Radioddity GD-88 New Firmware Release | 2023-03-30

As you know, Radioddity does care a lot for its customers. November 2022, we did release a new firmware for the Radioddity GD-88. Unfortunately, that firmware turned out to have issues with radios of a production batch that started shipping in December 2022. After we did identify the root cause we immediately did remove the firmware update from our websites and started to work on a fix for that issue. But the current COVID19-situation and the Chinese New Year period did not positively add to the overall progress. To make that long story short:
　

WE GOT IT DONE!

Of course, we did fix the nasty ‘VFO-B Unprogrammed’ bug. We also fixed those intermittent issues with the correct display of Talker Alias data. Lots of you had been asking for a single VFO-display: Yes, now it is possible. Others had been asking for DTMF-support in analog-mode: Yes, implemented as well. Some had been complaining on the audio volume difference between analog and DMR-mode: Although not all of those differences in audio-volume are originating from the GD-88 we did align the general audio-output levels of analog- and DMR-mode. Another point that often did cause headaches for those new to DMR is the fact that an RX-group was required that also does contain the addressed contact assigned to the channel: Yes, ‘was required’ but no longer is required. Besides those, some more improvements on various other aspects have been implemented.

You'll find the full details and some additional information within the corresponding release notes.

Download your copy of the complete archive from Radioddity Download Page.
　

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So, all in all we hope you will have as much fun using the Radioddity GD-88 with all those new and improved features as we do.

You may now be asking why certain, well-known other features have not been implemented or bugs have not been fixed. Our initial goal was higher (yes, some GPS&APRS-bugs still need to be tackled), and a few other features requested by our users are also asking to be implemented. But in order for our customers to not wait any longer we decided to postpone those requests and bug-fixes for a future release.

As you know, the Radioddity DB25-D and GD-88 are quite similar as they not only share the very same CPS. So, for those of you having the DB25-D: Your update will soon become available as well.

Besides a proper display of DMR ID data and an improved Talker Alias display, we plan to provide DTMF for analog mode on the DB25-D as well. As soon as the DB25-D firmware update has been released, a new and once more improved version of our extended manual will be published as well. Stay tuned!

vy 73, Radioddity Customer Support
　

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Details you should know
　

1. White screen after firmware update

It might happen, that your radio - after applying the firmware update - does show a white screen when turned on instead of the normal startup logo. Don´t worry, this is due to the fact that we do have slightly different hardware revisions out in the field that are covered by the very same firmware. In order to get rid of the white screen after updating, please proceed as follows:

1. turn off the radio
2. press the green button and keep it depressed
3. turn on the radio and wait about 2 seconds for the startup logo to be
displayed

This is a one time procedure. As soon as the startup logo is displayed as expected,
you are done and it will not be required when again turning on the radio.

Note: This procedure is only required for radios showing a white screen after the firmware update. Do not try out the procedure if your radio is not affected.

2. Single VFO

After updating the radio, you will notice that the display only shows a single VFO.That´s one of the additional features you get for free with this firmware update. Even longer Talker Alias data will be displayed Using single display mode.

To turn Single VFO on/off: MENU → Local Set → DisplayMode → Single Mode

Note: Active Single Mode will disable switching between VFO-A and VFO-B.

3. DTMF for analog

In analog mode the radio now allows to transmit so called DTMF-codes. Valid DTMF-codes are 0…9,*,# and A…D. Those DTMF-codes are generated by transmitting two different audio frequencies at the very same time. Those audio frequencies are defined by the column and the row of the DTMF code to be transmitted.

As two audio tones are transmitted at the very same time this technique is called DualToneMultiFrequency (abbreviated as DTMF) encoding.

For more details, please refer to the complete archive from Radioddity Download Page.

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We would like to thank all Radioddity GD-88 customers for their constructive feedback.

If you do find any bug in the radio’s firmware, our CPS, or if you are missing a feature you would have expected, contact us to let us know.

If you meet any issue through the firmware updating, contact us to let us know.