Batboard

So, red pill me on the XTS 3000R Model 2 guys.

I bought it on a whim; when I boot it up, it keeps beeping over and over, and the screen reads Key Fail.

Apparently it has volatile memory? I had the battery off for a while to charge it on a charger I had already that worked.

What all did it lose? Am I completely boned? Is there anyway to program it, or is it a brick/paper weight now?

If I can just disable the encrypted function and use it as a normal radio, that would be fine. I just wanted something that was ruggedized for hard use when I'm in the field.

I have experience with US Army radios, including MBITR's, so I'm not a complete newb, but civilian stuff is all foreign to me.

Key fail simply means that there is no encryption key loaded into the secure module.

Just go into the programming and disable the secure function if you won't be using it.

Other than that, its not a fatal error. The radio will operate fine...just not on secure.

Jason

KB9KST wrote:Key fail simply means that there is no encryption key loaded into the secure module.

Just go into the programming and disable the secure function if you won't be using it.

Other than that, its not a fatal error. The radio will operate fine...just not on secure.

Jason

Sorry, but I am very new at this, and with this radio.

I can't even find the manual for this model online.

Can I do that without hooking it up to a pc?

learningcircles wrote:

KB9KST wrote:Key fail simply means that there is no encryption key loaded into the secure module.

Just go into the programming and disable the secure function if you won't be using it.

Other than that, its not a fatal error. The radio will operate fine...just not on secure.

Jason

Sorry, but I am very new at this, and with this radio.

I can't even find the manual for this model online.

Can I do that without hooking it up to a pc?

No you cannot. You need the correct Customer Programming Software (CPS), Radio Interface Box (RIB), and the correct cables.
Other option is to find a keyloader and dump an encryption key into it, but that could create other issues depending on what you are talking on and to who.

Who would offer these services?

Will I have to do it every time I disconnect the battery for too long?

KS4VT wrote:

learningcircles wrote:

KB9KST wrote:Key fail simply means that there is no encryption key loaded into the secure module.

Just go into the programming and disable the secure function if you won't be using it.

Other than that, its not a fatal error. The radio will operate fine...just not on secure.

Jason

Sorry, but I am very new at this, and with this radio.

I can't even find the manual for this model online.

Can I do that without hooking it up to a pc?

No you cannot. You need the correct Customer Programming Software (CPS), Radio Interface Box (RIB), and the correct cables.
Other option is to find a keyloader and dump an encryption key into it, but that could create other issues depending on what you are talking on and to who.

It depends on how the radio is currently programming whether it will hold a key longer than a few seconds.

You will have to find a Motorola Service Shop (MSS) if you don't have or are unwilling to buy the hardware and CPS.

KS4VT wrote:It depends on how the radio is currently programming whether it will hold a key longer than a few seconds.

You will have to find a Motorola Service Shop (MSS) if you don't have or are unwilling to buy the hardware and CPS.

Any Motorola [strike]dealer[/strike] channel partner with the RIB and cables and CPS ought to be able to quote it. Limiting the search to MSS will only make it cost more and reduce the likelihood of receiving a return phone call.

OK that works....thanks for the clarification.

KS4VT wrote:It depends on how the radio is currently programming whether it will hold a key longer than a few seconds.

You will have to find a Motorola Service Shop (MSS) if you don't have or are unwilling to buy the hardware and CPS.

So I can set the memory not to be volatile? It's not a hardware limitation?

learningcircles wrote:

KS4VT wrote:It depends on how the radio is currently programming whether it will hold a key longer than a few seconds.

You will have to find a Motorola Service Shop (MSS) if you don't have or are unwilling to buy the hardware and CPS.

So I can set the memory not to be volatile? It's not a hardware limitation?

If it is set to infinite key retention it will do just that....I'm not aware of any hardware limitation, but maybe someone else can advise.

KS4VT wrote:

learningcircles wrote:

KS4VT wrote:It depends on how the radio is currently programming whether it will hold a key longer than a few seconds.

You will have to find a Motorola Service Shop (MSS) if you don't have or are unwilling to buy the hardware and CPS.

So I can set the memory not to be volatile? It's not a hardware limitation?

If it is set to infinite key retention it will do just that....I'm not aware of any hardware limitation, but maybe someone else can advise.

I'm assuming that is also going to be something only a programmer will be able to do, and NOT something I can do at the user level?

Are there any forum users recommended for this sort of service?

Correct on a programming level. I can't advise on any forum users capable of assisting.

Just out of curiosity, you said you bought this radio on a whim but want to use it when you're "in the field." How did you plan on talking to someone else unless it was programmed to work on whatever frequencies/system you need it to?

Here's how I understand it.

If you have an encryption module in the radio that is programmed to be used, when you removed the battery it deleted the encryption key. That is the error you are receiving. This is a security feature in case the radio is lost or something. Once it goes totally dead from the person who stole it not having a charger, or being dropped in the field, it can no longer decrypt secure stuff.

The radio channel programming is separate from this, and that is not lost when you remove the battery. Unfortunately, I don't think you can get around the error without the software.

The reason for the key fail error is that if the user has to use encrypted channels, the radio will no longer communicate for them, and that can create a safety and security problem. As someone else posted, you will need to have it programmed to either tell the radio it does not have an encryption board in it, or to set some generic key and set it to not loose the key if the battery is removed.

PhillyPhoto wrote:Just out of curiosity, you said you bought this radio on a whim but want to use it when you're "in the field." How did you plan on talking to someone else unless it was programmed to work on whatever frequencies/system you need it to?

I've been quiet on this point but have thought the same thing.