Privacy+ GTX & Splinter Channels

Victor Xray · Post by **Victor Xray** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 1:03 pm

Can PP GTX radios properly decode TypeII systems with splinter repeater channels?

I know the TypeII Maxtracs can't, just curious if GTX have the same limitation.

MTS2000des · Post by **MTS2000des** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 3:23 pm

Nope, GTX's have the same issue as Smartnet Maxtracs if you try to use them on systems with "mixed" channels. Used a GTX portable on a type II system and had no problems until they added 5 new channels, all of which are splinters. Whenever one was assigned to a selected talkgroup, I would either miss the call or hear a "chop-chop" squelch sound.

Anyone know if say, forcing an LTS2000 codeplug would overcome this limitation or is the GTX firmware different than an LTS2000?

Victor Xray · Post by **Victor Xray** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 3:38 pm

WC4RAV wrote:Nope, GTX's have the same issue as Smartnet Maxtracs

Uh huh, I thought so, thanks for the confirmation.

WC4RAV wrote:Anyone know if say, forcing an LTS2000 codeplug would overcome this limitation or is the GTX firmware different than an LTS2000?

Hadn't ever heard of anyone doing that but they do share very similar properties. Would an LTS codeplug read with GTX RSS v4 or GTX Lab? Or vice versa, would LTS RSS write to a GTX?

Post by **wavetar** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 4:20 am

My experience with GTX-->LTS conversions so far:

You can blank a GTX with LAB & reinitialize it with LTS RSS. I believe if you have a regular "SmartNet" LTS codeplug, it will convert no problem.

The problem I've run into is I only have SmartZone capable LTS codeplugs. If you use one of those to initialize the GTX, it will appear to take as far as the RSS is concerned, but you will end up with a continuous "error 6" on the display, and the radio is not functional. Not only that but if you read the radio, you will only be able to chose "Limited SmartZone", instead of "Full SmartZone" in the codeplug. As well, all the 'smart' screens that you would normally find in the LTS codeplug are not found. It's a limitation of the GTX firmware.

I have converted many GTX to SmartZone capable LTS units by replacing the limited firmware controller board with the full firmware version (FEN1665A) and initializing it with the SmartZone codeplug. They appear to work just fine, after a complete alignment, of course.

Todd