New to harris and looking for info....

[WRPI897]

Hi there I've been wanting to get some harris equipment ( like the xg-75m mobile in uhf 400-470 band , and an xg-100p ) and advance my knowledge of programming and servicing these types of radios and their capabilities. Now I've been programming Motorola XTS and cp series radios as well as a multitude of Kenwood radios as well and I been wanting to get into the harris game for a while but have been hesitant to jump in and buy one because I don't know where to even start to find a programming cable for them or even to find the software for them. If it's possible I'd like to get this forums opinions and knowledge on where I can find these items and any helpful tips on find the right xg-75m unit for me and for programming both the xg-75m and the xg-100p because I'm very new to harris and don't want to just dump money on something and not be able to use it for myself or even as a working demo piece for others in my local radio community.

Any and all info is appreciated and extremely helpful and thank you in advance.
Have a wonderful day.

 

[snpr1992]

I recently came upon some XG-100Ps. The programming is relatively straight forward. However, the expensive part is the software. As is referenced at the top of the page, software can be expensive.

Programming cables are available on eBay at varying prices but at least the XG-100P can be programmed via bluetooth.

I just jumped in myself, and it is very different than Motorola, but I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of programming with RPM.

These two videos should take care of any questions or concerns with the XG-100P.

 

[WRPI897]

I recently came upon some XG-100Ps. The programming is relatively straight forward. However, the expensive part is the software. As is referenced at the top of the page, software can be expensive.

Programming cables are available on eBay at varying prices but at least the XG-100P can be programmed via bluetooth.

I just jumped in myself, and it is very different than Motorola, but I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of programming with RPM.

These two videos should take care of any questions or concerns with the XG-100P.

OK now that is intriguing that they can be programed via Bluetooth and how that would work. To me the Motorola cps ( at least for XTS series ) is pretty easy after u get past the initial cluelessness of what to do with it , but that's nice to know that it can be a bit easier the Motorola cps.
As for the software, where and or how can I go about get the rpm software and what one would I need for the xg-100p ( even the xg-75m) cause I kinda have a tight budget, do you know how much the rpm you have costed you?

And thanks for the videos and info it's much appreciated and will be really help.

 

[GM]

Programming cables for various Harris Radios can be purchased from www.newlondontechnology.com

 

[ElroyJetson]

One huge advantage of Harris over Motorola is that one software package programs the entire lineup of radios. Well...almost. RPM and RPM2 may be both required to support the legacy products AND today's current models. But that's way better than one software package per model or series, which is Motorola's way more often than not, as I'm sure you know.

Same as with Motorola, "it helps to know people", who will help you to find what you are looking for.

Another Harris advantage, if scanning trunking systems is your thing, is that it's much easier to scan without the radio ever even trying to transmit if you don't want it to. Using a Harris radio as a trunked scanner is MUCH more straightforward than attempting the same thing with Motorola.

For many years I've been more or less the ultimate Motorola fanboi but today I use Harris radios by choice and my next planned radio purchase will be Harris again.

 

[Asunakiyori]

^ this is true, having programmed motos for years, it was a pain in the backside to do trunking scan, got a harris xg100m in the last few weeks and it was easy as pie to get a PII system in there and i gotta say.. I'm conflicted!

 

[northstarfire0693]

Harris is much better to use on a trunking system to monitor without registering on the system if programed correctly. Moto can be a challenge and you have to be carful. I use both and they have pros and cons.

 

[CanesFan95]

Can XG-75s be programmed with RPM14 no matter what the firmware is or if the radio was touched with RPM?

 

[ElroyJetson]

The firmware has to be compatible with the software. There's always a range of firmware that the software supports. Sometimes you have to upgrade the radio firmware or you CAN'T use the new edition of the software.

Being down around firmware version 2 makes it very likely that you can't use the current versions of RPM or RPM2.
That is positively ANCIENT.

 

[redbeard]

Can XG-75s be programmed with RPM14 no matter what the firmware is or if the radio was touched with RPM?

You can upgrade and downgrade firmware as needed and create new personalities/mission plans as well, something not typically possible on Motorola or others. So very friendly to hobbyists.

 

[WRPI897]

One huge advantage of Harris over Motorola is that one software package programs the entire lineup of radios. Well...almost. RPM and RPM2 may be both required to support the legacy products AND today's current models. But that's way better than one software package per model or series, which is Motorola's way more often than not, as I'm sure you know.

Same as with Motorola, "it helps to know people", who will help you to find what you are looking for.

Another Harris advantage, if scanning trunking systems is your thing, is that it's much easier to scan without the radio ever even trying to transmit if you don't want it to. Using a Harris radio as a trunked scanner is MUCH more straightforward than attempting the same thing with Motorola.

For many years I've been more or less the ultimate Motorola fanboi but today I use Harris radios by choice and my next planned radio purchase will be Harris again.

Well it looks like everyone likes the 100p systems but I'm not looking to do trunking scan or anything like that rn ( maybe down the line ) but I am want both the xg-100p and xg-75m units for ham and gmrs so have the vhf and uhf part of the xg-100p would be extremely nice to have and bounce back and forth super easily instead of having to carry ² radios for 2 different bands like what I do now ( a Motorola xts on uhf r2 and a Kenwood in vhf). And with the xg-75m I'd like to setup a dual brick/dual band base station for both vhf and uhf on it using only one control head in one of those desk consoles but I don't have enough a clue on how to figure out what band a unit is in or even the basing info on one.

 

[redbeard]

Well it looks like everyone likes the 100p systems but I'm not looking to do trunking scan or anything like that rn ( maybe down the line ) but I am want both the xg-100p and xg-75m units for ham and gmrs so have the vhf and uhf part of the xg-100p would be extremely nice to have and bounce back and forth super easily instead of having to carry ² radios for 2 different bands like what I do now ( a Motorola xts on uhf r2 and a Kenwood in vhf). And with the xg-75m I'd like to setup a dual brick/dual band base station for both vhf and uhf on it using only one control head in one of those desk consoles but I don't have enough a clue on how to figure out what band a unit is in or even the basing info on one.

Dual radio single control head is not possible. Just get a 100M.

 

[WRPI897]

Dual radio single control head is not possible. Just get a 100M.

Oh OK I thought u could but that's good to know now . And isn't the 100m a touch screen unit ? I haven't actually seen a dtmf key mic for those ( like the Motorolas ) to be able to set functionality and channels

 

[redbeard]

Oh OK I thought u could but that's good to know now . And isn't the 100m a touch screen unit ? I haven't actually seen a dtmf key mic for those ( like the Motorolas ) to be able to set functionality and channels

Touch screen head is an expensive option. Otherwise they use the same heads and accessories as the 7300/75M. DTMF mic is not needed on either.

 

[Forts]

Can XG-75s be programmed with RPM14 no matter what the firmware is or if the radio was touched with RPM?

Yes. All versions of firmware in the XG series are compatible with RPM14. The only catch might be really old ECP firmware. I've had a few of those that I had to use older versions of RPM on first. Essentially it's only the XL series of radios that require RPM2. If you have an XG that was last programmed with RPM2 you won't be able to read it with 14, but you can overwrite the personality with one created in RPM14 and carry on.

 

[WRPI897]

Yes. All versions of firmware in the XG series are compatible with RPM14. The only catch might be really old ECP firmware. I've had a few of those that I had to use older versions of RPM on first. Essentially it's only the XL series of radios that require RPM2. If you have an XG that was last programmed with RPM2 you won't be able to read it with 14, but you can overwrite the personality with one created in RPM14 and carry on.

Oh that's nice and is that the same way on the xg-100p and m units or something different?

 

[Forts]

Same.

 

[BMDaug]

Same.

Indeed! Just don’t plan to program a 100p in rpm2. It’s not supported.

-B

 

[WRPI897]

So what rpm version will program the xg-100p radios?

 

[BMDaug]

Just not rpm2. Rpm(1), version 14, usually just called rpm14 is fine. It’s just confusing because you can program the XG-100M, and some other radios from the same era using rpm2, but not the 100p. It’s special…

-B