Vertex VX-P829 2-Tone Paging Programming Issue

[jeffd2]

Greetings everyone,
I have 25 of the Vertex VX-P829 VHF handheld radios and I can't read any of them using CE76. I can read them all with CE106-Talon but for whatever reason the radios or the software will not allow me to access the 2-tone paging part of the software, when using CE106-Talon. Was there a software change or a firmware change that removed the radios ability to encode/decode 2 tone pages? Is there a way to get the 2-tone paging capability back, either by using a different version of software or firmware or by any other method?

Thanks for any assistance you may be able to provide...

 

[radiotweester]

I think the "Talon" is a firmware? I've not had hands on one of these, but what I've read on here and other forums, they have some oddities. I was thinking they were military or federal, but I'm not sure. I seemed like even though ythey looked the same, the firmware is embedded and it's not possible to flash/downgrade to firmware that will run under CE76. I know these have been showing up surplus for a while, so hopefully someone with more info will chime in.
I'm guessing like most new software the manufacture mode is no longer in the software, but you might try adding a space -f or a space -m at the end of the target shortcut. It was popular on the mid 2000s software for enabling features in factory/manufacturer mode, but was dropped in later revisions.

 

[jeffd2]

Thank You for the reply.. Yes, the "/f" is used by the software to initiate the Front Panel Programming option for these radios so maybe there are other command line options that I'm unaware of.. Will give the '/m' a try and see if there's any difference.. I believe you are correct in your suspicions that these were a Federal version of the radio.. Once again, Thank You for the reply.. Much appreciated...

 

[C17LVFD]

I've got a few VHF VX-P829's. They also use the CE106Talon software. My understanding with these is that 2-tone paging was an option board, not standard... Same holds for AES encryption, it's an option board. The radios I have came with AES-256 boards and thus 2-tone is not an option.

Hope this helps,
Seth

 

[jeffd2]

Thank you Seth...

 

[express315]

I have a VX-P829 that does not talk to CE76 software - I get a "product mismatch" message. So I assume it has a custom firmware.
I do not have CE106 to try it with.
If I re-flashed it with Vertex firmware would it then work with CE76 ?

 

[C17LVFD]

Maybe… I tried getting terminal firmware out of Motorola recently without luck. Their repository for these radios is empty and I talked with the last standing Vertex guy on staff. Do you have firmware?

Seth

 

[express315]

Yes I do have Vertex P820/P920 V3.03 firmware.
I have a big collection of VX software but no CE106 in there.

 

[radiotweester]

Talon strikes again. You might want to pop the case and compare what you've got to the stock Service Manual. I don't know if it's more than just firmware or not. You might search regarding Talon/CE-106.
Express315 a longshot butyou might try Yaesu. I know the split/sale, but there is some legacy commercial stuff still on there ftp if you dig.

 

[express315]

Thank you for the advise!
BTW found an option board underneath the cover, does not look Vertex to me.
More like a third party. No obvious markings. Not a perfect square but has corners cut out.

 

[radiotweester]

I THINK that's the P25 module and not an option like AES encryption. I don't have the SM in front of me so maybe someone can confirm my memory. Any numbers at all or can you post a pic?

 

[express315]

Thanks.
I looked at the SM and and it shows modem board with corners cut out at a slant.
The board in the radio had rectangular cutouts at the corners though components distribution looked somewhat alike.
I don't have the radio with me at the moment to take a picture.
A friend of mine is going to try to read it with another program. I will update once I hear from him.