Adding LLA to XT series requires the depot tool. Moto offered a one time opportunity for users to upgrade for $175/radio but you had to order by 06/30/22 and it required R15 or higher firmware. Moto would not update firmware so you were out luck if you had older firmware. Because some users didn't know of this offer or didn't order in time, good working radios will need replaced at the expense of taxpayers.
MARCS-IP ("New MARCS") Site and Talkgroup Discussion
From what I heard some agencies elected to wait, believing that the deadline would be extended. It wasn't and they went boo hoo. Fortunately most agencies took advantage of the upgrade offer.
By the way, the Moto ST who did our county did the firmware upgrades as needed.
That time line doesn't match up.
LLA first appeared in XTS/XTL firmware R15.00.00 which was released November 2010. MARCS didn't even start discussing LLA until late 2020.
gtaman
Member
They weren’t the reason that it was added.
MARCS was the reason you could still order LLA in 2023 even with them being EOLd in 2013.
The tech doing the upgrades had to drag out the dustiest Astro 25 stuff to do it.
You guys are right, I mixed up the two details. Given how many Astro25 radios are in service on MARCS, I would think the required tools aren't all that dusty...
Certainly no depot required to do a normal flashcode update via iButton.
gtaman
Member
Not sure how it is up north but down south many XTS/XTL radios will continue to live on as they all got LLA.
Are these XTS2500's? There's a memory limitation issue with the AN versions of XTS2500 & XTS1500 radios that limits them to R09 or earlier firmware, therefore LLA is not possible.
red8
Member
I know in Louisiana we have LWIN and they have incorporated 800 mhz with 700 mhz through patching and data channels and interoperability.
That's entirely possible, yes.
Edit: although I don't think all of them have been in that category...I'm sure there's some 5000's in there too.
Everybody using Kenwood/Viking couldn't be due to them costing half the price of the equal Motorola?
JethrowJohnson
I love P25
That's part of it obviously, however the particular dept. I'm referring to bought three APX 8000's about two or three years ago so that the chief, asst. chief, and EMS chief would have access to MARCS, and for over a year now they've been talking about how they supposedly will be useless bricks next year. Don't know who told them that, but every MARCS radio purchased since then is a Kenwood, and supposedly only the Kenwoods will work next year. I'm sure the prices are a big reason for that also, but there's still a lot of uncertainties that members have about MARCS because they're not used to it yet. We're used to having one tower in each section of the county that's nothing but static once you get about 10 miles away from it, and the repeater in our area is about to the point where it's fixed or repaired daily.
I guess it depends on where they bought the radios. If it's a shop selling radios knowing they're going on MARCS in the past few years the shop knows LLA is needed. Every radio I've bought the shop has known this and I've paid for the option. I've used both the APX and the Kenwood models. As a user I prefer the Kenwood because it's lighter. Otherwise I've observed no difference so why spend the extra dollars? It's shameful of dirty tricks if they're being played. It happens.
There is no way an APX 8000 will be a 'useless brick' on MARCS any time before they declare it end of life. A simple flash update to add LLA if not already in it is all that's needed. Someone is either stupid or lying to you all and I don't understand how it's not obvious to everyone at this point. AGAIN, this system was built and is maintained by Motorola, who will not be making any changes in the near future, or ever, that will prevent their own products from working on the system.
The fact that a Kenwood dealer is telling you all this should be your first clue that they are lying to you all. Or, just as likely, a bunch of vollies with no knowledge of how things work are misunderstanding everything they are being told.
Like that's never happened before....
In my experience with vollies, if it didn't have to do with shiny red fire trucks and spraying water on a fire, etc, misunderstanding is rampant (with the occasional exception).
85chevy4x4
Member
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2010
- Messages
- 94
Motorola's can do Link Layer Authentication, OSP is Motorola exclusively, they are not getting Kenwood's.
JethrowJohnson
I love P25
I don't know if it's a Kenwood dealer that told them that. I don't know who did. I've mentioned to them before that it doesn't make sense to me that those wouldn't be compatible. I'll talk to the guy in charge of communications this week, but I'm still new there and I haven't gained a ton of credibility yet, so I don't know if they'll really take a closer look at it. Like I mentioned before, there's not a whole bunch of extensive knowledge about the technical aspect of how these work. It's pretty much an expectation of being able to just press the PTT and talk to anyone without needing to do much else. I vote we have a MARCS representative come to the station and help explain this stuff, but I'm just one person.
RE: LLA -
Can we please either let it go. or start another thread just for the discussion of he said, she said, it worked, it doesn't work?
I'll bet 99% of the people following this thread don't care one bit.
Can we please either let it go. or start another thread just for the discussion of he said, she said, it worked, it doesn't work?
I'll bet 99% of the people following this thread don't care one bit.
JethrowJohnson
I love P25
I agree