This forum is dedicated to discussions pertaining specifically to the Motorola ASTRO line of radios (those that use VSELP/IMBE/AMBE), including using digital modulation, digital programming, FlashPort upgrades, etc. If you have general questions please use the General or Programming forums.
One incorrect point that I'd like to see corrected is:
The XTS3500 is an XTS3000, with a faster CPU, and supposedly it supports higher levels of encryption -- however this has never been confirmed. It looks identical to the XTS3000, but it's only available in VHF and UHF models -- No 800 MHz. The 3500 is programmed with CPS. As far as I know, no RSS exists and the radio has not been hacked.
The XTS3500 has ONLY dos RSS. No CPS.
That was the only thing that stood out to be first read through.
THANK YOU r0f for putting together that primer. That was a SUPERB summation of "Astro Land". I found the bits on firmware and encryption a great refresher.
I do have several questions though:
What models are comparable to the Latin American XTS 2250 and XTS 4250 radios?
Secondly, *****has anyone seen that "baby pigeon" of a radio called SSE5000?*****
Because of the comments I'm hearing on this, and because it is very well written, I've made it a stickey here - I am also going to drop an email to Bat, and see if he'll put it up on the main site.
I would like to keep further comments in this thread to updates/corrections/suggestions mainly - that way Shawn can better maintain it, but also so that others can easily pick the info from it.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the assumption that Motorola released the XTS3500 for some 3 letter agencies that wanted AES encryption and couldn't wait for the XTS5000. That explains why they are vhf/uhf only and don't seem to support trunking.
That's pretty odd why the 3500 doesn't support trunking. It's obviously a FlashPort radio, so I wonder what would happen if you could somehow get a FlashCode that has SmartZone trunking or something, into the radio.
I have seen the SSE 5000 in Rockford before I left the RSC. It looks just like a regular Saber except the control top is different. there is a small display on the top of the radio and the channel select knobs and switches are different. From my understanding the SSE is going to be basically an XTS 5000 in a Saber housing. From what I hear the purpose for the SSE is because the NYPD was asking for a digital radio with the features of the XTS 5000 but wanted to be able to use all of their accessories for the old Sabers ( batts, clips, mics, and be on the same format as the fire dept ) so they cramed it all it an old Saber housing. Ive seen the inside once, if I remember correctly there are 3 boards in it stacked on top of each other connected with flexs and one of the boards plugs directly it the other. There is actually 4 boards available for it if you add the secure board that I believe is available for it. If there has been revisions or modificatons Im not sure Ill have to talk to some friends still at the RSC. If I hear anything else about purformance or anything Ill pass it along.
I recently was able to take a look at the SSE5000. The model that was released had the A/B-C/D-E/F switch on top, similar to what was shown in the .pdf files. Interestingly, the antenna jack was not the threading used on the Jedi series or any of the Astro's to date.
On a separate note, here are links to the XTS 2250 and 4250 respectively:
You may want to update the MT1500 to reflect 48 channels. I recently purchased 100 units and they all came with 48 channel capabilites.
Still no display, but a good source advised that they are researching the idea of a display so it can be similiar to the LTS2000 which is being cancelled.
