XTS5000 VS XTS2500

[ki6yop]

What are the differences between the XTS 5000 and the XTS 2500?

[ai4ui]

Obviously size - the 5000 is larger.

There are a few features that the 5000 has that the 2500 won't do:

The 2500 will only do ADP encryption, the 5000 will do DES & AES

The 2500 has 870 channels, the 5000 has 1000

There isn't a mobile vehicle adapter for the 2500, but the 5000 has a XTVA.

I'm sure this isn't all, but it's all I can think of off the top of my head. Unless you need high end features, the 2500 is a fine radio that won't dissapoint.

[Mfire39]

The 2500 will only do ADP encryption, the 5000 will do DES & AES

Wrong.. The 2500 can do DES-XL, OFB, and AES with the correct and properly flashed keypad board.

-Marc

[ki6yop]

What can you tell me about the options attached with the flash for an xts2500. 5A9081-401307-1

[ai4ui]

Hmm...

Thats new information that I wasn't aware. When we bought some a while back it wasn't an option.

[MTS2000des]

you cannot do user selectable high-low power on conventional modes on a 2500 from the menu, or set a control or switch to hi-low power as you can on the 5000. You can set a conventional personality to low power in CPS however.

[MTS2000des]

you cannot do user selectable high-low power on conventional modes on a 2500 from the menu, or set a control or switch to hi-low power as you can on the 5000. You can set a conventional personality to low power in CPS however.

That limitation right there ticks me off the most

yeah, and I've learned to live with it on my FPP UHF 2500. I have a whole FPP zone labeled LO, and all personalities are set to LO for this purpose. Kind of a pain but it beats having to haul around a laptop just to change power levels.

[DPL]

The power level thing annoys me, too.

Also, the commander mic (the one with the channel knob and volume/side buttons) does not work at all with the 2500 (that is, it doesn't even work as a regular speaker mic--no audio/ptt at all).

There used to be no public safety mic option for the 2500--they have one now, but it is not the same as the one for the 5000/3000.

[MTS2000des]

and the public safety mikes for the 2500/1500 are f'ugly. they look el-cheapo but don't costo el cheapo.

[escomm]

2500 needs a separate flash for 3600/9600 interoperability whereas the 5000 will do it if you have both trunking options

[Mfire39]

4Meg (AN) XTS2500's can not accommodate the size of R10 and beyond Host firmware. As time goes on, the 4Meg Host release will continue to be upgraded with applicable defect repairs, but no new features will be added.



-Marc

[rc50won]

Missing the 2 position concentric around the channel knob.

When was the last time you saw a 2500 encryption pad go for the same $125 as a 5000 UCM? Or when was the last time you saw one show up in the used market?

Marshall

[WCHija]

The 5K puts out 1 more watt of power than the 2500. Say what you want but, there are many times when I am standing next to another Deputy and my radio works, and theirs doesnt.

[MTS2000des]

The 5K puts out 1 more watt of power than the 2500. Say what you want but, there are many times when I am standing next to another Deputy and my radio works, and theirs doesnt.

it does? that's news to me...

[akardam]

The 5K puts out 1 more watt of power than the 2500. Say what you want but, there are many times when I am standing next to another Deputy and my radio works, and theirs doesnt.

it does? that's news to me...

According to the specifications for both radios as published in their respective BSM's, the only difference I can find is that the VHF 2500 claims 5w max, and the VHF 5k claims 6w max. In practice, these are rated values, as it is possible using the tuner to drive the PA above the rated max power, however that can (and usually does) lead to PA failure.

Indeed, on my own radios, I typically tune max power for 1w less than the rated max, to avoid any such issues with the PA and to potentially extend its lifetime. Either way, an increase (or decrease) of 1w equals less than 1dB difference in TX power, which under most circumstances is negligable.

[Excalibur]

I just bought one off Ebay last week. I have to use CPS to change power levels? Hopefully the radio comes set to high power for conventional frequencies.

[Tom in D.C.]

It would be unusual if you had to go to the program to change power level. Usually one of the programmable buttons on the radio has been assigned to this function, so try all the buttons to, as one of our members likes to say, "see what they do."