Reflashing Question!

[N1SQB]

I recently bought an MTS2000 flashport 800 mhz radio. It is working beautifully!I love it so much in fact, I'm thinking of purchasing a second one! Now, here comes the million dollar question. How costly is it to have a radio like this reflashed for rebanding? There are a few very nicely priced radios on fleabay but the sellers don't have a clue as to what has or has not been done to the radio software wise! This means the buyer takes the risk obviously! I have never run into this issue before since all my other Moto stuff came rebanded already. I only plan to monitor standard analog channels, no trunking involved, so my gut feeling says I should be ok, but I'm not sure. This is my first 800 mhz. experience with Pro radios so I've not had to deal with this issue!

Manny

 

[Skypilot007]

Rebanding only applies to trunking so you will be just fine with conventional channels.

 

[N1SQB]

Rebanding only applies to trunking so you will be just fine with conventional channels.

Thanks! I kind of figured that was the case but I wanted to ask someone with more experience in this band!
I can't believe how inexpensive these radios have become!

Manny

 

[MTS2000des]

I recently bought an MTS2000 flashport 800 mhz radio. It is working beautifully!I love it so much in fact, I'm thinking of purchasing a second one! Now, here comes the million dollar question. How costly is it to have a radio like this reflashed for rebanding? T

A simple firmware upgrade (which is all that is needed) to support rebanding on the MTS/MCS usually runs about $75 at most shops IF they still have a valid refresh key.

As others have said, for CONVENTIONAL use, firmware is irrelevant.

As far as the Ebay sellers, one way to tell if a radio is re-banding capable, is to have them put a good battery on it, hit the lower side button (above the PTT) 5 times within 10 seconds of power up.

If the firmware version is 8.70 or higher (8.73 was last firmware written for the MTS/MCS line) than it is rebanding capable. The test mode entry will also make a "gurgle" sound versus a straight tone if rebanding f/w is present.

I agree these are great radios, but with the sunset of analog Smartnet/Smartzone, they have become pennies on the dollar. VHF/UHF models have slightly higher value, any VHF/UHF MTS2000 with firmware over 5.65 will support all narrowband channel steps and are perfect for conventional operation.

 

[N1SQB]

Thank you MTS for all that info! I'm enjoying my current radio very much! Fortunately, there is still some analog conventional 800 stuff to listen to around here!

Manny

 

[N4KVE]

I have several UHF MTS2000's, & while some have older flashes [5.41] some are newer. The only difference I notice is on the older radios if the battery is weak, & I tx, the battery doesn't have enough juice to tx, & the radio momentarily shuts off, & then comes on again. On the newer FW radios, when the battery is weak, & I try to tx, the radio senses the weak battery, & will not even try to tx. The radio makes a bonk, like trying to get into a system out of range, but the radio never shuts off. A nice feature, but not worth spending the $ for a FW upgrade.

 

[N1SQB]

Gary,

Fortunately for my use, they will have receive-only personalities to monitor some local agencies. So I should get very good mileage out of the batteries I have.

Manny