900 XTS2500 FPP in 902/927

[N4KVE]

What's the deal with this? Many people claim while the 900 XTS2500 will do FPP in the commercial band, they will not in the 902/927 ham band. That's exactly how my radio works. But I have seen film clips on You Tube where a 900 XTS 2500 does it perfectly in the ham band. A fellow from California offered to "fix" my radio to allow it to work, but I don't care to send my radio across the country to a total stranger. My radio has current FW, & a FC of 500098-00148C-6. It had a FPP FC, but since it didn't work at 902/927, I took it out. Is there a special FC that allows FPP in the ham band to work? What's the secret here? There's several of us who would like this feature in our radios. GARY
__________________

[d119]

Way to allude to use of certain software there, Gary...

There is no special flashcode. My understanding is that it's either a firmware or codeplug modification that allows it to work. I don't know the details, but I can tell you it's not flashcode related.

Most likely it's editing the codeplug to expand the band limits of the FPP mode of the radio. But that's just a guess.

[N4KVE]

Thanks. I know nothing about "certain software". All I know is I bring my radio to a guy who takes it into the back room, & it comes back 10 minutes later "updated". This includes a session with an Aeroflex 3920. Thanks again, & a happy, & healthy new year. GARY

[d119]

[N4KVE]

I have been contacted by someone who knows how to do the mod. But since it means having to have someone change my flash code back to FPP, which seems to be a touchy subject, I will not be able to help anybody. GARY

[d119]

Well there are some of us with radios with FPP in them that would like the gist of how it's done. Perhaps a PM with the information?

[N4KVE]

He will send me his code plug. I must clone it to my radio. But to do that, I have to have the exact same flash code, so that means a trip to the guy with the "back room". I'll get back after it's done. GARY

[N4KVE]

That did not work, so I contacted "the guy". Success!! My friend figured out a way to get the FPP option to work in the 902/927 band. No Depot tools or anything. Since he figured out how to get the FPP to work on a XPR6550, I knew he could do this. Took him about an hour to figure it out. Similar to getting a 450-512 radio to work in the ham band. Now FPP works everywhere, ham & commercial.

[Jim1348]

Both my wife and I are licensed amateur radio operators. We will be going on a cruise in March. I currently have a pair of Motorola DTR550s. They work pretty well. I have considered getting a pair of the XTS2500s for 900 MHz P25. Do they transmit about 3 watts at 900 MHz? Of course, the other question is how much more range would they have vs. the DTR550s?

[N4KVE]

2.5 watts I believe. I would use the DTR's if you already have them. There are pages of info posted over the years about what radios to use on a cruise. Don't even bother with stubby antennas on 900. They suck. GARY

[motorola_otaku]

Wow, nice thread hijack...

Since the .cpg files are encrypted by CPS I'm guessing this involves the use of a decrypt/unpack tool similar to how the Waris OOB mod is performed.

[d119]

Maximum power output of HT's is generally as follows:

900MHz = 2 Watts
800MHz = 3 Watts
UHF = 5 Watts (but most are 4)
VHF = 7 Watts (but most are 5-7)
Lowband = 10 Watts (but most are 5-7)

[N4KVE]

Just had both my 900 2500's auto tuned. 2.42 watts output. Tomorrow they will both do FPP in the 902/927 ham split. GARY

[Jim1348]

2.5 watts I believe. I would use the DTR's if you already have them. There are pages of info posted over the years about what radios to use on a cruise. Don't even bother with stubby antennas on 900. They suck. GARY

Thank you for the reply. Yes, I do, indeed have the longer antennas. After seeing that yours are 2.42 watts, I really doubt that I would notice a significant difference in range then.

[N4KVE]

One radio showed 2.82 watts, & the Aeroflex 3920 failed it, & reset it to 2.42 watts. GARY

[N1ZZN]

I just bought a XTS2500 for 900 off eBay. I'd be interested in learning the procedure as well, if possible. Wonder if it would also work for getting a 450-512 radio to do FPP in the ham band, where it works fine when programmed with the software.

[d119]

Well, apparently this is still a big stupid secret that no one is talking about. Good luck!

[N4KVE]

Way to allude to use of certain software there, Gary...

I honestly do not know to modify the CPS. All I know is I hand the guy my radio, he brings it into the "back room", & 10 minutes later, it's FPP in the ham band. So since his methods upset some people, I can't help anybody. GARY

[d119]

I don't think it's so much that they "upset" anyone, as they just cannot be discussed here.

[Number 6]

A Google search will reveal that ham FPP is not a CPS modification. A little common sense will reveal that you do not want to be exploring this topic in public.