Need help with an XTL 2500 VHF Dash Mount Radio FL 01-90

[FDRadioguy777]

I have noticed that when the radio turns on sometimes the screen shows FL 01-90 then usually goes away, worse case scenario I turn it off and back on again and it goes away. This is a dash mount radio so control head issues don’t make much sense unless it’s an internal issue. My concern is putting this radio in a fire truck if it might not be reliable. Has anyone else seen this? Is this an indication the radio could be failing?

 

[prcguy]

I think that failure is from the control head getting power but doesn't detect the radio brick.

 

[W9WSS]

I got the same error when the A+ lead from my Astro Spectra was compromised. Cleaning the connection to the battery made it disappear.

 

[com501]

You should consider not using a radio that is so far from support. Buy an APX.

 

[prcguy]

If there was support for it the cost would exceed the value of the radio. XTLs are cheap and plentiful these days, especially the XTL1500 series. I've probably bought a half dozen in the last 6mo like underdash UHF R2s for $99, a VHF for just a little more and I just got a perfect working 700/800 version for under $6. XTL2500 bricks in VHF or UHF can be found for under $100 and control heads are cheap. The hard part is finding the flex for a dash mount but bottom line is you can get these great radios cheap and they have lots of good life left in them.

What do APXs cost these days? What $1k on up for a used single band? And what do you get for the extra $$$? Maybe a few more features, and current support but if it needs repair you will have to take out a bank loan to get it fixed by mother M.

You should consider not using a radio that is so far from support. Buy an APX.

 

[AM909]

You should consider not using a radio that is so far from support. Buy an APX.

Or, better yet, a Kenwood. (Sorry if that's out of line for the Motorola forum)

 

[prcguy]

What kind of VHF Kenwood can you get for $100-150 that does P25?

Or, better yet, a Kenwood. (Sorry if that's out of line for the Motorola forum)

 

[natedawg1604]

What kind of VHF Kenwood can you get for $100-150 that does P25?

I recently got a few TK-5710s, they are a tad cheaper than XTL stuff but by not much; plus the brick is way bigger and heavier. There aren't as many around on the used market, compared to XTL.

 

[FDRadioguy777]

So I checked the radio again today, it still does FL 01-90 on startup and then reboots once and sometimes twice before displaying the Home Screen. That’s a long time to wait for a radio to come on for an emergency vehicle! Also where can you get XTL’s that cheap? Everything on flea bay is over priced and usually crappy quality.

 

[jeepsandradios]

I know I can't seem to find any VHF XTL's on the cheap. We are all VHF for SAR and would love to upgrade from our MCS mobiles. I wouldn't install that radio in a vehicle myself. Just toss on shelf and keep for parts.

 

[rescue161]

How do you have the power wired for this radio? The brick should always have power and the accessory wire is what gets switched on and off. It sounds like the radio is receiving power to the accessory wire before it gets it on the mains.

 

[FDRadioguy777]

This radio is just sitting on the test bench and does not have any power going to the accessory wire, just the standard red and black wires going into the brick. And again this is a dash mount radio, I have heard people having this issue with remote mounts but that’s not the issue here.

 

[Echo4Thirty]

I have seen this when the firmware in the head does not match the revision in the brick. Sometimes the heads get swapped and are an older FW. We have had decent luck just doing a firmware uplift and it corrects it. I would also remove the head and remove and reseat both ends of the flex. This has also corrected this issue for some of our fleet radios.

 

[prcguy]

Even a dash mount needs the accy cable power to work. No accy power, no workee.

This radio is just sitting on the test bench and does not have any power going to the accessory wire, just the standard red and black wires going into the brick. And again this is a dash mount radio, I have heard people having this issue with remote mounts but that’s not the issue here.

 

[N4KVE]

Even a dash mount needs the accy cable power to work. No accy power, no workee.

This is not correct. My XTL in the car does use the accy cable, so when I turn the key to start the car, the radio comes on. Turn the key off when I’m getting out of the car, and the radio turns off. I never have to push the power button. However the identical radio in the house does not use the accy cable because it runs 24/7. Should the power go out for a bit, I must push the power button to turn the radio back on. There are settings in the CPS to choose between needing the accy cable, or not.

 

[N4KVE]

This is not correct. My XTL in the car does use the accy cable, so when I turn the key to start the car, the radio comes on. Turn the key off when I’m getting out of the car, and the radio turns off. I never have to push the power button. However the identical radio in the house does not use the accy cable because it runs 24/7. Should the power go out for a bit, I must push the power button to turn the radio back on. There are settings in the CPS to choose between needing the accy cable, or not.

Let me clarify. The accy plug is connected to the rear of both radios, as that’s how the external speaker is connected, but the red ign trigger wire on the base radio is taped off, & connected to nothing.

 

[prcguy]

In the past I've tried all the options in CPS for radio configuration, radio wide, advanced tab, ignition switch for both XTL2500 and 1500 series and at best got a radio to intermittently turn on and off with no ignition wire connected to 12v.

Let me clarify. The accy plug is connected to the rear of both radios, as that’s how the external speaker is connected, but the red ign trigger wire on the base radio is taped off, & connected to nothing.

 

[N4KVE]

In the past I've tried all the options in CPS for radio configuration, radio wide, advanced tab, ignition switch for both XTL2500 and 1500 series and at best got a radio to intermittently turn on and off with no ignition wire connected to 12v.

Don’t know what to say. Both my base XTL’s [UHF, & 900] have been on 24/7 since 2016 and no red ign trigger wire connected to anything. Newest FW too.

 

[FDRadioguy777]

Just an update. I was able to fix the FL 01-90 error by adjusting a control head setting in the CPS. The radio still continues to take forever to turn on so it is going to just be a test radio.

 

[prcguy]

Can you be more specific on the setting?

Just an update. I was able to fix the FL 01-90 error by adjusting a control head setting in the CPS. The radio still continues to take forever to turn on so it is going to just be a test radio.