XTS 2500 Advanced System Key

[MediCop]

A local city recently installed a Harris (M/A-Com) P25 Trunked system. We're in the process of testing the system with other manufacturers radios for interop purposes. Motorola would only furnish the Advanced System Key, saying they cannot generate a software system key for non Motorola systems (which I don't believe). Nonetheless, a daughter USB key was programmed for me and I wrote the new system into an existing codeplug that also has 9 other Smartnet analog systems (that use software keys). When I started to write the radio, a warning popped up saying that once a radio is programmed with an advanced system key, then all future programming must be done with the ASK. Does anyone know if this applies to ALL of the systems in the radio, or just the SysID that the ASK was used for? I'd hate to think that I can no longer program any other system for which I have a legally-obtained software system key just because I used and ASK on ONE system.

Thanks!

[Tom in D.C.]

Do a search of this Board. We recently had posted an extensive discussion about ASK and many of it ramifications.

[akardam]

Depends on how they configured their slave ASK. If it was configured with the "write protect" option, then yes, you would need that ASK every time you went to program the radio in the future, up to I believe the time you removed that system from the radio (though I am not entirely sure on the last point). On the other hand, if they didn't configure that option, then you would still be able to write the radio, but not make changes to the associated P25 trunking system without the ASK.

[immelmen28]

.... saying they cannot generate a software system key for non Motorola systems (which I don't believe).

You got that right....There may be a good legal reason why they wont do it that I am not aware of, but to say they don't have the capability is a lie. They are most definitely capable of making a software key for any P25 system should they chose to do so.

[akardam]

They are most definitely capable of making a software key for any P25 system should they chose to do so.

Yes, but a software system key is incapable of supporting inter-WACN roaming. So, even if one had a software system key, depending on how their system is setup, it may not do them any good.

Like it or not, Motorola is going to be getting more and more requests to generate ASKs for other manufacturers P25 trunking networks, as people buy Motorola subscribers to put onto those systems (or move over existing subscribers). Hopefully Motorola streamlines the request process, otherwise it's gonna be a big pain in the tookus (been there, done that, sadly).

[MSS-Dave]

I have XTS2500 and XTL2500. I have 2 SmartZone systems and 1 Astro 25 system. I have softkeys for the 2 SmartZone systems and a owner generated ASK for the Astro 25 system that limits me to specific ID range. The ASK ONLY affects the Astro 25 system. I can still make changes at will with the softkeys on the other systems. If you were to have a ASK for ALL of the systems in the radio and no softkey, it may lock you to only that source but I don't have this situation (well.... I have a APX7000 but that is a different beast..) and I can't offer any info on that.

Dave

[MediCop]

Thanks for the replies.

I have one clarification question:
The ASK that was generated for me is currently set to "unlimited". Let's say I program an XTS2500 with this new P25 system utilizing this ASK. Later (after no longer possessing the ASK), I need to make a change to one of the other software-key-based Smartnet systems. Will I need to obtain the ASK again just to read that radio and/or make changes to the other systems?

[akardam]

As I said earlier in this thread, it depends on whether whoever programmed the slave ASK set the write protect option or not. We had a slave WACN key from Motorola for the same reason as the OP (testing interop with a M/A-COM P25 trunking system), and it was unlimited without write protection. I would doubt that any ASK generated by Motorola would have the option turned on.

You could try reading the ASK in the ASK Administrator utility and see if it lets you at least look at the defined access level detail (e.g. what options are selected for that access level), but I think you need to have a Master ASK for that. If that's the case, then the only way you're going to be able to test it is to hit a radio with it, and then disconnect the ASK, restart CPS, and see if you can read/write the radio without errors.

[MediCop]

OK...question answered: As long as the daughter/slave key is set up "without write protection", then you can read and write to the radio at will on all TRS and Conventional zones. You will, however, need the proper ASK to make any changes to the ASK-protected zone.

Now I have another problem. For some reason the dang XTS-2500 won't seem to work on these P25 systems. I receive an out-of-range indication even when a codeplug from a known-working XTS-2500 is written into it. I guess I'll post this in another topic.

[MSS-Dave]

I went through this ad-nausium a few months ago. Now, maybe my key was setup wrong (jury is still out on that one..) but the only limitation on mine was a specific range of ID's. I tried everything to make it work. Even spent 2 hours on the phone with Motorola and the system owner and the verdict was if it's a child key with a restriction, you can't move trunk info in or out which is one reason they developed the thing. So.... I ended up with 2 CPS sessions side by side and built the P25 system by hand in the new codeplug. Once that was saved as a template, I could then clone my fleet within the assigned ID range.

Also make sure CPS is seeing the ASK for your P25. If it's plugged in when you start the program, it will load along with the software keys...

[pforbes]

Do a search of this Board. We recently had posted an extensive discussion about ASK and many of it ramifications.

Where?

Patrick