XTS2500 Questions

[PhoenixxRising0323]

Good evening everyone. I have some questions about our fire departments XTS2500 radios. They are 700/800 models, model number H46UCF9PW6BN. Im curious about the programming that has been done on them. We are able to transmit to talkgroups on all bands. We are a volunteer department in the Kansas City metro area. There are groups on there that are vhf, uhf, and 800mhz. Im only used to basic vhf/uhf non digital radios to this point. Im assuming it has something to do with the digital system and talkgroups. My main question is this, however its done on this model of 2500, are there models in the 3000 and 500 that can be programmed the same way? Im sourcing my own radio since department funds are limited, so being able to purchase and of the xts models makes it more feasible. Thanks ahead of time for any help.

 

[KK4ELO]

The XTS2500 is not a multi-band radio. It will only do one band. If they are 700/800 and you are communicating with agencies on other bands, more than likely there is a crossband patch. Lots of places are setup like that in your situation.

 

[PhoenixxRising0323]

So im assuming thats done within the local systems, and not the radio itself. If thats the case, am I safe in assuming that any of the xts line should fit my needs?

 

[chief21]

It's not unusual on trunked radio systems to have specific talkgroups cross-patched to local non-trunked (or otherwise incompatible) systems, which could be on VHF, UHF, conventional 800, or whatever. This allows the non-trunked agency to interoperate with agencies using the trunked system.

Similar patches are also often used as a 'bridge' in order to allow agencies to transition from an old system to the newer system over time. In my area, a new county-wide trunked system was recently installed and it might take many years for all of the smaller, independent fire districts to migrate from the current VHF system to the new 700 system. The VHF patch allows transition to the new system at a slower pace as funds allow.

John

 

[hitechRadio]

You will want to stick with the XTS2500 or 5000.

The XTS3000 is no longer repairable also this radio does not support 700mhz.

It is also possible a trunked system having multiple sites mixed with 700, 800, UHF and VHF.
MOSWIN state of Missouri has trunked sites 700 and VHF state wide.

 

[KM4WLV]

I live in Rowan County (North Carolina) and we have a 4 site simulcast P25 800 system that is used by every public safety agency in the county, as well as most smaller municipal towns/local gov't, public works departments, etc etc. We also still use VHF for paging of the FD's around the county and for EMS & the Rescue Squad. We keep our county fire dispatch & EMS dispatch VHF channels patched to our P25 system on a permanent basis. If I key up on my 800 XTS5000 to talk on our county fire dispatch talkgroup it also goes out across our VHF county fire dispatch channel, and the same for EMS/Rescue. And on the flip side if someone keys up on either the VHF side of county fire or EMS dispatch it then goes across the county fire or EMS dispatch talkgroups on the P25 system.

If I can give my 2 cents on the XTS line of portables, I think that would be a great choice if you're looking to buy. I'm issued 2 XTS5000 Model 3's by my department that I use on our local P25 system & soon on our statewide P25 system. I also have 2 personal owned XTS5000's, one VHF & one UHF. I've got Quick Call 2 set up on my VHF for paging and it works great. Hope I didn't confuse you to much lol