APX Firmware Updates and Tuning

[estone4009]

Can any provide a recomedation on how often an APX radio really needs a firmware update and how often the tuning process needs to take place? I see anywhere from 1 to 2 years but this is a new system of APX radios so trying to get a better understanding of what is really needed.
Is anyone able to do tuning themsleves at the Agency level or do all most users dealers handle this? The equipment looks expensive for tuning but the firmware updates we could handle.
Want to make sure we have some best practices in place as getting radios back in a single spot for tuning as a large group is not feasible.

 

[KevinC]

No comment on FW updates, but I'd recommend an initial tune and positively insist on one around 18 months later (the oscillator will age its maximum after around 18 months)....but this is just me.

 

[n3obl]

Honestly I would stick with a stable firmware and stay there unless you have a specific need to update.

 

[GTR8000]

This is by no means suggesting that it's not a good idea to maintain the fleet of subscribers, however, for the sake of some real world perspective...

There is a countywide simulcast ASTRO 25 TDMA system that went online in 2013, and as of early 2024 at least 1,500 of the original allocation of APX 6000/6500/7000/7500 subscribers on the system have never been touched by a service monitor and are still on the original R6-R7 firmware. They've been in operation every day for the past decade and have no issues even on a fully TDMA system.

Again, take that with a grain of salt, however sometimes the old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies.

 

[WX4JCW]

right now the newer firmware versions are a charlie foxtrot, so tread lightly updating lest they need to go back to motorola and get unbricked

 

[Nilsog]

right now the newer firmware versions are a charlie foxtrot, so tread lightly updating lest they need to go back to motorola and get unbricked

The new firmware is out and reports to fix the bootloop issue. That being said, we who had to install it are now waiting for the next unknown issue to rear its ugly head.

 

[MTS2000des]

MTN-0167-22-NA advises that APX and APX NEXT radios should ONLY be retuned if there is an issue and advises against tuning of new radios. It actually says "if it works, don't fix it".
Firmware updates are dependent on feature enhancements tied to a particular system. Your MSI system rep should guide you as to what firmware you should or should not apply to your subscribers.

 

[Radio99]

Nilsog or anyone else...

Any issues with firmware R32.03.00 so far?

 

[Nilsog]

Nilsog or anyone else...

Any issues with firmware R32.03.00 so far?

So far so good.

 

[Radio99]

Thanks. Appreciate the reply.