Dual APX "Hot Red Receiver"

[cpg178]

I am familiar with the procedures to do NAS with APX, I am not asking how to do so. But was browsing the manual for Dual Brick APX operation and saw this paragraph. How would this affect, or maybe even aid doing NAS on an APX Mobile if there was a proper dual brick setup in play?

 

[Mr_Boh]

I mean... the whole point of "non-affiliate scan" is to not transmit affiliation, and what this is basically tell you is it's not registering to the trunking system or, as some may call it, not affiliating... so let you draw your own conclusions. If you understand how MSI systems work, what it is telling you is features that normally require you affiliate to get working will not work such as dual dynamic mode, or ISSI roaming.

To get this to work it does need to be the second radio in dual radio setup.

 

[MTS2000des]

The only application where I could see this used is where someone needs to RX only on encrypted talk groups or conventional modes. Otherwise, a scanner would be the way to go. Much cheaper too.

 

[GTR8000]

NAS will receive encrypted talkgroups just fine if the appropriate keys are loaded...no second mobile deck is needed. Anyway, the whole idea of connecting a second deck just to do NAS seems like overkill. I'm not a big fan of NAS since it almost always requires the creation of an unauthorized system key, however if done correctly, it works just fine without any gimmicks like HRR.

 

[cpg178]

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The only application where I could see this used is where someone needs to RX only on encrypted talk groups or conventional modes. Otherwise, a scanner would be the way to go. Much cheaper too.

unfortunately in my setup there is no where to fit a scanner without doing one of the fancy raspberry Pi remote heads for the SDS200. I already have everything in place with the exception of a 2nd APX brick so it would work best in my situation, even though it can be considered overkill.

 

[cpg178]

NAS will receive encrypted talkgroups just fine if the appropriate keys are loaded...no second mobile deck is needed. Anyway, the whole idea of connecting a second deck just to do NAS seems like overkill. I'm not a big fan of NAS since it almost always requires the creation of an unauthorized system key, however if done correctly, it works just fine without any gimmicks like HRR.

That is very true, a proper NAS does not need HRR. But would it be the correct assumption to make that with HRR on the secondary APX with "Enable Secondary Radio Tx" unchecked, that one can not worry about having to use the hidden TG scan method and directly park the radio on the trunked channel without fear of connecting, and therefore being inhibited? While this seems like an overcomplicated solution to something that already exists, I came across this reading the manual today and figured it was an interesting idea.

 

[GTR8000]

That's what the description sounds like, but I've never tried so I can't verify it.

 

[cpg178]

Guess I will be reporting back with my findings in a few days. Could not find much on dual radio anywhere, and nothing on this HRR with APX aside from that part of the document.

 

[ElroyJetson]

Seems like a nice solution, albeit an expensive one, to have a VHF or UHF primary radio with full TX/RX functionality, and an 800 MHz P25 scanning secondary radio set up in the normal manner without using NAS. With certain limitations, of course. But there are ALWAYS limitations placed on using radios in a no affiliate scenario.

But the cost of a dual brick APX system is enough to cause convulsions in some people.

 

[Anderegg]

This basically turns an entire APX radio into a conventional personality/channel for NAS and the second APX is basically the scanlist.

Paul

 

[cpg178]

This basically turns an entire APX radio into a conventional personality/channel for NAS and the second APX is basically the scanlist.

Paul

From my understanding the second radio is completely standalone aside from being able to be controlled from the same CH. I think the intended use case is as you described so field users can scan while maintaining the main radio on the primary TG. In my case I will be using the primary radio for dual band analog RX/TX and the second radio to passively monitor a trunked system.

 

[Anderegg]

From my understanding the second radio is completely standalone aside from being able to be controlled from the same CH. I think the intended use case is as you described so field users can scan while maintaining the main radio on the primary TG. In my case I will be using the primary radio for dual band analog RX/TX and the second radio to passively monitor a trunked system.

Simultaneous RX?

Paul

 

[cpg178]

Simultaneous RX?

Paul

Yes it can do simultaneous RX, and one radio can RX while the other TX as long as they are not both in the same band.

 

[marcotor]

Thats exactly the setup every LE vehicle in Orange County, CA has. Primary APX radio for the particular agency day to day use. The "Hot Red" APX radio is parked on the Countywide Red talkgroup for Countywide BOL's, SigAlerts, and Pursuits. Goes back to the analog Spectra days on the old 460MHz system, and even before.

 

[mikewazowski]

From my understanding the second radio is completely standalone aside from being able to be controlled from the same CH. I think the intended use case is as you described so field users can scan while maintaining the main radio on the primary TG. In my case I will be using the primary radio for dual band analog RX/TX and the second radio to passively monitor a trunked system.

Correct, the second radio is completely standalone, can receive simultaneously and will not transmit when setup as a HRR.

 

[ElroyJetson]

That's an expensive way to add a scanner, that's for sure! I can think of less expensive ways to serve that need....

 

[cpg178]

I set this up today, I can confirm it works as described. I am not using the hidden tg method and have my radio parked on a trunking channel and it does not affiliate.

 

[cpg178]

Been using this for a few days now and found some other quirks. As long as your radio has the Dual Radio feature in its flash code, you can set it as the secondary radio and disable the TX. You can then use it without a second (primary) brick, and aside from it displaying a message on the bottom that the primary radio is missing, you can still take full advantage of the HRR function.

 

[ElroyJetson]

That's very interesting! So...that allows a truly safe way to use a Moto radio to scan trunked systems without using the hidden talkgroups method. That's actually quite a finding.

This means that now, the dual radio feature in the flashcode will start to become a popular and sought after feature. People who can hack it into the flashcode will start doing it and selling it.

I doubt this could be hacked into an APX portable, but wouldn't that be quite the thing if it could be.....?

 

[gary123]

Portables do not support dual radio. I agree I bet auction radios will start to have the option included.