APX7000 P25 Multi-Band Radio

[PJH]

Well, I hate and like it at the same time (I am actively in it right now updating some recent changes).

Other than you need a 10 core CPU to run it, once you get it down, its actually better. You also need a 46" display to get it all to fit on the screen. Scrolling left and right at times suchs on lower resoultion monitors, but I can get thru in on a ML910.

You do need to preplan a little bit for your conventional and trunked personalilites to be effecient. Right now I do personalilties by regional and purpose and then assign them to zones. This works well for trunked and conventional. The still exisiting limitation is on scan members in reguards to selecting channels on the radio.

To try to make this clearer, in my setup - I placed various state agencies in their own trunked personaility (IE, EMA, Highway Patrol, DOT, etc). I did this initally so I can place all agency talkgroups in their own personaility instead of by area since most are multi-county coverage.

When you assign them to a scan list/zone, no big deal, they will scan (which multi group is nice for 10 conv and 50 talkgroups in one list). The issue is in that zone, when you select one of those personailities it drops out of scan since the personailiy isn't slaved to a zone. In all honesty, it really isn't that big of a deal operationally. If I am to redo the entire radio, I might just go back and duplicate talkgroups to each regional pers. My way just reduces the need to update many pers if one change is made.

I have not done an XTL or XTS transfer, but I hear it works really well from the people I have talked to that used it..but it takes a month of sundays for it to complete if you have a large CP.

What is even nicer is the drag/drop between a portable and mobile. Other than some specific options, everything transfers over. So as of right now, when I am done updating my XE CP, I will drop it onto my 7500 CP and just change the power levels back - program, and done. Beats the old ASTRO25 way.

[hitechRadio]

New Firmware and CPS avaliable on MOL Ver R09.00.xx for the APX

[PJH]

Originally Posted by hitechRadio

New Firmware and CPS avaliable on MOL Ver R09.00.xx for the APX

Originally Posted by PJH

Yesterday, 11:11 PM

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I guess its better than starting a new thread

FWIW CPS9/FW9 was released last week.

Ya missed that one!

[hitechRadio]

LOL,,,,,Thanks. Tired of these Huge CPS downloads 1 gig,,,,,,, MAN!!!! I ususally Keep On a hard drive All CPS releases, gonna have to get a bigger drive, or start deleatin. Think I will start deleating.

[PJH]

I gave up awhile ago, and I have about 3TB of storage. With most radios these days, just upgrade the CP and CPS and be done with it....unless you have one of those special shouldn't have flashcodes that no one really uses with any regularity to begin with.

Now with the APX line, you can get it and its supported all the way around anyways so its not as big of a deal compared to the ASTRO25 line.

[TrunkLatcher]

I have been reading a lot on these units and was wondering what is the approach to buy one of these units such as an APX7000XE if you have the funds as an individual? It seems others own these or maybe its just for work? I would really like a "legit" unit w/ warranty. I'm not looking for any thing that I think is restricted, just conventional analog/p25 with dual band enabled and the non-federal FCC approved FPP (Q53). PM me if you don't want to advertise a certain supplier. Thanks for any info.

[PJH]

Figure about $3,500-$5,000 when all said and done.

That does not include a programming cable and the software subscription.

All you need to do is locate a full line motorola shop and talk to the sales guy.

[Bubba1661]

I have access to 2 of them, they were 5k a piece.

[PJH]

And not to derail this thread too much, unless you need SmartZone/SmartNet, for that price you can pick up a Thales Liberty or a Harris Unity and get VHF, UHF (380-520) vs 380-470 OR 450-520 on the APX and 700/800 in one radio. Just as rugged.

Motorola has yet to build a full UHF coverage radio for some reason and keeps with different range options in UHF. Yes you CAN get a APX now in UHF1/UHF2 but then your out VHF or 800 on that radio.

[TrunkLatcher]

Yes, I'm aware of those other models. The Thales Liberty is my 2nd choice however I do like certain characteristics (physical and technical) about the APX7000XE. I tried one dealer who went through the whole process but at the end, told me that they are not sold to the public at all. I want to use it for Ham and some P25 conventional Ham repeaters.

[PJH]

Ask to speak to his boss. They are not restricted. If you really want one, PM me and I could possibly set you up with a company that can sell you one. I'll have some off list questions for you as well just to make sure everyone is in the ballpark.

If you want a Liberty, I can set that up too.

[AKBMW]

I like the overall layout of APX over Astro Xts/Xtl software. No more remembering which trunking personality was for who. It does take quite a bit more processing power though. Plus I have 16+ zone CPs and some have several keys so not only does it take awhile to program a radio fresh from factory but then you spend another 5 minutes encrypting it

[PJH]

Encrypting what and which radio? My mega zone Alex's and xtl's program up pretty quickly

[AKBMW]

Both Xts series and APX series take awhile to encrypt with multi keys

[PJH]

I run multi key on astro, astro25 and apx radios and doesn't take any longer than the conventional fleet I work with.

What is your setup?

[AKBMW]

Primarily p25 with few conventional resources. What algorithm are you using?

[PJH]

DES and AES. The multikey option only allows the radio to use multiple encryption type and multiple encryption keys. It actually doesn't encrypt the codeplug or the like.

Aside from software adp, all radio keying is done by a kvl or kmf on e the shadow key (if needed) is loaded.

[AKBMW]

I know. I use kvls and OTAR

[PJH]

I'm trying to figure out how what your stating is causing 5min writes etc. it's not adding up.

[AKBMW]

Programming a P25 mobile XTL out of the box with a 17 zone code plug using an advanced system key and then encrypting it with over 16 keys takes over 5 minutes.