APX Dual Radio Brick Configurations Q

[RadRom]

Hi

Can a APX2500 or APX4500 be dual bricked with a APX6500 AN or BN series providing they're all on the same firmware?

I have an APX2500 VHF just laying around with dual radio flash code installed and 4 x APX6500 radios (3 x UHF & 1 x VHF) with identical dual radio flash codes;
2500 VHF: BN2049-0116R0-7
6500 VHF: BN2049-0116R0-7
6500BN UHF: BN6049-0116R0-8

I'd like to dual brick my APX2500 with a APX6500 UHF if possible. 1 x E5 or 07 control head and cable run is far easier and neater than 2 control heads... And I cannot afford an APX 8500 or dual band APX7500 ;-)

Thankyou!

UPDATE:
I can confirm after some help from Radio Reference people, my APX2500 and APX6500BN are working very well together as a dual radio setup.

Both radios are on FW R26.04 connected to a 07, just waiting on my E5 to arrive.

Anyone else looking for similar info; APX2500 VHF and APX6500BN R1 are working very well together in a dual radio setup on the same firmware.

I hope this helps someone

E5 is working well in this configuration (APX2500 & APX6500BN).

 

[danc107]

Do you have pictures of this set up?

 

[Echo4Thirty]

I have a dual APX7500 setup on an O7 head. Here is what I have learned:

- I program through the TIB on the deck when I need to make changes to an indivdual radio
- You MUST keep the firmware revisions at the same release. Firmware can be a mess to update, so ill type my proceedure below.
- Sometimes (especially after doing single deck things like programming and firmware updates) the setup can get out of sync. I always remove all power (IGN and both main power to the decks) and then bring them up simultaneously. This brings everything up together and clean.
- Ignition power is to the O7 or E5 head ONLY. Do not use ign sense on the rear connectors on the deck
- Speakers come off of the rear accessory connector on each deck, I do not use the head audio connector.
- Program the EXACT same button or menu item to swap decks in each codeplug. I once forgot to put a swap button on one of the decks and was trapped there. With it programmed to the same button/menu, its always in the same spot regardless of which deck you are on.
- You do NOT need that silly little right angle deck adapter cable. Any Blue control head data cable will work. Plug the head into whichever deck you have designated as Primary. The little one motorola sells really limits where you can install your radios. Same goes for their dual deck mounting bracket.

Updating firmware:

I remove the blue data cable from the second deck and leave my O7 on the primary deck. I then firmware the radio as if it is in a standalone configuration (ignoring the errors of it complaining that the second deck is missing). Once this is complete, I bring the primary deck up and make sure the firmware update is complete. I typically then read the radio and save its updated codeplug to the PC.

For the second deck, I am fortunate enough to have an O3 head on another radio, so while the primary radio is udpating, i will plug it into the secondary deck and update it as standalone. If you do not have a second head, you can always swap the cable from your O7 head and then update the secondary deck (Again ignoring all errors on the screen). If you are updating firmware via the TIB or the rear accessory cable, you do not need to wait for the head to finish its firmware sync. The radio will reflash it when done. Once the secondary deck is finished and has booted up, I read it and save its codeplug.

At this point both decks and the head should all be at the same matching firmware revision. Power down the entire system (IGN and Main power) and re-connect both decks via the blue data cable and reconnect the O7 back to the primary deck. It *should* boot up clean, but occasionaly it might take a couple of boot cycles. On one occasision the O7 wanted to resync the firmware, but I think that was just a fluke.

I will say that yes its a pain to update the firmware in the dual deck config, and I will also say that mine is still at 28 and I have had no compelling reason to update them to current (36.40.00) as of this post.

 

[Echo4Thirty]

Here are some pics of the install and when it was on an E5 head on the bench.

I really like the display and how it does dual deck on the E5, but there is something about having that keypad for quick channel access and FPP on the head of hte O7. I could put a keypad mic on it to have the same functionality on the E5.

 

[danc107]

Here are some pics of the install and when it was on an E5 head on the bench.

I really like the display and how it does dual deck on the E5, but there is something about having that keypad for quick channel access and FPP on the head of hte O7. I could put a keypad mic on it to have the same functionality on the E5.

I have been wanting to do something like this for a while, but recently have wanted to do it more and more

 

[Echo4Thirty]

I have been wanting to do something like this for a while, but recently have wanted to do it more and more

My setup is VHF/7/8 on one deck and UHF1/7/8 on the other. It is nice to be able to listen to 2 different TGs on the TRS at the same time or to have the flexibilty to have V/U, V/7/8, or U1/7/8 at the same time.

If I had @KevinC money, i would have two 8500 110w versions in dual-deck config.

I really just wish they had enabled dual deck in the O3.

If you do decide to set one up and run into issues, feel free to PM me and i can help. I have setup a few of these for some agencies we serve. There are some quirks, but once it works its a great solution (ARE YOU LISTENING HARRIS??)

 

[KevinC]

If I had @KevinC money, i would have two 8500 110w versions in dual-deck config.

If you had kevinc money you'd have 2 Maxon mobiles duct taped together.

 

[danc107]

My setup is VHF/7/8 on one deck and UHF1/7/8 on the other. It is nice to be able to listen to 2 different TGs on the TRS at the same time or to have the flexibilty to have V/U, V/7/8, or U1/7/8 at the same time.

If I had @KevinC money, i would have two 8500 110w versions in dual-deck config.

I really just wish they had enabled dual deck in the O3.

If you do decide to set one up and run into issues, feel free to PM me and i can help. I have setup a few of these for some agencies we serve. There are some quirks, but once it works its a great solution (ARE YOU LISTENING HARRIS??)

I cant PM you

 

[danc107]

Im looking for something for the ham band UHF1/VHF

 

[n3obl]

Im looking for something for the ham band UHF1/VHF

Those units tend to be pricy on the used market cause the hams.. Had a v/u1,u2/800 7500 setup years ago to an o7 head.

 

[mikewazowski]

Probably cheaper to go with a dual radio configuration using APX4500's. You even get the benefit of being able to listen to both bands simultaneously.

 

[jeepsandradios]

If I had @KevinC money, i would have two 8500 110w versions in dual-deck config.

So 2 E5's with dual deck 8500 on each is over kill ? In reality though the 110w version is nice but try to find room in a Nissan Frontier for 4 of those ! Bad enough getting the mid power mounted. Not much room for heads either...

 

[RadRom]

Do you have pictures of this set up?

Hi,
No I don't but will take some and upload.

Here are some pics of the install and when it was on an E5 head on the bench.

I really like the display and how it does dual deck on the E5, but there is something about having that keypad for quick channel access and FPP on the head of hte O7. I could put a keypad mic on it to have the same functionality on the E5.

LOVE MY E5 control head, especially in dual radio mode. Really like your mobile setup.

Only cons I have to E5 is it doesn't display a volume bar when adjusting the volume and the cable mess for dual radio ops... Man the cables!!

Probably cheaper to go with a dual radio configuration using APX4500's. You even get the benefit of being able to listen to both bands simultaneously.

That's why I have separate APX radios. I can monitor my bushfire brigade and something else at same time. Whereas 8500 just locks on to a single channel then re-scans.

Im looking for something for the ham band UHF1/VHF

I bought cheap VHF 2500 brick only and cheap VHF 6500 from Germany... no win dual mode with 2 modified 6500BN and AN R1 radios that do 380-480mHz for a ¼ of price of a 8500. Only expensive part was the E5.

<snip>

If I had @KevinC money, i would have two 8500 110w versions in dual-deck config.

I really just wish they had enabled dual deck in the O3.

<snip>

Only scenario I'd dual radio an 8500 is with a single band VHF radio. Listen to my VHF bushfire service, 2m & 70cm HAM and Australian CB road channel. But with APX broadband mod readily available, far more financially economical to mod an R1 and link to a VHF. IMHOO I think a duo bricked 8500 system is a total wa$te.

03.... Hopefully someone can explain why 03 cannot do dual radio ops. My dream mobile setup is an APX dual radio ops with an 03