend $120 plus another 50 or so in shipping for 2 scanners to get what I've already got. Plus I'd rather save it towards one of these TRX things especially since Uniden can't do DMR right and Whistler can. Was going to save up for another 536 but now I think I'll go TRX.

 

[Ghstwolf62]

That makes 2 of us :wink:

Make that 3

 

[Wackyracer]

Yes, I am well aware. I was being sarcastic in my previous post because Wackyracer (and a couple of others) seemed to be quite surprised that anyone would pay for the "official" upgrade. I was trying to indicate that there are plenty of examples (as you've pointed out scattered among a few threads) of why people would do it, and it has nothing to do with being lazy or needing to be spoon fed. In my case, it is the only way I can get version 4.7 which I need to monitor my local VHF P25 system.

I'm not surprised...Might send mine in if I can't sell it. I really want a trx series.

 

[MaximusTheGreat]

What's so special with 4.7?

 

[fredva]

What's so special with 4.7?

That was discussed in an earlier post. 4.7 has

"Added handling for certain multi-block PDUs (for some VHF systems)"

which Scan18 hopes will make a difference with his local VHF Phase 2 system.

 

[EricCottrell]

Yes I'm hoping the guy who made the last one possible will step up and continue. I know he put up a program that was supposed to automatically do what you say but its some weird thing requiring something called "Compiling" to make it work. No clue plus I think you need some weird OS to do it.

https://gist.github.com/x27/9a73ef3e5d557bd09684b7f907ba134c

I think that is the link.

Hello,

The link is source code in the C# language. It is not a complete program, but rather a function that could be used in a C# program. You can use Microsoft Visual Studio Community Edition to compile.

The code implements RC4, a stream cipher.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RC4

73 Eric

 

[DJ11DLN]

Yes, I am well aware. I was being sarcastic in my previous post because Wackyracer (and a couple of others) seemed to be quite surprised that anyone would pay for the "official" upgrade. I was trying to indicate that there are plenty of examples (as you've pointed out scattered among a few threads) of why people would do it, and it has nothing to do with being lazy or needing to be spoon fed. In my case, it is the only way I can get version 4.7 which I need to monitor my local VHF P25 system.

OK I got it. Bear with me...I mean well but ye olde gray matter can be a little slow sometimes.:lol:

 

[KT4HX]

OK I got it. Bear with me...I mean well but ye olde gray matter can be a little slow sometimes.:lol:

While I understood his meaning on the first pass, I've had many instances of gray matter malfunction! I understand his frustration though, for some reason a few have to find fault with those that want to pursue the program with Whistler, rather than let us go quietly into the future. But hey, if it helps 'em feel better then go for it!

BTW I got an email from Whistler announcing the program, but nothing really new in there we didn't already know.

 

[CycleSycho]

.....for some reason a few have to find fault with those that want to pursue the program with Whistler, rather than let us go quietly into the future. But hey, if it helps 'em feel better then go for it!

:wink: I agree wholeheartedly. I have read a number of disparaging remarks from members about how disappointed and bummed (not the exact wording) they are that Eric is stopping the 'hack' ongoing mods, and suggesting others continue the work. Woe to anyone else that takes up that work especially since reading some of the comments scattered throughout the forum. Can't please some for sure, I and many others were extremely happy this experiment worked so well. I believe Eric's work helped in getting Whistler to drop (create) this update on these old radios. I believe this because Whistler is a business, and they recognized they can make a lot of money, and customers (onward) by umbrella support of the older (legendary) platforms. :wink:

I for one will be watching all the posts coming out (from members who update). I am hoping these posts fully explain all the differences the 'official' update does and will do, forward. I am equally sure most of the membership will be doing the same thing. Of course, some will be 'Debbie-Downers', I am expecting that as well.

 

[KT4HX]

:wink: I agree wholeheartedly. I have read a number of disparaging remarks from members about how disappointed and bummed (not the exact wording) they are that Eric is stopping the 'hack' ongoing mods, and suggesting others continue the work. Woe to anyone else that takes up that work especially since reading some of the comments scattered throughout the forum. Can't please some for sure, I and many others were extremely happy this experiment worked so well. I believe Eric's work helped in getting Whistler to drop (create) this update on these old radios. I believe this because Whistler is a business, and they recognized they can make a lot of money, and customers (onward) by umbrella support of the older (legendary) platforms. :wink:

I for one will be watching all the posts coming out (from members who update). I am hoping these posts fully explain all the differences the 'official' update does and will do, forward. I am equally sure most of the membership will be doing the same thing. Of course, some will be 'Debbie-Downers', I am expecting that as well.

Totally agree about watching this as it unfolds to see the comments of those that jump in early. I assume this program will be open for quite a while in order to accommodate as many as possible. Given the "projected" turnaround, I would say it will take a while as I am sure they will get a big influx early on. Then again, I am sure they've built some slop time into that estimate when in reality it likely will go faster. Always better to tell someone it will take up to two weeks and it only takes a week rather than saying it will take a week and it takes two weeks!

As for the hack. I too took advantage and was thankful for Eric's hard work and commitment during a time when there was no future. From what I've read (true or not, I don't know) Whistler has been working on this program for a while, presumably before Eric's fix was widely circulated. That may well be some of why there was a lack of outward response from Whistler. We can all be certain they've read all this with interest, and it just gives them even more impetus to roll this program out. They understand the work involved to keep the hack going, and they can certainly throw roadblocks up to it if they so choose. Thus far they have not.

In the long run I suspect the vast majority of Pro-18, Pro-668 and PSR-800 owners will take advantage of the opportunity. Some will not, either because they can't afford it, or based on the principles of their objection. Ultimately it is an individual thing, just as it was about whether to use the hack or not.