RCA RPX6500 Series User Manual
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RCA RPX6500 Series User Manual

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Communications Systems
Optional CTRH6500 Control Head Shown
RPX6500 Series
RCA P25 Mobile Radios
25 Watts
RPX6500V VHF (136 MHz – 174 MHz)
RPX6500UR UHF (335 MHz – 400 MHz)
RPX6500U UHF (400 MHz – 480 MHz)
RPX6500U2 UHF (440 MHz – 520 MHz)
RPX6500
Radio

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  • Page 1 Communications Systems RPX6500 Radio Optional CTRH6500 Control Head Shown RPX6500 Series RCA P25 Mobile Radios 25 Watts RPX6500V VHF (136 MHz – 174 MHz) RPX6500UR UHF (335 MHz – 400 MHz) RPX6500U UHF (400 MHz – 480 MHz) RPX6500U2 UHF (440 MHz – 520 MHz)
  • Page 2 All information contained in this document is the property of RCA Communications Systems (RCA). All rights are reserved. This document may not, in whole or in part, be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, stored, or reduced to any electronic medium or machine- readable form, without prior written permission from RCA.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    6.3. VOLUME ADJUSTMENT ..................48 6.4. RECEIVING (SINGLE CHANNEL SCREEN) ............48 6.5. TRANSMITTING ....................49 6.6. SCAN/VOTE FUNCTIONS ................... 50 6.7. KEYPAD LOCK ....................51 6.8. ENCRYPTION ....................51 6.9. EMERGENCY ALARM ..................51 Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 4 8.4. CONTROLLER MICROPHONE (MM6500MCD) ........... 55 8.5. CONTROLLER MICROPHONE (MM65020CM) ............ 55 8.6. EXTERNAL SPEAKER (EXSPK6500) ..............55 8.7. MICROPHONE BRACKET MOUNT REPLACEMENT (MM6500-BM) ...... 55 9. TROUBLESHOOTING ...............56 10. SPECIFICATIONS ................57 11. WARRANTY .................58 Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 5 RADIO FREQUENCY RADIATION. A RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) RADIATION HAZARD EXISTS WHEN USING THIS EQUIPMENT. TO AVOID RF INJURY, DO NOT TOUCH THE ANTENNA WHEN THE TRANSMITTER IS IN USE AND DO NOT OPERATE THE TRANSMITTER WITH ANTENNA DISCONNECTED. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 6: General Notes

    In some cases, key functions will be determined by the customer configuration. When a key function is referred to in these instructions, it is possible the function may be assigned to another location than designated in this manual. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 7 Press (Push) To Talk Radio Frequency RSSI Received Signal Strength Indication Receiver/Receiver TGID Talk Group Identification Transmit/Transmitter Ultra High Frequency United States Very High Frequency WACN Wide Area Coverage Network WEEE Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 8: Glossary Of Terms

    Mode of radio receive – Only signals with matching NAC and TGID or Unit ID Selective will be heard. Unmuted Audio can be heard from the loudspeaker. Zone A collection of channels (usually organized by functional group of users). Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 9: Introduction

    Before using your RPX6500 P25 Radio, it must be configured using the P25 PS. The configuration process defines and loads the radio channels, signaling and user options/settings so the radio will operate with your system. Your RCA representative can help program your radios to meet your present and future requirements.

  • Page 10: Controls

    The controls on the RPX6500 Control Head are shown below in Figure 1. Indicator On-Off Down Call (F10) (F11) Volume (F2) (F1) (F7) Alarm Menu (F9) Reset (F12) (F5) (F3) (F4) (F8) Figure 1. RPX6500 Control Head. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 11 Keypad can be used to select a Channel or Special Function. E.g. 12# 4 5 6 Keypad will select channel 12. 7 8 9 * 0 # INDICATOR LED FUNCTION A Green LED when receiving a signal. A Red LED when the radio is transmitting. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 12: Main Screen

    The Channel Name shows the text associated with the currently selected radio channel. The Zone Name shows the text associated with the currently selected radio zone. • Non-persistent Text messages, e.g. keypad dial string entries, received status/data messages, error messages, etc. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 13 RSSI Bars is a special Icon and it is displayed on the left of the default screen when a signal is being received. They indicate the signal strength of the current channel. The stronger the Rx signal, the more bars will be displayed. Menu Icon Area Figure 3. Icon Locations. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 14 RPX6500 P25 MOBILE RADIO - USER MANUAL Table 2. Icon Details. POSITION ICONS ჸ Message Talk Around Ѭ Signal Scanning Other Signal Monitor Normal Selective Connecting Connect Fail Digital Encrypted Scrambler Trunking Locked Keypad Individual Call Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 15 Connecting icon. Displayed when a text message is being sent and the connection is in progress. Connection Fail icon. Displayed when a text message transmission has failed. The asterisk symbol indicates whether the radio has stopped on a scan channel. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 16: Menu System

    This section details the operation of the menu system. The RPX6500 series has a menu system that is configurable by the PS. The PS has a number of menu entries that can be applied as desired in the order desired. In simple configurations, no menu can be programmed, if desired.
  • Page 17 Backlight ON/OFF Back Menu #1 Select Back (Other User Zone Select Zone Menu items) Menu Normal Channel ENTRY POINT = Default Screen Channel Screen Figure 4. Menu Navigation. Figure 4. Menu Navigation Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems MENU SYSTEM...

  • Page 18: Menu Screens

    RPX6500 P25 MOBILE RADIO - USER MANUAL 5. MENU SCREENS The menu structure on the RPX6500 series is configurable using the PS. Your system administrator can tailor the order and presence of the menu options to your specific requirements. This section describes all the menus that are currently available. It also describes the Channel Screen, which is the main default screen that is displayed after the radio is switched on.

  • Page 19: Zone Menu

    The radio will return to the channel screen and select the first channel in the new zone. Direct access to the Zone menu from other screens can also be programmed to one of the function buttons with the PS. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 20: Squelch Menu

    For each channel type, after selecting the required squelch mode, press the OK key to confirm the selection and return to the default channel screen. Press the Back or Menu key to return to the next highest menu level. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 21: Mute Adjust Menu

    From the main channel screen, press the Menu key to enter Menu Mode. keys to scroll through menu options and, with the Setup menu option displayed, Use the / press the OK key to access the Setup sub-menus. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 22: Phonebook Menu

    To return to the Menu screen, press either the Back or Menu keys. A function key (when configured for Reset, or any other key configured for Reset) will exit back to the default channel screen. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 23: Phonebook Edit Menu

    Use the / keys to scroll through and select a phonebook entry. The displayed information is the same as the PhoneBook Screen display. To access the ‘Ph Book Edit’ pop-up menu, press the OK key. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 24 Use the / keys to select Add from the pop-up menu and press OK. The first of the ‘add new entry’ sub-menu screens will be displayed. The first sub-menu screen is the ‘Entry Type’ screen. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 25 From the ‘Ph Book Edit’ screen, at the phonebook entry to be edited, press OK and the ‘Ph Book Edit’ pop-up menu will be displayed. Use the / keys to select Edit from the pop-up menu and press OK. The ‘Edit Sys ID’ sub- menu screen will be displayed. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 26 WACN ID as required and then press the OK key. If the WACN ID does not have to be changed, press the OK key. The ‘Edit Unit ID’ sub-menu screen will be displayed. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 27 IP Address as required and then press the OK key. If the IP Address does not have to be changed, press the OK key. The ‘Edit Name’ sub-menu screen will be displayed. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 28: Setup Menu

    Setup menu option displayed, press the OK key to access the Setup sub-menus. Use the / keys to scroll through and select the required Setup sub-menu. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 29: User Options Menu

    These functions can also be assigned directly to the radio’s function keys, if required. The functions can be toggled “On” or “Off” with the OK key. Press the Back or Menu key to save all the function settings and return to the next highest menu level. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 30: Contrast Menu

    Volume setting. The level can be set in 62 steps over the range −31 to +31, with 0 (zero) being about the same as the voice level. For example, if the alert volume is set to –6, it will be softer than received voice on the radio. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 31: Radio Info Menu

    OK key to access the Radio Info screens. Use the / keys to scroll through and display the following information pages. P25 Conv. ID and Radio Band Radio SW Ver. & Serial No. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 32 P25 Radio Unit Trunked ID and IP Addr. P25 Trunked SysID, WACN, GID and UID Feature Authorization Enables Encryption Status Encryption Summary External Application Memory Status The ‘Radio Info’ screens are read-only screens. Press OK to return to the Channel Screen. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 33: Mode Menu

    −80 dBm. For example, −90 dBm is a strong signal and −120 dBm is no signal. On digital channels, the RSSI screen also shows the Bit Error Rate (BER). RSSI and BER are typically used to indicate signal quality. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 34: Crypto Key Menu

    On an encrypted radio channel, the radio will attempt to use any of the stored encryption keys to decrypt received signals. If the padlock symbol is displayed, the currently selected digital channel has encryption enabled. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 35: Stored Calls Menu

    The display will show either the name of the caller from the phonebook or the User ID if the ID is not known to the phonebook. If the stored calls are empty, ‘No Record’ is displayed. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 36 DELETE option. Press the OK key and the selected stored call record will be removed from the list. The radio will return to the Stored Calls screen and the next record will be displayed. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 37: Messages Menu

    Only applicable when a digital channel is selected. • TXTMSG - Text message Enters the text message edit and send sub-menus. Only applicable when a digital channel is selected. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 38 Press the ‘Reset’ function key (if configured) to return to the default screen. Press the MENU or Back key to return to the next highest menu screen. Press the OK key to display the Messages View pop-up menu with further options available. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 39 Press the Menu or Back key to return to the next highest menu screen (i.e. the Messages View pop-up menu screen). Press the ‘Reset’ function key (if configured) to return to the default screen. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 40 5.16.2.4. Short Message Reply Screen The MessagesReply menu is used to reply to a received message with a pre-defined short message. When the screen is displayed, it shows the destination unit identifier and a short message. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 41 The radio will then return to the default screen. Press the Menu or Back key to return to the next highest menu screen. Press the ‘Reset’ function key (if configured) to return to the default screen without sending a text message reply. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 42 A ‘Reset’ button press and hold for less than one second deletes the character to the left of the cursor, and moves the cursor position to the left by one. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 43 Press the ‘Reset’ function key (if configured) to return to the default screen display. 5.16.3.3. Phonebook Entry Selection Screen The Phone Entry selection screen allows the user to select the destination ID from the Phonebook. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 44: Scan Edit Menu

    5.17. SCAN EDIT MENU The Scan Edit menu allows the user to add or delete channels to or from a Scan Group. Any changes to a Scan Group are stored permanently in the radio. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 45 With the ‘Delete’ option selected, press the OK key to remove the selected channel from the scan group and to return the radio to the default screen. If scanning is enabled on the current channel, scanning will start. The deletion is permanent. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...
  • Page 46 If scan is enabled on the current channel, the radio will resume scanning. The radio returns to the default screen. The added channel is permanent. • An error beep will sound and the radio will return to the default screen Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 47: No Menu

    The rotating arrow indicates that the radio is scanning for a trunked network. When the arrow is not shown, the radio is registered with the trunked network and ready to make or receive a call. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 48: Volume Adjustment

    Stored Call record of that unit ID will be replaced by the new record and added to the top of the list. To view/answer/delete received call records, the Stored Calls screen is selected. For further details of the Stored Calls Menu and functions see Section 5.15. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 49: Transmitting

    FM. Note. A Transmit Limit Timer may be setup that limits a continuous transmission on a channel. The last 10 seconds before the timer expires may be accompanied by warning tones. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 50: Scan/Vote Functions

    If stopped on a channel, that channel can be “skipped” by pressing the skip programmed function key. Once a channel is “skipped” it will not be scanned for the duration of that Zone/Channel selection. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 51: Keypad Lock

    The radio will change to emergency mode when the emergency key is pressed and held for a specific time (determined by the PS). In emergency mode, the radio can operate in three PS configurable modes: Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 52: Special Function Keys

    Section 5. This section lists Functions that may be programmed to the programmable function keys. Consult RCA for those functions that have been programmed in to your radio. 7.1. ALARM The Alarm function key (default F5) is used to put the radio into Emergency Mode. Alarm is supported in Digital mode only.

  • Page 53: Crypto

    Mute is supported in analog mode only. On an analog channel, the mute level can be adjusted between the PS Minimum Mute and Maximum Mute limits. 7.10. REPEATER DEFEAT (P25 CONVENTIONAL) This function bypasses the repeater for local chat. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 54: Reset

    The Squelch mode is used to selectively receive P25 signals. It has three modes, Monitor, Normal and Selective. When set to Monitor, all P25 traffic on that channel will be heard, subject to presence of encryption. Normal mode will hear all P25 traffic with the correct NAC code. Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 55: Talkaround

    8.5. Controller Microphone (MM65020CM) One function button, one digit display 8.6. External Speaker (EXSPK6500) For additional volume - 4¼” (106mm) x 2½” (65mm) 8.7. Microphone Bracket Mount Replacement (MM6500-BM) Holds microphone when not in use Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 56: Troubleshooting

    The keys may fail to function Restart the radio temporarily This feature may malfunction The radio cannot lock out Restart the radio temporarily The LCD may fail to function There is no display Restart the radio temporarily Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 57: Specifications

    Discount Two-Way Radio RCACommunicationsSystems.com 1430 240th St, Harbor City, CA 90710 Toll Free: (800) 895-5122 | Fax: (877) 291-9565 Email: info@dtwr.com © 2015 RCA Communications Systems. All rights reserved. Specifications subject to change. DiscountTwo-WayRadio.com Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 58: Warranty

    RCA Communications Systems products. RCA Communications Systems offers to the original end user a Four (4) Year Limited Warranty on the RCA RPX6500 Mobile Radio. During this period, if the product fails to function under normal use because of manufacturing defect(s) or workmanship, it should be returned to the Authorized RCA Communications Systems Sales and Service Outlet from which it was purchased.
  • Page 59 RCA Communications Systems. The end-user of any two-way radio is solely responsible for obtaining any license or other authorizations required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
  • Page 60 OPERATIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC) OCCUPATIONAL USE REQUIREMENTS Before using your RCA mobile two-way radio, it is important that you read these RF Energy Awareness and Control Information and Operational Instructions in order to ensure compliance with the Federal Communications Commissions (FCCs) RF exposure guidelines.
  • Page 61 RPX6500 P25 MOBILE RADIO - USER MANUAL COMPLIANCE WITH RF EXPOSURE STANDARDS Your RCA two-way radio is designed to comply with a number of national and international standards and guidelines (listed below) regarding human exposure to RF electromagnetic energy. This radio complies with the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), FCC...
  • Page 62 RPX6500UR (335 - 400 MHz), RPX6500U (400 - 480 MHz) and RPX6500U2 (440 – 520 MHz) Rated Power of Vehicle-installed Mobile Recommended Minimum Lateral Distance Two-way Radio from Transmitting Antenna 25 Watts with λ/4 dipole (2.14 dBi gain) 13.5 inches (34 cm) Copyright © 2015 RCA Communications Systems...

  • Page 63: Mobile Antenna

    RPX6500 P25 MOBILE RADIO - USER MANUAL Vehicle Installation Instructions The antenna(s) used for the RPX6500 series of mobile two-way radios must be installed to provide a separation distance of at least: 35.5 inches (90 cm) from all persons for RPX6500V (135 MHz – 174 MHz) •...

  • Page 64: Contact Information

    For additional information on exposure or any other item, please contact RCA Communications Systems. For Sales, Warranty and Customer Support please contact: Discount Two-Way Radio Corporation – North American RCA Distributor 1430 240th Street Harbor City, CA 90710 Phone: 310-224-5100 / Fax: 310-224-5101 www.discounttwo-wayradio.com...

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