How I made changes to my APX 6000, you can too!

[MFDHoward]

Hey Guys,

I recently purchased a APX 6000 3.5 Model but, I wanted to make some changes. I didn't like the antenna, I hate the frequency selection knob and I wanted it to look a bit more rugged. Below is a video that shows how to upgrade your 1.5 Model to a 2.5 or 3.5 Model. I used some of the changes this guy made to his APX 6000 to make my radio a bit better.

Video (Not Mine):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9AX47YYMbI


Changes I made:

Changed the APX 6000 Speaker Grille to a APX 8000 Speaker Grille and changed to a stubby VHF antenna: http://i.imgur.com/bZCGeWJ.jpg

I changed the frequency selection knob from the skinny to the fat (I highly recommend this): http://i.imgur.com/xwi9UIt.jpg

Simple parts I removed: http://i.imgur.com/eC2mI3b.jpg

 

[jruta]

I like it.

I've been debating doing the same simple mods to mine (I already have the stubby VHF antenna, I believe it's a TRBO model? I can't recall, pmad40...something part number.?

I've been thinking about changing the grill and channel knob as well - I like the look but also like the origin lol. Purely cosmetic. The only other thing I was thinking was possibly changing to the rfID volume knob..

...and then there is always the colored housings.... Damn, sounds like decking out a Harley!

 

[jim202]

In hope your only going to use the radio real near the transmitter and not planning to use the radio inside a building to hear a distant base or repeater. Those short stubby antennas are not much more than a wet noodle. Performance is BAD and not what you would want to rely on in an emergency.

It has been proven time and time again that pulling the normal full length antenna to be replaced by the short stubby makes a drastic drop in the ability to hear and be heard while using them. If it is being done just to look cool and impress other people, you might succeed. But to have a functional radio in a poor coverage environment, you loose big time. This is not just for the VHF band, but it also applies to the UHF and the 700 / 800 band operation as well.

I have police department people coming to me or calling me to complain the radio system is working poorly. I start the conversation by asking if they have the short antenna on the portable radio. If they say they are using the short antenna, I ask them why they are putting their life at risk with making their radio perform poorly by using that short antenna. They come back and say they don't like the antenna poking them in the arm pit all the time. Well you can't have it both ways.

So for the times the portable antenna pokes them under the arm, these police officers put their life on the line to have a poorly functioning radio. It doesn't take a 5th grader to figure which is the better choice here. Especially if your inside one of the metal constructed buildings or a big box store.

Being cool might just become permanent if your being shot at and your radio doesn't work because YOU WANTED that short antenna.

 

[FFPM571]

The wideband antenna you replaced can be changed out to the Mototrbo version of the wideband antenna that is 6 1/2 tall and performs better than the taller 8 1/2 in armpit tickler.

 

[jruta]

I'm not completely sure, but I think that's the one I have, and the performance has been very good. We are a multi-site receiver (if that's the correct term) system and I've yet to experience a problem. The safety concern is appreciated- and well understood. As for the looking cool factor? Well.....ok, comfort carry is more along the lines in my case. Everything else, minus the channel/volume knob is pure esthetics.

 

[K2RNI]

In hope your only going to use the radio real near the transmitter and not planning to use the radio inside a building to hear a distant base or repeater. Those short stubby antennas are not much more than a wet noodle. Performance is BAD and not what you would want to rely on in an emergency.

It has been proven time and time again that pulling the normal full length antenna to be replaced by the short stubby makes a drastic drop in the ability to hear and be heard while using them. If it is being done just to look cool and impress other people, you might succeed. But to have a functional radio in a poor coverage environment, you loose big time. This is not just for the VHF band, but it also applies to the UHF and the 700 / 800 band operation as well.

I have police department people coming to me or calling me to complain the radio system is working poorly. I start the conversation by asking if they have the short antenna on the portable radio. If they say they are using the short antenna, I ask them why they are putting their life at risk with making their radio perform poorly by using that short antenna. They come back and say they don't like the antenna poking them in the arm pit all the time. Well you can't have it both ways.

So for the times the portable antenna pokes them under the arm, these police officers put their life on the line to have a poorly functioning radio. It doesn't take a 5th grader to figure which is the better choice here. Especially if your inside one of the metal constructed buildings or a big box store.

Being cool might just become permanent if your being shot at and your radio doesn't work because YOU WANTED that short antenna.

AMEN brother. Always use my 15 inch whip on the VHF HT, looks pretty cool and just what you have to do if you wanna use VHF. If they can't handle it maybe just give them a 400mhz radio and if they still can't handle the little 6 inch 1/4 wave than maybe an 800 mhz lol.

 

[KG7PBS]

I have to say my XTS 5000 VHF i ues the wide band antenna for Reno and it works just perfect. But on my XPR 3500 UHF i ues the Stubby 440/512 on it in Analog and DMR its performs at and or better than the standard length antenna in buildings and out in line of sight of the repeater. It's all about how your system is built because inside the casino I work at and the dispatch office for the standard length or study still comes in crappy.

 

[jruta]

"It's all about how your system is built"

^^^^ Exactly THIS! ^^^^

In my particular case the so called "trashed" antenna (designed and built by M) works for me. But Ya know, I wanna look "cool"

Lol oh lord, please join up p25 forums, you'll fit right in.... I'm 50 and have a clue.

That was an insult by the typically uninformed.

And yeah, that was directed at K2... No apologies.

 

[N4DES]

I did a case swap-out on an APX7K to the blue and black one a few months ago and was a piece of cake to do. The steps for the 7K is almost identical to the youtube video.

 

[jruta]

I think that's my next project. Is there a difference between the 6k and 7k housings? Meaning I thought I read somewhere that the 7k is one piece vs the 6k being 3 pieces?

 

[kh11]

I changed the frequency selection knob from the skinny to the fat (I highly recommend this)

Part number for the knob? (Is it just the one from the XE?)

 

[jruta]

Which one? Channel or rfID? volume.

 

[jruta]

Ooops sorry- just re-read that... I'll look it up

 

[N4DES]

I think that's my next project. Is there a difference between the 6k and 7k housings? Meaning I thought I read somewhere that the 7k is one piece vs the 6k being 3 pieces?

No it was the same process. The speaker comes off first and then the case is wrapped around the frame. There might be a few extra screws that I had to remove and put back.

 

[jruta]

Thanks!

 

[MFDHoward]

Part number for the knob? (Is it just the one from the XE?)

Nope, its one for the APX 6000-7000-8000 series non-XE

3675590B02 - Motorola APX KNOB, FREQUENCY - Fat - ShopWiscomm

 

[kh11]

Just an FYI: the latest version of the APX8000 speaker griller no long has the "APX" engraving on the front. There is now a blank inset space where a model label would go. Kind of disappointing for those of us who want to swap on to a 6000.

 

[4-crime]

Just an FYI: the latest version of the APX8000 speaker griller no long has the "APX" engraving on the front. There is now a blank inset space where a model label would go. Kind of disappointing for those of us who want to swap on to a 6000.

The speaker grill originally released with the APX8000 with "APX" on the grill is still available and orderable. They have also released a newer version that has a recest space for a new yellow colored label that says "APX8000". They also have this speaker grill for the new APX6000 "BN" revision. Only difference is the color of the label which has "APX6000" in white letters instead of yellow.

 

[kh11]

The speaker grill originally released with the APX8000 with "APX" on the grill is still available and orderable. They have also released a newer version that has a recest space for a new yellow colored label that says "APX8000". They also have this speaker grill for the new APX6000 "BN" revision. Only difference is the color of the label which has "APX6000" in white letters instead of yellow.

Good info, thanks. Would you happen to have the part numbers for the "old" grille, along with the number for APX6000 label for the "new" grille?

Thanks again

 

[ElroyJetson]

My own lab tests performed on "stubby", "standard", and "high gain" portable radio antennas, from a few years ago, indicated to me that the difference is 3 dB at each step.

Using the standard 1/4 wave antenna as the point of reference, radio performance was down by 3 dB with the stubby antenna, and radio performance was improved by 3 dB with the high gain (5/8 wave) whip antenna.

A 3 dB change in performance is the same as doubling or halving the power output of the transmitter.

If your system transmits with 100 watt repeaters, and you switch from a standard antenna to a stubby antenna, it'd be the same as if the transmitters were reduced to 50 watts and you kept your standard antenna.

A better antenna is by FAR the cheapest way to improve the performance of a portable radio in a system.