Motorola ASTRO XTL 2500 User manual

Control Head
User's Guide
ASTRO®
XTL™2500
Digital MobileRadio

Control Head
INDICATORS
HOME
MODE
KNOB
VOLUME
KNOB
DIM
BUTTON
SOFT MENU
KEYS
NAVIGATION
KEYS
POWER
ON/OFF
EMERGENCY
Emer
XTL 2500

ASTRO XTL 2500 Digital MobileRadio 0
This declaration is applicableto your radio only if your radio is labeled
with theFCC logoshownbelow.
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Per FCC CFR 47 Part 2 Section 2.1077(a)
ResponsibleParty
Name: Motorola, Inc.
Address: 1301 East Algonquin Road.
Schaumburg, IL 60196-1078, USA
Phone Number: 1-800-927-2744
Hereby declares that theproduct:
Model Name: XTL 2500
conformsto thefollowing regulations:
FCC Part 15, subpart B, section 15.107(a), 15.107(d) and section 15.109(a)
Class B Digital Device
Asapersonal computer peripheral, this devicecomplies with Part 15 of theFCC
Rules. Operation is subjectto thefollowing twoconditions:
1. this devicemay not cause harmful interference, and
2. this devicemust acceptany interferencereceived, including interferencethat
may cause undesired operation.
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with thelimits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of theFCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonableprotection against harmful interferencein a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordancewith the
instructions, may cause harmful interferenceto radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interferencewill not occur in aparticular
installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
• Reorient or relocate thereceiving antenna.
• Increase theseparation between theequipment and receiver.
• Connecttheequipment into an outlet on acircuit different from that to which
thereceiver is connected.
• Consultthedealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

i
Product Safety and RF Exposure Compliance
ATTENTION!
This radio is restricted to occupational use only to satisfy FCC RF energy
exposure requirements. Before using this product, read the RF energy
awareness information and operating instructions in the Product Safety and RF
Exposure booklet enclosed with your radio (Motorola Publication part number
6881095C99) to ensure compliance with RF energy exposure limits.
Computer Software Copyrights
TheMotorolaproducts described in this manual may include copyrighted Motorola
computer programsstored in semiconductor memories or other media. Lawsin the
United States and other countries preservefor Motorolacertain exclusiverights for
copyrighted computer programs, including, but not limited to, theexclusiverightto copy
or reproducein any form thecopyrighted computer program. Accordingly, any
copyrighted Motorolacomputer programscontained in theMotorolaproducts described
in this manual may not becopied, reproduced, modified, reverse-engineered, or
distributed in any manner without theexpress written permission of Motorola.
Furthermore, thepurchase of Motorolaproducts shall not bedeemed to grant either
directly or by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any license under thecopyrights,
patents or patent applications of Motorola, exceptfor thenormal non-exclusivelicense
to use that arises by operation of law in thesaleof aproduct.
Documentation Copyrights
Noduplication or distribution of this document or any portion thereof shall takeplace
without theexpress written permission of Motorola. Nopart of this manual may be
reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, for any purpose without theexpress written permission of Motorola.
Disclaimer
Theinformation in this document is carefully examined, and is believed to beentirely
reliable. However, no responsibility is assumed for inaccuracies. Furthermore,
Motorolareserves therightto makechanges to any products herein to improve
readability, function, or design. Motoroladoes not assumeany liability arising out of the
applications or use of any productor circuit described herein; nor does it cover any
license under its patent rights, nor therights of others.
MOTOROLA, theStylized M Logo, ASTRO, SmartZone and FLASHport are registered
in theU.S. Patent & Trademark Office. All other productor servicenames are the
property of their respectiveowners. P25 radios contain technology patented by Digital
VoiceSystems, Inc.
© 2007, 2008 by Motorola, Inc. Printed in theU.S.A.
Before using this product, read the operating instructions for safe
usage contained in the Product Safety and RF Exposure booklet
enclosed with your radio.
!
Caution

ASTRO XTL 2500 Digital MobileRadio ii
Notations Used in This Manual
You will noticetheuse of WARNING, CAUTION, and Note notations
throughout this manual. These notations are used to emphasizethat safety
hazards exist, and care that must betaken or observed.
Thefollowing special notations identify certain items:
WARNING: Anoperational procedure, practice, or other
condition, which mightresultin injury or death if not carefully
observed.
CAUTION: Anoperational procedure, practice, or other
condition, which mightresultin damageto theequipment if not
carefully observed.
Note: Note: Anoperational procedure, practice, or other condition,
which is essential to emphasize.
Example Description
Light button or >Buttons and keysare shownin boldprint or as akey
symbol.
PHONE Menu items(softkeys) are similar to theway they
appear on theradio’sdisplay.
WARNING
!
CAUTION
!

iii
Notes

ASTRO XTL 2500 Digital MobileRadio iv
Contents
Control Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i
Computer Software Copyrights .......................................................... i
Documentation Copyrights ................................................................. i
Disclaimer .......................................................................................... i
Notations Used in This Manual ......................................................... ii
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Using Your Radio: TheBasics.......................................................... 1
Getting Started .................................................................................. 2
Identifying Your Radio ....................................................................... 4
Control Head .............................................................................. 4
Operating Your Control Head ............................................................ 5
Turning OntheRadio ........................................................................ 5
Setting theVolume..................................................................... 6
Adjusting theDisplay Brightness ................................................ 6
Using thenavigation keys........................................................... 6
Keypad Microphone Option ........................................................ 7
Trunked Modes or Conventional Channels................................ 8
FieldProgramming ..................................................................... 8
Display Status ................................................................................... 8
Feature Control ................................................................................. 9
Menu ........................................................................................... 9
ProgrammableButtons ............................................................... 9
One Touch Button ...................................................................... 9
Alert Tones ...................................................................................... 10
Multiple Control Head Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Overview ......................................................................................... 13
Setting theInitial Control Head’sID .......................................... 15
All ActiveMode ......................................................................... 16
One ActiveMode ...................................................................... 17
Intercom feature .............................................................................. 19
Using theIntercom feature ....................................................... 19
Basic Operating Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Basic Functions ............................................................................... 23
Selecting theZone or Mode ............................................................ 24
Selecting or Changing theZone ............................................... 24
Selecting or Changing aMode in theCurrent Zone ................. 25
Selecting or Changing to aMode Not in theCurrent Zone ....... 26

v
Mode SelectButton ...................................................................27
Selecting theHomeMode ...............................................................28
Transmitting (Conventional Modes Only) ........................................28
Transmitting (Trunked Modes Only) ................................................29
Selecting theTransmit Power Level ................................................29
Monitoring Conventional Mode Activity ...........................................30
Adjusting theSquelch Level ............................................................31
General Radio Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Often-Used Features .......................................................................32
Emergency Call and Alarm ..............................................................33
Emergency Call .........................................................................33
Initiating an Emergency Alarm ..................................................34
Initiating an Emergency Call .....................................................34
Initiating an Emergency Call and Alarm ....................................35
Initiating aSilent Emergency Alarm ..........................................36
Special Considerations for Emergencies ..................................36
Scan Operation ................................................................................37
Turning OnScan .......................................................................38
Turning Scan OnWhileDisregarding theSquelch Code
(Conventional Modes Only) ...................................................39
Viewing aScan List ...................................................................40
Transmitting WhileScan IsOn.................................................41
Temporarily Deleting aNuisanceMode with Scan On..............42
Restoring aNuisanceMode ......................................................42
Changing Mode Priorities WhileScan IsOn.............................43
Restoring Mode Priorities in aScan List ...................................43
Programming aScan List ..........................................................44
Hang Up Box (HUB) ..................................................................46
Optional External Alarms(Horn and Lights) ....................................46
Activating theExternal Alarm(s) ................................................46
Changing theSelected Alarms.................................................47
Receiving aCall WhileAlarmsAre Turned On.........................48
Time-Out Timer ................................................................................49
Push-To-Talk Identification (PTT-ID) ................................................49
Telephone InterconnectList (Conventional and Trunking) ..............50
Answering aPhone Call ............................................................50
Initiating aTelephone Call from theList ....................................51
Unlimited Telephone Interconnect...................................................52
Calling aPhone Number Not in theList ....................................52

ASTRO XTL 2500 Digital MobileRadio vi
Storing aNumber in theList ..................................................... 53
Editing aNamein theList ........................................................ 54
Call Alert Page(Conventional and Trunking—
Digital Modes Only) ....................................................................... 57
Sending aCall Alert Page........................................................ 57
Conventional Radio Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Features Used in Conventional Operation ...................................... 59
Status Calls(Digital Modes Only) .................................................... 60
Sending aStatus Call ............................................................... 60
Sending aDirect-Entry Keyboard (DEK) Status ....................... 62
Smart PTT ....................................................................................... 63
Conventional Talkgroup Calls......................................................... 63
Digital Modes Only ................................................................... 63
Selecting aConventional Talkgroup ......................................... 64
Conventional Talkaround ................................................................ 65
Talk Direct(Mobile-To-Mobile) ................................................. 65
SelectiveCalls(Digital Modes Only) ............................................... 65
Answering aSelectiveCall ....................................................... 66
Initiating aSelectiveCall .......................................................... 67
Viewing Your Unit ID Number ................................................... 69
Storing aUnit ID Number in theList ......................................... 70
Editing aNamein theList ......................................................... 71
Trunking Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Features Used on Trunking Systems.............................................. 73
Enhanced Private Conversation (Digital Modes Only) .................... 74
Answering an Enhanced Private Conversation Call ................. 74
Initiating an Enhanced Private Conversation Call .................... 75
Failsoft............................................................................................. 77
Dynamic Regrouping (Digital Modes Only) ..................................... 78
Receiving aDynamic Regrouping ID Assignment ................... 78
Selecting Enableand Disable(Digital Modes Only) ................. 79
Requesting aDynamic Regrouping
(Digital Modes Only) .............................................................. 79
SmartZone ...................................................................................... 80
Site-Button Operation ............................................................... 80
Locking onto aSite ................................................................... 81
Site Trunking ............................................................................ 81
Out-of-RangeIndication .................................................................. 82

vii
Trunked Announcement ..................................................................83
Initiating an Announcement ......................................................83
ARS User Login and Text Messaging Features . . . . 85
Automatic Registration Service(ARS) .............................................85
Selecting or Changing ARS Mode ............................................85
ARS User Login Feature .................................................................87
Accessing theUser Login Feature ............................................87
ToLogin as aUser ....................................................................88
Selecting aPredefined Username............................................93
TextMessaging ................................................................................94
Accessing TMS Feature ............................................................94
ReceiveaMessage..................................................................99
ToView Messagefrom theInbox. ............................................99
Compose aNew TextMessage..............................................100
Send aPredefined Message...................................................104
Edit aQuick TextMessage.....................................................105
Reply to aReceived Message................................................106
Delete aMessage...................................................................107
ToAccess theDraftFolder .....................................................108
ToAccess theSent Folder ......................................................109
Secure Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Features Availableon Secure XTL 2500 ....................................... 111
Receiving aPrivate Message........................................................112
Transmitting aPrivate Message....................................................112
System Considerations ..................................................................113
Loss Indication ...............................................................................113
Selecting an Encryption Key (Conventional Only) .........................114
Selecting an Encryption Index (Conventional Only) ...................... 116
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Antennas .......................................................................................119
Bull Horns for Siren and Public Address .......................................121
Cables ...........................................................................................121
Microphones ..................................................................................122
Miscellaneous ................................................................................122
Remote Mounting Kits ...................................................................123

ASTRO XTL 2500 Digital MobileRadio viii
Speakers ....................................................................................... 123
Trunnion Kits ................................................................................. 123
Appendix: Maritime Radio Use in the VHF Frequency
Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Special Channel Assignments ....................................................... 124
Emergency Channel ............................................................... 124
Non-Commercial Call Channel ............................................... 125
Operating Frequency Requirements ............................................. 125
Glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Commercial Warranty and Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Limited Warranty ........................................................................... 133
Service.......................................................................................... 137
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

ix
Notes

ASTRO XTL 2500 Digital MobileRadio 1
Introduction
Using Your Radio: The Basics
This chapter gives you thebasic knowledgeyou need in order to use
your radio. Thefollowing topicsare covered:
•Getting Started (page2)
•Identifying Your Radio (page4)
•Operating Your Control Head (page5)
•Turning OntheRadio (page5)
•Setting theVolume(page6)
•Adjusting theDisplay Brightness (page6)
•Keypad Microphone Option (page6)
•Display Status (page8)
•Feature Control (page9)
•Alert Tones (page8)

2
Introduction
Getting Started
TheASTRO®XTL™ 2500 Digital MobileRadio is among themost
sophisticated two-way radios available. Itcan operate in thefollowing
frequency ranges:
These channelsprovide maximum communications capability under
varying operating conditions.
One of thenewest in along line of quality Motorolaproducts, the
ASTRO XTL 2500 Digital MobileRadio provides improved voice
quality across more of your coveragearea. Thedigital process called
embedded signaling intermixes system signaling information with
digital voice, resulting in improved system reliability and thecapability
of supporting amultitude of advanced features. Such features add up
to better, more cost-effectivetwo-way radio communications.
ASTRO digital technology is also helping to provide thesolution to
improved spectral efficiency requiring only half as much bandwidth
per channel (12.5kHz) compared to analog technology (25/30kHz).
Thenet benefit to you is fewer users per channel or more users per
system.
TheASTRO XTL 2500 Digital Mobileradio can include an optional
RS-232 data port to interfacewith external devices, such as certain
fax machines and laptop computers. ASTRO XTL 2500 Digital Mobile
voiceradios and data terminalscan access thesamechannel without
interfering with each other.
VHF UHF 700/800 MHz 900 MHz
136-174 MHz 380-470 MHz 762-776 MHz 896-901 MHz
450-520 MHz 794-806 MHz 935-940 MHz
806-825 MHz
851-870 MHz

ASTRO XTL 2500 Digital MobileRadio 3
Introduction
Note: Inthis manual–
Analog mode refers to amode that uses traditional, non-ASTRO
digital signaling.
ASTRO mode refers to amode that uses ASTRO digital signaling.
Your ASTRO XTL 2500 Digital MobileRadio utilizes Motorola’s
revolutionary FLASHport™technology. This allowsyour radio’s
capabilities to beflexiblebecause FLASHport makes it possibleto
add software that drives these capabilities both at thetimeof
purchase and later on. Similar to how acomputer can beloaded with
different software, your radio’sfeatures and capabilities can be
upgraded with software.
FLASHport allowsyou to add software to your radio as your needs
changeand as technology advances, making your radio investment
gofurther.
FLASHport is thefuture of radio communications, and it’syet another
exampleof Motorola’scommitment to your satisfaction.
ALL XTL 2500 radios exceptfor the900 MHz band are capableof
both analog operation (12.5 kHz, 20 kHz and 25 kHz bandwidths) and
ASTRO mode digital operation (12.5 kHz bandwidth). 900 MHz band
radios are only capableof analog operation (12.5 kHz).
XTL 2500 900 MHz does not support Multi Control Head, Data and
Secure features.

4
Introduction
Identifying Your Radio
TheASTRO XTL 2500 Digital MobileRadio has twomajor
components: theradio unit installed in your vehicleand thecontrol
head that is used to activate various radio features. Keep thefoldout
pageopened for referenceas you read this manual. Your radio has
thefollowing control head:
Control Head
Thecontrol head has therotary Mode and Volume knobs, five
programmablemenu buttons, amenu navigation button, and a3-line,
14-character, fully bitmapped display (See “Control Head” on pagei.).
Note: A "CH MISMATCH" error upon turning on your radio, means
that either theControl Head has been connected to alegacy
transceiver, or viceversa.

ASTRO XTL 2500 Digital MobileRadio 5
Introduction
Operating Your Control Head
Your advanced control head is designed for ease of use and flexibility
of feature control. Before operating theradio, familiarizeyourself with
thevarious controls, indicators, and alert tones. Refer to thefoldout
diagramsin thefront and back of this manual for your particular
control head.
Turning On the Radio
Basic operation is thesamefor all radio control heads.
Dothefollowing:
•Turn theradio on with ashort press of thepower button in
thelower leftcorner of thecontrol unit.
After ashort time, thered, green and yellow LEDslightup, indicating
that theradio is powering up.
Thedisplay then showsXTL 2500.
When theradio is fully powered on, theZone and Channel textand
menu itemsis displayed. Thebacklightwill turn on to thelast
selected color and dim level.
Note: Pressing thepower button before theLEDslightup will be
ignored.
Pressing thepower button anytimeafter theLEDslightup
will TURN OFF theradio.
Note: If FAIL ##/## appears in thedisplay, theradio will not
function until thecondition has been corrected.
If ERROR ##/## appears, somenon-critical data has been
changed. If either of these displaysappear, if thedisplay
goes blank, or if theunit appears to belocked up, refer to the
“Troubleshooting” section.

6
Introduction
Setting the Volume
Adjusting the Display Brightness
Using the navigation keys
Rotate theVolume knob clockwise to increase thevolumeand
counterclockwise to decrease thevolume.
Press thedimmer button (DIM) to changethedisplay brightness
to one of four levels:
•Offto high
•High to medium
•Medium to low
•Low to off
InOff, both thedisplay and backlightare off (used for
surveillanceoperations).
When accessing afeature on theradio, use theleftor right
toggles on thenavigation key to access further options within
themenu.
If you cannot locate amenu item, it may not beprogrammed, or
it may not apply to theradio's current mode setting.