Batboard

So I'm thinking of picking up an APX 7000 from a seller and (of course) these are the demo units.
If I were thinking of using this just for myself and mostly on Analog and Digital frequencies but no encryption, what are the downsides of owning one of these radios?
Would I be able to program it with software? Or strictly FPP?
Would any OTA disablement occur?
Were these 123ABC1234 units meant to be sold to the public? (i.e. is it illegal to own one?)
Do these units have issues with being used in the field?

Not illegal to own, just don't expect support from Motorola if it breaks.

A lot of the generic S# radios are parts built lacking FCC certification and may or might not be properly aligned. The other issue is possessing something like this could put you under scrutiny as many jurisdictions have statutes against posessing items with removed/altered serial #'s and these lack those labels. Might be tough to convince someone that the spot that lacks the label never had one vs. being removed. Guess it depends on your comfort level, not for me but I'm sure others would disagree.

If the radio will be used for personal, non-public-service, use you're probably okay, assuming you can get a return privilege when you buy the unit. Also, be sure you understand the complete flashcode because you never know what it is until you read and understand it. Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, an APX without a serial number should reflect that fact in its selling price.

On the subject of FPP, FPP has its limitations. You need the program to change some of the radio's functions, such as scanlists, so while the FPP is convenient it's not the whole story.

As far as OTA zapping of your radio, this can only be done if your radio attempts to affiliate with a trunked system.

Great radio, and they're getting more and more reasonably priced as time passes...and, for now, you have the pleasure of owning the latest and greatest, but that's just my opinion.

Consider a quick scenario here...

Joe the plumber leaves his "123ABC1234" serial numbered APX sitting in his truck, some lowlife steals it and Joe reports the theft to the police.

The police ask Joe if he recorded the serial number from his now missing radio and Joe says: "Yes of course, it's 123ABC1234"

Now EVERY SINGLE APX with a 123ABC1234 serial number becomes a STOLEN RADIO if you happen to be stopped by the law!

Andrew

because 123abc1234 sounds like a legit serial number when the cop enters it in LEADS...

Assuming Joe the plumber knows he purchased an ABC radio, [I'm sure anyone laying out $2000+ for a radio would] he should have the brains to know to have his DL# engraved on the frame of the radio where a legit tag would go. GARY.

Unless the radio has very early beta firmware it'll act like any other APX. You can flash it with current firmware (super-easy, btw, no iButton required) and use current CPS on it.

Bigfella237 wrote:Consider a quick scenario here...

Joe the plumber leaves his "123ABC1234" serial numbered APX sitting in his truck, some lowlife steals it and Joe reports the theft to the police.

The police ask Joe if he recorded the serial number from his now missing radio and Joe says: "Yes of course, it's 123ABC1234"

Now EVERY SINGLE APX with a 123ABC1234 serial number becomes a STOLEN RADIO if you happen to be stopped by the law!

Andrew

In reality, the cop's more likely to think you're taking him for a ride, and trying to pull an insurance scam with a $2000+ item with such an obviously fake serial.

mr.syntrx wrote:In reality, the cop's more likely to think you're taking him for a ride, and trying to pull an insurance scam with a $2000+ item with such an obviously fake serial.

That is all beside the point, but if you want to get into semantics lets say that neither Joe nor the officer taking the report know anything whatsoever about radios, the unscrupulous person who sold Joe the radio made a fake tag with the "123ABC1234" serial number, and Joe was able to show the officer a genuine receipt of purchase displaying that serial #.

My point was that anyone else with an APX which also has a "123ABC1234" serial is now technically carrying stolen goods!

Andrew

OK, with all this talk about these oddball demo units with no serial #, where is a good place or source to buy a LEGIT (used, but in great condition, ideally) APX 7000? I'm looking for a UHF1/VHF unit with FPP.

Here: http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=103994

They're new radios, so very few "factory" examples have hit surplus channels.

Simple if stolen: Take a picture in the service mode, keep a copy of the codeplug, use radio alias with your name on it, etc.

Engraving is always good.

Either way, I have owned three APX radios from a certain source and never have had a problem and they out perform the new issued Kenwood's at work.

Record the ESN, and use that for tracking the unit.

Marc

In my personal opinion a 123ABC1234 serial number equates to fishy/questionable origin. Personally I wouldn't want to drop a 4 digit sum on a radio that A. you will never be able to get support on from Moto if ever needed, B. May raise eyebrows by law enforcement re the serial number if ever under scrutiny, and C. Is of questionable origin ie ALT unit, developmental unit, etc. Just my $.02.

FWIW I've seen legit ABC radios purchased new from Motorola in service with a large department. Granted they were limited run radios but still not the norm.

Pj wrote:FWIW I've seen legit ABC radios purchased new from Motorola in service with a large department. Granted they were limited run radios but still not the norm.

I believe it. The guy I bought several APX6000s from ordered all four of them direct from Motorola. They were as legit as you could get- still under factory warranty with all tags, etc. One of them had the incorrect flashcode and was a 123ABC1234 serial. A call to Motorola fixed the flashcode and serial after a ticket was opened.

It's very hard to believe Moto ever put out a radio with the 123ABC1234 serial let alone would ever service it

I'll see if there is still a pic of the radios I am talking about around with it.

Ben wrote:It's very hard to believe Moto ever put out a radio with the 123ABC1234 serial let alone would ever service it

Remember, every Moto radio starts off life this way when it gets built. It might sit for a while like this, but when it gets sold, it has the correct ser #, & flashcode that the customer wants installed. Remember, all the Panter Chinese radios were unsold radios that were in a warehouse where the sprinklers dumped water because of a small fire. They were sold as scrap when the insurance paid M, & ended up in China. Others were test radios, subject to serious abuse for testing. But either way, since they weren't sold yet, they had the 123ABC ser #. GARY

Yea sume of those 123ABC radio can be real legit especially when you open it up and a pound of crud sand dirt fall out of otherwise like new radio
..but the radio is still built of many parts and with anything can be put back into proper order with work

To be honest, I don't think I've ever heard of anyone been conn'ed like that (yet). The first "batch" waaaaaay back in the day of the 5000's/2500's needed to be aligned, but for years now they have been delivered within spec's.

I had one of those overseas XTS2500's on UHF that had a very nice receiver. It was picking up a UHF machine in the kitchen, behind a hill, 35+ miles away that even my XTL5000 in the truck couldn't hear (or the UHF ASTRO Saber that I tried).

For the most part, for what most people use them for - its still a steal.