Possible Inhibit issues

[1976Mustang]

So first things, yes I am authorized to be on the channels I'm trying to get on. I'm a Volunteer firefighter and donated my own radio to be used. My chief himself sent the radio off to be programmed for me, but it does not work. After reading a few threads, I wanted to get that out of the way first.

Motorola XTS 2500i, has a display but no soft keys below it. I've already sent it to a radio shop to be programmed twice, first time they failed to get the correct frequencies on it, but it did work (Just, I was talking to another county...). Just got it back, a freakin' year-and-a-half later, from the second attempt and now the frequencies are correct (I think), but I get nothing but silence. Shows a strong signal to the trunking system. Keep in mind, this radio stuff is far over my head.

So here is my question. How can I tell if a radio has been inhibited?

I read that a blank display is a good clue, but mine isn't blank and the radio has been re-programmed since when I think it may have gotten inhibited. Long story shot, Radio is my Dad's old unit. When he got a new one, his previous supervisor of questionable intelligence said he was having the radio "Turned off." I didn't really understand how these trunking systems work then, so I didn't think anything of it. Now, I have a radio that says it's connected, but will not RX and as far as I can tell, will not TX either. with some breif researching, I'm starting to wonder if the radio was blacklisted on the Dispatch side. I just really don't want to bug them unless I'm 100% sure that's the issue.

Any help and advise is greatly appreciated. I'm tired of shipping this radio out to another county for the Radio shop to sit on it for months at a time. Perks of being in a Rural area.

 

[KevinC]

If you see ANYTHING in the display it isn't inhibited.

 

[1976Mustang]

If you see ANYTHING in the display it isn't inhibited.

That's the hint I was starting to get from other threads, but I saw a few people mention reprogramming it can bring the screen back. Thats where I'm wondering if I got inhibited on the dispatch side.

However I think I stumbled upon my issue. Someone suggested that my radio probably just needs to be reauthorized as a whole on the Wyolink system... So I sent a support ticket with them.

 

[wgbecks]

Either the radio needs a serious need of repair or realignment, or it simply isn't programmed correctly. Wyolink is virtually all VHF with the exception of one pocket of 800 MHz that leads me to suspect the Band Plan entries may be incorrect or incomplete. If it were me, I would seek out the system administrator being you have your departments permission to request a template (codeplug) or at least ask them for a recommendation of a shop that they are familiar with that knows the system that can program the radio correctly.

Band Plans for VHF and UHF systems can be somewhat complex as there are no standard frequency plans such as exist on 700/800 MHz that
have to take into account a smattering of channels (frequency pairs) hop scotched all across the band wherever spectrum could be licensed
when the system was engineered and constructed.

Feel free to PM if you'd like to discuss offline.

Bill

 

[Echo4Thirty]

A display with no soft keys could be from someone dumping in a model 1.5 codeplug with the unmentionable tools. 1.5 radios have no buttons so no need for softkeys.

 

[Giddyuptd]

A display with no soft keys could be from someone dumping in a model 1.5 codeplug with the unmentionable tools. 1.5 radios have no buttons so no need for softkeys.

That or believe it or not Ive seen small rural areas as soon as one radio is decommissioned temporarily from field its like a self appointed parts for grabs, this casing is better than mine looks new and some take it upon self to decide I dont need zones these 16 are fine but that housing is new. Seen a lot crazy out there like that. But mostly it is what you said.

As for wyolink definitely make contact with the state admin and a support ticket. It also would have some retrained in proper trunking programming and it is alarming if they are authorized for whomever and send out improper programmed radios without testing them first before handing them back out in field. Makes you wonder how many others have the issue or similar in field right now.

 

[1976Mustang]

Either the radio needs a serious need of repair or realignment, or it simply isn't programmed correctly. Wyolink is virtually all VHF with the exception of one pocket of 800 MHz that leads me to suspect the Band Plan entries may be incorrect or incomplete. If it were me, I would seek out the system administrator being you have your departments permission to request a template (codeplug) or at least ask them for a recommendation of a shop that they are familiar with that knows the system that can program the radio correctly.

Band Plans for VHF and UHF systems can be somewhat complex as there are no standard frequency plans such as exist on 700/800 MHz that
have to take into account a smattering of channels (frequency pairs) hop scotched all across the band wherever spectrum could be licensed
when the system was engineered and constructed.

Feel free to PM if you'd like to discuss offline.

Bill

Sadly the shop my radio went to is the shop our local admin recommends. And they're absolute crap. My Dad is an LT on EMS, and this shop has screwed up programming the radios in their ambulances countless times. Everything from disabling features that needed to be enabled (Like scanning), to just flat programming in the wrong channels. I've been waiting for a response from Wyolink on if my radio is authorized, since a few people locally have suggested that could be an issue, but I have not gotten a reply yet. However I found out from my Chief today that a second radio that was programmed with mine isn't working either, same symptoms, so to me it is sounding like (yet another) failed programming by the store. They keep giving us excuses that they're struggling to program the radios due to their age, but aren't elaborating on what exactly they're having issues with. I'm going to give it back to my chief so he can ship it back to Cheyenne for the third time now. He's irritated because they paided a lot to have these radios programmed, and 2 out of 3 won't work.

On the other hand, I may just abandon the radio and shelf it. I'm close to getting certified, and once I do I'll be issued a proper department radio anyways. I just wanted this radio to work since it was a gift from my dad. But now, a year and a half later, it's become more of a headache than it was ever worth...

A display with no soft keys could be from someone dumping in a model 1.5 codeplug with the unmentionable tools. 1.5 radios have no buttons so no need for softkeys.

Sorry, I meant that just as a description of what the radio looked like. I noticed a few different versions of this model exist, so I Wanted it clear mine just had a display on the front face

 

[Giddyuptd]

I find it interesting they are having issues. We run various new to older models and equipment. It's all in the person programming. More like they don't understand the programming aspects blaming a old subscriber radio.

I am wondering if they are cloning a particular codeplug and making minor changes and missing a lot that needs to be changed or have a old master codeplug that is defunct.

 

[P25andstuff]

Your radio might need to be tuned and aligned. But if an RSSI is displaying that is interesting. Does it show anything on the screen such as "NO COMMS" or "REFUSED" ? This dealer that did the programming could've done something questionable too, and not program the radio properly. Id take it to the System Admins, Keep in mind I have no idea what system this is or anything about it.

 

[RocketNJ]

Sounds like a few issues.

First, the system admin could have removed the ID for that radio from the system or set it to receive only.
Second, the shop doing the programming may not have a clue on programming the radio correctly. Best bet is to contact the system admin and make arrangements to have them program the radio correctly, then have it professionally aligned by a shop that has proper training and equipment. The system admin should have a standard programming template developed rather than a shop fumble through settings they probably do not understand. I was a system admin for a larger system and we would develop codeplug templates for the various make and model radios and send the template to the dealer. The dealer NEVER created the programming from scratch for our system.

Last, you mentioned it was your Dad's radio but it is a 2500i. From what I remember, the 2500i was only sold to certain federal agencies (Navy being one), so that radio may not have been on the system legally. Again, contact the system administrator.

 

[P25andstuff]

Exactly, The systems in my area do not send out work to shops. It is all done by network control. Granted it takes time, but it's right every time. So stuff like this doesn't happen.

 

[62Truck]

Last, you mentioned it was your Dad's radio but it is a 2500i. From what I remember, the 2500i was only sold to certain federal agencies (Navy being one),

What????

 

[MTS2000des]

What????

We had over 700 of them...and we certainly aren't a "federal" agency.

 

[a417]

Everything from disabling features that needed to be enabled (Like scanning),

...


The radio shop might have a programming template from their system admin who tells them to disable scanning, unless specifically instructed to turn it on. We told the shops who touched our radios to do so.

Casual users want scanning, you don't want the apparatus radio to be scanning half the county when it's doing something important.

 

[rescue161]

The XTS2500i is an immersible version of the standard 2500. Nothing special or "federal" about it.

 

[RocketNJ]

My bad on the i model. Our agency never used them. I remember a batch was available on GreedBay at one point with the dim display.

Probably what I was thinking. never realized they were available to "regular" customers.

 

[P25andstuff]

My bad on the i model. Our agency never used them. I remember a batch was available on GreedBay at one point with the dim display.

Probably what I was thinking. never realized they were available to "regular" customers.

The chinese housings have the "XTS2500I" Housing decal. That's probably what you were seeing. Anyone was able to buy a 2500I.

 

[rescue161]

Although the Chinese cases have the "i" decal, they left out the mic membrane and the screen, so it is definitely NOT immersible.

 

[com501]

The XTS is not 'old technology'. Many agencies have hundreds and thousands of these still in service. Just because Motorola has deemed it beyond support life is no reason the radio should not work.

Any decent radio shop should be able to program this radio without any problems. I am quite sure the state radio techs have a codeplug template to work from. This is where I would start, get a working codeplug and program the radio with that. Also, your 'radio shop' should as a matter of course, align, inspect, and autotune that radio before it goes into service. This is not 'rocket surgery'.

A close visual inspection will determine if the serial number, model number, and Tanapa match what it should be, and the flashcode will reveal much more. IF it is a true 'I' version, vacuum ports need to be checked and tested.