XTL2500 vs XTL5000 - whats the difference?

[g8tzl2004]

I've just checked the specs of a mid power XTL2500 vs XTL5000 and the radios seem to be basically identical.

The only difference I can find is that the XTL2500 has 870 channels while the XTL5000 has 1000 - so thats not really an issue!!!

I know the body is identical and the heads look almost identical.

I presume there must be a difference in the flashcode options? But why have 2 different models?

Maybe I'm missing something?

Thanks

[Mfire39]

When it comes down to it, the only real differences are the control head, and codeplug.

-Marc

[g8tzl2004]

Does the XTL5000 control head display additional information or something? The LCD size is the same, I think.

What can the XTL5000 control head do that the XTL2500 control head can't do?

[RFguy]

Differences in Encryption. I think the XTL2500 can only have one 1 Algorithm, where the XTL5000 can have multiple.

Also I think the 5000 can have 4 remote heads, the 2500 only 2.

[escomm]

Note that the differences between the products are strictly software based and part of Motorola's "product tiering"

Speaking on actual physical differences, Marc is spot on, the ONLY difference is the control head and what the firmware/codeplug tell the radios what it is capable of doing...

[N4DES]

Differences in Encryption. I think the XTL2500 can only have one 1 Algorithm, where the XTL5000 can have multiple.

Also I think the 5000 can have 4 remote heads, the 2500 only 2.

The XT2500 is capable of multi-key.

[g8tzl2004]

As the differences are only software based, why bother having a different model designation?

Why not do all the product tiering via the flash code ie. a basic analog XTL5000 upto a full featured P25 XTL5000.

I can see the logic in having a completely different control head, such as the XTL1500 but there seems to be no logic in having what appears to be identical control head except that the color of the plastic front is different???? I think you can even put an XTL2500 head on a XTL5000 once you have switched around a small resisitive pad!!

Maybe Motorola can charge extra $ for the different color of plastic head on an XTL5000?

Out of interest, is there a price difference between an XTL2500 and an XTL5000 with basically the same identical flash code?

[Mfire39]

Why not do all the product tiering via the flash code ie. a basic analog XTL5000 upto a full featured P25 XTL5000.

That's already an option.. You can order an XTL5000 bare bones analog only, or loaded to the hilt to suit the customers needs..

And, don't forget about the Astro25 portable side of things since were on the subject of "same radios," The PR1500, MT1500, XTS1500, and XTS2500 are all the same radio under the hood with the exception of the firmware & codeplug.

-Marc

[g8tzl2004]

But why is the XTL2500 control head identical to the XTL5000 control head? (apart from the color of the plastic).

Whats the point of having an XTL2500 head if its identical to a XTL5000 head?

I could understand if the XTL2500 head had a smaller LCD, or less buttons or something (like the XTL1500 head) but instead its identical to the XTL5000 head.

[escomm]

The control heads are not identical

[g8tzl2004]

So whats the difference?...apart from the color of the plastic.

If you simply alter the position of a resistive tab, you can put a XTL2500 head on a XTL5000 body with no need to reflash the XTL5000 body into a XTL2500 body.

[Astro Spectra]

The color of the display back light on a 5k is fully adjustable (3x 8 bit DAC used to drive the RGB LEDs) while the 2k5 has a small selection of fixed colours. Makes a difference when you need to match the dash lighting.

But the real difference is that two models (three if you count the 1k5) allows Motorola to address different market price points with just one R&D investment. The technical differences are essentially cosmetic and the more sophisticated fleet buyers known that.

[g8tzl2004]

So the XTL5000 is sold at top $ while the more or less "identical" XTL2500 is sold significantly cheaper to users who are not "funded by the tax payer" !!!

Using a different model number stops any "difficult" questions about why some users are paying less for basically the same radio??

[MotoFAN]

The color of the display back light on a 5k is fully adjustable (3x 8 bit DAC used to drive the RGB LEDs) while the 2k5 has a small selection of fixed colours.

It's not truly RGB. It's more likely RG, because you cannot get blue color from head.