FLASHport Upgrading a Radio

Tutorial Scripts

The Introduction See This Tutorial Segment

When Flashing a radio there are two types of FLASHport upgrades, a Refresh Software upgrade and a FLASHcode Feature Set upgrade. A Refresh upgrade, upgrades the radio’s internal software also known as firmware, including also upgrading the radio’s Secure Encryption Module’s firmware when needed.

A FLASHcode Feature Set upgrade ultimately changes the radio’s potential set of features. Note that when needed, this upgrade may also upgrade the radio’s Secure Encryption Module’s firmware.

In Segment 2 of this lesson you will learn how to download the .CVN upgrade file, which can be needed in both types of FLASHPort upgrade. In Segment 3 of this lesson we explore the details of the Refresh upgrade. And finally in Segment 4, we explore the details of the full FLASHcode upgrade.

How to Download the .CVN Upgrade Filec See This Tutorial Segment

The CVN file is always needed for a Refresh upgrade and when performing a FLASHcode upgrade. To begin with, you must have an Internet connection to download the required CVN file.

From the “Motorola Online” login page, you must enter your USER ID and enter your Password, for access to the site. Once successfully logged in, from the site’s “Welcome” page, click to access the Motorola Online “Resource Center”.

From the tree view on the left, select "Software", and then Select “Two-Way” for Two Way Radios, and now select “APX Family Portables and Mobiles”. This reveals all possible downloads relating to the APX Family of radios, both Portable and Mobile, including full CPS Installs, and CPS Readme files.

In this lesson we will download the Firmware Update .CVN file, and the Firmware Update Release Notes. Note that the Firmware Update files are unique for Portable APX Radios and for Mobile APX Radios. For the first download, let’s select the Firmware Update file for the APX Mobile. In this case we will create a sub-folder under the “My Documents” folder; therefore, click the Create New Folder button. Let’s call this folder “APXFirmware”.

For the second download, let’s download the Firmware Update file for the APX Portable. Finally, let’s also download the Firmware Release Notes for both Mobile and Portable.

Once all downloads are successfully accomplished, “Logout” of the Resource Center, and “Close” the Browser window. Use your system’s Windows Explorer program to extract the .CVN files from the compressed zip files.

During an upgrade, you are now able to access the downloaded files from the “APXFirmware” folder; and therefore, from the Customer Programming Software, you are ready to perform a Firmware Refresh upgrade, or a FLASHcode Feature Set upgrade.

The Refresh Upgrade See This Tutorial Segment

A Refresh Upgrade, upgrades the radio’s internal software also known as firmware, including also upgrading the radio’s Secure Encryption Module’s firmware when needed. Be aware that, the Refresh upgrade is only accomplished with a downloaded .CVN file. Segment 2 of this lesson details how to download the .CVN file from the Motorola web site.

Once a CVN file has been downloaded and is ready for use, from the CPS’s "Home Mode" we can select to “Refresh a Radio”. Note that we can also select "Refresh" from the Ribbon Bar’s, Device Tab. First be sure that the Communication Method field is set to “USB”. Also note that during a Refresh upgrade, a codeplug may not be loaded in the CPS.

Clicking either of these Refresh selection choices  then retrieves the Radio Software Refresh window. Now Click the Browse button to select the appropriate .CVN file. Once the .CVN File appears within the “Select Radio Software File” field, continue by clicking the “Refresh Radio” button.

That’s it, your part is complete ! For your convenience, the Radio Software Refresh Progress window appears, indicating that the radio’s firmware is being updated, and that if need be the radio’s Secure Encryption Module may also be updated.

Also be aware that, if the Secure Encryption Module’s firmware does get updated, the radio’s secure encryption keys are erased, and therefore they must be reinstalled to the radio. Note that this upgrade may take several minutes.

The FLASHport Feature Set Upgrade See This Tutorial Segment

A FLASHcode Feature Set upgrade changes the radio’s Set of Features, therefore adding new feature functionality to the radio. During a FLASHcode upgrade, the radio’s firmware and the radio’s secure encryption module’s firmware are updated to the latest version when needed.

The radio firmware upgrade and the encryption firmware upgrade are both accomplished with a downloaded .CVN file. Segment 2 of this lesson details how to download the .CVN file from the Motorola web site.

FLASHcode upgrades also require that an iButton FLASHKey be inserted into an iButton Reader, and that the iButton Reader be attached to your personal computer’s USB Port. Once the FLASHkey is attached to the computer, the CPS is then able to read the FLASHkey’s data. From the CPS Menu Bar, select Device and then under FLASHport, select “Read FLASHKey Configuration". This FLASHkey Configuration window presents all information read from the attached FLASHkey. One important example is the “Upgrades Purchased” amount, which indicates the number of FLASHcode Upgrades that are possible with this specific FLASHkey. Also read from the FLASHkey are the radio’s Current and New FLASHcode status. Notice that when the “Current” column indicates a feature as “Disabled” and the “New” column is indicating “Enabled” for the same feature, this signifies an added Feature or Features to be updated to the radio during the FLASHcode process.

And do be aware that this FLASHport feature is also able to read the Radio’s FLASHcode data. First be sure, that the “Communication Method” field is set to “USB”. And now, select “Read Radio Configuration” to retrieve the Radio Configuration window.  

Note that in order for the FLASHport upgrade to proceed, the radio’s “Model Number” and the “FLASHcode” from this Radio Configuration Window must match the FLASHKey’s “Model Number” and the FLASHkey’s “Current FLASHcode” information. Once the FLASHport upgrade process is complete, the Radio’s “FLASHcode” will match the “New FLASHcode” represented here from the FLASHkey.

Also note that during a FLASHcode Feature Set upgrade, a codeplug may not be loaded in the CPS.

To proceed with the Feature Set upgrade, again from the CPS Menu Bar’s Device tab, select “FLASHport Upgrade”. Now from the FLASHport Upgrade window, click the “Browse” button to select the appropriate .CVN file. Once the .CVN File appears within the “Select Radio Software File” field, continue by clicking the “FLASH Radio” button. That’s it, your part is complete !

For your convenience, the FLASHport Upgrade Progress window appears, indicating that the radio’s Feature Set, firmware, and possibly even the radio’s Secure Encryption Module are being updated. Also be aware that, if the Secure Encryption module’s firmware does get updated, the radio’s secure encryption keys are erased, and therefore they must be reinstalled to the radio. Note that this upgrade may take several minutes. This concludes the tutorial on FLASHport Upgrading the radio.