Question about APX Bands

[Gwebb258]

Hello,

I am looking to purchase my own APX6000XE or possibly an APX4000 radio, but need a few questions answered first.

My county's radios operate on a UHF 450-520 MHz band.

1. Are UHF R1 and R2 radios different? I did some research and it seems like R1 is a lower band and R2 is higher, but nowhere had a concrete answer. If I were to buy an APX radio that is UHF R1, can I swap out the antenna for UHF R2? Or is the radio strictly programmed for that specific band.

2. Also, what are the ranges for R1 and R2?

Thank you very much

 

[GTR8000]

They are separate ranges in the APX series, determined by RF hardware, not the antenna. Only the 8x00 series includes the full UHF range as a single option, all other radios you must choose the correct range (or both UHF R1 and R2 in a dual-band 7x00)

UHF R1 380-470
UHF R2 450-520

 

[Outerdog]

I did some research and it seems like R1 is a lower band and R2 is higher, but nowhere had a concrete answer.

Go straight to the source next time.

https://www.motorolasolutions.com/content/dam/msi/docs/products/apx/apx6000xe-enhanced/APX6000XEEnhanced_DataSheet.pdf

APX 6000XE P25 Enhanced Portable Radio - Motorola Solutions

The enhanced APX 6000XE P25 single-band portable radio supports WiFi, Adaptive Audio Engine, and Bluetooth® 4.0. Learn more today!

www.motorolasolutions.com

 

[N4KVE]

If the freq’s you need to operate on are between 450-470, you could use either split radio. If you need it to work above 470, then you need the R2.

 

[MTS2000des]

To further beat on that horse, before anyone asks, no the APX bandsplits are hard coded into the APX firmware and cannot be hex edited via CPS or codeplug bit banging.

 

[katt02]

Since this topic came up, the apx900 spec sheet lists uhf1 as 380-480; It appears to be the only outlier from the rest of the series. Has anyone been able to confirm this?

https://www.motorolasolutions.com/content/dam/msi/docs/products/two-way-radios/apx/apx-900/apx_900_spec_sheet.pdf

 

[K2NEC]

Since this topic came up, the apx900 spec sheet lists uhf1 as 380-480; It appears to be the only outlier from the rest of the series. Has anyone been able to confirm this?
View attachment 128849

https://www.motorolasolutions.com/content/dam/msi/docs/products/two-way-radios/apx/apx-900/apx_900_spec_sheet.pdf

Confirmed

 

[KevinC]

Confirmed
View attachment 128851

Probably to accommodate NYPD?

 

[K2NEC]

Probably to accommodate NYPD?

I'd say that's a fair guess, but at that point, why not just get a U2 model?

 

[KevinC]

I'd say that's a fair guess, but at that point, why not just get a U2 model?

Isn’t 420 used in NY state? So maybe for interoperability???? I’m 2,000 miles away so I’m just guessing.

 

[GTR8000]

Probably to accommodate NYPD?

Not a bad guess, but NYPD has 482 and 485 channels, so I don't think it would make sense to stop at 480. 420 MHz is only used in the Buffalo/Niagara area in NYS.

 

[KevinC]

Not a bad guess, but NYPD has 482 and 485 channels, so I don't think it would make sense to stop at 480. 420 MHz is only used in the Buffalo/Niagara area in NYS.

I tried.

 

[ElroyJetson]

Glad I read this topic. If I had at any point planned to get an APX with UHF in it, now I know that only R1 will allow 70cm operation.

Kind of surprising that R2 isn't even editable to enable the 440-450 range but it is what it is.

So R1 is the version I'd seek. Another benefit is it would allow the possibility of monitoring some UHF-L federal systems.

 

[UAT_978]

They are separate ranges in the APX series, determined by RF hardware, not the antenna. Only the 8x00 series includes the full UHF range as a single option, all other radios you must choose the correct range (or both UHF R1 and R2 in a dual-band 7x00)

UHF R1 380-470
UHF R2 450-520

A bit of a rarity, but the APX7000 could be had in UHF R1 and UHF R2 for 380-520 coverage. I have only seen one or two come across my bench, but they did make them.

 

[chrismol1]

so happened while looking thru firmware notes a few days ago and saw this topic

What does this mean? RTTE governed countries?
APX R17
New/Replacement Products
Abstract: “BN” Radios UHF-R1 Extend Frequency to 480 MHz
System Platforms Affected: All
Special Configurations: Applies to radios in RTTE governed countries
Description: Operating UHF 1 band for “BN” model radios have been extended from 380-470MHz to 380-480MHz. APX 6000, APX 6000 XE, APX 6000 LI, APX 5000, SRX 2200, SRX 2200 ULP “BN” models

 

[UAT_978]

so happened while looking thru firmware notes a few days ago and saw this topic

What does this mean? RTTE governed countries?
APX R17
New/Replacement Products
Abstract: “BN” Radios UHF-R1 Extend Frequency to 480 MHz
System Platforms Affected: All
Special Configurations: Applies to radios in RTTE governed countries
Description: Operating UHF 1 band for “BN” model radios have been extended from 380-470MHz to 380-480MHz. APX 6000, APX 6000 XE, APX 6000 LI, APX 5000, SRX 2200, SRX 2200 ULP “BN” models

Short answer: European radios and does not affect radios in the NA market.

Motorola rtte

 

[jeepsandradios]

I have a 7500 UR1 and UR2. Only one I have seen though.