XTS2500i

[mwaldron]

I'm making my first foray into P25 on the Amateur bands, and I settled on a XTS2500.

I recently found a model I wanted for a reasonable price and finally had a chance to play with it over the weekend. It has a real serial number (not ABC123) so if I need to go to Motorola that shouldn't be a problem.

Before I bought it I spent some time reading the archives, and learning about ABC123 and panter88, etc, but now that it's here I find I have a couple questions that I think I just need experience to answer.

Seeing as I wanted this for ham band use, I picked a UHF low split, and I wanted the FPP option.

When I turned the radio on in service mode I copied down all the data:

Code: Select all

Host: 9.00.03
DSP: 9.00.02
Secure Version: Secure ADP
Model: H46QDH9PW7BN
Serial: 320CDL...
ESN: DF842298...
Capacity: 8 MEG
Flashcode: 5A9088-101E87-1
RF BAND: UHFL
Tuning: R01.08.13
Processor: BRAVO122

What worries me is when I plug that flash code into Akardam's decoder I get:

Code: Select all

Q806 ASTRO IMBE Digital Operation
H14 Enhanced Digital ID Display
Q52 Federal Government FPP
Q498 Hardware Multikey Encryption w/ OTAR
H43 Trunked Remote Monitor/Radio Trace
H46 Trunked One Touch Status Message
G996 Over the Air Provisioning
H38 SmartZone Systems Operation
G857 FDNY Emergency Rx/Tx Tone Set
Q947 APCO Packet Data Interface
Q387 Conventional Voting Scan
Q173 SmartZone Omnilink MultiZone Operation
D3 B4 Invalid No valid options for this bit on selected platforms!
Q361 ASTRO 25 9600 Baud Trunking
Q445 Fireground Accountability Software
Q446 Fireground Voice/Channel Announcement
Q667 ADP Software Encryption 

I noticed there was no Q53 FPP to go along with the Q52. Now I was going to send this to a friend at a Motorola shop to test, align, and just generally check it out, but now I'm worried about loosing my FPP. I checked and they only maintain current software, so just v15.

So here are my questions:

Can someone advise me on if I'll loose Trunking (which is no big deal) or loose FPP entirely?

Can Q53 be added, would that solve my programming version issues?

I noticed the B3 B4 Invalid bits error that the decoder gave. Anyone know what that means?

Also, is there a FPP tutorial somewhere? Google was not very helpful.

Thanks for any assistance you can provide.

[mwaldron]

Just a quick followup, I was evidently in a zone that didn't allow FPP. That's why I couldn't figure it out.

Once I realized that FPP is quite easy, no wonder there is no tutorial, there's none needed.

[FireCpt809]

http://www.nifc.gov/NIICD/docs/XTS%2025 ... 20File.pdf

That is the National Interagency Fire Center guide to using an XTS FPP radio

This is the pocket guide.

http://www.nifc.gov/NIICD/docs/XTS%2025 ... 0Guide.pdf

Here is a wealth of information abou other FPP radios , interfaces and connectors for all types of radios

http://www.nifc.gov/NIICD/documents.html

[mwaldron]

Thanks FireCpt, there's some great info there.

A few questions I've had over the weekend are answered now and their quick reference will be invaluable while I learn the radio.

[N4DES]

I noticed there was no Q53 FPP to go along with the Q52. Now I was going to send this to a friend at a Motorola shop to test, align, and just generally check it out, but now I'm worried about loosing my FPP. I checked and they only maintain current software, so just v15.

If I remember correctly, if you have Q52 by itself any firmware upgrades past R09 will cause you to loose the FPP capability. When your friend goes over the radio, tell him not to upgrade the firmware even though it is an 8Meg controller and can be brought up to the current version 16.00.00a.

I'm sure if my memory isn't correct or if this isn't valid anymore, someone on the board will clarify.

M

[mwaldron]

I don't really have a problem with sticking with v9, mostly because I don't know what I'm missing with 16, but I do know I don't want to risk my FPP.

Maybe somewhere down the line in the future someone will figure out how to add Q53 to units affected like this.