VP900 Software Clarification

[dustinw251]

OK guys im getting conflicting stories here. Under the Firmware upgrade 18.1 they released the two tone decode over p25. then with the revised update you now have to pay for it separately. My issue is now that I called to order I have one person telling me that the VP900 will not function with the two tone properties, only the 5000 and the 6000. Can anyone comment on this for me? Because when it first came out I spoke to EF Johnson tech line and they said it will. Now my Regional Kenwood man is telling me it will, but the dealer im trying to buy from is telling me it will not. We want the dual band functionality without paying the 8000.00 price tag of the bigger radio company and not having to carry two radios. But we also want two tone paging functionality over p25. We have the capability to encode through other means so having just the decode properties is not an issue.

 

[rowanRF]

The VP600 and VP900 are both capable of P25 two-tone decode, granted you have purchased the option for it.

 

[dustinw251]

Rowan, don't take the wrong way and I am not questioning your knowledge brother by no means but have you seen it done?

 

[ohiohonda]

The current price pages do show the VP600 and VP900 with the optional P25 paging decode. The part number for the option is 8326000027 and states "Compatible With: All Viking Radios" . I personally have not added this option to either. Hope this helps.

 

[rowanRF]

I've never used the feature myself, so I can't comment on its performance, but I have seen some VP600s with the option enabled. It's programmed the same way on a VP600 as it would be on a VP5000/6000 and subject to the same decoding limitations. VP900s will be no different.

 

[dustinw251]

I've never used the feature myself, so I can't comment on its performance, but I have seen some VP600s with the option enabled. It's programmed the same way on a VP600 as it would be on a VP5000/6000 and subject to the same decoding limitations. VP900s will be no different.

On the VP600 is that across the digital mode or the analog?

 

[rowanRF]

Digital. You can set up two-tone decoder lists for both P25 conventional and P25 trunked systems.

 

[dustinw251]

Guess I will find out soon enough either way im getting the dual band functionality I need. If it works out for both that will be great. I just pulled the trigger and ordered 12 of these so we will see what happens. I may be asking a few more questions once it gets back from initial programming for the trunked system. Worst case scenario we still use minitor pagers on vhf anyway so its not that big of a deal. Just would like to eventually move totally away from conventional VHF and solely digital but $ wise were still a good ways away from that however and leaving the VHF system in place for a backup.