Anyone in West TX or DFW that can program an XTS3000 III VHF?
- Thread starter tcarro15
- Start date
This radio is 100% capable of P25 and NAC codes, it was programmed prior to me getting it, and I used the closecall on a 536HP and pulled several P25 with NAC code hits off the radio, I'm just clueless where to input the NAC codes to receive P25 VHF conventional signals. (Specifically TXPDS, Martin, Upton, Andrews, etc county sherrifs, and others of course.).
I programmed in some analog stuff, I can hear the weather radio fine, so I have audio and receive, I think I"m just missing something somewhere.
I programmed in some analog stuff, I can hear the weather radio fine, so I have audio and receive, I think I"m just missing something somewhere.
kayn1n32008
ØÆSØ Say it, say 'ENCRYPTION'
Not 100% sure on ASTRO Portable CPS, but in ASTRO25 Portable CPS, after making a new personality, you need to look under the TX tab of the personality and make it digital or ASTRO voice. Then once you tie that personality to a mode, you should be able to select a NAC. To have both digital and Analogue modes, you need at minimum, 2 personalities. One set for analogue voice, the other set for either digital voice or ASTRO voice. ASTRO is what Motorola calls P25 voice.
I have never used/owned/programmed a XTS 3000 or ASTRO Saber, bit have a couple XTS2500 portables.
In all honesty, the XTS2500 or XTS5000 are much better choices, not just from an accessory point of view, but a programming point of view as well. You can use a proper USB cable and a modern windows computer. No need to piss around with trying to find compatible hardware. No need for a RIB(a 'Ribless' cable still has a level converter that emulates emulates RIB built into the cable) or a hardware serial port/USB<->serial converter and that associated headache. Not all USB<->serial converters are created equal.
Glad it's working, but the radio is 20 years past EOL. Its got a best before date you can't predict. Even sitting on a desk just receiving.
I have never used/owned/programmed a XTS 3000 or ASTRO Saber, bit have a couple XTS2500 portables.
In all honesty, the XTS2500 or XTS5000 are much better choices, not just from an accessory point of view, but a programming point of view as well. You can use a proper USB cable and a modern windows computer. No need to piss around with trying to find compatible hardware. No need for a RIB(a 'Ribless' cable still has a level converter that emulates emulates RIB built into the cable) or a hardware serial port/USB<->serial converter and that associated headache. Not all USB<->serial converters are created equal.
Glad it's working, but the radio is 20 years past EOL. Its got a best before date you can't predict. Even sitting on a desk just receiving.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Decoded by the akardam.net Flashcode Decoder v5
Platform: XTS3000
Flashcode: 140001-000000-3
Q806: ASTRO IMBE Digital Operation
H869: Hardware Multikey Encryption
H35: Conventional Systems Operation
Platform: XTS3000
Flashcode: 140001-000000-3
Q806: ASTRO IMBE Digital Operation
H869: Hardware Multikey Encryption
H35: Conventional Systems Operation
kayn1n32008
ØÆSØ Say it, say 'ENCRYPTION'
Flashport codes that start with a 1 or a 5 indicate it is capable of at least P25 CAI.
I got a basically unused portable, it's flawless, for under $60 shipped. Model III. If I don't listen to anything more than the analog county fire dispatch on it, and use it as a ham radio, it's still a solid deal.
That said, I have 4 XTS5000R 7/800mhz and Astro 25 CPS (just have 8TAC interop stuff in them), just got a good deal on this, and paid $20 for another Model I that will arrive tomorrow I'm setting up for my chief photog to carry as a scanner for analog county fire (which also has Odessa Fire Rescue Dispatch rebroadcast * tac aren't at least yet ).
Thing is, this radio is clean, and if I can just sort myself out and figure out how to input the data right, it'll be a really nice all around VHF grab n go rig.
Attachments
Persistence pays off. FIgured it out, the NAC is the 'network' ID in the ASTRO tab. Instant success, Martin County SO P25 VHF came up clear 5x5 almost straight after write.
I may have additional questions to field at some point, but I believe this will accomplish 95% of what I intend with this radio, now just to build out the codeplug with the bazillions of things I intend to put in it lol.
Thank you guys for all the help.
I may have additional questions to field at some point, but I believe this will accomplish 95% of what I intend with this radio, now just to build out the codeplug with the bazillions of things I intend to put in it lol.
Thank you guys for all the help.
I think I spoke too soon. I may have thought it was Martin on P25, might have been an analog channel, display wasn't lit up. I'm not hearing a single one of my P25 channels, I'm still going over the codeplug looking for 'obvious' things, but I'm running in place a little. It's working great on analog lol.
My second XTS3000 came in this morning and the damn thing isn't flashed to P25 like the listing stated. Not sure if I can solve that or not.
My second XTS3000 came in this morning and the damn thing isn't flashed to P25 like the listing stated. Not sure if I can solve that or not.
chrismol1
P25 TruCking!
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2008
- Messages
- 1,335
I program my P25 channels rx unmute as Digital CSQ and then for good measure make the NAC F7E. (F7E - a receiver set for this NAC will unsquelch on any NAC received). Also make sure you have the correct digital modulation. C4FM or if simulcast - CQPSK
My dumbass figured it out this afternoon. I didn't have the P25 channels set to Digital CSQ. Once I did that, it was off to the races. Unbelievably good sounding radio, I forgot how solid these old things are. I didn't know about that NAC option to unsquelch on any NAC. Might have to get that in and try that.
Project25_MASTR
Millennial Graying OBT Guy
F7E is the P25 equivalent to CSQ but requires a valid NAC be present (versus digital squelch which doesn't require a valid NAC). F7F is another special NAC but is only for repeaters. Same as F7E but the NAC going out will match the received NAC.
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2008
- Messages
- 1,616
I would rather see you take that XTS3000 and put it in the grave yard. I would at least get a radio to do FDMA and at the most get you to TDMA II with Trunking. These XTS 3000 radios are so old but they work but old technology. I know people are on a budget but you have to get to an APX at least to make sure you have TDMA for any type of programming. Mostly all systems now are TDMA backend but the front end is still FDMA so they can still use existing XTS or XTL radios and still moving forward use the newer APX radios. Portable and Mobile.
The reason why the back end is now TDMA enabled because its ready moving forward. The front end FDMA is for the radios that when you have thousands of radios a city or county just cant budget it all right now. It means you can still use an XTS or an XTL 5000 or 2500 in FDMA mode and the newer APX radios as they are replacing slowly as time goes. I think this is the best approach with huge cities or counties or even statewide systems. You can still use your existing ASTRO radios as they are solid as you know what. Also, you can use new APX radios and or NEXT radios as they are forward and backward compatibility capable.
Lets say you have a statewide sytem with 50K radios as a ball park number. You have 30K radios with XTS 5000 and XTL 5000 too. You can still use those 50K worth of radios on a Phase II backend end system with the front end running still in FDMA mode. It's a cost saving measure. Then as time goes you slowly repalce those older XTS or XTL radio that are very solid radios still and slowly replace them with APX mobiles or portables or the new NEXT radios showing up to the table. It's a win win when the back end is all ready for TDMA and you still have radios that are in still great condition to keep running for a couple of years in FDMA mode.
Anyways, that is my thought when it comes to budgets and money that can be spent on slowly moving forward.
The reason why the back end is now TDMA enabled because its ready moving forward. The front end FDMA is for the radios that when you have thousands of radios a city or county just cant budget it all right now. It means you can still use an XTS or an XTL 5000 or 2500 in FDMA mode and the newer APX radios as they are replacing slowly as time goes. I think this is the best approach with huge cities or counties or even statewide systems. You can still use your existing ASTRO radios as they are solid as you know what. Also, you can use new APX radios and or NEXT radios as they are forward and backward compatibility capable.
Lets say you have a statewide sytem with 50K radios as a ball park number. You have 30K radios with XTS 5000 and XTL 5000 too. You can still use those 50K worth of radios on a Phase II backend end system with the front end running still in FDMA mode. It's a cost saving measure. Then as time goes you slowly repalce those older XTS or XTL radio that are very solid radios still and slowly replace them with APX mobiles or portables or the new NEXT radios showing up to the table. It's a win win when the back end is all ready for TDMA and you still have radios that are in still great condition to keep running for a couple of years in FDMA mode.
Anyways, that is my thought when it comes to budgets and money that can be spent on slowly moving forward.
But not everybody lives in an area where they have such systems. Texas is a big place and many counties have small populations, are not on wide area trunking (or any trunking system at all) and still use Conventional channels. For the OP i get the feeling he fits into that category. IF an XTS3000 works for his area then more power to him. Id like to see him in a XTS2500 but baby steps. Let him use the cheaper radio to learn motorola software and how that works then down the road if he wants to upgrade he can.
Project25_MASTR
Millennial Graying OBT Guy
The two major downsides (performance-wise) to the XTS3000 is that the VHF version can't do P25 trunking and the DSP firmware is ancient. TDMA would be nice to have but for the OP's area there is only GATRRS when it comes to VHF trunking and there just isn't much happening on GATRRS when it comes to TDMA OBT. Middle Rio Grande is upgrading infrastructure to support TDMA (which is why in the last month the band plan expanded including a bunch of VHF TDMA stuff) but currently nothing in Permian Basin (where the OP is) or Western Region.
Tell me more about the analog fire channel? I live in NW midland and have the Odessa P25 system programmed, but I’ve never heard any traffic. Curious if I’m too far and/or I need to put in the analog frequency.
Odessa PD/FD, and ECSO are fully encrypted on p25. Ector County fire departments operate dispatch on VHF 154.145mhz analog conventional mode. Currently Odessa fire rescue dispatch talk group is rebroadcast over the County Fire channel, so if you tap in that frequency you're going to hear South ector volunteers, West Odessa, Goldsmith, and Odessa fire rescue dispatch. Once they go to a tac channel, you won't hear anything unless you're listening to ector county fire on 800 p25 (county fire is not encrypted).
Midland Police, Midland fire department, and the two Midland County volunteer fire departments are operating on a new p25 simulcast system and police is fully encrypted but fire is in the clear. That system is updated in the frequency database on this site, and you'll need a simulcast capable scanner to really pick it up properly.
Enjoy!
Yeah, I have Midland (but a bit unpleased with the recent encryption), but I didn't know there was an analog rebroadcast of OFD. Thanks a bunch.
