Need help to power on a XTL2500 at home

[CharlieNewb]

I have an XTL2500 radio in which I am trying to just simply do a power up test at home. I am new to these type of radios and cannot figure out how to simply use my Astron power supply in which I use for power testing of pretty much any other radio. I have connected the face to the radio with the blue striped cable. I have connected the correct power cable to the power supply. I initiate power and nothing happens. What am I missing? Should I have some other cables connected to my control head and connected to something else? Usually I can just connect a control head to the radio with one cable and be all set. About the radio: The front of the radio has a 25 pin cable port, then a red stripe round cable port, then 2 blue stripe round cable ports. The back has an antenna port and the basic 2 prong red and black power cable connection piece.

 

[mikewazowski]

You probably need to apply power to the 26 pin accessory port on the drawer unit.

 

[daugherh]

I do not have a wiring diagram or manual in front of me but depending on the programming of the radio you may need to hook an ignition sense wire to the proper pin on the accessory connector and supply +12v DC to it as well as to the main power feed.

 

[CharlieNewb]

I have done this before with Astros and Spectras where any small wire would fit perfectly in the pin hole, but these pins are extremely small and short and the wire does not stay in / fit properly. I would have to rig something very small soldered onto the ignition wire or something. I was thinking of trying to take apart one of my XTL accessory cables just to get to one of those small gold pins that is meant to fit into the pins ports and attaching that to my ignition wire. There's gotta be a better way

 

[n5ims]

I have an XTL2500 radio in which I am trying to just simply do a power up test at home. I am new to these type of radios and cannot figure out how to simply use my Astron power supply in which I use for power testing of pretty much any other radio. I have connected the face to the radio with the blue striped cable. I have connected the correct power cable to the power supply. I initiate power and nothing happens. What am I missing? Should I have some other cables connected to my control head and connected to something else? Usually I can just connect a control head to the radio with one cable and be all set. About the radio: The front of the radio has a 25 pin cable port, then a red stripe round cable port, then 2 blue stripe round cable ports. The back has an antenna port and the basic 2 prong red and black power cable connection piece.

There are wires from the control head that also need to be attached to power (red and yellow if I remember correctly). If these aren't connected your radio may not power up.

This post may help --> http://forums.radioreference.com/ra...73-motorola-xtl-2500-install.html#post1564477

 

[mikewazowski]

There's gotta be a better way

There is. Buy an accessory cable from Motorola.

This thread might help you out: http://forums.radioreference.com/motorola-forum/182626-xtl5000-wiring.html

 

[CharlieNewb]

n5ims, I see. From the page you listed, I found I do not have this connected:

"Control head wires:
Red goes to +12V hot all the time.
Yellow goes to +12V ignition controlled
Black to vehicle ground."

I have no wires like this connected to the control head. I didn't even see any available like this when I was searching for xtl2500 accessory cables the past few days. I will have to shop around some more and find that specific cable and try that. If anyone knows the part number for that cable it would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[mmckenna]

There are wires from the control head that also need to be attached to power (red and yellow if I remember correctly). If these aren't connected your radio may not power up.

This post may help --> http://forums.radioreference.com/ra...73-motorola-xtl-2500-install.html#post1564477

Yep, there is a yellow (I think) ringed connector that you need to plug into the control head to power it up.
Red and Yellow wires need power.

 

[wsykes41770]

Control Head cable

You need the control head cable, part number HKN6187B. That is the latest version. It is available from Motorola for $23.76. You may be able to find it elsewhere cheaper. This cable plugs into the red port on the back of the control head and into the GCAI port on the radio (RT). The GCAI port on the RT is the bigger of the three round connectors on the front of the radio. The Red and Yellow wires coming out of the connector should be connected to +12Vdc. The red is power and the yellow is ignition sense. For a desktop configuration, both wires need to be connected.

With this cable plugged into the GCAI port on the RT, you would program the radio through the mic port on the control head.

Wayne