• To anyone looking to acquire commercial radio programming software:

    Please do not make requests for copies of radio programming software which is sold (or was sold) by the manufacturer for any monetary value. All requests will be deleted and a forum infraction issued. Making a request such as this is attempting to engage in software piracy and this forum cannot be involved or associated with this activity. The same goes for any private transaction via Private Message. Even if you attempt to engage in this activity in PM's we will still enforce the forum rules. Your PM's are not private and the administration has the right to read them if there's a hint to criminal activity.

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    For M/A Com/Harris/GE, etc: there are two software packages that program all current and past radios. One package is for conventional programming and the other for trunked programming. The trunked package is in upwards of $2,500. The conventional package is more reasonable though is still several hundred dollars. The benefit is you do not need multiple versions for each radio (unlike Motorola).

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My First APX-6500

Hectomilan

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Dec 1, 2018
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Just purchased my very first APX series APX6500, I'm coming from the MotoTrbo line. I got so much to learn. I keep hearing TAgs , flash code , depot ASK protected, Encryption types ,Tuning and other things but I’m curious. And have many questions. Hopefully 🤞 I can get some help here.

First thing first what is tuning and why is it important to send your radio in for tuning ?


Thanks in advance.
 

mmckenna

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First thing first what is tuning and why is it important to send your radio in for tuning ?

As radios age, their alignment drifts. They can start to wander off frequency, deviation levels can change, filter settings, etc. To keep the radio running 'factory new' and to make sure it's operating within the specifications of the FCC license, they periodically need to be realigned.

I usually do our radios every year or two if possible. Most of them check out fine, but realigning an older radio can really perk them up.
 

Hectomilan

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As radios age, their alignment drifts. They can start to wander off frequency, deviation levels can change, filter settings, etc. To keep the radio running 'factory new' and to make sure it's operating within the specifications of the FCC license, they periodically need to be realigned.

I usually do our radios every year or two if possible. Most of them check out fine, but realigning an older radio can really perk them up.
Makes sense. I’m guessing you need a special computer to do this.

Thanks for the explanation.

Now I how do you know if the radio has been tampered with a Depot Tool ?
 

mmckenna

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Makes sense. I’m guessing you need a special computer to do this.

You need a service monitor. A new one will start in the $30K range, and then go up from there. Mine, with current options, is pushing about $45K right now.

Much easier/less expensive to find a shop that has a modern service monitor and will tune it for you. Probably cost $100.
 

Hectomilan

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can I become a customer of yours? Awesome thanks bud always appreciate your help here and in the Kenwood side. Do you anything on the flash port and how you know if it’s Been done by dealer or illegally ?
 

mmckenna

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can I become a customer of yours? Awesome thanks bud always appreciate your help here and in the Kenwood side. Do you anything on the flash port and how you know if it’s Been done by dealer or illegally ?

I don't dabble in such things, but there are those on here that can provide advice.
 

KevinC

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As a note, the APX series reference oscillator will pretty much age all it's going to age in the first 18 months. So after an initial alignment another alignment is absolutely necessary around that time.
 
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