Firmware / Non affiliate scan question

[IAmSixNine]

Its been many years since i have needed to update (programming wise) my apx7000 and back then i was advised to not go past firmware R17.01.00 as it would cause issues with non affiliate scan. I have been neglecting the programming in my radio and need to remove some depreciated systems and update / add some new systems. I have been keeping my KNG2 up to date and my G4 and SDS100 but its finally time to update my apx. But before I do im wondering if its still recommended to stay at this level or is it safe to update my firmware and CPS? I believe the current available firmware is R25.01.00

 

[quebecradioguy]

Stay where you are 😓

 

[mikewazowski]

There is no reason to not update your firmware unless you use certain Motorola proprietary tools that we don't speak of here.

 

[n3obl]

best bet to stay at 17.01

 

[GTR8000]

Its been many years since i have needed to update (programming wise) my apx7000 and back then i was advised to not go past firmware R17.01.00 as it would cause issues with non affiliate scan.

I debunked that myth ages ago. There is no issue with any of the more recent APX firmware when it comes to non-affiliate scan. If done properly, it's the same as it has always been. I've got several different models on R25.01.00 currently, with no issues.

 

[IAmSixNine]

The only benefit to me would be the ability to scan more tg in a scan list. I went from 16 to i think 32 when i went to the R17.01 firmware and and at the time i only did it to get more tg to scan. So if the list is still limited to 32 (going of memory since its been years since i updated any programming in my radio) i dont need to update firmware.

 

[mikewazowski]

I think you're mistaking this for the ASTRO25 line.

 

[GTR8000]

APX trunked scan lists and have up to 50 talkgroups per. Non-affiliate scan uses the Multi-System Talkgroup scan list type, which can hold up to 50 talkgroups each across 5 systems, for a total of 250 talkgroups. Intelligent Priority is a scan list type that is Multi-System Talkgroup, but with priority monitor capability. I don't recall offhand when IP Scan was added, but I do believe it was prior to R17.

Frankly, your best bet would be to get ahold of the firmware release notes for the APX series from R17 to R25, and figure out if any added features or bug fixes matter to you.

The reason that many stop at R17 is because there are those who play with things that they shouldn't have, as @mikewazowski already pointed out. For the same reason, they will make the case that resale value drops as soon as you go beyond R17.

 

[IAmSixNine]

I dont plan to sell my apx. I know for sure that when i got it i had 15 TG i could scan. I used it for years then upgraded to 17 and i was able to add more TG to existing scan lists. But its been 2 plus years since i have done any programming updates to it.
I also dont need to hack mine or add features im not supposed to use or have. It serves its purpose as a scanner for me and im happy with it that way.
The only benefits to me would be added tg capability in the scan list, better performance to help extend daily battery life or if they have improved the vocoder for better audio. Since im doing non affiliate scanning i dont need or use any system features. dont use priority scan. I have my KNG2 for that.
But its nice to know i can update the firmware if needed.
I was sent a codeplug of an apx7000 that was recently updated by the city so ill look at that and see what the scan list capabilities are of a radio with R2x.xx in it.
My radio is set up with the first zone containing 16 conventional channels each with a scan list of its own for the different systems i want to monitor.
Then a few zones of other conventional stuff.
Then any zone with a trunking system has several conventional channels at the beginning for safety reasons. plus tx inhibit always on.. so i have had it maybe a decade and always been very careful with it. Especially having a past history of working at a 2-way shop i know i dont want to cause any interference on a system or get it zapped.

 

[GTR8000]

Here are the cumulative firmware release notes up to R25.01.00

416.5 KB file on MEGA

mega.nz

Start on the Summary tab, and if you find a new feature or update that seems relevant, open up the corresponding PDF from the Notes tab to see if it actually applies to the APX7000 and any systems you're monitoring.

 

[mikegilbert]

Stay at R17 and enjoy your radio!

 

[IAmSixNine]

I think ill just leave the firmware alone. The radio is working great for me. So ill stick with just doing some removal of old systems and update existing..
Thanks everybody who replied.

 

[ncataldo]

APX trunked scan lists and have up to 50 talkgroups per. Non-affiliate scan uses the Multi-System Talkgroup scan list type, which can hold up to 50 talkgroups each across 5 systems, for a total of 250 talkgroups. Intelligent Priority is a scan list type that is Multi-System Talkgroup, but with priority monitor capability. I don't recall offhand when IP Scan was added, but I do believe it was prior to R17.

Frankly, your best bet would be to get ahold of the firmware release notes for the APX series from R17 to R25, and figure out if any added features or bug fixes matter to you.

The reason that many stop at R17 is because there are those who play with things that they shouldn't have, as @mikewazowski already pointed out. For the same reason, they will make the case that resale value drops as soon as you go beyond R17.

Not to reply to a dead thread, but would setting the scan list type as Priority Monitor cause the radio to affiliate? Trying to get user-selectable priority TGs in my scan list, but obviously want to avoid affiliating. Thanks!

 

[crazyboy]

Not to reply to a dead thread, but would setting the scan list type as Priority Monitor cause the radio to affiliate? Trying to get user-selectable priority TGs in my scan list, but obviously want to avoid affiliating. Thanks!

How are you setting a conventional scan list to priority monitor?

 

[18bravo]

I’m programming radios left and right for NAS with R26 never had a issue l, before that I was using R19.

 

[ncataldo]

How are you setting a conventional scan list to priority monitor?

Scan list type is currently set as Multi-System Talkgroup. Haven't had any issues with it set as that so far. Just want to make sure if I change it to Priority Mon, that it won't affiliate my radio.

 

[18bravo]

Scan list type is currently set as Multi-System Talkgroup. Haven't had any issues with it set as that so far. Just want to make sure if I change it to Priority Mon, that it won't affiliate my radio.

How would it affiliate if NAS is set up right?

 

[GTR8000]

Not to reply to a dead thread, but would setting the scan list type as Priority Monitor cause the radio to affiliate? Trying to get user-selectable priority TGs in my scan list, but obviously want to avoid affiliating. Thanks!

Scan list type is currently set as Multi-System Talkgroup. Haven't had any issues with it set as that so far. Just want to make sure if I change it to Priority Mon, that it won't affiliate my radio.

Priority Monitor is for trunked scanning only, it will not work with non-affiliate scan because you cannot assign a Priority Monitor type scan list to a conventional personality. Intelligent Priority type scan was added to the APX in R17, which is essentially Multi-System Talkgroup with priority on the landed system.