Help with GTX radio

OneManShow · Post by **OneManShow** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:39 am

Hi,

I have a customer who has two Type 2 Smartnet systems. Two sites, one site has 5 freq in the 866-868Mhz segment and the other 5 freq in the 858-859Mhz segment.

The majority of radios used are LTS portables.

They are looking for a base radio for an office area. So, I thought of a GTX radio. (not realizing the frequency limits) I brought the GTX to them. The IT guy (yes IT guy, nice guy, Management just doesn't understand the difference) and I stared at the programming wondering why we couldn't program the radio. He suddenly remembered he ran into a problem with some MTX8250(?). They had a freq limit of 865 Mhz.

I know I could hack the freq limits on the GTX, but, would that work?

They are trying not to buy a new radio. What are the alternatives other than a MCS2000 radio? The radio would need to access the two sites and 6 different talkgroups per site, although it would stay on one talkgroup 99.9% of the time.

Thanks for your time.
Sean

Bruce1807 · Post by **Bruce1807** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:03 am

Well to start with the MCS is no more.
You need an XTL.
Hacking the frequencies will only lead to grief if the user is a buisness or PS client.
Mot may not worry about a hobbyist with a hacked radio but when used for commercial purposes its a different story.

motorola_otaku · Post by **motorola_otaku** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:58 am

If you can find a LCS2000 mobile, they'll program 866-869 no problem. Same thing as a GTX, but with a different front (and different software).

Post by **wavetar** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:15 am

The GTX software is easily modified to allow frequencies in the 866-869 range, and since the board is identical to the LCS mobile, there aren't any physical reasons it cannot operate in that band.

If you require the radio to work on 'splinter' frequencies, then simply modifying the RSS for the higher frequencies isn't going to help...you'd need to convert the radio into an LCS...but special software is required for that.

Todd

OneManShow · Post by **OneManShow** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:15 pm

I did suggest the hack to the customer at the outset. He didn't seem too fazed by it. It is also a private system.

So I gather this is software is unobtainable by us lower mortals

i.e. you must be a Motorola shop? Is it even worth the trouble?

Other than the LCS, MCS and the newer XTL are there other radios available? If not, could I get an approximate cost of an used LCS, and does anyone have one? (I know, wrong forum, but I can repost there if you want)

Thanks
Sean

RKG · Post by **RKG** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:39 pm

The system with channels above 866 (a/k/a "821 channels") is going to have to move off them as a result of rebanding, in any event.

motorola_otaku · Post by **motorola_otaku** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:13 am

RKG wrote:The system with channels above 866 (a/k/a "821 channels") is going to have to move off them as a result of rebanding, in any event.

I don't think Canada is rebanding. Lucky them.

RKG · Post by **RKG** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 5:44 pm

My error; I didn't notice the poster's location.