VP8000 FW update

[kd4efm]

If you update your VP8k fw with Armada 1.36.23, you will get an error message.
You will need to update to Armada 1.36.24 also.

FYI, couple of people have hit me up this morning about being locked out of the radio unable to read or write after FW update.

 

[AF1UD]

Yes this was the problem for me. It shipped out of the factory with the newer firmware and I was unable to read/write it until I upgraded.

 

[mmckenna]

Yes this was the problem for me. It shipped out of the factory with the newer firmware and I was unable to read/write it until I upgraded.

I've complained about this in the past, unfortunately Kenwood/EFJ has never done anything with it. Kenwood is lacking a customer portal. There needs to be an online resource where verified customers/techs can download firmware and documentation, especially on these higher end radios/systems. Most of us are self maintained and having to bug my dealer every time I need new software is getting old.

I appreciate all that Evans does for us. He fills in where Kenwood comes up short. But it shouldn't be up to him to support large customers all across the country. If anything, Kenwood owes Evans a big fat bonus.

 

[kd4efm]

If dealers had a clone of me, then there would be a bigger movement to Kenwood / EFJI. But I also have to say, the dealers are suppose to have 1 on 1 relationships with their customers and this is why I have a following of people across the world. Japan knows it Texas knows it. Still the dealers need to step up a notch if they want to keep POC at bay and LMR priority. Even with the LTE R-POC like BE-on, and Wave, and APX-Next, EFJ and JVCK both need to work on the IP-Gateway for both platforms. While JVCK does have Boundless, it could be improved a little bit more and into a radio package.
my 2 cents.

And Thank You MMCK

 

[otobmark]

I upgraded cps to 1.40.13.128 then firmware to 8.40.13 so far so good​

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[mmckenna]

And Thank You MMCK

I had a great factory rep that really looked after me, and would visit frequently to show off the new toys.

He retired to your neck of the woods.

The Factory Rep agency never replaced him and the remaining people just kick me back to the local dealer. The local dealer is a good guy, but I know more than him on a lot of this stuff.

 

[n3obl]

Its funny when someone else knows more about a product than the so called factory reps.

 

[WB5UOM]

Yup- good help is hard to come by these days....
At most ALL Companies, even really big Communications Companies.
And I think it will only get worse.

 

[otobmark]

After fw update my radio less susceptible to dropouts on fm repeater with PL issues (no filter on receiver to remove <300hz to prevent destructive mixing/cancellation with transmitter PL out).

 

[wd8chl]

More or less on the topic, does the newest version of Armada fix the issue with 1.36.24 that blocks a lot of fields in trunked systems? We're staying with 1.36.20 until that gets fixed. The state-wide system expects us to be able to edit those fields.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

I upgraded cps to 1.40.13.128 then firmware to 8.40.13 so far so good​

​

Which officially adds DMR Tier II support among other things. Also beware, 32 bit computer support is now officially gone so if you have a 32 bit computer you keep around for some of the older stuff that you had Armada Client on...it may no longer work (I haven't tested my LTSC 2019 CF-19 yet).

 

[AF1UD]

Any idea when DMR T2 will be available for purchase?

 

[kd4efm]

Any idea when DMR T2 will be available for purchase?

Was told August, it's still under beta, even though some have it others dont.
No Part Number for it yet either.

 

[EWC_BDN]

Its funny when someone else knows more about a product than the so called factory reps.

That's natural though. Think of it. Most train enthusiasts know more about statistics and history of trains than the people working at the railroad. Passionate people who learn for fun are going to be better than someone who just does it for a pay cheque. To me, most sales people were busy and their customers aren't radio enthusiasts. Radios are a tool to most people.

 

[otobmark]

I'm now at firmware 8.40.14
Another thread said 8.40.13 had been pulled (bug).

 

[wncrescue]

Any idea when DMR T2 will be available for purchase?

Wondered if it's up and running. Also is the VP8000 running nextedge?

 

[kd4efm]

Wondered if it's up and running. Also is the VP8000 running nextedge?

nxdn not yet...

 

[Echo4Thirty]

nxdn not yet...

NXDN is going to be the game changer and is what some agencies around here are waiting for prior to consideration. Hopefully they wont do something stupid like "out of the three protocols, you can pick two at a time" like the NX-5k series.

 

[wd8chl]

Its funny when someone else knows more about a product than the so called factory reps.

It's hard to know much about a radio product if you don't use radios. That's something I see...

 

[wd8chl]

More or less on the topic, does the newest version of Armada fix the issue with 1.36.24 that blocks a lot of fields in trunked systems? We're staying with 1.36.20 until that gets fixed. The state-wide system expects us to be able to edit those fields.

Still nothing on this, and with new radios coming with the newest firmware, we had to upgrade. Hasn't come up yet, but I know when the state system folks want us to make a change, and we tell them we can't anymore, they won't be happy.