XTL 2500 with external encoder

[nickburns186]

Called Motorola tech support and asked about interfacing an XTL 2500 with a Zetron Model 25 encoder and they say nope. Their response is:
"radio would not work with a zetron model 25 or any other controller as the radio does not have a COR pin on the back of the radio and is not designed or tested to work with a controller of any kind, and any radio that is used in this way would not be supported by motorola. The suggested method would be to use an XTL5000 Consolette."

Anyone ever do this with an XTL? We've been doing it for years with the Kenwood TK-730/830's with no problem.

[libuff]

of course, why support a feature, when u can buy a radio twice the cost and use that instead?

[alex]

What does the encoder do? QCII?

-Alex

[jackhackett]

I suppose needing COR would depend on if you need to check for channel busy or not. If not, you'd just need PTT and TX Audio inputs on the radio.

[RKG]

1. The Motorola answer is sort of strange: while you could do that with an XTL5000 Consolette, the consolette has no access to any signals that the radio itself does not have access to. My XTL book is not at hand, but I seem to recall that the data connector on the back does have a COR or trunked equivalent signal available to it.

2. I agree that, if you are paging with audible tones (>300 Hz) and do not need to worry about channel busy, all you need is Aux Tx Audio and Ext PTT.

3. In all events, if you email Zetron, I suspect they will provide you with an AppNote on making the connection. Zetron tech support is what all tech support should be.

[Batwings21]

I have seen app notes for the xtl series that have cor but require permanent modifications to bring the signal to the back connector. Pyramid Communications makes a smart cable for there svr200's that doesn't require modification, it monitors the radios data bus for the command to turn on the busy light. I would bet the consolette does the same.

[nickburns186]

Sorry for the late reply guys. For some reason, I didnt get an "reply posted" email. Anyway, no, I'm not worried about channel busy. If the dispatchers cant see that before paging, I've got bigger issues. Yes, I'm going to be using QCII. And I have thought about just using the encoding capabilities of the 2500 as well. I'm open to suggestions. Thanks.

JR

[Jim202]

I don't understand the answer you got from Motorola tech support. Maybe they just
don't like other company equipment connected.

Anyway, all you need is the accessory connector and some pins. Not at work, other wise
I could even give you the Motorola part numbers. Connect up the ground, PTT and the
tone output from the Zetron 25 to the correct pins on the accessory connector.

You might have to go into the RSS to play with the accessory audio in settings. If you
get low deviation on the tones. then you will have to re program the radio for the
gain settings. It will be under the radio wide selection. The go to the TX audio tab.
Near the bottom should be some gain settings. Change it from zero to the + 6 db setting.

Can't remember if you have to change the source setting. Think it should be "AUX_TX" or something like that. Will try to look at this posting in the morning and look at my drawings.

Jim

Called Motorola tech support and asked about interfacing an XTL 2500 with a Zetron Model 25 encoder and they say nope. Their response is:
"radio would not work with a zetron model 25 or any other controller as the radio does not have a COR pin on the back of the radio and is not designed or tested to work with a controller of any kind, and any radio that is used in this way would not be supported by motorola. The suggested method would be to use an XTL5000 Consolette."

Anyone ever do this with an XTL? We've been doing it for years with the Kenwood TK-730/830's with no problem.