A couple APX CPS programming software questions

[JMR3865]

Hi All,
My department is going to be obtaining APX8000's and 8500's. It looks like I will be programming them. I have years of experience of programming but not familiar with the APX CPS or it's capabilities. I have access to MOL for the software and will be purchasing it as soon as I have it confirmed that I will be programming. Either way, I need the questions answered so I know how to set up the channel line up.

First, I'm assuming that the CPS has a "clone" feature, is that correct?

2nd, Can I place VHF and 700MHZ Trunked talkgroups AND conventional channels in the same zone?
3rd, Can I place VHF and 700MHZ conventional channels in the same scan list?

I'm under the assumption that I cannot put trunked talkgroups and conventional channels in the same scan list.

Thanks alot! I'm looking forward to this new endeavor.

 

[GTR8000]

Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Multi-System Talkgroup or Intelligent Priority for mixed trunked/conventional scan.*

*Less than ideal. Dwells for 2 seconds (default) on the trunked control channel, then scans conventional, back to control channel, back to conventional, and so on. Very easy to miss important transmissions on either resource type while the radio bounces between the two, and although they now offer some priority features with Intelligent Priority scan, it does not work across system types. If the radio is actively monitoring a conventional channel, it has absolutely zero awareness of trunked system activity, and vice versa. Do not mix trunked and conventional resources in the same scan list if reliable priority is paramount for your operations.

 

[RocketNJ]

One thing that threw me when first programming the APX CPS was you cannot just open a codeplug if one is already open. You must close the one currently open first. Took me a while to figure out to click on the big M in upper left then there is a selection of items including close codeplug.

What I do like about the APX CPS is the ability to give an alias name to everything. Frequencies (which are now done in the conventional personality, not Zone/channel window), personalities, systems, etc. So when you do the zone/channel assignment it makes it easier to choose the correct systems, personalities, and frequencies.

There is a conversion tool to convert Astro 25 codeplugs to APX codeplugs. It saves a lot of work but the frequencies created in the personalities have cryptic generic names and can be confusing if you do not know what they are off the top of your head. Also do a stare and compare and make sure all system keys are loaded before doing the conversion.

Same with top level drag and drop. Each CPS program MUST have all associated system keys loaded of the drag and drop will not finish correctly.

Those are my tips.

 

[Tech21]

You also do not need system keys if making changes to anything except the trunked system and personalities. APX 8500 mobiles are all band radios. To help lengthen the lifespan of your radios, get the multiplexer and a separate antenna for each band. It will work better than the all-band antenna's that come standard. You are already spending several thousand per radio, just spend a little more and get separate antennas. These radios also come with QMA connectors. Get yourself QMA adapters if you also service these radios. When building the codeplug, put all of your VHF and 800 under seperate personalities. In the zone channel assignment, you can put both 800 and VHF in the same zone. Set your main channels in zone one and everything else in other zones.