APX8000

[mmckenna]

Yes maybe they twist arms, but the 8000s are such a popular radio they would probably be doing a dis-service by going EOL

The PD really liked the look of the APX-Next, but not the price. And once I explained the cost of the backend support for all the cool apps, they get the hint.
Motorola needs to keep the APX8000 around, but marketing might think otherwise.

We ultimately purchased the Harris XL-200, and are also looking at the VP/VM-8000's for some other applications.

 

[prcguy]

Does Harris make a Falcon III model with only "civilian" crypto available to regular public safety agencies? I was under the impression they only sold this product line to the military.

Yes, the RF series like the RF-310M-HH, RF-7850M-HH, RF-5800M-HH and others have "exportable" crypto and no Type 1. However I'm not sure about FCC part 90 acceptance on these and the legality for non military public safety to use.

 

[Solidjake]

https://www.mypilotstore.com/mypilotstore/secp/177

https://www.mypilotstore.com/mypilotstore/secp/178

 

[buddrousa]

Just a thought Salesman are paid commission so does a Salesman make more selling a UGO or a NAVAGATOR?

 

[R_Rabbit10]

Thank you all. I know about the Next vs the APX8000, but the price difference is ~$2900 per radio, without any warranty. Our contract with Motorola is still till 2030 with options of 10 year warranty. So they will sell the APX8000 (and APX2500, APX5000, APX6500, APX 8500 and NEXT series) till at least 2030 and provide warranty on them till at least 2040. That's good enough for us.
A big user in our area just upgraded to the NEXT series from their old Motorola's and bought a couple 100 of them. End user feedback I have been hearing so far has not been overwhelmingly positive, which mainly has to do with the touchscreen.

 

[SCFDCOMM]

The next radios are a godsend, between RCP, dual band and four levels of connectivity to keep you connected. Now that RCP can manage the APX-8000 via Wifi it's excellent. The APX-8000 is a great radio as well. Touchscreen issues can be addressed with a screen lock.

 

[Paco-Jerte]

Not necessarily, the Uniden BC125AT does excellent on AIRBAND

Geez guess I need new glasses in 2026, didnt read the whole post hehe. My first strike of 2026

 

[Lucifer_Morningstar]

What does the fixed end contain ? (the aircraft transceiver & your agency's "core").

Simply wire it up as a system resource, and set up a patch via your console
to whatever net, talkgroup, etc that's on your handheld.

For a typical MSI P25 core, a device called a CCGW would be used - it
interfaces other hard radio resources to the existing system.

Or go "hammy" and set up your own RT/RT (as the old Micor manuals
called them), cross band transceiver (AM aircraft band <-> whatever net
you want to use on your handheld). Although not clear what Part 90 has
to say on the subject. Since your "control point" is ambiguous - unless
it's done via console, but then it's a moot issue - just patch it there and
be done with it.

 

[12dbsinad]

Thank you all. I know about the Next vs the APX8000, but the price difference is ~$2900 per radio, without any warranty. Our contract with Motorola is still till 2030 with options of 10 year warranty. So they will sell the APX8000 (and APX2500, APX5000, APX6500, APX 8500 and NEXT series) till at least 2030 and provide warranty on them till at least 2040. That's good enough for us.
A big user in our area just upgraded to the NEXT series from their old Motorola's and bought a couple 100 of them. End user feedback I have been hearing so far has not been overwhelmingly positive, which mainly has to do with the touchscreen.

Who is this said contract with? You mention you wanting to transition for Kenwood to Motorola. Just seems kinda odd that such a simple question like can the airband be programmed into an 8000 be asked on here with your wealth of knowledge on the details of a contract. Also, your timelines seem WAY off from anything Motorola.

I'm curious now.

 

[buddrousa]

Selling a APX8000 until 2040 and repairing it is 2 different things.
Selling a new 2026 car in 2026 and buying a new 2026 car in 2031 is not going to happen either.

 

[PACNWDude]

Late to the thread, but as Lucifer Morningstar described......my employer (lots of fire stations at airports spread across the nation), adds Icom aviation (AM) radios to the network where needed. Vehicles and personnel carry Motorola APX6000/7000/8000 along with Icom IC-A16 or similar handhelds.

We also have a combination of MCC7500 dispatch consoles operating on a Motorola "M" Core with DSR backup, and then some standalone Avtec consoles to augment some sites needs. (Avtec being owned by Motorola for a while means they still take our money.......as we also mix Astro and Trbo together, also using Motorola CCGW's or Zetron IP Gateways where 4 or 8 ports are not needed).

In very limited use cases, we do also have Harris AN/PRC-117F and AN/PRC-152 handhelds......but that would get very expensive quick.....so we use our radio infrastructure instead.....simple is often more reliable, and cheaper is also better when we are a corporation that does not get grant (taxpayer) money.

 

[prcguy]

Late to the thread, but as Lucifer Morningstar described......my employer (lots of fire stations at airports spread across the nation), adds Icom aviation (AM) radios to the network where needed. Vehicles and personnel carry Motorola APX6000/7000/8000 along with Icom IC-A16 or similar handhelds.

We also have a combination of MCC7500 dispatch consoles operating on a Motorola "M" Core with DSR backup, and then some standalone Avtec consoles to augment some sites needs. (Avtec being owned by Motorola for a while means they still take our money.......as we also mix Astro and Trbo together, also using Motorola CCGW's or Zetron IP Gateways where 4 or 8 ports are not needed).

In very limited use cases, we do also have Harris AN/PRC-117F and AN/PRC-152 handhelds......but that would get very expensive quick.....so we use our radio infrastructure instead.....simple is often more reliable, and cheaper is also better when we are a corporation that does not get grant (taxpayer) money.

Is the 117 and 152 owned or operated by US Gov personnel or civies?

 

[PACNWDude]

Is the 117 and 152 owned or operated by US Gov personnel or civies?

Owned by the US government, operated by corporate employees. The company has purchased some "castrated" units as you described, but very few, and when we can borrow them instead of own them......all the better (for profit corporation).

One use case has been for a helicopter that is used by the military, but began as a civilian variant....and must communitcate with Harris and Collins military radios, but also with P25 Motorola networks (the helicopters have a Cobham / Canyon AeroConnect radio with a Motorola APX8000 module installed).

Cheaper option is to just have Motorola for FM and Icom for AM comms, patch as needed, and use our existing Motorola (M Core and Avtec) infrastructure as much as possible.

 

[buddrousa]

Right now I would invest in training
Dispatchers
Command Personal
Crew Supervisors
In the use or Console Patches and how to use them.

 

[kayn1n32008]

The APX8000 is one of two multi band portable options on the market, there's no way they will twist consumer arms and force them into buying a NEXT just so they can have dual band operation. Maybe they will make a BN 8000, but they aren't going to entirely EOL the series any time soon.

2???

Harris, Kenwood, BK and Tait, in addition to Motorola, all make multiband LMR radios. Kenwood multicand radios also can do Tier 2 DMR and Conventional NXDN.

 

[K2NEC]

2???

Harris, Kenwood, BK and Tait, in addition to Motorola, all make multiband LMR radios. Kenwood multicand radios also can do Tier 2 DMR and Conventional NXDN.

Yes, however I was talking specifically about Motorola

 

[GlobalNorth]

Were I a Chief Officer of a public safety agency, I would not select a NEXT for issuance. Multiband radios can be a headache for personnel on a critical incident and adding in a 'smart' device is too much of a temptation to some personnel to screw around.

When we got MDCs years ago, the system we bought could not be locked down to prevent internet access. While most used the access to research addresses, people, and the like; some officers and supervisors were looking up p0rn sites and they were not sex crime detectives.

 

[mmckenna]

Were I a Chief Officer of a public safety agency, I would not select a NEXT for issuance. Multiband radios can be a headache for personnel on a critical incident and adding in a 'smart' device is too much of a temptation to some personnel to screw around.

Multiband radios act no different than a mono-band radio. The officers don't usually know which band they are on, all they know is they select a channel and are able to communicate with someone.

Every, and I mean -every- officer I know is already carrying smartphones, so no more temptation than anything else.

The benefit to the Next, and radios like the Harris XL line, is that they have the ability to utilize which ever network is available to communicate. In range of your LMR system? Great, it uses the LMR system. Can't hear the control channel? No problem, hop to LTE or WiFi and carry on.

The APX Next is part gimmick and part good idea. Problem is, it requires a lot of Motorola branded (read: Expen$$$$ive) back end to make the apps work. Some agencies already have that, so it's a logical progression of technology. For the rest, it's the gimmick.

 

[12dbsinad]

Something I'd like to also add is a multi-band radio is not necessarily the end-all solution for every situation. Even if they could do the additional AM airband, you can only communicate on 1 channel at any given time. Especially important near airports as any commanding or responding units would be listening to both aircraft and the primary channel/talkgroup at the same time. That is the beauty of multiple dedicated radios. It's why Command vehicles have multiple mobile radios and/or commanding officers carry more than 1 radio during an incident.

They don't all necessarily have to be multi- band either.

 

[dickie757]

I was going to suggest a console patch as well, but then thought about possible interference being introduced on the air side. Very strict radio discipline and a steady Eddie dispatcher are a must.

As PacNWdude pointed out about consoles....we just set up an Avtec system that includes an airband radio. It is connected to a TRC, then RGU (OPP), then the system. It can be patched to talk to uhf and four different 800 systems.

I wonder about the legality of one radio service being used to talk (communicate) to another. I know ham is not allowed to talk to gmrs and vice versa, and ham/public service not allowed to talk, unless immediate life in danger.