Hey guys! Just had a quick question, my city I work in just switched over the radio systems to a P25 digital system. I found a used Kenwood NX-5800K that I was looking to buy. The seller told me that it is NXDN/Analog capable but I’d have to purchase a P25 upgrade option for it. Just out of curiosity how does one go about purchasing the P25 upgrade and about how much would it cost?
Thanks a ton!
A couple of things to consider before purchasing…
-If it's a used radio, do not purchase it unless the seller guarantees that there is no password on the read, write or read/write side of the radio.
-Make sure you are getting the radio with the control head. RF decks can be purchased on their own, so make sure you know what you are getting.
-Be absolutely sure it's the right band split. The K model is 450MHz to 520MHz. The K2 model is 380MHz to 470MHz. If you are in the middle 20MHz, you are ok with either one.
-You will need to purchase your own programming software. The software has a license key that cannot be shared. You can't just download software off the internet and expect it to work. License key is $155 list price.
-The P25 Conventional License Key is $575 list.
-The P25 Phase 1 Trunking license key is $520 list and you have to have the P25 conventional license.
-The P25 Phase 2 Trunking license key is $400 list, and you have to have BOTH the above license keys.
If your city is running a trunked system, there will be access controls. That will mean that your radio will need to be assigned an ID by the system administrator and permitted to access the system. Without that, you will not be able to access the trunked system. You will also need a Kenwood system key for that trunked system to program your radio ($208 list) and that key would need to be activated by the system administrator.
Also, under the FCC rules (specifically 90.427) you are not authorized to add radios to a system you are not licensed for. As an employee, you are not allowed to add radios to the system unless granted that authority by the person/agency who has their name on the license.
If they are running encryption, you are out of luck unless the system administrator will put the key in your radio. Depending on the encryption mode, that is an additional cost item.
I know, sounds like I'm being a pain. But it's important to understand all the costs, requirements and rules. Often people will buy a radio and assume it'll do what they want. Newer digital systems make that almost always unlikely.
It's also why we very often suggest that just buying a scanner and listening is a much better/cheaper idea.
If your employer wants you to have a radio, they should buy/install/program one for you.
