XPR6580 on 902/927?

[N4KVE]

I have a XPR6580 800/900 radio. It came as a type 2 trunking radio that also works in 800, & 900 conventional. I'd like to program some 902/927 freq's in it. But I'm told it has to be flashed to conventional only for 902/927 to be possible. I'm also told if it is flashed for DMR, then it will also not be able to do 902/927. I'm told the only way for it to do 902/927 is to have it set up for conventional only. This seems to be a waste. So has anyone been able to set up their 6580 that does type 2 to also do 902/927? GARY

[N5LS]

Hi Gary,

First, all 800/900 XPRs, unless ordered with DMR from the factory, come with trunking standard.
If you want to flash a trunking XPR 800/900 radio to DMR, you have to buy a DMR entitlement key from Motorola.
My dealer charged me $75 for the key, and I was able to enable my 6580 for DMR in my CPS.

Then, once its enabled for DMR, then you have to hex edit the frequencies, becuase CPS doesnt allow ham frequencies on 900, like the VHF and UHF do. But it is doable. We have what I think is the first 900 DMR repeater in the U.S. here in Dallas. Same hex editing trick for the repeater, as well as the mobiles.

The thing you must ask before purchasing any XPRs for 800/900 is whether its flashed for trunking or digital. If its digital, be prepared to add $75 to your budget for the entitlememt key.

Larry.

[N4KVE]

Thanks Larry. I'm actually hooking up with a friend in an hour to address the problem. The radio now does trunking, & is working fine on a 900 trunked system. The friend who I'm meeting by the way has had a 900 DMR repeater up & running for a few months. He owns 2 6580's. One flashed to do DMR, & the other to do trunking, [blue tape on the antenna tells them apart] but he says he can't hex edit either to do 902/927. From his experience he would need to make 1 radio conventional analog only, & that he could hex edit to 902/927. However, someone sent me a fix, & that should allow 902/927, & type 2 trunking on the same radio. I'll report back on the results. Thanks again. GARY

[N4KVE]

Here's the results. Good, & bad. My friend has 2 6580's. 1 flashed for DMR, & the other a stock radio that does type 2 trunking. The bad. The type 2 trunking radio will still not take ham [902/927] freq's. It now allows my 2nd 6580 flashed for Trbo to read the radio loaded with 902/927 freq's, instead of having to read the saved codeplug. The radio works great on the 902/927 freq's. GARY