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Harris Unity / XG-100 wideband option
- Thread starter clavo2
- Start date
BMDaug
I am licensed…
I’m curious to know what you recommend keeping as spares. I have two extra PTT buttons, an extra knob set, and an extra antenna. I carry the radio daily in an OEM leather case with T-strap so I don’t use a belt clip, but have one if my setup changes. I’m also due for a battery by the end of the year. I lucked out and found a programming cable on eBay for around half price.
All that said, I’ve had zero issues after almost a year of daily carry/use. All buttons work well without pressing hard. I don’t see any signs of malfunction, but you never know I guess! At this rate, it’ll definitely last until I can afford an XL200P! I guess the amount of required maintenance correlates directly with the previous owner and how they treated the radio.
Maybe I’m just one of the lucky ones, because I’ve heard some stories, but hey, I’ll take what I can get!!!
-B
Those are the only parts you will be able find or replace yourself. BTW, replacing the knobs can be a risky endeavor if you don't do it just right.
Don't ask me how I know that!😉
BMDaug
I am licensed…
Lol, ya I was thinking that may be the case. The knobs came with very specific instructions… I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. It’s tempting because it’s an oversized knob kit, but I’m not gonna risk screwing up the actual encoder to change perfectly working knobs for new ones.
Have you had other, more internal issues? I’ve heard of people seeing dust inside, people having issues with batter removal after dropping the unit, and at least one case where the internal speaker just stopped working… Any other ‘common’ issues? I really love mine and feel like I can rely on it.
-B
God help you once the battery pogo pins start snapping off. You are only one drop or one battery removal away. We have had some success at repairing the pogos, but if they rip the traces off of the board, then you are done. The pogos are very fragile and are easily snapped off of the PCB. This was our number one failure point on this radio. We have also seen no TX audio out, no RX audio in, no/low TX output power, no RX sensitivity/no receive, boot loops, frozen screen, etc.
I have one with dust intrusion, which also means it's no longer immersible. The battery fitment issue will be problematic. You could purchase a battery that fits fine and then another that fits so tight it will break the pogo pins and you will have to try and pry it off, which will most likely result in damage to the radios frame.
I would heed rescue161's warnings.You will more than likely start experiencing any of these issues over time.
Don't attempt to replace the knobs if you don't need to.
I would heed rescue161's warnings.You will more than likely start experiencing any of these issues over time.
Don't attempt to replace the knobs if you don't need to.
BMDaug
I am licensed…
Ya, I figured you would chime in! I’ve followed your 100P woes closely. Luckily I’ve never seen a single one of those issues, but I have a sample of one, not 1000+!!! I also read that you guys have to use a special firmware and I do sometimes wonder if that has/had something to do with the boot loop and frozen screen stuff. Do you think there is a correlation there?
Did you ever track anything based on hardware revision? Were certain revisions more prone to certain issues? The pogo pin thing is so weird since it’s a spring action that pushes straight toward the PCB. How do they rip off when there’a no sliding motion? Do the pins press too far into the body? I’m not doubting you and definitely not defending Harris, I’m just genuinely curious!
I read somewhere how to determine the hardware revision and hardware build date and that that later revisions had fewer issues. Something about peeling back the label on the body under the battery. I can’t find that info now!
FWIW, the case I use has a 3/8” piece of dense foam at the bottom so maybe the case has added real durability and protection against damage caused by drops.
Thanks guys,
Brian
Most of the problems that we have seen are no doubt from abuse of equipment, but we have seen the exact same problems on desk queens that never leave our office, so the TX/RX/audio issues, boot loops, constant power cycling and frozen screens can happen to any radio at any time. Sometimes a 3-finger salute will fix them, but most of time, it meant a trip to L3Harris for repair. Now that is no longer an option, we are just DRMOing the problem radios and they'll end up for auction somewhere.
The entire base of the pogo, spring and all, will break completely off of the PCB (inside the radio). The whole thing will then just wobble around from side to side. Firmware was not the issue.
L3HARRIS's RF DIVISION had to have cut corners on these to make them profitable. The tactical radio side of the house was tasked with designing a radio in the $3000-$5000 range, for a public safety environment, that they didn't design radios for previously.
This is a division whose handheld radios typically cost 4-5 times as much as the XG-100P. Management had to have cut every corner they could to get the profit margin they needed.
I wouldn't be surprised if the MTBF estimates on these was 5000 hours or less. Actual "field tested" MTBF would probably be around half that.
This is a division whose handheld radios typically cost 4-5 times as much as the XG-100P. Management had to have cut every corner they could to get the profit margin they needed.
I wouldn't be surprised if the MTBF estimates on these was 5000 hours or less. Actual "field tested" MTBF would probably be around half that.
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BMDaug
I am licensed…
Ya, must have! Attached is the spec sheet for the RF-900 that the 100P was born from. I heard they also rushed the 100P to market.
The 100M is also a much more reliable platform from what I’ve heard. I have a couple of them that I really enjoy using. One is set up as a completely self contained incident command in a backpack and uses the HHC731 handheld controller. It’s always been a solid performer.
-B
The RF-900 and the XG-100P are the same radio. Just different designations, depending on the market they were aimed at. You can even see, in that datasheet picture of the RF-900, that it has the XG-100P label on it. It was based around the RF-310M-HH FALCON III platform.
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According to L3HARRIS marketing, the RF-310M-HH was the most rugged LMR handheld made. The XG-100P must have been the least rugged then......
When originally released, the XG-100P did not support P25 trunking. It also had it's own dedicated programming software application and it's firmware versions were not compatible with RPM. Later, when it was ported over to RPM, with compatible firmware, P25 trunking support was added.
When originally released, the XG-100P did not support P25 trunking. It also had it's own dedicated programming software application and it's firmware versions were not compatible with RPM. Later, when it was ported over to RPM, with compatible firmware, P25 trunking support was added.
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I want a green RF-900 case for my XG-100P and I want it now.
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2021
- Messages
- 7
So I am going to give away my ignorance simply because it’s not stupid if you ask, why is there no AM on this system like airband
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2021
- Messages
- 7
Awe, you need flat dark earth as well lol
Most public safety agencies don't utilize AM airband or Low band.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Easier to put FM capable radios in the aircraft than everyone on the ground needing an AM capable radio.
The rules are also different when it comes to licensing.
We went by the release notes, but it's a moot point anyway; we've got a large mixed collection of XG and XL radios, and it's far more convenient to use a single codeplug in RPM2 for all of them rather than switching back and forth between RPM and RPM2 (with the increased chance of cross-platform errors that would bring).
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BMDaug
I am licensed…
And in your situation, that’s definitely the way to go. You have a limiting factor… the XL series. I too have a limiting factor… the 100P. The 100M is happy with either but I’ll use RPM14 whenever I can to maintain compatibility with the 100P… until I replace that with a 200P!!
-B
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