APX 7000XE Trunking

[phillydjdan]

What he said....people are confusing a "hardware" key (ASK/ACK) with a software System Key. A software System Key can be used for a Smartzone/Omnilink system with an Astro or Astro25 or APX radio. Your APX needs the proper flashcode option to allow legacy software System Key to be used. Both 3600 (mixed mode) and 9600 (P25 only) systems can be programmed with a software System Key (the APX flash option for soft key is option QA01749AB...on a new radio, this is a no charge option).

A software system key will allow you to create/edit trunking systems/personalities in the CPS. A system key can be generated with skeygen.exe and the system ID or using a hex editor. Once the key is uploaded, you can then use the CPS to program it to use a conventional frequency to call a trunked scanlist that has your talkgroup(s). Radio will not affiliate and it cannot be seen.

With regard to legacy software system keys created for SZ/SN or P25 Tunking systems for Motorola Astro and Astro25 (and appropriately optioned APX) subscriber radios, there is no difference in the format of the data contained within the system key.

To enable read/write restrictions you will need an Advanced System Key (ASK) or an Advanced Conventional Key (ACK) which resides within a dongle which needs to be physically connected to the PC/Laptop while reading/writing/programming. As long the radio you purchased is not ASK locked, you don't have to worry about that.

Here's the problem I have. I have all the legacy keys I need, but they were created using the "old DOS" program. I hear those keys do not work. My radio has the flash for legacy keys, and it's never been programmed with an ASK (says all zeros across the field), but for the life of me, the system info still stays greyed out. If I try to enter the system ID it turns red. What the heck am I doing wrong?

 

[mikewazowski]

Those keys created with the old DOS program work fine provided you have the legacy software system key flash.

 

[W2SJW]

Yep, I had no issues using them. They go in a specific folder that's NOT in the main CPS program folder (for the life of me, I can't remember where at this point!).

There is also a menu option that will load the keys from wherever you have them, but that only lasts for the duration of that programming session. If you close the CPS, it will forget where the keys are...

 

[mikewazowski]

Yep, I had no issues using them. They go in a specific folder that's NOT in the main CPS program folder (for the life of me, I can't remember where at this point!).

They can go in any folder as long as you point the CPS to it.

 

[phillydjdan]

Well, I'm working off a codeplug that was sent to me pending arrival of the radio. I'm expecting it to arrive today, so I will look into this more tonight. I am being assured that the radio has the legacy keys feature in the flashcode and that it was never programmed with an ASK. In fact, the codeplug indicates the depot was the last one that programmed it. I'm hoping my issue simply is I need to read the radio. If it's not that, I will surely be back to pick everyone's brains!

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[kayn1n32008]

In fact, the codeplug indicates the depot was the last one that programmed it.

That simply means that depot software was last used to program it, not that it was 'the depot' that programmed it... APX Depot software is out in the wild... This should raise a red flag...


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[phillydjdan]

Red flag raised. I read the radio directly, and still cannot edit trunking info. I can setup the CCs and WACN, but as soon as I try to change the SYSTEM ID it turns red and won't let me do anything. Ironically, the only system ID it will let me edit is ID 1. I actually have a system near me with that very ID, so I am tempted to try it just to see if it works, even though the traffic on that system does not interest me. I'm really frustrated and nervous that I got hosed on this deal.

 

[phillydjdan]

Just a follow up. I programmed system ID 001 into the radio (which is the default) and it works. The field for system key present says true. I still cannot get any other system IDs to work. Does it matter that in the system key window the leading xeros are not present in the system ID numbers? Some of the system IDs have zeros, but the system keys don't show the zero. That wouldn't matter, would it? I wish they had kept the programming experience the same as it was for the XTS series. I wouldn't be dealing with these issues.

 

[phillydjdan]

This is a screen shot...

 

[KevinC]

What does your "System Key Report" show?

ETA...Disregard, I see it.

 

[KevinC]

Does this radio have a "System Owner"?

 

[KevinC]

That simply means that depot software was last used to program it, not that it was 'the depot' that programmed it... APX Depot software is out in the wild... This should raise a red flag...


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Or a FTR key.

 

[phillydjdan]

It does not have a system owner

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[phillydjdan]

Ok, so after some assistance from a few people via email, it was suggested that this radio does in fact have a system owner. It is system ID 1. I am allowed to edit trunking features for that system ID, but no others. The ASK field is greyed out even though the ASK required box is not checked. I did make an attempt to post to P25.caca, but they still have butthurt over some petty old differences, so they refuse to help me. I am hoping that someone here can step up and help out a fellow member with a solution to this issue. I don't want to fight with the seller over returning it if I don't have to. Please help, guys!

 

[phillydjdan]

I've given up on my radio. It's for sale...

 

[davidzimmerman]

stick with a scanner better of i know how to program trunking radios and if you don't know stop trying their a lot to know doing them with out getting into trouble.

 

[Skypilot007]

stick with a scanner better of i know how to program trunking radios and if you don't know stop trying their a lot to know doing them with out getting into trouble.

You can keep using a scanner but don't discourage others from using real radio gear for their monitoring. Especially in Philly where there is linear simulcast in play and we all know how well the uniden scanners work on these types of system.

Phillydjdan has obviously done this before with older radios. We know the methods for passive monitoring the system(s) in question here will work with the apx radios if configured properly. Its either a miss in the configuration somewhere or something just isn't right with the radio. It should work.

 

[phillydjdan]

Thank you, Pilot. You seem to get it.The whole problem is LSM. I tried everything with the scanners and got no decent results. I've talked to restoration guys and tow guys who all say the same thing: They want to smash their scanners with a hammer. I cured myself of that problem by following the instructions on the P25 site and programming an XTS-3000. It works perfectly. I was responsible enough to completely disable ANY transmit ability. I have absolutely no need to transmit anywhere on the 700/800 band, so I just made it permanent. I even purchased a UHF XTS-5000 for several area systems, and it also works flawlessly. This APX, however, has me very disappointed. The seller wants to rape me to return it. I know there is a way to make this work, I just don't know what it is yet. I would love to hear the phase 2 systems again, since I gave up trying on my scanners.

 

[davidzimmerman]

Thanks for pointing that out Skypilot...I just don't like to see any one get into trouble trying.

 

[APX8000]

Skypilot and DavidZ...I deleted a few words from both of your posts (I'm sure both of you can figure it out). Please keep it professional. Thank you !