Batboard

Well, I just got me a brand new XTS2500i, but...the keypad and display backlight is extremely dim, and the TX/RX LED on top of the radio won't light up at all. Surveilance mode is off (yup, checked radiowide and per personality). Radio TX/RX just fine, though.

Any thoughts on what might be wrong would be appreciated.

Wicho.

Brand New?

Id be hauling that back into your friendly /\/\ sales rep, or on the line with the depot or an MSS for a warranty repair.

Ive seen some with similar issues new out of box.

Yeah, I spoke with M this afternoon. Can you say Depot trip?

The tactical version of this radio has low backlight option for use with night vision gear.

tactical version?

perhaps you mean a TPS personality? I am not aware of any way to lower the display lighting.

Care to elaborate on that?

I've got TPS enabled on mine. Doesn't change the backlight...

There are some tactical (military) 2500s out there. My friend picked one up recently. THe backlight is indeed very low level.

I think you're right since I have more than one radio with the same issue. Other than the dim backlight and TX/RX LED not lighting up, the radios are perfect.

RocketNJ wrote:There are some tactical (military) 2500s out there. My friend picked one up recently. THe backlight is indeed very low level.

Any other known differences/options/etc on the mil 2500's?

The radio's case is a bit different from other 2500's I've seen - they don't have the finger grooves on the front like other 2500's, but I don't know if that's a normal difference between the I and non I variations. Also, the top label that says Motorola doesn't say XTS2500, just Motorola, and the channel selector knob is different. I'll post pictures tomorrow evening when I return home.

The radios come with AES 256 and are FPP. Send me a PM with your email addy if you'd like to see a codeplug.

Pj wrote:Any other known differences/options/etc on the mil 2500's?

Ex Marine Corps radio. Been a lot of 'em floating around on the bay lately.

What are your thoughts on them? Good? Bad?

akardam wrote:Ex Marine Corps radio. Been a lot of 'em floating around on the bay lately.

Haven't had a chance to handle one personally but I know folks who have. They're OK I suppose if you're willing to live with the differences.

Gotta love the life spans of these radios in government services... sheesh.

Here are some pics. Nothing too exciting. BTW, nothing is wrong with the display - it's just the way it came out in the picture.

I, too, picked up one of these radios. I personally like the larger channel selector knob, but do not like the dim backlight. However, when just about every radio on the market was built with a different recipe, buyers like myself can't be too choosy. All in all, I love this radio -- best Astro portable I've used.

echelon0911 wrote:I, too, picked up one of these radios. I personally like the larger channel selector knob, but do not like the dim backlight. However, when just about every radio on the market was built with a different recipe, buyers like myself can't be too choosy. All in all, I love this radio -- best Astro portable I've used.

Those are all "B" platform XTS2500 portables - which will be shipping with the standard slimline channel knob, as opposed to the fat knobs. If you like the fat knobs you can order them when you purchase the radio as an option, and they'll come in the box for you to change out if you so desire.

Also, note that there are no finger rests on the side of the radio case - which also indicates it's a "B" *(8MB Secure Capable) revision 2500.

-Alex

I thought they were a good deal at $995 each since I don't need trunking.

Flash 160003-000100-8
8 Meg
Comes with AES 256

Anyone know the part # of that dust cover??

akardam wrote:Ex Marine Corps radio. Been a lot of 'em floating around on the bay lately.

Around how much??

There are at least two different sellers on e-Bay. I have purchased a couple and my only complaints are the VERY dim backlight and the red tx light issues. I look forward to learning of a solution to resolve these issues. The final issue is the fact I cannot load Rev 10 CPS onto my Vista based system. Therefore, I cannot program this radio with the primary computer I use.

So, here is what was on the radio package's label:

H02AG ENH: TACTICAL RADIO SOFTWARE
Q159AC ADD: XTS2500 HARDWARE ENCRYPTI
Q53AE ENH: FCC CONV FPP AND CLONE
Q629AD ADD: AES ENCRYPTION
Q811AT INT: SOFTWARE P25 CONVENTIONAL
QA00211AA ALT: IP67 SUBMERSION
AQ00419AA ADD: ISR2000 OPTION
H869BQ ADD: MULTI KEY
Q57AD ENH: ONE (1) YR ENCRYPT EXPRESS
H415EQ INT: BULK PACKAGING
Q360BK INT: FCC/UID LABEL ISR2000
Q424AC INT: RSM ADAPTER
Q52AE INT: FED GOVT CONV FPP
Q792HM INT: ST UHF R1 M3 ISR2000 B/A
QA00463AA ADD: IP67 DUSTCOVER ASSY CONN

H02AG ENH: TACTICAL RADIO SOFTWARE

I assume since this is a flashed option, undoing/altering the dim light and the rx/tx led will not be possible via CPS.

I just uploaded a codeplug to the codeplug supersite.

It's in the XTS2500 section, named as follows:

407CHM3724 xts2500cp.cpg
Military XTS2500 M3 codeplug - FPP

You will need CPS 10.0 for this.

Well - time to resurrect an old post from the past.

Anyone ever figure out how to increase the backlight's brightness and make the TX/RX LED work?

Mindset4 wrote:...I have purchased a couple and my only complaints are the VERY dim backlight and the red tx light issues. I look forward to learning of a solution to resolve these issues...

I'd imagine a reflash to a regular conventional only package would take care of it.

H02AG ENH: TACTICAL RADIO SOFTWARE

^This flash option seems to control the dim backlight and TX/RX LED not working. Just flash to a H35 package and you're good to go (probably).

unleashedff248 wrote:I'd imagine a reflash to a regular conventional only package would take care of it.

H02AG ENH: TACTICAL RADIO SOFTWARE

^This flash option seems to control the dim backlight and TX/RX LED not working. Just flash to a H35 package and you're good to go (probably).

I'm 50/50 if yanking out the tectical software will take care of the backlight and other backlight, TX/RX led.

There is no pot or resistor on the display for controlling brightness on the display. The pot on the display is for contrast FYI.

If you look at a XTS5K, the display and keypad are controlled via one data output from the microP. This output is buffered via a transistor, then feed through a resistor before it hits the LED. If the 2500 is the same way, then it's very possable that the dimness is caused by a higher value resistor.

To verify the display, all someone has to do is take any known bright 5K/2.5K display and temporary hook it up to the tactical bastard radio.

Could be...but then I'd imagine the whole display assembly would have it's own unique part number, different from the standard one. I just feel that for Motorola business wise it would be simpler and cheaper to manufacture just one model of radio, and then modify it through software options (like they do with trunking and all software flash options).

Any solid answer on this? I think I got one of these radios as well. Its under warranty. I shipped to Depot and they shipped back with a working LED but a non working backlight. They also replaced the sticker on the front of the case from the supposed marines "Motorola" to the standard "Motorola XTS 2500". 2 weeks at the depo - a new RF board later and still no backlight..... FYI I have the H35 package but I alos have tactical radio inhibit

160003-000100-8

Surprising that NCIS hasn't knocked on your door yet..

escomm wrote:Surprising that NCIS hasn't knocked on your door yet..

It's only a matter of time.....

Those radios are stolen from the Marine Corps. - property of the US Government.

this is not an xts2500i - also not stolen - its electronic and tagged serial number ran clean through all possible areas.

It has a similar configuration to the marine setup however the flashcode is different

rather than dwell on assuming it is stolen - how can the problem be resolved???

By similar i mean that it has the same backlight problem - that is all

Jason618 wrote:this is not an xts2500i - also not stolen - its electronic and tagged serial number ran clean through all possible areas.

It has a similar configuration to the marine setup however the flashcode is different

rather than dwell on assuming it is stolen - how can the problem be resolved???

First, the flashcode in your radio is the same as the MC radios. Second, the tactical inhibit is an out of book option, based on what is known at this point it's a Fed-only option. Third, H02 tactical software is an out of book option as well.

All fingers point to this 2500 being one of the USMC radios.

Considering you have a current production radio with a handful of Fed-only options, it ought to be understandable why people are somewhat reluctant to assist (not to mention your issue has been asked and answered in this thread already), especially now that the history of the USMC radios are well known.

3-SAM-12 wrote:Anyone know the part # of that dust cover??

I wan to know too.

Well, here's my $0.02

The radios I had are now in the hands of the Fed Gov't. If someone comes along offering to sell you one, don't buy it. Yes, they are stolen, not surplus as was originally thought.

Buyer beware.

I think the OP's question has been answered, and I don't think any further discussion on this topic would be appropos.