Icom Type C Radio Information

Well, I have a few to list on the newest Icom to come out.
The radio is pretty much like the ones out now that are Type D trunking but these units now act like the Kenwood’s to a degree.

Icom_typeC
Product info is at ICOM

For the most part, this radio is Conventional and Type C Trunking platform ready.
For those of us who use Kenwoods and Over the Air Alias, this radio will encode and
decode the OTAA, as will the Kenwoods. (the Type D Icom’s however will still act funky
with the OTAA even with the Newer Icom units) The mobiles come with GPS installed,
but you have to order the antenna if you do not have one for it.
How the GPS on these units and on the Kenwoods play out for the NXDN REFLECTOR
network, that has to be worked on still. The main issue is getting a program designed to
code out the GPS and send it to APRSd with a numerical / callsign database to proper
APRS position marker.

I have not had a chance to work on one yet, but I would imagine it will be like any other
Icom software wise. When I can, I will post information as I go along with looking one over.
For the most part, now the statement of two business units making a inter-operable radio
is now very true. Rather it is type C or D, both still carry the NXDN CAI in conventional modes, and they can both work side by side on the NXREF network.

Got a lightning storm in the area, so this is it for now. Enjoy!

Evans

 

 

Back from vacation..

Hello all, back from vacation so I will be doing some updating here in the coming weeks as
I get all caught up with things again.

I will add this, while on vacation, Icom released their Type C NXDN radio line. What does this mean? You have a choice now on what Trunking format you want, but most of all, the
type C Icoms now have OTAA capabilities and are not effected by the Kenwood OTAA
on the Icom Type D radios. More on this as I build the block information and get photos
that are allowable for posting.

Kenwood NX-5000 Series has released the new ENHANCED Control Head, that will allow
for Multi-Deck RF units. More on this later, as I am installing mine shortly.

 

Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

May 2015 Update

So far there are 34 active repeaters I have in my database that are up and running, with a
a few more to come during the summer time out on the west coast.

Advancement of the NX-Reflector is on hold at the time being, but once the group gets
the needed information, development will continue forward and some things such as
GPS2APRSd, Talkgroup steering to name a couple, will be worked on and enhanced.

Interested in more information, click on the link to the yahoo group and join!

Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

Kenwood’s newest platform for NXDN and P25

While this newest member of the NXDN family has slowly rolled out in to the main stream
industry for use, it also sports the ability to be used as a P25 radio in the First Responder Industry. For Radio Shop personnel, it’s a dream come true without the “M” price tag for that batwing multiband thingie… (at $7,500 MSRP)

I had the pleasure of spending some good money on a great radio. While I said I would do a little write up on it, I will. But in the meantime, this is what I will do, Kenwood has probably a better laid out information on the NX 5000 series than I would ever get close to doing. So with that, I will point you to the following page for your reading fun.
http://nexedge.kenwood.com/nx_5000/index.html

So on that note, here is a MSRP List price breakdown for someone in HAM RADIO that
wants to get their hands on this.
Full Keypad Portable, you will need to choose what battery and charger you want to go with, plus antenna ($15 VHF/UHF standard, or $35 for the High Gain VHF KRA-25).
Base Radio $825 STD /$875 Full Key, This radio comes with Type C NXDN Trunking, and Conv. NXDN and Analog (LTR in the next update)
Front Panel Program: $300, P25Conv: $575, 4000 Channels: $420 (1024 standard)
Batteries: from $115 to $175, These will fit the standard KSC-32 charger.
KNB-LxM Smart Charger – KSC-Y32K runs at $115

Mobiles: VHF due out Jan 2015. 700/800 MHz TBD
Base: $980, options; same as above for the portables, PER RADIO!.

Remote Kits: single, dual, and triple RF DECK kits will be out 2Q 2015,
this will allow one or two head use of 1,2 or 3 RF decks. (SEE WEB LINK ABOVE)

Now for the kicker, software. (Cables by the way are the standard 16 pin Portable or
RJ-45 Mobile connectors.

KPG-D1NK – NX5000 Radio Service Software. This is listed at $155.
THIS SOFTWARE BY DEFAULT IS NARROW BAND COMPLIANT.
As of Dec 5th, I was told, the portion below 450 MHz (380-449.987500) is being petitioned
to JVCKENWOOD CORPORATE for US allowance of 20/25khz wide band use. T-Band
470-512 has already be written for wide band use. VHF IS NOT EFFECTED below 149 MHz, so 138-149 will do both WBFM and NBFM. 150-161 is NBFM.

NOW TAKE NOTE, this software is licence key controlled with the Licensed Management Client software (which there is no charge for this software). This software also validates your purchase of FPP, P25, Bluetooth, 4000 channel, ect. licenses. It will communicate to your radio, validate the serial number, validate the option key, and then program your radio. NOTICE!!! ONCE IT IS ACTIVATED, IT REMAINS WITH THAT RADIO FOREVER! There are NO TRANSFER of LICENSES from/to BER / NIB Radios, you have to order a new key. This even applies to us dealers. If the radio is bricked or “BER”
and you spent some coin for all those little goodies, well, that $2800 radio is OUT.
So keep in mind, as you add features to the radio, it makes it that much more important
to keep it operational, for a long long time… (just saying)

I am working with Kenwood to find out how to have the LMC (KPT-300LMC) setup for
ham radio users. For now, an account request form has to be filled out and sent in
to activate it for you use, and the information will be sent back to you. I will revise this
once I have more detailed information on the process.

Please contact your local dealer, they should be able to offer a decent price for your
radio enjoyment. Most of you know how to contact me already, and I will offer a quote
as well. I like to also allow other shops the same opportunity also, since I am in Florida.

bnr_nx5000

 

Cheers for now and enjoy!
Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM / WQOD582

 

NX-5300 / 5800 – KD4EFM to review it in December

Greetings and I hope you all have a safe Holiday season.

December 3rd, the due date for my NX-5300 and 5800 radios. As of right now, save your coins, you will need some of it for this beauty. With HAM FRIENDLY pricing, it’s gets deep
still when you start adding in features. We have posted LIST prices for the radios in the Yahoo group. Software, JVCKenwood has migrated to a License Management Client System. This means key piracy will get nipped in the butt. Here is a
screen shot of the program.
KPG-D1NK_photo1

KPG-D1NK_photo2
Here you have HTML export of the radio information.

This is the License Management System
KPT-300LMC_photo1

This is what they look like.

 

The Portable, you can remove the channel stop on the 16 channel switch for FULL ROLL OVER. The mobile fits the same bracket as the NX-700 / 800 series, comes with GPS, antenna ordered separately.

Remote Kits for the mobile, I posted on the yahoo group, will be forthcoming, and allows single head, 1,2 or 3 RF deck operation from a SINGLE HEAD or DUAL HEAD. Look for this to come out March – May 2015 (2nd Quarter 2015).
RF_deck_info

Enough for now. Cheers. I am waiting on the new line up of ICOM’s forthcoming, when I have that information, I will be posting about that as well.

Prices: Contact me directly please. They will not be posted on this or any other site I am on.

Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

First NJ NXDN Repeater on the air and on the WW network

The N2WNS repeater system, Boonton, NJ, has been upgraded to the first NXDN amateur repeater in NJ. Located in northeast Morris County on 449.775, the N2WNS repeater system covers most of eastern Morris County, parts of Essex and Union counties towards NYC. The repeater will leverage “Mixed Mode” narrowband (11K0) analog and very narrow (4K0) NXDN. In digital mode, the system will be connected to the WW NXDN network using a TG of 65000 on RAN 1. In analog mode, the system will continue to provide IRLP connectivity via node 4437 and Echolink connectivity via node 753534. Local digital access will be on RAN 62 and analog access will continue to be on PL 151.4. The N2WNS repeater will continue to provide weather alerts via NOAA issued warnings. Questions can be directed to Bill, N2WNS via n2wns.radio (*at*) gmail.com

Californication? Yes. NX-5000 Multi Mode Kenwood, COMING SOON!

I had a nice chat with a California member of Kenwood, they are gearing up to get their rPi setup with their NXR-800, and get it installed and brought online soon!

I will post when it comes up and where to look for it.

Interested in joining the network with your ICOM or Kenwood NXDN repeater?
Your at the right place.

Search through the archive and posts to learn more.
I will be working on the HOW TO guide in the next few weeks and hope to have it
posted for both the ICOM’ers and Kenwood people.

October is the release of the 700/800MHz NX-5000. Lots of talk on Radio Reference
on this! The VHF and UHF will follow in December / January. And I will have HAM
Friendly pricing available as soon as I get the details. WARNING! It will not be cheap,
but you will get you monies worth for it.

Cheers!

Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

NXDN User ID List

The link to the user ID list is available to view publicly. If you need access to add or change you information, please contact KD4EFM at kd4efm1 at gmail. You will be added to the share list and will be able to add your information. A database will be
forthcoming to simplify things, but for now, the Google Doc is there so you can create
or modify your USER LIST on your radio if need be.

Thanks,
Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

 

NXREF Status: Active Connections report 8-29-14

The following list is active on the network as of 8-29-14 at 9AM ET

ICOM – 11
W7QO, NI4CE, KI4SWY, AE7OD, KC1JET, KC9GMX, N1OTY, KB1ISZ, VA3YYZ

KENWOOD – 11
K4GFD-2, KJ4OVA, KD4EFM, W7QO, N5QZ, K1IFF, WX7Y, K1IFF-1, K4GFD-2, WB9HKE, KF4I

(Reflector connections are 2 W7QO would be duplicated, they create the bridge)

Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

NXDN in CT

 

More NXDN in CT

 K1KGQ/R is now full time operational VNFM NXDN, RAN 1, on 449.775 in Torrington CT.  Joel is working on connecting up to the WW network, likely before the fall of this year.

Also, we are working on setting up another UHF site in northeastern CT, one in western RI (if it doesn’t bug PAVE PAWS), and another in the south-central part of the state.

Cliff, k1iff