XTS2500 Programming

[BlueDevil]

I am programming a XTS2500 model 1.5.

I want to be able to edit the scan list from the radio itself. I understand the pressing and holding of the top/purple side button to get into the scan list but I am not able to figure out how to add/delete channels from the list. Right now the scan list is full so I know I have to delete a channel before I can add one. However I am not able to accomplish that, all I get is a beep indicating an error when I try to delete a channel.

Also is there a way to have the battery level appear in the display?

Thanks,

Brandon

 

[evfd1625]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 4.1.1; HTC6435LVW Build/JRO03C) AppleWebKit/537.31 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/26.0.1410.58 Mobile Safari/537.31 OPR/14.0.1074.57768)

Use the purple button to select the scan icon from the screen when you select your channel with the knob. It should go away for not in the list and appear for channels that are. But you also have to make sure the non priority members in the list are user programmable and not fixed when you go into the scan lists on the CPS

 

[com501]

Do you have an Impres battery? Is your firmware rev sufficiently newer than R10 or so to support battery indication? Then it should work as long as your battery has been IN an Impres charger in the last week or so....

 

[BlueDevil]

I check on that battery. It's all Motorola stuff, no aftermarket equipment.

Also is it possible to program the XTS with a serial cable? The only success I have had is with the USB cable.

 

[SCPD]

I used serial cables for the xts 5k and 2500 before in past without issue.

 

[BlueDevil]

Do you use a RIB or just connect the cable directly to the serial port?

 

[com501]

The XTS does NOT use a RIB!!

 

[com501]

The XTS also, does NOT use the same cable as an HT1000!!

 

[com501]

(just sayin')

 

[SCPD]

The ones I have used are ribless serial. The xts2500 cable that's ribless will also work with a xts5000. The other cable that's ribless mentioned above for the ht1000 will work on xts3000. I have heard doom stories about cables however myself never had a problem with the ribless serials. So couldn't say if it was just talk or what problem someone had. I never had a problem and I do also use oem M cables. With anything nowadays there's risk. A slow computer could cause the radio in program mode to hang and go to a fail 00/ code. But I've recovered from those that happened in past.

 

[SCPD]

What I meant was I use both programming cables from M and other cables from kawa and eBay and such without issue.

 

[BlueDevil]

Is it acceptable to buy a cable off eBay?

 

[SCPD]

Many say go oem M. But I have used the third party serial ribless without any issue. If your programming a fleet for public safety I'd suggest stay with oem M. As for personal or such the ribless third party should be fine. I never had issue with them. You could use the third party type then if you desire later save if you have to and get a oem M cable if you choose to. But I known allot of people who use the third party cables never had issue as I have never had a issue.

 

[com501]

In my mind, no. I own a dozen XTS radios. If a $3000 radio is worth it to be bricked, then buy a $30 cable off eBay. Otherwise, order the REAL cable from Motorola. Why take chances?

 

[SCPD]

It's a personal risk choice. Why I say if its a fleet or allot go about it right. Personal one radio you grabbed cheap off bay that alone may/has its own list I won't get into. It's a accountability on self you can do it but if something goes wrong dont blame anyone but self. I've seen radios bricked usin all oem items before bc a computer hung up. It's a expensive hobby if that is what it is. If you don't feel comfortable using a third party go oem if you question it. If you just dropped three grand plus out of pocket for a radio then get everything you need oem as radio. One thing ill say some will not like is allot of radios people sell on the bay are garage flashed without ikeys like no tomorrow and third party cables used. Just because a few videos show said ppl talking about radio doesn't mean he uses oem. If he did he wouldn't hide that part. So in aspects of warranty it's void anyway or M won't touch it if its been flashed the way allot of bay folks did. Just because I didn't have issue doesn't mean you won't. Then again I use non oem on two cheap radios I picked up when I did. If they were bricked I wouldn't loose sleep bc I knew risk and wouldn't be out of pocket. All in all you know the risks and if your not willing to accept risk then go oem. If your not willing to accept a pc could hang in middle of a codeplig write then use a authorized dealer. Anytime a radio is programmed you take risk.

 

[mikewazowski]

In my mind, no. I own a dozen XTS radios. If a $3000 radio is worth it to be bricked, then buy a $30 cable off eBay. Otherwise, order the REAL cable from Motorola. Why take chances?

+1.

It amazes me how many people will spend their hard earned money on an expensive radio and then cheap out on a cable.

 

[BlueDevil]

It's definitely a risk versus benefit analysis. I do the radio programming for my local public safety agencies. I work for the local FD. I am not very well compensated, in fact I do a lot of it for free. All the software and hardware costs come out of my own pocket. I do the programming to help out and make sure it's done right but I can't afford hundreds of dollars per cable when each agency has a wide variety of radios. Bad situation to be in I guess.

 

[SCPD]

That case oem. If it were a cheap panter radio for giggles (those who know what I'm talking about) I'd say go nuts with the third party cable. But public safety oem.

 

[KE4ZNR]

+1.

It amazes me how many people will spend their hard earned money on an expensive radio and then cheap out on a cable.

Yep. In my municipal radio shop we ONLY purchase OEM Moto cables from MOL.
Sure it costs the city more but it is warrented protection.
We have Astro Serial and USB Cables and APX USB but they are all OEM. When
you have to deal with 615 City PD Portables + 200 FD Portables and countless number of XTL Mobiles with both W7 and 05 heads then OEM is the only option. I can't take the additional risk of possibly bricking a radio using a cheaper cable.
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[SCPD]

I'll add my voice to the opposition of the majority... My cheap *** eBay cables for my Jedi and Astro 25 radios have done just fine...perfect, actually. Never had a problem. I do take care of them though. They're not thrown around or covered in cigarette butts or crap like that... they are stored in a box when not in use.

This whole bit about "bricking" radios with an eBay cable is urban legend to me. With limited exception (like com501 and KE4ZNR and Oxong) I thnk that most folk who assert the "brick" story don't even own a motorola radio... They're just parroting what they read on the net.