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Replacing XTL5000 with APX6500- plug-n-play???

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:16 pm
by buckyswider
Hi all, we're replacing all the XTL5000's in our fire fleet with APX6500. I see that the remote mount cables for the remote heads are the same part # between the two models. - which is nice, since we can just leave the existing cables in place and not worry about tearing our trucks apart too much. I'm wondering if everything else is the same too?? I guess the "everything else" would be the power wire harness and the mic and speaker connections? Can anybody who is familiar with both of these offer an opinion? I can't seem to come up with any specs for the two units online. Would sure be nice to just to swap out the base and heads in five minutes instead of running new wires.

Thanks!

Re: Replacing XTL5000 with APX6500- plug-n-play???

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2016 7:14 am
by MTS2000des
The screws for the radio brick are a different thread and diameter, otherwise everything else could be re-used.

Re: Replacing XTL5000 with APX6500- plug-n-play???

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2016 6:23 pm
by RFguy
I would swap the mic and maybe speaker due to age/deterioration issues.

Re: Replacing XTL5000 with APX6500- plug-n-play???

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 6:22 pm
by spectragod
As long as they are -O- series XTL's, and you have newer firmware in the heads, they should plug in, I believe you will need to change the mounting bracket as well as the screws for the sides.

Re: Replacing XTL5000 with APX6500- plug-n-play???

Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 6:01 am
by buckyswider
Thanks! Great news. Hopefully the screws/bolts that secure the mounting brackets line up between the two different brackets- that would make things even simpler! RF Guy, the mics/speakers are only 10 years old. I guess since the mic attaches to the head we'll do those. If swapping the speaker requires running a new wire, we'll just leave them though.

Thanks for the replies!!

Re: Replacing XTL5000 with APX6500- plug-n-play???

Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 7:48 pm
by MTS2000des
Also it's worth noting that the APX6500 MP is about 1/2" longer front to back than an XTL MP. Shouldn't be a big deal in remote mount configuration but some dash/consoles may not have the extra 1/2" if your connectors are already in tight quarters.

I'm facing the task of replacing around 450 XTLs with APX O5 and O2s. Some admin cars will get O3s as this is all that will fit.