Hello, I am new to the p25 world and I just bought a EF Johnson 51sl version 4 off of ebay (has not arrived yet). I am told it is basically a Motorola XTS5000. However I downloaded the programming software today and have spent the last 4 hours playing with it and quite frankly I am lost.
Therefore I am looking for someone familiar with the software that i can pay, to stop by my house or to remotely connect to my computer and teach me how to program these radios properly. I am 36 year old firefighter that is off on long term medical leave and being laid up in bed alot, my scanners and radios are about the only thing that keep my sanity and keep me away from depression ect.
Any help i can get I would appreciate it.
Stephen
[email protected]
Programming tutorial
Moderator: Queue Moderator
Re: Programming tutorial
Congrats on your purchase of a model 5100 State and Local portable radio!
Has it arrived yet?
First we'll need to know what version of firmware is in the radio.
Power up the radio and it should display a version number in a format similar to "4.12.01" or "3.6.8".
Next, we will need to know what version of PC Configure software you are using.
Easiest way to find that number is to open your PC Config and then hit the Help drop window and select "About".
The version of PCC should be displayed there.
Walrus, what would you like to do with the radio?
Load some simple conventional freqs into it? Digital? Analog?
Your radio can perform trunking operations but you would need a System Key and Radio ID from the trunking system and those just aren't given out freely by system managers.
Has it arrived yet?
First we'll need to know what version of firmware is in the radio.
Power up the radio and it should display a version number in a format similar to "4.12.01" or "3.6.8".
Next, we will need to know what version of PC Configure software you are using.
Easiest way to find that number is to open your PC Config and then hit the Help drop window and select "About".
The version of PCC should be displayed there.
Walrus, what would you like to do with the radio?
Load some simple conventional freqs into it? Digital? Analog?
Your radio can perform trunking operations but you would need a System Key and Radio ID from the trunking system and those just aren't given out freely by system managers.
Re: Programming tutorial
Walrus wrote:Hello, I am new to the p25 world and I just bought a EF Johnson 51sl version 4 off of ebay (has not arrived yet). I am told it is basically a Motorola XTS5000. However I downloaded the programming software today and have spent the last 4 hours playing with it and quite frankly I am lost.
Therefore I am looking for someone familiar with the software that i can pay, to stop by my house or to remotely connect to my computer and teach me how to program these radios properly. I am 36 year old firefighter that is off on long term medical leave and being laid up in bed alot, my scanners and radios are about the only thing that keep my sanity and keep me away from depression ect.
Any help i can get I would appreciate it.
Stephen
[email protected]
As with most people just getting into the commercial radio field of radios, your expecting the radio to perform just like a scanner. This can be done to some extent as long as your not hoping to do this with a trunking system. The EFJ radio will require a systems key in order to change any trunking settings.
If your planning on using it on a conventional channel that has gone digital, then you have a better chance of programming the radio for that capability. The radio has the ability to do digital. The big question is that feature turned on.
You will also need the programming cable to go between the radio and the computer. This cable connects where the speaker mic does on the side of the radio. The other end goes to a serial port on your computer.
Depending on the firmware in your radio, you need the software to match. EFJ has been real liberal with the different versions of the software to match the radios. Can't tell you how many versions they have come out with. You might have to ask around after you find out what the versions are in your radio. Turn it on and watch the display. It will flash 2 sets of numbers real fast as it boots up. You need to write those numbers down. It may take you several times of turning the radio on to capture what they are.
Jim