Colorado P-25 which motorola xts will work?

[cam3336]

Im trying to figure out what specs I need to buy a XTS radio for the APCO 25 9600 baud in colorado. I dont need the top of the line. Is there a certain flash code and model I need ? What software to program it? Im not sure if it is UHF or VHF. As you can tell im very new to this and trying to learn. Thanks for any info you can give me.



Thanks

[firescannerbob]

Colorado's DTRS system is 800mhz...but...
I don't think you can just buy a XTS and turn it into a scanner without the system administrator allowing the radio to affiliate with the system (even with transmit functions disabled). Unless you're with some public safety organization, that's not likely to happen.
I may be wrong, and if so, hopefully someone will chime in.

[resq197]

Bob's correct, unless you have the system key which is very tightly controlled, you're out of luck. The best option is to save several thousand dollars and buy a PSR-500 or a PRO-106, they make much better scanners than even a properly authorized DTRS radio.

-Brian

[jimmnn]

Originally Posted by cam3336

Im trying to figure out what specs I need to buy a XTS radio for the APCO 25 9600 baud in colorado. I dont need the top of the line. Is there a certain flash code and model I need ? What software to program it? Im not sure if it is UHF or VHF. As you can tell im very new to this and trying to learn. Thanks for any info you can give me.



Thanks

Why an XTS when you can not transmit on the DTRS system anyways?

It's not VHF or UHF.

Jim<

[freqs]

fishy first time poster wants to mod a radio for statewide system .go with a scanner then you are not limited to only colorado sys

[scanlist]

Welcome to the Colorado Forum. XTS series radios work great.

It's that darned system key thing that gets in the way.

[Kevin_N]

Probably a phishing expedition by a system administrator. Don't play their game.

Originally Posted by cam3336

Im trying to figure out what specs I need to buy a XTS radio for the APCO 25 9600 baud in colorado. I dont need the top of the line. Is there a certain flash code and model I need ? What software to program it? Im not sure if it is UHF or VHF. As you can tell im very new to this and trying to learn. Thanks for any info you can give me.



Thanks

[Thayne]

Originally Posted by Kevin_N

Probably a phishing expedition by a system administrator. Don't play their game.

Must be ice Phishing---

[greenthumb]

Originally Posted by Kevin_N

Probably a phishing expedition by a system administrator. Don't play their game.

That's hilarious

[Thayne]

Originally Posted by greenthumb

That's hilarious

Maybe it was that old "DTRS Master" babe looking for a phish---

[cam3336]

This a real post no phishing. Thanks for the responses. So hypothetically speaking if I was to have a way to program this, which Motorola would be the cheapest to buy and what models would work?



Thanks

[jimmnn]

It appears from your other posts that you are already involved as a volunteer FF or EMT with a foothills agency why not just ask your departments radio folks?

Jim<

[greenthumb]

Originally Posted by cam3336

This a real post no phishing. Thanks for the responses. So hypothetically speaking if I was to have a way to program this, which Motorola would be the cheapest to buy and what models would work?

What was hilarious was the idea that DTRS system administrators spend their time trolling RadioReference in an attempt to "entrap" people into talking about or giving suggestions on topics that could get folks in trouble (civil or criminal). I still chuckle at the thought...

Anyhow, if you need information on a radio to use on DTRS, go through your agency or contact someone within CCNC and you should be able to find help there. This is generally a scanning hobbyist site and if you need a radio for public safety use, as Jim suggested, go through the proper channels. You won't be able to program the radio and/or use it legitimately without doing so. It's not like the days of conventional systems where just programming an agency's conventional system into a personal radio was generally an acceptable practice.

Welcome to the CCNC website! - there are contact links on the front page.

[WX4JCW]

The System Admins are way too proud and paranoid of their systems, but thats another subject
MY 396XT works really well on DTRS and is $cheaper$ than a $4000 radio and gets me in a lot less trouble, although i do understand a system radio generally has better reception, but the cons of obtaining one is just not worth it.

[jthorpe]

Originally Posted by cam3336

This a real post no phishing. Thanks for the responses. So hypothetically speaking if I was to have a way to program this, which Motorola would be the cheapest to buy and what models would work?



Thanks

Do the wrong thing with an XTS and you'd be taking a chance with your freedom. Just sayin.

[nickr133]

Cam3336:

You will have to be associated with a federal, state, or local agency to access programing for a XTS radio to operate on the Colorado State Network. Don't waste your money until you know that you have a real need that will be supported by your local system administrator, usually the sheriff's office.

If you purchase an XTS radio, it will have to be a radio ID and serial number entered into the state system.
Your local system administrator will do this. The XTS series radio's are basically small computers. They
need Motorola software to allow the radio to use features of the state system. The software on any given XTS radio can be determined by translating its "Flash Code" or "Flashport". Your local system administrator can provide you a list of the software and the resulting flash code that will be necessary.

The high end XTS 5000 has enough memory for 512 radio to radio or talk group channels in zones of 16 channels. The XTS 5000 Model 1 has enough memory for 48 channels. The XTS 5000 allows the addition of encryption by an added computer card. Encryption is used by police, and usually on a limited number
of tactical channels.

The XTS 3000 is an older model similar to the XTS 5000 except that it is 800 MHz only; not 700/800.
If your area is using 700 MHz or expects to in the future, avoid the XTS 3000, even though many are
available on eBay.

The XTS 2500 is a smaller radio. It has enough memory for up to 256 channels. It cannot use hardware encryption, but can encrypt transmissions using software. The three basic models are the Model 1 (48 channels, no LCD, no keypad); the Model 2 (256 channels, LCD, no keypad); and the Model 3 (256 channels, LCD, keypad). A XTS 2500, Model 1.5 (48 channels, LCD, no keypad) was produced for a while but is rare.

I have been able to purchase three XTS 2500's for use by our local fire department on eBay. I paid from
$350 to $750, including charger, battery, antenna, and software.

I recommend that you contact the communications officer of your local agency. Again, if you are not a
member of a fire department, rescue squad, ambulance service, search and rescue, or other municipal
agency; it is very unlikely that you will be granted access to the state system. From your communications officer, obtain the name of the local radio system administrator. From the local system
administrator, learn the required software and flash code that will be necessary to program your radio.

Then start checking on eBay. If you want 700/800 MHz (Colorado State System) capability, make sure
the model number of the radio has a "U" as the forth character ( H46UCF9PW6BN ). If the fourth character is not a U, the radio will be UHF, VHF, etc.

Only consider XTS radios that are being sold in the US. Do not bid on any radio from Hong Kong. Do not
bid on any radio for which you do not know the flash code. The flash code may be different from the flash
code given to you by the local system administrator. If the radio includes software over and above the
minimum necessary to operate on the Colorado State radio system, it will have a different flash code.

Go to "radioreference.com" and decipher the flash code to insure that the radio has the minimum software
necessary.

I recommend that you look for a XTS 2500 Model 2. All the XTS 5000's will go for $1,000 to $2,000.

But remember, don't spend a dime until you have a local municipal agency to support you, and you know
that the local system administrator will add the radio to the state system and program it for you. You
will be expected to pay yearly programing fees, as the radio will be upgraded once or twice a year.

I hope that this has been helpful.

nickr133

[RodStrong]

nickr133, nice little essay you wrote there. Although some of the information is off a bit, if I was your 5th grade teacher, I would give you a check plus for the effort, lol. Good job.

Here's the bottom line OP. If you do not have business transmitting on this system, get a scanner. Or, even if you do have business transmitting on this system, but you want to listen for recreational purposes, get a scanner. I have both, and when I want to listen to what's going on in the DTR world, my scanner is what I use. The tranceiver is nearly worthless for recreational monitoring. Trust me, when it comes to monitoring, a scanner can do ten times more than an actual tranceiver can do on this system.

[letarotor]

RodStrong is right, a real radio will only allow you to monitor 11 talkgroups at a time: the one you have selected and 10 in a scan list. A scanner has much more flexibility. Also, real radios tend to attract a lot of attention by those in public safety if you are not IN public safety.