Motorola P25 Radios

[slapshot0017]

Hi Everyone,
So I'm relatively new here when it comes to the forum, but I have been on the site itself a while finding frequencies. Alright to get to my question. I know that Motorola makes a full UHF band radio which is the xpr 7550, but it is a mototrbo and I have no real use for it at all... What I need is a P25 full band UHF but they don't have any as of yet so my question to all of you is...
1. Does anyone know of Motorola's future plans to change this, as in make one.
2. Or does anyone know of anyway to mod one of the P25 radios so that you can extend the transmit and receive.
Any help would be appreciated and I thank anyone who takes the time to even read this.
Thank you!
KD2BRR

 

[MTS2000des]

when you mean "full band" I ASSume you need T-band (450-520).
All of the Astro 25 T-band radios will drop a few MHz up or down outside of the T-band split into the 440 repeater range just fine. The mods to make to the CPS are well documented on other sites, and Google is your friend.

 

[mm]

I don't think he means T band only, most likely he wants 384 to 520. The 384 to 450 range is mil, federal and Ham and public safety doesn't need it in their models so it will most likely never happen. Motorola has never shown any interest in introducing such a model radio even though they are capable of such.

 

[WA9TED]

As of now, all I think they have for like an XTL is the "Q" split which will give you 380-470 and the "S" split which will give you 450-520. For the most part that covers all land mobile UHF so wouldn't you be able to find your freq somewhere in there? Or if I'm not understanding the question, I apologize.

 

[slapshot0017]

Sorry guys I guess I wasnt very specific. Let me reiterate what I mean.

Motorola makes XPR series radios that go from 403-512 mhz that uses analog and Mototrbo modulation.
So what I asked is if there is no future plans to make make a full bandsplit P25 radio is there anyway to mod an R1 or R2 range P25 radio to go past their specified limits.

I am a Ham so I am looking for a Radio that will transmit and recieve the ham radio frequencies in the 440 range and to transmit and recieve up to 512 so that when I'm working with my towns public saftey through the cert program I can communicate accordingly. Yes I understand I will have to talk to my towns radio guy and get a special I.D. for it and everything, but its just a thought mainly more just for recieving...

Yes I understand everyone says to just get a dual band ham radio and not worry about it and all that stuff, but everyone of them I have dealt with is crap. You just can't beat motorolas build quality and reliability...

At the moment I have a beautiful Kenwood TM V71A dual band mobile so I'm set there. I also have a VHF Kenwood NX 200 and Motorola HT1000, but the problem with the HT1000 is its programing accessibility and channel limitations.

So all I really need at the moment is a Motorola Portable and I will be one happy camper!

 

[mikegilbert]

Motorola offers the APX7000 and APX7000XE in a full UHF configuration. The range is 380-520mhz. You have to specify R1 UHF (380-470) as your primary band and R2 UHF (450-520) as your secondary band.

It's totally possible, but not cheap by any means.

Also, to echo what MTS2000DES said, you can mod CPS to allow +-10mhz OOB on the Astro 25 series. I have several 450-520 XTL5000s working perfectly on 440 machines.

 

[WA9TED]

Also, to echo what MTS2000DES said, you can mod CPS to allow +-10mhz OOB on the Astro 25 series. I have several 450-520 XTL5000s working perfectly on 440 machines.

akardam.net Motorola Tools & Documents - CPS Out of Band Modification HOW-TO

Hopefully this should help!

 

[N4KVE]

The APX line is dual band. I heard Motorola was going to make a UHF L, & UHF H version. Both UHF bands in 1 radio.

 

[Skypilot007]

It sounds like you just need T band with 440 included.

You could simply find a nice XTS3000(less money) or XTS 2500/5000(more money) UHF R2 or S split. Then use modified CPS to enable transmit and receive down to 440MHz. Make sure you understand flash code options and what you need the radio to do before you purchase on. Ask questions here if you are unsure or research the topic. I have a 3000 model II sitting right here fully loaded with every T-band frequency and trunked system in the area along with every 440 machine in the area. It works great. I work in gloucester county everyday. If you do get a 3000 I'd be glad to help you out with programming.

 

[slapshot0017]

You guys are awesome! I am so glad I am apart of this forum. I think I'm going to go with an XTS 2500 UHF R2 split FPP off ebay or somewhere. Ill find the cps and programming stuff. I just have a few more questions to clarify.
Does the HT1000 charger work with the XTS2500? Because If it does I'll just have to find the radio battery and antenna because I already have a bunch of accessories that fit the HT1000.
Oh and I have an HT1000 Programming cable will it work with the XTS?
And lastly if I buy an FPP Flashed radio when I go to program it will the FPP go away or is it pretty much permanently flashed until I re flash it?

 

[fdscan]

The XTS2500 SHOULD work with the HT1000 charger, depending on your charger. Is it one of the Intellicharge ones? You might need a different one if it's an IMPRES battery, though.

Correct me if I'm wrong, guys...

 

[KE4ZNR]

Oh and I have an HT1000 Programming cable will it work with the XTS?

Nope. You need an XTS Programming cable in either USB or Serial format.
HT1000 requires an external RIB box which is different than the XTS Cable.
You also need to purchase a copy of Astro CPS from MOL.
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[N4KVE]

Oh and I have an HT1000 Programming cable will it work with the XTS?

While it may look similar, it will not. The XTS 2500, & 5000 do not use a rib.

 

[Skypilot007]

I don't think any of the HT1000 accessories are compatable with the XTS2500. You'll need new everything for the XTS2500. As for the FPP, there is some weirdness with different firmware versions and using newer CPS that can mess up FPP if trunking is in the flash. Someone else that knows the details on that can chime in. I remember reading about it but don't remember all the details.

 

[KE4ZNR]

I don't think any of the HT1000 accessories are compatable with the XTS2500. You'll need new everything for the XTS2500. As for the FPP, there is some weirdness with different firmware versions and using newer CPS that can mess up FPP if trunking is in the flash. Someone else that knows the details on that can chime in. I remember reading about it but don't remember all the details.

Correct me if I am wrong (and it has happened from time to time ) but you can't have FPP and Trunking in the same flash in the XTS series. It just ain't gonna happen unless you are a special government customer.
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[N4KVE]

I believe if your fw is 9, or older you can.

 

[KE4ZNR]

I believe if your fw is 9, or older you can.

THATS the limitation. I knew there was some limiting factor.
Let's just say if you wish your FW to be current and mostly bug free then you can't have FPP and trunking in the same flash.
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[slapshot0017]

No, no guys I wasn't looking into having trunking just FPP. I was just wondering after I programmed in all my channels and features through CPS if it would still have it.
I have NXDN trunking and I don't want to even touch that let alone Motorola's several forms! One cause its complicated as hell and two I don't feel like bricking a radio that's more expensive than my Car! Yea I know don't ask Its actually a great one, but I got It for cheap!
What do you guys mean by FW I'm kind of lost.
With The accessories only the audio and antennas I see are compatible. Oh well guess ill just have to buy everything anyway...
Oh and If I bought a brand new one from a Dealer would anyone here or even them be able to flash it to FPP? EBay's not looking to promising so I got to have a second option...
This Is all to get a feel for what I should prepare for because I will probably but it over the summer when I get enough money.

 

[N4KVE]

FW = firmware. As Motorola makes improvements in the fw, they can be uploaded into the radio improving it. The 2500 never had a way to choose between hi, & low power. In the past, you could program a ch to have hi, or low power, but there was never a way to hit a switch, or go in the menu to toggle back & forth. With the newest fw upgrade, you now can.

 

[slapshot0017]

Ahh I see now. I'm learning more and more! I love it!