Kenwood NX-5000 problems, lacks, suggestions and improvements

[KK6ZTE]

I really hope they come up with an option for high audio output. I’m sure I sound like a broken record, but you can’t sell one of these radios for use in a fire truck with a 4W speaker output in my opinion (not to mention the use of the KAP-2 for external speaker out and no switching ability).

I’ve complained to my rep and they just keep telling me it’s a better radio than the 5710. At this point, until they address that, I’ll keep selling the 5710s. I like them so much I run them myself.

 

[Reelfishguy]

I really hope they come up with an option for high audio output. I’m sure I sound like a broken record, but you can’t sell one of these radios for use in a fire truck with a 4W speaker output in my opinion (not to mention the use of the KAP-2 for external speaker out and no switching ability).

I’ve complained to my rep and they just keep telling me it’s a better radio than the 5710. At this point, until they address that, I’ll keep selling the 5710s. I like them so much I run them myself.

If audio output is a problem, then use the KES-5 external speaker. It will sound great with that speaker compared to the internal speaker. Just sayin'

 

[KK6ZTE]

Even with a KES-5, there’s no difference in amplifier output.

 

[buddrousa]

Have you tried th KES-5? I use non amplified speakers on all of our Fire Trucks with plenty of Volume.

 

[Syntor-X9K]

For the VHF-Low band application, my needs requires ~100W. Digital is irrelevant - This would be the case for any VHF low band user.

 

[mmckenna]

For the VHF-Low band application, my needs requires ~100W. Digital is irrelevant - This would be the case for any VHF low band user.

Well, as I think I mentioned above…
CHP has no plans to move off VHF Low. They are currently using TK-690's, and those will eventually go away. Talking to my Kenwood rep, the idea is that a low band NX-5xxx will replace it.
Makes a whole lot of sense if you think about it. As for what digital modes it will or will not have, I have no information on that.
Once they build a VHF Low RF deck, making the higher power VHF and UHF radios becomes easy.
Although, I'm seeing more public safety agencies move away from the 100 watt radios as their coverage improves. CalFire has moved away from 100 watt VHF radios as it can create some issues where the mobile radio coverage can cause issues in other areas. In reality, most agencies that are running high power radios probably do not need them. Comes down to someone deciding if "a little is good, more must be better". Sort of the CB mentality.

Considering the CHP has VHF Low, VHF High, UHF and 700/800MHz radios in their vehicles, it would be interesting to see if they move to an all Kenwood solution. That would probably require a new style remote head, different than the current ones, to work well. Maybe even an integrated computer based solution.

 

[mmckenna]

Have you tried th KES-5? I use non amplified speakers on all of our Fire Trucks with plenty of Volume.

We're using the KES-5's and they are plenty loud. In fact, I had one come back to me because the minimum volume had been set too high and it was too loud for the officer.

 

[Syntor-X9K]

Around here were getting high interference, broad band kind. More power is usually better.

 

[mmckenna]

Around here were getting high interference, broad band kind. More power is usually better.

On VHF High or Low? I'm in Santa Cruz, have a couple of VHF High system and no issues, I'm just across the bay from you.

 

[RK3AAG]

Guys, please stop discussion about Low Band, power, coverage, etc. Because it's off-topic here. Instead of it, please work with radio every day, do tests, checks, comparisons with Motorola & etc. And share YOUR info about "problems, lacks, suggestions and improvements". Because only a few people do that, and it's sad.

 

[Syntor-X9K]

Hi all...

I did some careful considering and decided on a analog radio (TM-V71a). I will revisit the NX-5700 once I've been at my new job for a while. Maybe by then the bugs and feature/ improvements will have been fixed or improved.

 

[KevinC]

Guys, please stop discussion about Low Band, power, coverage, etc. Because it's off-topic here. Instead of it, please work with radio every day, do tests, checks, comparisons with Motorola & etc. And share YOUR info about "problems, lacks, suggestions and improvements". Because only a few people do that, and it's sad.

The thread topic is "Kenwood NX-5000 problems, lacks, suggestions and improvements", if a lack of low-band or power is an issue I thinks it's on topic...but I could be wrong.

 

[KK6ZTE]

Hi all...

I did some careful considering and decided on a analog radio (TM-V71a). I will revisit the NX-5700 once I've been at my new job for a while. Maybe by then the bugs and feature/ improvements will have been fixed or improved.

If you’re only using the V71 in a silent environment only on the Ham bands, it’ll be fine.

I use mine in a diesel pickup and even with a KES-5 I can barely hear the radio.

Otherwise it’s a decent radio, but it isn’t even the the same league as the NX5000. Honestly I can’t grasp where you would make that decision other than price.

 

[Syntor-X9K]

I've been unemployed for quite a while (past unemployment). The good news is, I have a new job for the new year.
Besides, my car's KBB value is probably less than the NX-5700 cost. And I have other radio's in there, such as the TS-480HX (Used for HF only). I plan on wiring it between the TM-V71 through the Acc jack, for HF to UHF cross-band repeater (I assume that this can be done to the NX-5700 Acc jack, as it has COS, PTT, Rx audio and mic audio). Sorry I digress...

 

[Colton25]

I have noticed while in priority scan the MDC caller ID displayed resets as soon as a new transmission is received. I have the "Scan" displayed setting checked and the caller ID reset set to 10 seconds however once new transmission is received it automatically resets the caller ID regardless of how long i have it set to be displayed. I also tried it without "scan" being displayed but it still does the same thing. Anyone else notice this issue?

 

[RK3AAG]

The biggest lack of NX5000 is still missed ADP / RC4 encryption for APCO25. It's done for DMR, it’s done for EFJ products, but not for JVCKenwood P25 radios. This is the biggest problem if you need to connect Kenwood with Motorola radios when some light encryption is used (where 'strong' HW encryption is not needed).

JVC-Kenwood, we see how you change. You doing right steps, but sometimes too late (like joining DMR / LTE game). Do not be the one who takes the last steps. You have everything to do ADP in NX5000 product line. This is a pure politics, do not lose in this battle.

 

[RK3AAG]

Issue # 15. Missed PAGE feature for P25 Conventional.

Page (Paging) feature is missed for P25 Conventional mode. But presented only in P25 Trunking. Page in Conventional is standard feature of both Astro25 and APX product lines.

 

[RK3AAG]

Hi folks!

Here is a list of issues I found, reported by other NX5000 users, and of course, come from RR members.

Updated list of JVC-Kenwood NX5000 issues (PDF file)

I am intended to keep it up to date. If you have something to add, correct, change status, etc., please do not hesitate to leave your comment here in thread.

What conclusion can be made looking at the list. In general, Kenwood does not deal with problems, but deals with the introduction of new functions. But sometimes they solve problems, but only if they were claimed by their dealer. In the rest, 85% of the problems were not solved, and Kenwood does not care.

 

[RK3AAG]

P25 Conventional functionality is very limited and underdeveloped. Probably, to do not compete with NXDN. See issues #27-29 (former issue #15) in the list.

 

[Colton25]

How about adding the priority scan LED function to the mobiles? Right now it's only available for portables.

Hi folks!

Here is a list of issues I found, reported by other NX5000 users, and of course, come from RR members.

Updated list of JVC-Kenwood NX5000 issues (PDF file)

I am intended to keep it up to date. If you have something to add, correct, change status, etc., please do not hesitate to leave your comment here in thread.

What conclusion can be made looking at the list. In general, Kenwood does not deal with problems, but deals with the introduction of new functions. But sometimes they solve problems, but only if they were claimed by their dealer. In the rest, 85% of the problems were not solved, and Kenwood does not care.