Motorola ASTRO XTSTM4250, ASTRO XTS 4250 User Manual

ASTRO® XTSTM4250
Portable Digital Radio

Advanced Model

User Guide

Product Safety and RF Exposure Compliance

Before using this product, read the operating instructions for safe usage

!

contained in the Product Safety and RF Exposure booklet enclosed with

C a u t i o n

your radio.

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 68P81095C98) to ensure
compliance with RF energy exposure limits.

Computer Software Copyrights

The Motorola products described in this manual may include copyrighted Motorola
computer programs stored in semiconductor memories or other media. Laws in the
United States and other countries preserve for Motorola certain exclusive rights for
copyrighted computer programs, including, but not limited to, the exclusive right to copy
or reproduce in any form the copyrighted computer program. Accordingly, any
copyrighted Motorola computer programs contained in the Motorola products described
in this manual may not be copied, reproduced, modified, reverse-engineered, or
distributed in any manner without the express written permission of Motorola.
Furthermore, the purchase of Motorola products shall not be deemed to grant either
directly or by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any license under the copyrights,
patents or patent applications of Motorola, except for the normal non-exclusive license
to use that arises by operation of law in the sale of a product.

Documentation Copyrights

No duplication or distribution of this document or any portion thereof shall take place
without the express written permission of Motorola. No part of this manual may be
reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, for any purpose without the express written permission of Motorola.

Disclaimer

The information in this document is carefully examined, and is believed to be entirely
reliable. However, no responsibility is assumed for inaccuracies. Furthermore, Motorola
reserves the right to make changes to any products herein to improve readability,
function, or design. Motorola does not assume any liability arising out of the
applications or use of any product or circuit described herein; nor does it cover any
license under its patent rights, nor the rights of others.

MOTOROLA, the Stylized M Logo and ASTRO are registered in the U.S. Patent &
Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their
respective owners.

P25 radios contain technology patented by Digital Voice Systems, Inc.
© Motorola, Inc. 2002. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. 8/02.

ASTRO® XTS™ 4250 Digital Portable

16-Position
Select Knob
_ _ _ _ _ _ _

Speaker/Mic

Top Button
_ _ _ _ _ _ _

Concentric
Switch
_ _ _ _ _ _

Display

Keypad

Menu Select
Buttons

App Button
(for future
use)

Top Side
Button
_ _ _ _ _ _ _

On/Off/
Volume Knob

Side Button 1
_ _ _ _ _ _ _

Side Button 2
_ _ _ _ _ _ _

PTT Button

3-Position
Switch
_ _ _ _ _ _ _

4-Way
Navigation
Button

Home Button

Radio, Advanced Model

Quick Reference Card

Product Safety and RF Exposure Compliance

Before using this product, read the operating instructions
for safe usage contained in the Product Safety and RF

!

Exposure booklet enclosed with your radio.

C a u t i o n

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 68P81095C98) to ensure
compliance with RF energy exposure limits.

Write your radio’s programmed features on the dotted lines.

ATTENTION!

Radio On/Off

1On - On/Off/Volume knob clockwise.

2Off - On/Off/Volume knob counterclockwise.

Zones/Channels

1 Zone - Zone switch to desired zone.

2 Channel - Channel switch to desired channel.

Receive/Transmit

1 Radio on and select zone/channel.

2 Listen for a transmission.

- or -

Press and hold Volume Set button.

- or -

Press Monitor button and listen for activity.

3 Adjust volume, if necessary.

4Press PTT to transmit; release to receive.

Send Emergency Alarm

Radio on and press Emergency button.
Display shows current zone/channel, and
EMERGENCY. Red LED lights; you hear short,
medium-pitched tone.

Note: To exit emergency at any time, press

and hold Emergency button.

When acknowledgment is received, you hear
four beeps; alarm ends; radio exits emer­gency.

Send Emergency Call

1 Radio on and press Emergency button.

Note: To exit emergency at any time, press

and hold Emergency button.

2 Press and hold PTT. Announce your

emergency into the microphone.

3 Release PTT to end call.

4 Press and hold Emergency button to exit

emergency.

Send Silent Emergency Alarm

1 Radio on and press Emergency button.

Display does not change; you see no LED;
you hear no tone.

Note: To exit emergency at any time, press

and hold Emergency button.

2 Silent emergency continues until you:

• Press and hold Emergency button to exit
emergency state.

- or -

• Press and release PTT to exit silent
emergency and enter regular emergency
(alarm, call, or alarm with call).

Display Status Symbols Menu Entries (Use With Menu Navigation)

Receiving an individual call

m

The radio is in the view or program mode;

p

On Steady = view mode; Flashing =
program mode

Received signal strength for the current

s

site (trunking only). The more stripes in the
symbol, the stronger the signal.

Flashes when the battery is low.

b

You are talking directly to another radio or

r

through a repeater; On = direct;
Off = repeater

This channel is being monitored.

C

Your radio is in secure operation;

c

On = secure operation;
Off = clear operation; Flashing =

receiving an encrypted voice call

The radio is scanning a scan list

T

Priority 1 Channel during scan

S

Entry Menu Selection Page

BATT Smart Battery 16

CALL Private Call / Selective Call 59/ 63

CHAN Select a Channel 22

CLCK Set the Time and Date 95

DIR Repeater/Direct 74

ERAS Key Zeroization 82

KEY Key Selection 79

KSET Keyset Selection 80

LOGF Radio Lock 31

MUTE Keypad Mute 32

NAME Text Select 42

NUM Number Select 41

Menu Navigation

U to find Menu Entry

Priority 2 Channel during scan

S

Entry Menu Selection Page

PAGE Call Alert Page 67

PHON Phone 55

PROG Editing 41

PSWD Password 30

PWR TX Power Level 27

REKY Rekey Request 85

RPGM Reprogram Request 88

SCAN Scan On/Off 51

SITE Site Lock/Unlock 92

STS Status Call 72

TGRP Talkgroup Call 70

VIEW View a List 40

ZONE Select a Zone 21

D, or E, or F directly below

Menu Entry to select

h to exit

V or U to scroll through sub-list

D, or E, or F directly below

Menu Entry to select

Contents

Product Safety and RF Exposure Compliance ................................. ii

Computer Software Copyrights ......................................................... ii

Documentation Copyrights ................................................................ ii

Disclaimer ......................................................................................... ii

General Radio Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Notations Used in This Manual ......................................................... 1

Your XTS 4250 Advanced Model Radio ............................................ 2

Physical Features of the XTS 4250 Advanced Model Radio ............ 3

Programmable Controls .................................................................... 3

Display .............................................................................................. 4

Backlight ..................................................................................... 5

Status Symbols ........................................................................... 5

Menu Entry (Softkey) .................................................................. 7

Menu Select Buttons .................................................................. 7

Menu Entry Features .................................................................. 8

Home Button ............................................................................... 8

App Button .................................................................................. 8

4-Way Navigation Button ............................................................ 9

Keypad .............................................................................................. 9

LED Indicators ................................................................................ 10

Alert Tones ...................................................................................... 11

Standard Accessories ..................................................................... 14

Battery ...................................................................................... 14

Smart Battery Status ................................................................ 16

Antenna .................................................................................... 17

Belt Clip .................................................................................... 18

Universal Connector Cover ...................................................... 19

Radio On and Off ............................................................................ 20

Turn the Radio On .................................................................... 20

Turn the Radio Off .................................................................... 20

Zones and Channels ....................................................................... 21

Select a Zone ........................................................................... 21

Select a Channel ...................................................................... 22

Receive / Transmit .......................................................................... 24

Without Using the Volume Set and Monitor Buttons ................ 24

Use the Preprogrammed Volume Set Button ........................... 24

Use the Preprogrammed Monitor Button .................................. 25

Conventional Mode Operation .................................................. 26

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model iii

Contents

Common Radio Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Selectable Power Level ...................................................................27

Use the Menu ............................................................................27

Use the Preprogrammed Transmit Power Level Switch ...........28

Radio Lock .......................................................................................29

Unlock Your Radio ....................................................................29

Change Your Password ............................................................30

Enable or Disable the Radio Lock Feature

(Secure Radios Only) ............................................................31

Mute or Unmute Keypad Tones .......................................................32

Use the Menu ............................................................................32

Use the Preprogrammed Keypad Mute Button .........................32

Conventional Squelch Operation .....................................................33

Analog Options .........................................................................33

Digital Options ...........................................................................33

PL Defeat .........................................................................................34

Time-out Timer ................................................................................35

Emergency ......................................................................................36

Send an Emergency Alarm .......................................................36

Send an Emergency Call ..........................................................37

Send a Silent Emergency Alarm ...............................................38

Emergency Keep-Alive .............................................................39

Lists .................................................................................................40

View a List .................................................................................40

Scan List Empty .......................................................................40

Edit a Call, Page, or Phone List Number ..................................41

Edit a Call, Page, or Phone List Name .....................................42

Edit a Scan List .........................................................................43

Scan ................................................................................................51

Turn Scan On or Off ..................................................................51

Delete a Nuisance Channel ......................................................52

Conventional Scan Only ...........................................................53

Telephone Calls (Trunking Only) .....................................................54

Quick Access (One-Touch) .......................................................54

Answer a Phone Call ................................................................55

Initiate a Phone Call ..................................................................55

Select a Phone Number ............................................................56

Make a Phone Call ...................................................................56

Private Calls (Trunking Only) ...........................................................58

Quick Access (One-Touch) .......................................................58

iv

Contents

Answer a Private Call ............................................................... 59

Initiate a Private Call ................................................................. 59

Select an ID Number ................................................................ 60

Make a Private Call .................................................................. 61

Selective Calls (ASTRO Conventional Only) .................................. 62

Quick Access (One-Touch) ...................................................... 62

Answer a Selective Call ............................................................ 62

Initiate a Selective Call ............................................................. 63

Select an ID Number ................................................................ 63

Make a Selective Call ............................................................... 64

Call Alert Paging ............................................................................. 65

Quick Access (One-Touch) ...................................................... 65

Answer a Call Alert Page .......................................................... 66

Initiate a Call Alert Page ........................................................... 67

Select an ID Number ................................................................ 68

Send a Call Alert Page ............................................................. 68

Conventional Talkgroup Calls (Conventional Operation Only) ........ 70

Select a Talkgroup .................................................................... 70

Status Calls (ASTRO 25 Trunking Only) ......................................... 72

Send a Status Call .................................................................... 72

Repeater or Direct Operation .......................................................... 74

Select Repeater or Direct Operation ........................................ 74

Smart PTT (Conventional Only) ...................................................... 76

Special Radio Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Secure Operations .......................................................................... 77

Select Secure Transmissions ................................................... 77

Select Clear Transmissions ...................................................... 77

Managing Encryption ................................................................ 78

Digital PTT ID .................................................................................. 86

Receive ..................................................................................... 86

Transmit .................................................................................... 86

View Your Radio’s ID Number ......................................................... 87

Dynamic Regrouping (Trunking Only) ............................................. 88

Reprogram Request (ASTRO 25 Trunking Only) ..................... 88

Select Enable / Disable ............................................................ 90

Trunking System Controls ............................................................... 91

Failsoft ...................................................................................... 91

Out-of-Range ............................................................................ 91

Site Lock ................................................................................... 92

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model v

Contents

Site Trunking .............................................................................93

Site View and Change ..............................................................94

Time and Date .................................................................................95

Helpful Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Radio Care ......................................................................................97

Things to Avoid .........................................................................97

Cleaning ....................................................................................98

Handling ....................................................................................98

Service .............................................................................................99

Battery ...........................................................................................100

Battery Life ..............................................................................100

Charging the Battery ...............................................................100

Battery Recycling and Disposal ..............................................102

Antenna .........................................................................................103

Radio Operating Frequencies .................................................103

Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Antennas .......................................................................................105

Batteries and Battery Accessories .................................................105

Carry Accessories .........................................................................106

Belt Clips .................................................................................106

Belt Loops ...............................................................................106

Carry Cases ............................................................................106

Chargers ........................................................................................107

Enhanced and Multi-Unit Line Cords ......................................107

Surveillance Accessories ...............................................................108

Earpieces ................................................................................108

Headsets and Headset Accessories .......................................109

Radio Interface Modules for Ear Microphones ........................109

Speaker, Remote Speaker and Public Safety Microphones ...110

Commport Integrated Microphone/Receivers .........................110

Switches ........................................................................................ 110

Vehicular Adapters ........................................................................ 111

Accessories .............................................................................111

Allied Models ...........................................................................111

vi

Contents

Glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Commercial Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model vii

viii

Table 1: Channel Map

Use the chart below to map the channels (Cx) and zones (Zx) for your radio.

Z1 Z2 Z3 Z4 Z5 Z6

C1

C2

C3

C4

C5

C6

C7

C8

C9

C10

C11

C12

C13

C14

C15

C16

General Radio Operation

PHONE CALL

Notations Used in This Manual

Throughout the text in this publication, you will notice the use of
WARNINGS, Cautions, and Notes. These notations are used to
emphasize that safety hazards exist, and the care that must be taken
or observed.

An operational procedure, practice, or

!

!

W A R N I N G

!

C a u t i o n

Note: An operational procedure, practice, or condition,

condition, etc., which may result in injury or
death if not carefully observed.

An operational procedure, practice, or condition,
etc., which may result in damage to the equipment
if not carefully observed.

etc., which is essential to emphasize.

The following special notations identify certain items:

Example Description

Light button or D Buttons and keys are shown in bold print or

as a key symbol.

Information appearing on the radio’s
display is shown using the special display
font.

PHONE Menu entries are shown similar to the way

they appear on the radio’s display.

Press U This means “Press the right side of the

4-way Navigation button.”

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 1

General Radio Operation

Your XTS 4250 Advanced Model Radio

1

21

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

20

19

18

17

16

15

14

13

12

11

10

MAEPF-27503-O

2

General Radio Operation

Physical Features of the XTS 4250 Advanced Model Radio

Table 2: Physical Features

No. Feature Page No. Feature Page

1 Antenna 17 8 Home Button 8
2 On/Off/Volume Control

Knob

3 LED 10 10 Keypad 9
4 Microphone 11 App Button 8
5 PTT (Push-to-Talk)

Button

6 Menu Select Buttons 7 13 Speaker
7 4-Way Navigation

Button

20 9 Battery 14

12 Display 4

9 14 Universal Connector 19

Programmable Controls

The following radio controls can be programmed to operate certain
software-activated features.

No. Feature No. Feature

15 Side Button 2 19 Top Button
16 Side Button 1 20 2-Position Concentric Switch
17 Top Side (Select) Button 21 16-Position Select Knob
18 3-Position A/B/C Switch

The features that can be assigned to these controls by a qualified
radio technician, and the pages where these features can be found
are listed in Table 3 on page 4.

Any references in this manual to controls that are
“preprogrammed” mean that a qualified radio technician must
use the radio’s programming software to assign a feature to a
control.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 3

General Radio Operation

Table 3: Programmable Features

Feature Page Feature Page Feature Page

Call Alert 65 Phone 54 Selective Call 62

Call Response 59 PL Defeat 34 Site Lock/

Unlock

Channel 22 Private Call 58 Site Search 94

Dynamic Priority 53 Repeater/Direct 75 Smart Battery 16

Emergency 36 Reprogram

Request

Keypad Mute 32 Scan List

Programming

Light 5 Scan On/Off 51 Volume Set 24

Monitor 25 Secure/Clear 77 Zone 21

Nuisance Delete 52 Select 45

89 Status 73

47 TX Power Level 28

92

Display

The above screen is typical of what you will see on your radio. The
64 x 96 pixel liquid crystal display (LCD) shows radio status, text, and
menu entries.

4

General Radio Operation

Backlight

If poor light conditions make the display, keypad, or channel numbers
(around the 16-Position Select knob) difficult to read, turn on the
radio’s backlights by pressing the preprogrammed Light button.

These lights will remain on for a preprogrammed time before they turn
off automatically, or you can turn them off immediately by pressing the

Light button again.

Status Symbols

The top two display rows contain symbols that indicate radio
operating conditions.

Table 4: Status Symbols

Symbol Indication Page No.

m

p
p

s

b

Call Received

Flashes when an Individual Call is
received.

View/Program Mode

The radio is in the view or program mode.

• On steady = view mode

• Flashing = program mode

Received Signal Strength Indication
(RSSI)

The received signal strength for the
current site, for trunking only. The more
stripes in the symbol, the stronger the
signal.

Battery

• Conventional = flashes when battery
is low

• Smart = the number of bars (0-3)
shown indicates the charge remaining
in your battery; flashes when battery
is low

55, 59,

62, 66

40-45,
47, 48

94

101

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 5

General Radio Operation

Table 4: Status Symbols (Continued)

Symbol Indication Page No.

Talkaround

• On = you are talking directly to

r

another radio, not through a repeater,
during conventional operation only

• Off = you are talking through a
repeater

74

C

c
c

T

S

(Dot

Flashing)

S (Dot

Steady)

Monitor (Carrier Squelch)

The selected channel is being monitored
during conventional operation only.

Secure Operation

• On = secure operation

• Off = clear operation

• Flashing = receiving an encrypted

voice call

Scan

The radio is scanning a scan list.

Priority-One Channel Scan

One channel is assigned as the priority
channel during scan operation.

Priority-Two Channel Scan

Two channels are assigned as the priority
channels during scan operation.

26, 33,

34

77

44, 46-51

44, 46-50

44, 46-50

6

General Radio Operation

Menu Entry (Softkey)

The bottom row of the display contains one to three menu entries
(also known as softkeys). The menu entries allow you to select one of
several menus to access the radio’s features. The menu entries are
accessed through the Menu Select buttons.

Menu Select Buttons

The Menu Select buttons access the menu entries of features that
have been activated by a qualified radio technician. Your radio may
be programmed differently from the following example, but the display
for turning Scan on or off might look like the example below. For
instance, to turn Scan on, press D directly below ON.

T

SCAN

menu entry
(softkey)

Home

Button

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 7

ON OFF

4-Way Navigation

Button

menu entry
(softkey)

3 Menu Select
Buttons

App

Button

General Radio Operation

Menu Entry Features

Table 5: Menu Entries

Feature

Smart Battery

Private Call /
Selective Call

Channel Selection

Time/Date

Repeater/Direct

Key Zeroization

Key Selection

Keyset Selection

Radio Lock

Keypad Mute

Text Select

Number Select

Call Alert Page

Menu
Entry

BATT

CALL

CHAN

CLCK

DIR

ERAS

KEY

KSET

LOGF

MUTE

NAME

NUM

PAGE

Page Feature

16 Phone

59/63 Editing

22 Password

95 TX Power Level

74 Rekey Request

82 Reprogram

Request

79 Scan On/Off

80 Site Lock/Unlock

31 Status Call

32 Talkgroup Call

42 View a List

41 Zone Selection

67

Menu
Entry

PHON

PROG

PSWD

PWR

REKY

RPGM

SCAN

SITE

STS

TGRP

VIEW

ZONE

Page

55

41

30

27

85

88

51

92

72

70

40

21

Home Button

The Home button always returns you to the home (default) display. In
most cases, this is the current mode.

Some radio features that you can edit require saving information in
memory. Pressing the Home button after editing those features
causes information to be saved before going to the home display.

Some features do not require you to press the Home button to go to
the home display. This reduces the required number of key presses.

App Button

Reserved for future use.

8

General Radio Operation

MAEPF-27194-A

4-Way Navigation Button

This button is used to scroll through the radio’s lists or items in the
display, or both.

Keypad

The 3 x 4-key alphanumeric keypad
provides an interface to your radio’s

features.

The keypad functions in a manner
similar to a standard telephone keypad
when entering numeric digits.

When the keypad is used to edit a list,
each key can generate different
characters of the alphabet. Refer to
Table 6, below, for a complete list of
characters.

Table 6: Keypad Characters

Key

Number of times the key is pressed

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

0()<>

1&%

ABC2abc

DEF3de f

GHI 4gh i

JKL5 j k l

MNO 6m n o

PQRS7pq r s

TUV8 t u v

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 9

General Radio Operation

Table 6: Keypad Characters (Continued)

Key

9

*

#

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

WXYZ9wxyz

*/+-=

#. !?,;

Number of times the key is pressed

LED Indicators

The LED on top of the radio indicates the radio’s operating status:

Table 7: LED Indicators

LED Indicator What it Means

Red Radio transmitting

Flashing red • Channel busy, or

• Low battery (while transmitting)

Double flashing red Receiving encrypted audio

Flashing green Receiving an individual call

10

General Radio Operation

Alert Tones

An alert tone is a sound or group of sounds. Your radio uses alert
tones to inform you of your radio’s conditions. The following table lists

these tones and when they occur.

Table 8: Alert Tones

You Hear Tone Name Heard

Short,

Low-Pitched

Tone

Long, Low-

Pitched Tone

A Group of

Low-Pitched

Ton e s

Invalid
Key-Press

Radio Self-Test
Fail

Reject when unauthorized request is

Time-Out Timer
Warning

No ACK
Received

Time-Out Timer
Timed Out

Talk Prohibit/
PTT Inhibit

Out-of-Range (when PTT button is pressed) the

Invalid Mode when radio is on an unprogrammed

Individual Call
Warning Tone

Busy when system is busy

when wrong key is pressed

when radio fails its power-up self
test

made

four seconds before time out

when radio fails to receive an
acknowledgment

after time out

(when PTT button is pressed)
transmissions are not allowed

radio is out of range of the system

channel

when radio is in an individual call
for greater than 6 seconds without
any activity

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 11

General Radio Operation

Table 8: Alert Tones (Continued)

You Hear Tone Name Heard

Short,

Medium-

Pitched

Tone

Long,

Medium-

Pitched

Tone

A Group of

Medium-

Pitched

Ton e s

Short,

High-Pitched

Tone (Chirp)

Valid Key­Press

Radio Self-Test
Pass

Clear Voice at beginning of a non-coded

Priority
Channel
Received

Emergency
Alarm Entry

Central Echo when central controller has

Volume Set when volume is changed on a quiet

Emergency Exit when exiting the emergency state

Failsoft when the trunking system fails

Automatic Call
Back

Talk Permit (when PTT button is pressed)

Keyfail when encryption key has been lost

Console
Acknowledge

Received
Individual Call

Call Alert Sent when Call Alert is received by the

Low-Battery
Chirp

when correct key is pressed

when radio passes its power-up
self test

communication

when activity on a priority channel
is received

when entering the emergency state

received a request from a radio

channel

when voice channel is available
from previous request

verifying system accepting
transmissions

when status, emergency alarm, or
reprogram request ACK is received

when Call Alert or Private Call is
received

target radio

when battery is below preset
threshold value

12

General Radio Operation

Table 8: Alert Tones (Continued)

You Hear Tone Name Heard

Fast Ringing when system is searching for target

of Private Call

Ringing

Gurgle

Enhanced Call
Sent

Phone Call
Received

Dynamic
Regrouping

when waiting for target of Private
Call to answer the call

when a land-to-mobile phone call is
received

(when the PTT button is pressed)
a dynamic ID has been received

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 13

General Radio Operation

Standard Accessories

Battery

To avoid a possible explosion:

!

!

W A R N I N G

Charging the Battery

The Motorola-approved battery shipped with your radio is uncharged.
Prior to using a new battery, charge it for a minimum of 16 hours to
ensure optimum capacity and performance.

For a list of Motorola-authorized batteries available for use with your
XTS 4250 radio, see “Batteries and Battery Accessories” on
page 105.

Note: When charging a battery attached to a radio, turn the radio off

to ensure a full charge.

Battery Charger

To charge the battery, place the battery, with or without the radio, in a
Motorola-approved charger. The charger’s LED indicates the
charging progress; see your charger’s user guide. For a list of
chargers, see “Chargers” on page 107.

Battery Charge Status

If programmed by a qualified radio technician, you can check your
battery’s charge status by holding down the pre-programmed Battery
Gauge button on the radio. Charge status is shown by the color of the

radio’s LED.

• DO NOT replace the battery in any area
labeled “hazardous atmosphere”.

• DO NOT discard batteries in a fire.

14

Battery Level LED Indicator

High Green

Sufficient Yellow

Low Flashing Red

Very low None

Attach the Battery

1 With the radio turned off,

insert the top edge of the
battery into the radio’s frame
as shown.

2 Rotate the battery toward the

radio and press down until the
battery clicks into place.

Remove the Battery

1 With the radio turned off,

press the release button on
the bottom of the battery until
the battery releases from the
radio.

General Radio Operation

2 Remove the battery from the

radio.

Note: If your radio is programmed with volatile-key retention,

encryption keys will be retained for approximately 30
seconds after battery removal. Consult a qualified radio
technician for details.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 15

General Radio Operation

Smart Battery Status

This feature lets you view the status of your Smart Battery.

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find BATT.

2 Press D, E, or F directly

below BATT.

Note:If a Smart Battery is not

powering your radio.

3 Press h to exit.

Use the Preprogrammed Smart Battery Button

1 Press the Smart Battery

button.

Note:If a Smart Battery is not

powering your radio.

BATT

CAPACITY 70%
INIT 10/01
EST CHGS 11

SMART BATT
DATA NOT
AVAILABLE.

CAPACITY 70%
INIT 10/01
EST CHGS 11

SMART BATT
DATA NOT
AVAILABLE.

2 Press h to exit.

16

General Radio Operation

Antenna

For information regarding available antennas, see page 103.

Attach the Antenna

With the radio turned off, turn the
antenna clockwise to attach it to
the radio.

Remove the Antenna

With the radio turned off, turn the
antenna counter-clockwise to
remove it from the radio.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 17

General Radio Operation

Belt Clip

Attach the Belt Clip

1 Align the grooves of the belt

clip with those of the battery.

2 Press the belt clip downward

until you clear a click.

Remove the Belt Clip

1 Use a flat-bladed object to

press the belt clip tab away
from the battery.

2 Slide the belt clip upward to

remove it.

Grooves

Slots

Slots

Battery

Battery

Battery

Battery

Metal

Tab

18

General Radio Operation

Universal Connector Cover

The universal connector is located on the antenna side of the radio. It
is used to connect accessories to the radio.

Note: To prevent damage to the connector, shield it with the

connector cover when not in use.

Remove the Universal Connector Cover

1 Insert a flat-bladed

screwdriver into the area
between the bottom of the
cover and the slot below the
connector.

2 Hold the top of the cover with

your thumb while you pry the
bottom of the cover away
from the radio with the
screwdriver.

Attach the Universal Connector Cover

1 Insert the hooked end of the

cover into the slot above the

To p

Hooked End

To p
Slot

connector. Press downward
on the cover’s top to seat it in
the slot.

2 Rub the ball of your thumb

from the top to the bottom of
the cover while applying
pressure towards the radio.
This should flex the cover and
snap it into place.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 19

General Radio Operation

Radio On and Off

Turn the Radio On

Turn the On/Off/Volume Control
knob clockwise.

On

Note: If the power-up test is

successful, you briefly
see SELF TEST, then the
home display.

Note: If the power-up test is

unsuccessful, you see
ERROR XX/YY. (XX/YY is
an alphanumeric code.)

Turn off the radio, check the battery, and turn the radio on. If
the radio fails the power-up test again, record the ERROR XX/

YY code and contact a qualified radio technician.

Turn the Radio Off

Turn the On/Off/Volume Control
knob counterclockwise until it
clicks.

SELF TEST

ERROR XX/YY

Off

20

General Radio Operation

Zones and Channels

A zone is a grouping of channels. A channel is a group of radio
characteristics, such as transmit/receive frequency pairs.

Before you use your radio to receive or send messages, you should
select the zone and channel.

Select a Zone

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find ZONE.

ZONE

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below ZONE.

The current zone (in this
case, POL) flashes and the
channel name (DISP NW),
does not flash.

3 Press U to find the zone

you want. For example,
FIRE.

4 Press h to confirm the

displayed zone and channel.

OR

Press the PTT button to
transmit on the displayed
zone/channel.

Use the Preprogrammed Zone Switch

1 If a control on your radio has

been preprogrammed as the
Zone switch, move the Zone
switch to the position for the
zone you want.

POL DISP NW

FIRE DISP NW

FIRE DISP NW

FIRE DISP NW

FIRE DISP NW

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 21

General Radio Operation

Note: If the zone you selected

is unprogrammed, repeat
step 1.

2 Press h to confirm the

displayed zone and channel.

FIRE DISP NWUNPROGRAMMED

FIRE DISP NW

Select a Channel

Consult a qualified radio technician for the right choice between the
following methods:

Method 1: Use the Preprogrammed 16-Position Select Knob

After the zone you want is
displayed, turn the
16-Position Select knob to
the desired channel.

Method 2: Use the Menu

1 Press U to find CHAN.

Select

Channel

CHAN

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below CHAN.

The display shows the cur­rent channel name (in this
case, DISP NW) flashing and
the zone (POL), not flashing.

3 Press U to find the channel

name you want.

OR

Use the keypad to enter the
channel number.

22

POL DISP NW

POL DISP SE

General Radio Operation

Note: If the channel you

selected is
unprogrammed, repeat
step 3.

4 Press h to confirm the

displayed zone and channel.

OR

Press the PTT button to
transmit on the displayed
zone/channel.

UNPROGRAMMED

POL DISP SE

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 23

General Radio Operation

Receive / Transmit

Radio users who switch from analog to digital radios often assume
that the lack of static on a digital channel is an indication that the
radio is not working properly. This is not the case. Digital technology
quiets the transmission by removing the “noise” from the signal and
allowing only the clear voice or data information to be heard.

This section emphasizes the importance of knowing how to monitor a
channel for traffic before keying up to send a transmission.

Without Using the Volume Set and Monitor Buttons

1 Turn the radio on and select

the desired zone and
channel.

2 Listen for a transmission.

3 Adjust the Volume Control

knob if necessary.

djust

Level

4 Press and hold the PTT

button to transmit. The LED
lights RED while transmitting.

5 Release the PTT button to

receive (listen).

Use the Preprogrammed Volume Set Button

1 Turn the radio on and select

the desired zone and
channel.

2 Press and hold the Volu m e

Set button to hear the volume

set tone.

24

General Radio Operation

3 Adjust the Volume Control

knob if necessary.

djust

evel

4 Release the Volume Set

button.

5 Press and hold the PTT

button to transmit. The LED
lights RED while transmitting.

6 Release the PTT button to

receive (listen).

Use the Preprogrammed Monitor Button

1 Turn the radio on and select

the desired zone and
channel.

2 Press the Monitor button

and listen for activity. The
Carrier Squelch indicator is
displayed. (See the following

Conventional Mode
Operation.)

3 Adjust the Volume Control

knob if necessary.

C

djust

evel

4 Press and hold the PTT

button to transmit. The LED
lights RED while transmitting.

5 Release the PTT button to

receive (listen).

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 25

General Radio Operation

Conventional Mode Operation

Your radio may be programmed to receive Private-Line® (PL) calls.

1 Momentarily press the

Monitor button to listen for

activity. The Carrier Squelch
indicator is displayed.

2 Press and hold the Monitor

button to set continuous
monitor operation. (The
duration of the button press is
programmable.)

3 Press the Monitor button

again, or the PTT button, to
return to the original squelch
setting.

Note: If you try to transmit on a receive-only channel, you will hear

an invalid tone until you release the PTT button.

C

26

Common Radio Features

Selectable Power Level

This feature lets you select the power level at which your radio will
transmit. The radio will always turn on to the default setting. This
feature must be preprogrammed by a qualified radio technician.

• Select LOW for a shorter transmitting distance and to conserve
power.

• Select HIGH for a longer transmitting distance.

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find PWR.

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below PWR. The display
shows the current power level,
along with LOW and HIGH.

3 Press D, E, or F directly

below the desired power level
(LOW or HIGH).

Note: To exit without changing the setting, press h or the PTT

button.

PWR

HIGH POWER
LOW HIGH

OR

LOW POWER
LOW HIGH

• The new transmit power
level is saved.

• The radio returns to the
home display.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 27

Common Radio Features

Use the Preprogrammed Transmit Power Level Switch

1 Move the TX Power Level

switch to the Low Power
position. The power level is set
to Low.

2 Move the TX Power Level

switch to the HIgh Power
position. The power level is set
to High.

28

Common Radio Features

Radio Lock

This feature changes your radio to a more robust security system that
protects the use of the secure encryption keys. If this feature is
enabled in your radio by a qualified radio technician, when you turn
the radio on, you see RADIO LOCKED.

Unlock Your Radio

1 Enter your numeric password.

Note:

• Secure-equipped radios — 6 to 8 characters.

• Clear radios — 0 to 8 characters.

If you make a mistake, press V to backspace.

2 Press the preprogrammed

Select button after you enter

your password. If the password
is correct, the radio unlocks.

Note: If the password is incorrect,

the radio remains locked.

• If you enter three incorrect
passwords in a row, you see
DEADLOCK. Turn the radio off
and then on, and begin again at
step 1.

• Secure Radios Only — If you
enter a total of 17 consecutive
incorrect passwords (turning the
radio off and on does not reset
this number), the radio erases
all of its encryption keys and
shows “DEADLOCK.” See a
qualified radio technician.

--------

RADIO LOCKED

DEADLOCK

DEADLOCK

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 29

Common Radio Features

Change Your Password

1 Press U to find PSWD.

2 Press D, E, or F directly

below PSWD.

3 Enter the old password.

4 Press D, E, or F directly

below SEL.

5 Enter the new password.

6 Press D, E, or F directly

below SEL.

7 Re-enter the new password.

8 Press D, E, or F directly

below SEL. The password is
updated.

PSWD

OLD PASSWORD

-------­SEL

NEW PASSWORD
SEL

-------­SEL

­SEL

-------­SEL

Note: If the two passwords do not

match, repeat steps 5
through 8.

Note: If you enter three incorrect old passwords, the radio exits

the password feature. You cannot access this feature again
until you turn the radio off and on.

NEW PASSWORD

30

Common Radio Features

Enable or Disable the Radio Lock Feature (Secure Radios Only)

This feature (programmable by a qualified radio technician) allows
you to enable or disable the radio lock feature.

1 Press U to find LOGF.

2 Press D, E, or F directly

below LOGF. You see the current
state.

3 To enable the radio lock feature,

press D, E, or F directly
below ENAB.

OR

To disable the radio lock fea­ture, press D, E, or F
directly below DSAB.

LOGF

PSWD ENABLD
ENAB DSAB

OR

PSWD DISBLD
ENAB DSAB

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 31

Common Radio Features

Mute or Unmute Keypad Tones

You can turn the keypad tones on or off.

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find MUTE.

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below MUTE. The
current state is shown.

3 Press D, E, or F

directly below OFF or ON.

Note: Press h or the PTT button to exit without changing the

setting.

MUTE

TONES OFF
OFF ON

OR

TONES ON
OFF ON

Use the Preprogrammed Keypad Mute Button

Press the Keypad Mute
button to turn the tones off or
on.

32

Common Radio Features

Conventional Squelch Operation

Analog Options

Tone Private Line (PL), Digital Private-Line (DPL), and carrier squelch
can be available (preprogrammed) per channel.

When in This condition occurs

Carrier squelch (C) You hear all traffic on a channel.

PL or DPL The radio responds only to your

messages.

Digital Options

One or more of the following options may be programmed in your
radio. Consult your service technician for more information.

This option Will allow you to hear

Digital Carrier-Operated
Squelch (COS)

Normal Squelch any digital traffic having the correct

Selective Switch any digital traffic having the correct

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 33

any digital traffic.

network access code.

network access code and correct
talkgroup.

Common Radio Features

PL Defeat

With this feature, you can override any coded squelch (DPL or PL)
that might be preprogrammed to a channel.

Place the preprogrammed

PL Defeat switch in the PL
Defeat position. You can

now hear any activity on the
channel. The radio is muted
if no activity is present.

When this feature is active,
the Carrier Squelch status

indicator (
displayed.

C) will be

C

34

Common Radio Features

Time-out Timer

The time-out timer turns off your radio’s transmitter. The timer is set
for 60 seconds at the factory, but it can be programmed from 0 to 7.75
minutes (465 seconds) by a qualified radio technician.

1 Hold down the PTT button

longer than the programmed
time. You will hear a short,
low-pitched warning tone,
the transmission will cut-off,
and the LED will go out until
you release the PTT.

2 Release the PTT button. • LED re-lights

3 Press the PTT to re-transmit.

The time-out timer restarts.

• Short warning tone

• Transmission is cut-off

• LED goes out

• Timer resets

• Timer restarts

• LED is red

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 35

Common Radio Features

Emergency

If the top (orange) button is programmed to send an emergency
signal, then this signal overrides any other communication over the
selected channel.

Your radio can be programmed for the following:

• Emergency Alarm

• Emergency Call

• Emergency Alarm with Emergency Call

• Silent Emergency Alarm

Consult a qualified radio technician for emergency programming of
your radio.

Send an Emergency Alarm

An emergency alarm will send a data transmission to the dispatcher,
identifying the radio sending the emergency.

1 With your radio turned on,

press the Emergency
button. The current zone/
channel is displayed
alternately with EMERGENCY,
the red LED lights, and a
short, medium-pitched tone
sounds.

If the selected channel does
not support emergency, the
display shows
NO EMERGENCY. Select a
channel that does show
EMERGENCY.

Note: To exit emergency at any time, press and hold the

Emergency button for about a second.

EMERGENCY

• Red LED

• Short tone

NO EMERGENCY

36

Common Radio Features

2 When you receive the

dispatcher’s
acknowledgment, you see
ACK RECEIVED, four tones
sound, the alarm ends, and
the radio exits the emergency
mode.

If no acknowledgement is
received, you see NO
ACKNOWLDG, the alarm ends,
and the radio exits the emer­gency mode.

Note: For Emergency Alarm with Emergency Call: The radio

enters the Emergency Call state either after it receives the
dispatcher’s acknowledgment, or if you press the PTT button
while in Emergency Alarm. Go to step 2 of “Send an
Emergency Call”, below.

ACK RECEIVED

• Four tones

• Alarm ends

• Radio exits emergency

NO ACKNOWLDG

• Alarm ends

• Radio exits emergency

Send an Emergency Call

This type of dispatch gives your radio priority access on a channel.

The radio operates in the normal dispatch manner while in
Emergency Call, except, if enabled, it will return to one of the
following:

• Tactical/Non-Revert — You talk on the channel you selected
before you entered the emergency state.

• Non-Tactical/Revert — You talk on a preprogrammed emergency
channel. The emergency alarm is sent on this same channel.

1 With your radio turned on,

press the Emergency
button.The current zone/
channel is displayed
alternately with EMERGENCY,
and a short, medium-pitched
tone sounds.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 37

EMERGENCY

• Short tone

Common Radio Features

Note: To exit emergency at any time, press and hold the

Emergency button for about a second.

2 Press and hold the PTT

button and announce your
emergency into the
microphone.

3 Release the PTT button to

end the transmission and wait
for a response from the
dispatcher.

4 Press and hold the

Emergency button for about

a second to exit emergency.

Send a Silent Emergency Alarm

1 With your radio turned on,

press the Emergency
button. The display does not
change, the LED does not
light, and you hear no tones.

Note: To exit emergency at any time, press and hold the

Emergency button for about a second.

2 The silent emergency state

continues until you:

Press and hold the
Emergency button for about
a second to exit the
emergency state.

OR

Press and release the PTT
button to exit silent
emergency and enter regular
dispatch or emergency call.

• Display does not change

• LED does not light

• No tones

• Press and hold Emergency

button

OR

• Press and release the PTT
button

38

Common Radio Features

Note: For ALL Emergency signals, when changing channels:

• If the new channel is also programmed for Emergency, you can
change channels while in Emergency operation. The
emergency alarm or call continues on the new channel.

• If the new channel is NOT programmed for Emergency, you
see NO EMERGENCY, and hear an invalid tone until you exit
the Emergency state or change to a channel programmed for
emergency.

Emergency Keep-Alive

If the radio is in the Emergency state, with Emergency Keep-Alive
enabled, you cannot turn off the radio by using the On/Off Control
knob.

With Keep-Alive, the radio will only exit the Emergency state using
one of the ways mentioned in the previous sections (Emergency
Alarm, Silent Emergency Alarm, or Emergency Call).

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 39

Common Radio Features

Lists

You can use lists to store frequently used numbers and associate
them with names. There are four list types:

• Call

• Page

• Phone

• Scan

View a List

1 Press U to find VIEW.

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below VIEW.

3 Press V or U to see the

names of available lists.

4 Press D, E, or F

directly below the name of the
list you wish to view. You see
the first list member.
p indicates the view mode.

5 Press V or U to view

other list members.

6 Press h to exit.

Scan List Empty

If you wish to view a scan list and
the list has no entries, you see

EMPTY LIST.

VIEW

CALL

PAGE PHON

FIRE CHIEF p
701234

EMPTY LIST

To end this display, turn scan off
or edit the list.

40

Common Radio Features

Edit a Call, Page, or Phone List Number

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find PROG.

PROG

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below PROG. You see
the lists that can be changed.

3 Press D, E, or F

directly below the name of the
list you wish to change. You
see the first list member. p
(flashing) indicates the
programming mode.

4 Press V or U to select

the list member to be
changed.

OR

You can use the keypad to
enter the corresponding
location number of the name
in the list.

5 Press D, E, or F

directly below NUM. The
blinking cursor shows the
location of the number to be
added.

CALL

PAGE PHON

FIRE CHIEF p
701234
NUM NAME

SECURITY p
704321
NUM NAME

SECURITY p
70432_
SAVE

6 Press V to erase digits. (If

you erase the entire number
and then press V or U,
you exit editing without saving
your changes.) Press a
keypad button to add a digit
(see “Keypad” on page 9).

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 41

SECURITY p
704321_
SAVE

Common Radio Features

7 Press D, E, or F

directly below SAVE to save
your change. Return to step 4
to make more changes.

OR

Press h to return to the home
display.

Edit a Call, Page, or Phone List Name

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find PROG.

PROG

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below PROG. You see
the lists that can be changed.

3 Press D, E, or F

directly below the name of the
list you wish to change. You
see the first list member. p
(flashing) indicates the
programming mode.

4 Press V or U to select

the list member to be
changed.

OR

You can use the keypad to
enter the corresponding
location number of the name
in the list.

CALL

PAGE PHON

FIRE CHIEF p
701234
NUM NAME

SECURITY p
704321
NUM NAME

42

Common Radio Features

5 Press D, E, or F

directly below NAME. The
blinking cursor shows the
location of the character to be
added.

6 Press V to erase

characters. (If you erase the
entire name and press V or
U, you exit editing without
saving your changes.) Press
a keypad button to add a
character (see “Keypad” on
page 9).

7 Press D, E, or F

directly below SAVE to save
your change. Return to step 4
to make more changes.

OR

Press h to return to the home
display.

GUARD_ p
704444
SAVE

_ p
704444
SAVE

Edit a Scan List

This feature lets you change scan list members and priorities.

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find PROG.

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below PROG. You see
the lists that can be changed.

3 Press U to find SCAN.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 43

PROG

CALL

PAGE PHON

SCAN

Common Radio Features

4 Press D, E, or F

directly below SCAN. You see
the first list member.
p (flashing) indicates the
programming mode.

5 Press V or U to find the

member you want to change.

6 Press D, E, or F

directly below SEL or DEL or

RCL.

SEL = add and/or change the priority of the currently displayed

channel in the scan list.

DEL = delete the currently displayed channel from the scan list.

RCL = view the next member of the scan list.

Note: The maximum number of members for a trunking priority

monitor scan list is 15; for a conventional scan list, 15; and
for a talkgroup scan list, 10.

7 To change the priority of the

currently displayed channel,
press D, E, or F
below SEL additional times to

see

T or S or S or no icon.

FIRE DISP NW p
SEL DE L RCL

SEL DE L RCL

T or S or S or no icon

T = this channel is in the scan list as a non-priority channel.
S = this channel is in the scan list as the priority 2 channel.
S (dot flashing) = this channel is in the scan list as the priority 1

channel. You will hear all traffic on the priority 1 channel,
regardless of traffic on non-priority channels.

no icon = this channel is deleted from the scan list.

Note: You cannot delete a priority channel from a scan list. In a

talkgroup scan list, priority cannot be assigned.

44

Common Radio Features

8 Press V or U to select

more channels to be added or
deleted.

OR

Use the keypad to go directly
to additional channels to be
added or deleted.

OR

Use the 16-Position Select
knob to select additional
channels to be added or
deleted.

9 Press h to exit scan list

programming and return to
the home display.

Use the Menu and the Preprogrammed Select (Top Side) Button

1 Press U to find PROG.

PROG

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below PROG. You see

PAGE PHON

CALL

the lists that can be changed.

3 Press U to find SCAN.

4 Press D, E, or F

SCAN

FIRE DISP NW p

directly below SCAN. You see
the first list member.
p (flashing) indicates the
programming mode.

5 Press V or U to find the

member you want to change.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 45

Common Radio Features

6 Press the Select button once

to add the currently displayed
channel to the scan list.

AND/OR

Press the Select button one
or more times to change the
scan list status symbol of the
currently displayed channel.

Note: The maximum number of members for a trunking priority

monitor scan list is 15; for a conventional scan list, 15; and
for a talkgroup scan list, 10.

T or S or S or no icon

T = this channel is in the scan list as a non-priority channel.
S = this channel is in the scan list as the priority 2 channel.
S (dot flashing) = this channel is in the scan list as the priority 1

channel. You will hear all traffic on the priority 1 channel,
regardless of traffic on non-priority channels.

no icon = this channel is deleted from the scan list.

Note: You cannot delete a priority channel from a scan list. In a

talkgroup scan list, priority cannot be assigned.

7 Press V or U to select

more scan list members
whose scan status you want
to change.

OR

Use the keypad to go directly
to that scan list member.

OR

Use the 16-Position Select
knob to select another scan
list member.

46

Common Radio Features

8 Press h to exit scan list

programming and return to
the home display.

Use the Preprogrammed Scan List Programming Switch and the
Menu

1 Move the Scan List

Programming switch to the
Programming position. You

see the first list member. p
(flashing) indicates the
programming mode.

2 Press V or U to find the

member you want to change.

FIRE DISP NW p
SEL DE L RCL

3 Press D, E, or F

directly below SEL or DEL or

RCL.

SEL = add and/or change the priority of the currently displayed

channel in the scan list.

DEL = delete the currently displayed channel from the scan list.

RCL = view the next member of the scan list.

Note: The maximum number of members for a trunking priority

monitor scan list is 15; for a conventional scan list, 15; and
for a talkgroup scan list, 10.

4 To change the priority of the

currently displayed channel,
press D, E, or F
below SEL additional times to

see

T or S or S or no icon.

SEL DE L RCL

T or S or S or no icon

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 47

Common Radio Features

T = this channel is in the scan list as a non-priority channel.
S = this channel is in the scan list as the priority 2 channel.
S (dot flashing) = this channel is in the scan list as the priority 1

channel. You will hear all traffic on the priority 1 channel,
regardless of traffic on non-priority channels.

no icon = this channel is deleted from the scan list.

Note: You cannot delete a priority channel from a scan list. In a

talkgroup scan list, priority cannot be assigned.

5 Press V or U to select

more channels to be added or
deleted.

OR

Use the keypad to go directly
to additional channels to be
added or deleted.

OR

Use the 16-Position Select
knob to select additional
channels to be added or
deleted.

6 Move the Scan List

Programming switch out of
the Programming position.

Change the Scan List Status Only

1 Move the Scan List

Programming switch to the
Programming position. You

see the first list member.
p (flashing) indicates the
programming mode.

48

FIRE DISP NW p

2 Press V or U to find the

member you want to change.

Common Radio Features

3 Press the Select button once

to add the currently displayed
channel to the scan list.

AND/OR

Press the Select button one
or more times to change the
scan list status symbol of the
currently displayed channel.

Note: The maximum number of members for a trunking priority

monitor scan list is 15; for a conventional scan list, 15; and
for a talkgroup scan list, 10.

T or S or S or no icon

T = this channel is in the scan list as a non-priority channel.
S = this channel is in the scan list as the priority 2 channel.
S (dot flashing) = this channel is in the scan list as the priority 1

channel. You will hear all traffic on the priority 1 channel,
regardless of traffic on non-priority channels.

no icon = this channel is deleted from the scan list.

Note: You cannot delete a priority channel from a scan list. In a

talkgroup scan list, priority cannot be assigned.

4 Press V or U to select

more list members whose
scan status you want to
change.

OR

You can use the keypad to go
directly to that scan list mem­ber.

OR

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 49

Common Radio Features

You can use the 16-Position
Select knob to select another
scan list member.

5 Move the Scan List

Programming switch out of

the Programming position.

50

Common Radio Features

Scan

The scan feature allows you to monitor traffic on different channels by
scanning a preprogrammed list of channels. Your radio can have up
to 32 different scan lists. These lists must be preprogrammed by a
qualified radio technician.

• To view your radio’s scan lists, see “View a List” on page 40.

• To change your radio’s scan lists, see “Edit a Scan List” on

page 43.

Turn Scan On or Off

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find SCAN.

SCAN

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below SCAN. You see
the current scan state.

The scan status symbol is
displayed when scan is on.

3 Press D, E, or F

directly below ON or OFF.

OR

You can press h or the PTT
button to exit scan and return
to the home display without
changing the scan state.

Use the Preprogrammed Scan On/Off Switch

Place the Scan switch in the
Scan On or Scan Off posi-

tion. The scan status symbol
is displayed when scan is on.

SCAN ON T
ON OFF

OR

SCAN OFF
ON OFF

SCAN

T

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 51

Common Radio Features

Delete a Nuisance Channel

When the radio scans to a channel that you do not wish to hear
(nuisance channel), you can temporarily delete the channel from the
scan list.

1 When the radio is locked

onto the channel to be
deleted, press the
preprogrammed Nuisance
Delete button.

Repeat this step to delete
more channels.

Note: You cannot delete priority

channels or the
designated transmit
channel.

2 The radio continues scanning

the remaining channels in the
list. To resume scanning the
deleted channel, change
channels or turn scan off and
then back on again.

52

Common Radio Features

Conventional Scan Only

Make a Dynamic Priority Change

While the radio is scanning, the dynamic priority change feature lets
you temporarily change any channel in a scan list (except the priority­one channel) to the priority-two channel. The replaced priority-two
channel becomes a non-priority channel. This change remains in
effect until scan is turned off, then scanning reverts back to the
preprogrammed state.

1 When the radio is locked

onto the channel to be
designated as priority-two,
press the preprogrammed

Dynamic Priority button.

Note: The priority-one

channel cannot be
changed to priority­two.

2 The radio continues scanning

the remaining channels in the
list. To resume scanning the
preprogrammed priority-two
channel, you must leave and
re-enter scan operation.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 53

Common Radio Features

Telephone Calls (Trunking Only)

Use your radio to make calls similar to standard phone calls. A
landline phone can be used to call a radio, or a radio can be used to
call a landline phone.

Quick Access (One-Touch)

If your radio is preprogrammed for Quick Access (One-Touch) Phone
Call, you can make a call to one preprogrammed phone number

without having to select the feature or a phone number.

1 Press the Quick Access

Phone button to dial the

phone number.

2 If your call is answered, press

the PTT button to talk;
release the PTT to listen.

OR

If your call is not answered,
go to “Phone Call Display
and Alert Prompts” on
page 57.

3 When your call is completed,

press h to hang up. The radio
returns to the home display.

54

Common Radio Features

Answer a Phone Call

Use the preprogrammed Call Response button to answer a call.

1 When a phone call is

received, you hear a
telephone-type ringing, the
LED flashes GREEN, the call

received symbol (
and PHONE CALL is displayed.

2 Press the Call Response

button within 20 seconds after
the call indicators begin.

3 Press and hold the PTT

button to talk; release it to
listen.

4 Press h to hang up and return

to the home display.

m) flashes,

Initiate a Phone Call

1 Press U to find PHON.

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below PHON. You see
the last transmitted phone
number.

• Telephone-type ringing

• Flashing GREEN LED

PHONE CALL m

PHON

555-1234
LIST

3 Go to “Select a Phone

Number” on page 56.

OR

Go to “Make a Phone Call”
on page 56.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 55

• Use the Menu

• Use the Keypad

Common Radio Features

Select a Phone Number

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find the phone

number you want.

Note: Press LNUM to go to the

last number dialed.

2 Go to “Make a Phone Call”,

below.

Use the Keypad

1 Use the keypad to enter the

phone number you want.

Note: Press LNUM to go to the

last number dialed.

2 Go to “Make a Phone Call”,

below.

POLICE
555-8523
LNUM

POLICE
555-8523
LNUM

Make a Phone Call

1 Press and release the PTT

button to dial the phone
number.

2 If your call is answered, press

the PTT button to talk;
release the PTT to listen.

OR

If your call is not answered,
go to “Phone Call Display
and Alert Prompts” on
page 57.

3 When your call is completed,

press h to hang up. The radio
returns to the home display.

56

Common Radio Features

Table 9: Phone Call Display and Alert Prompts

When you press the PTT button

NO PHONE

and the phone system is not
available, you hear a long tone.

• A long tone

Press h to hang up. The radio
returns to the home display.

When a channel is not available,

PHONE BUSY

you hear a busy tone.

The radio automatically connects

• A busy tone

when a channel opens.

When the phone system is busy,

PHONE BUSY

you hear a long tone.

Press h to exit the phone mode

• A long tone

and try your call later.

The call is not acknowledged.

NO ACKNOWLDG

Press h to hang up. The radio
returns to the home display.

Notes: • A high-pitched tone, generated when you release the PTT

button, indicates to the landline party that he or she may
begin talking.

• You have the option of sending additional digits (overdial),
such as an extension number, or credit card or PIN
numbers, to the phone system. If the radio is programmed
for live overdial, every digit entered after the call is
connected is sent to the phone system.

• If the radio is programmed for buffered overdial, the digits
pressed are entered into memory and then sent when the
PTT button is pressed. Press the PTT to send either digits
or voice, but not both at the same time.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 57

Common Radio Features

Private Calls (Trunking Only)

These one-to-one calls between two radios are not heard by others in
the current talkgroup. The calling radio automatically verifies that the
receiving radio is active on the system and can display the caller’s ID.

Quick Access (One-Touch)

If your radio is preprogrammed for Quick Access (One-Touch) Private
Call, you can make a call to one preprogrammed ID number without

having to select the feature or an ID number.

1 Press the Quick Access

Private Call button to start

the Private Call.

The called ID is momentarily
displayed, then you see
PLEASE WAIT.

2 When you are connected, you

see the called ID. Press and
hold the PTT button to talk;
release the PTT to listen.

OR

If no acknowledgment is
received, you see NO
ACKNOWLDG.

OR

If the target radio does not
respond before the time out,
you see NO ANSWER.

3 Press h to hang up and return

to the home display.

FIRE CHIEF
ID: 701234

PLEASE WAIT

FIRE CHIEF
ID: 701234

NO ACKNOWLDG

NO ANSWER

58

Common Radio Features

Answer a Private Call

Use the preprogrammed Call Response button to answer a call.

1 When a Private Call is

received, you hear two alert
tones, the LED flashes
GREEN, the call received

symbol (
RECEIVD is displayed.

2 Press the Call Response

button within 20 seconds.

If the caller’s name is in the
call list, it will be displayed
during the call.

OR

If the caller’s name is not in
the call list, the caller’s ID
number is displayed.

3 Press and hold the PTT

button to talk; release it to
listen.

4 Press h or the Call

Response button to hang up

and return to the home
display.

m) flashes, and CALL

• Two tones

• Flashing GREEN LED

CALL RECEIVD m

Initiate a Private Call

1 Press U to find CALL.

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below CALL. You see
the last transmitted or
received ID number.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 59

CALL

ID: 702345
LIST

Common Radio Features

3 Go to “Select an ID Number”,

below.

OR

Go to “Make a Private Call”
on page 61.

Select an ID Number

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find the ID

number you want.

Note: Press LNUM to go to the

last number dialed.

2 Go to “Make a Private Call”

on page 61.

Use the Keypad

1 Use the keypad to enter the

ID number you want.

Note: Press LNUM to go to the

last number dialed.

• Use the Menu

• Use the Keypad

FIRE CHIEF
ID: 701234
LNUM

FIRE CHIEF
ID: 701234
LNUM

2 Go to “Make a Private Call”

on page 61.

60

Make a Private Call

1 Press the PTT button to start

the Private Call.

Common Radio Features

The called ID is momentarily
displayed, then you see
PLEASE WAIT.

2 When you are connected, you

see the called ID. Press and
hold the PTT button to talk;
release the PTT to listen.

OR

If no acknowledgment is
received, you see NO
ACKNOWLDG.

OR

If the target radio does not
respond before the time out,
you see NO ANSWER.

3 When your call is completed,

press h to hang up. The radio
returns to the home display.

FIRE CHIEF
ID: 701234

PLEASE WAIT

FIRE CHIEF
ID: 701234

NO ACKNOWLDG

NO ANSWER

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 61

Common Radio Features

Selective Calls (ASTRO Conventional Only)

A Selective Call is used to call a select individual. It is intended to
provide privacy and to eliminate the annoyance of having to listen to
conversations that are of no interest to you.

Quick Access (One-Touch)

If your radio is preprogrammed for Quick Access (One-Touch)
Selective Call, you can make a call to one preprogrammed ID number

without having to select the feature or an ID number.

1 Press the Quick Access

Selective Call button to start

the Selective Call.

2 When you are connected, you

see the called ID. Press and
hold the PTT button to talk;
release the PTT to listen.

3 Press h to hang up and return

to the home display.

Answer a Selective Call

1 When a Selective Call is

received, you hear two alert
tones, the LED flashes
GREEN, the call received

symbol (
RECEIVD is displayed.

2 The display will remain active

for two seconds, and then
the speaker will unmute.

3 Press and hold the PTT

button to talk; release it to
listen.

m) flashes, and CALL

FIRE CHIEF
ID: 701234

• Two tones

• Flashing GREEN LED

CALL RECEIVD m

62

4 Press h to hang up and return

to the home display.

Initiate a Selective Call

Common Radio Features

1 Press U to find CALL.

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below CALL. You see
the last transmitted or
received ID number.

3 Go to “Select an ID Number”,

below.

OR

Go to “Make a Selective Call”
on page 64.

Select an ID Number

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find the ID

number you want.

Note: Press LNUM to go to the

last number dialed.

2 Go to “Make a Selective Call”

on page 64.

CALL

ID: 702345
LIST

• Use the Menu

• Use the Keypad

FIRE CHIEF
ID: 701234
LNUM

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 63

Common Radio Features

Use the Keypad

1 Use the keypad to enter the

ID number you want.

Note: Press LNUM to go to the

last number dialed.

2 Go to “Make a Selective

Call”, below.

Make a Selective Call

1 Press the PTT button to start

the Selective Call.

FIRE CHIEF
ID: 701234
LNUM

2 When you are connected, you

see the called ID. Press and
hold the PTT button to talk;
release the PTT to listen.

3 When your call is completed,

press h to hang up. The radio
returns to the home display.

FIRE CHIEF
ID: 701234

64

Common Radio Features

Call Alert Paging

Call Alert allows your radio to work like a pager. Even if other users
are away from their radios, or if they are unable to hear their radios,
you can still send them a Call Alert page. You can also verify if a radio
is active on the system.

In conventional operation, you can send either an individual Call Alert
page or a group Call Alert page. ID numbers for individuals are
preceded by ID: and for groups by GR:.

Quick Access (One-Touch)

If your radio is preprogrammed for Quick Access (One-Touch) Call
Alert Paging, you can send a page to one preprogrammed ID number
without having to select the feature or an ID number.

1 Press the Quick Access

Call Alert button to send the

Call Alert. You see PLEASE
WAIT.

2 When you are connected, you

see the home display. Press
and hold the PTT
button to talk; release the

PTT to listen.

OR

If an individual Call Alert
page is not acknowledged,
you see NO ACKNOWLDG.

If a group Call Alert page is
not acknowledged, you do
not see NO ACKNOWLDG. The
radio will merely exit Call
Alert and return to normal
operation.

PLEASE WAIT

NO ACKNOWLDG

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 65

Common Radio Features

3 Press h or the Call

Response button to hang up

and return to the home
display.

Answer a Call Alert Page

1 When a Call Alert page is

received, you hear four
repeating alert tones, the
LED flashes GREEN, the call

received symbol (
and PAGE RECEIVD is
displayed.

2 Press and hold the PTT

button to talk; release it to
listen.

m) flashes,

• Four repeating alert tones

• Flashing GREEN LED

=

PAGE RECEIVD m

66

Initiate a Call Alert Page

Common Radio Features

1 Press U to find PAGE.

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below PAGE.

If an individual Call Alert
page was last transmitted or
received, you see the
individual ID number.

If a group Call Alert page
was last transmitted, you see
blanks in the individual ID
scratchpad and the group ID
transmitted to in the group ID
scratchpad (accessed by
pressing V once).

If a group Call Alert page
was last received, you see
the ID of the sending radio in
the individual ID scratchpad
and the group ID transmitted
to in the group ID
scratchpad.

PAGE

FIRE CHIEF
ID: 701234
LIST

FIRE CHIEF
ID: ______
LIST

FIRE DEPT
GR: 704440
LIST

3 Go to “Select an ID Number”

on page 68.

OR

Go to “Send a Call Alert
Page” on page 68.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 67

• Use the Menu

• Use the Keypad

Common Radio Features

Select an ID Number

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find the ID

number you want.

Note: Press LNUM to go to the

last number dialed.

2 Go to “Send a Call Alert

Page”, below.

Use the Keypad

1 Use the keypad to enter the

ID number you want.

Note: Press LNUM to go to the

last number dialed.

2 Go to “Send a Call Alert

Page”, below.

FIRE CHIEF
ID: 701234
LNUM

FIRE CHIEF
ID: 701234
LNUM

Send a Call Alert Page

1 Press the PTT button to send

the Call Alert to the displayed
number. You see PLEASE
WAIT.

2 When you are connected, you

see the home display. Press
and hold the PTT
button to talk; release the

PTT to listen.

OR

68

PLEASE WAIT

Common Radio Features

If an individual Call Alert
page is not acknowledged,
you see NO ACKNOWLDG.

If a group Call Alert page is
not acknowledged, you do
not see NO ACKNOWLDG. The
radio will merely exit Call
Alert and return to normal
operation.

3 Press h to hang up and return

to the home display.

NO ACKNOWLDG

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 69

Common Radio Features

Conventional Talkgroup Calls (Conventional Operation Only)

Talkgroup Call lets you define a group of conventional system users
so that they can share the use of a conventional channel.

Encryption keys are slaved to talkgroups. When talkgroups are
enabled, encryption keys are changed by changing the active
talkgroup. See “Secure Operations” on page 77.

Select a Talkgroup

1 Press U to find TGRP.

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below TGRP. You see
the last talkgroup that was
selected and stored, and SEL
and PSET.

3 Press V or U to find the

talkgroup you want.

OR

Use the keypad to enter the
number of the corresponding
talkgroup in the list.

4 Press D, E, or F

directly below SEL or PSET.

SEL (SELECT) — Saves the currently displayed talkgroup and
returns to the home display.

PSET (PRESET) — Selects the preset preprogrammed talk-
group.

If the encryption key slaved
to the new talkgroup is
erased, you see KEY FAIL
and hear a momentary key
fail tone.

TGRP

SEL PSET

SEL PSET

KEY FAIL

• Momentary key fail tone

70

Common Radio Features

If the encryption key that is
slaved to the new talkgroup
is not allowed, you see
ILLEGAL KEY and hear a
momentary key fail tone.

5 Press h or the PTT button, or

turn the 16-Position Select
knob to exit.

ILLEGAL KEY

• Momentary key fail tone

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 71

Common Radio Features

Status Calls (ASTRO 25 Trunking Only)

You can send data calls to the dispatcher about a predefined status.
Each status can have up to a 12-character name. A maximum of
eight status conditions is possible.

Send a Status Call

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find STS.

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below STS. The last
acknowledged status call, or
the first status in the list, is
displayed.

3 Press V or U to find the

status you wish to send.

OR

Use the keypad to enter a
number corresponding to the
location in the status list.

STS

4 Press the PTT button to send

the status.

When the dispatcher
acknowledges, four tones
sound, ACK RECEIVED is dis-
played, and the radio returns
to normal dispatch operation.

OR

If no acknowledgment is
received, you will see NO
ACKNOWLDG and hear a low­pitched tone.

5 Press h to go to the home

display

72

ACK RECEIVED

• Four tones

NO ACKNOWLDG

• Single tone

Common Radio Features

Note: No traffic is heard on trunked channels while Status Calls is

selected.
If the radio detects no Status Call activity for six seconds, an
alert tone sounds until h or the PTT button is pressed.

Use the Preprogrammed Status Button

1 Press the Status button. The

last acknowledged status
call, or the first status in the
list, is displayed.

2 Press V or U to find the

status you wish to send.

OR

Use the keypad to enter a
number corresponding to the
location in the status list.

3 Press the PTT button to send

the status.

When the dispatcher

ACK RECEIVED

acknowledges, four tones
sound, ACK RECEIVED is dis-
played, and the radio returns

• Four tones

to normal dispatch operation.

OR

If no acknowledgment is

NO ACKNOWLDG

received, you will see NO
ACKNOWLDG and hear a low-

pitched tone.

• Single tone

4 Press h to go to the home

display

Note: No traffic is heard on trunked channels while Status Calls is

selected.
If the radio detects no Status Call activity for six seconds, an
alert tone sounds until the PTT button is pressed.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 73

Common Radio Features

Repeater or Direct Operation

Also known as “talkaround operation,” DIRECT lets you bypass the
repeater and connect directly to another radio. The transmit and
receive frequencies are the same.

REPEATER operation increases radio’s range by connecting with
other radios through a repeater. The transmit and receive frequencies
are different.

Select Repeater or Direct Operation

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find DIR.

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below DIR. You
momentarily see the current
operation.

DIR

• For Direct mode

• For Repeater mode

3 Press D, E, or F

directly below DIR or RPTR.

If DIR is selected, the display
shows

OR

Press h to exit without
changing the current
operation.

r and DIRECT MODE.

74

DIRECT MODE
DIR RPTR

OR

RPTR MODE
DIR RPTR

r

DIRECT MODE

Common Radio Features

Use the Preprogrammed Repeater/Direct Switch

Place the Repeater/Direct
switch in either the Repeater
or the Direct position. If DIR
is selected, the display

shows

r.

r

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 75

Common Radio Features

Smart PTT (Conventional Only)

Smart PTT is a per-channel, programmable feature used in
conventional radio systems to keep radio users from talking over
other radio conversations.

When smart PTT is enabled in your radio, you will not be able to
transmit on an active channel. If you try to transmit on an active
smart-PTT channel, you will hear an alert tone, and the transmission
will be inhibited. The LED will also blink red to indicate that the
channel is busy.

Three radio-wide variations of smart PTT are available:

Transmit Inhibit on
Busy Channel with
Carrier

Transmit Inhibit on
Busy Channel with
Wrong Squelch Code

Quick-Key Override This feature can work in conjunction with

You cannot transmit if any traffic is
detected on the channel.

You cannot transmit on an active channel
with a squelch code or (if secure­equipped) encryption key other than your
own. If the PL code is the same as yours,
the transmission will not be prevented.

either of the two above variations. You
can override the transmit-inhibit state by
quick-keying the radio. In other words,
two PTT Button presses within the
preprogrammed time limit.

76

Special Radio Features

Secure Operations

Secure radio operation provides the highest commercially available
level of voice security on both trunked and conventional channels.
Unlike other forms of security, Motorola digital encryption provides
signaling that makes it virtually impossible for others to decode any
part of an encrypted message.

Note: Secure operation is not available in trunked analog modes.

Select Secure Transmissions

Turn the preprogrammed
Secure/Clear switch to the
secure position (D).

Note: If the selected channel

is programmed for clear­only operation — when

you press the PTT
button, you see CLR TX
ONLY, and you hear an
invalid mode tone.

The radio will not transmit until you set the Secure/
Clear switch to the clear position (E).

c

CLR TX ONLY

• Invalid mode tone

Select Clear Transmissions

Turn the preprogrammed Secure/Clear switch to the clear
position (E).

Note: If the selected channel

is programmed for
secure-only operation —

when you press the PTT
button, you see SEC TX
ONLY, and you hear an
invalid mode tone.

SEC TX ONLY

• Invalid mode tone

The radio will not transmit until you set the Secure/
Clear switch to the secure position (D).

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 77

Special Radio Features

Managing Encryption

Key Loading

Refer to the key-variable loader (KVL) manual for equipment
connections and setup.

1 Attach the KVL to your radio.

When it is attached, the
display will show
KEYLOADING, and all other
radio functions, except for
power down, backlight, and
volume, will be locked out.

2 Press the PTT button on the

KVL. This will load the
encryption keys into your
radio. When the key has
been loaded successfully,
the radio will sound a short
tone for single-key radios; for
multikey radios, an
alternating tone will be
heard.

Multikey

The multikey feature allows your radio to be equipped with as many
as 48 different encryption keys and supports the DES-OFB algorithm.

• Conventional Multikey — The encryption keys can be tied
(strapped), on a one-per-channel basis, through radio service
software. In addition, you can have operator-selectable keys,
operator-selectable keysets, and operator-selectable key erasure.
If talkgroups are enabled in conventional, then the encryption keys
are strapped to the talkgroups.

• Trunked Multikey — If you use your radio for both conventional
and trunked applications, you will have to strap your encryption
keys for trunking on a per-talkgroup or announcement-group
basis. In addition, you may strap a different key to other features

KEYLOADING

78

Special Radio Features

for example, dynamic regrouping, failsoft, or emergency talkgroup.
You can have operator-selectable key erasure.

Key Selection

1 Press U until KEY appears

KEY

on the display.

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below KEY. The
display changes to show the

HW KEY 1

PSET

SEL ABRT

last user-selected and stored
encryption key and the
available menu selections.

3 Press V or U to scroll

through the encryption keys.

OR

Enter the number of the
desired key using the
keypad.

Note: If an erased key is selected, the key name will be

alternated with ERASED KEY.

4 Press D, E, or F

directly below the desired
menu selection.

OR

If you selected the key via
the keypad, press V or
U to scroll through the
menu selections:

PSET or PRESET = selects the preset or default encryption key.

SEL = saves the newly selected key and returns to the home

display.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 79

Special Radio Features

5 Press h, the PTT button, the

ABRT menu selection, or turn
the 16-Position Select knob
to exit this menu.

Note: If the selected key is

erased, KEY FAIL will
be displayed and a
momentary keyfail
tone will be
generated.
If the selected key is
not allowed, ILLEGAL
KEY will be displayed
and a momentary
illegal key tone,
similar to the key fail
tone, will be
generated.

Keyset Selection

This feature allows you to select one or more groups of several
encryption keys from among the available keys stored in the radio.
For example, you could have a group of three keys structured to one
keyset, and another group of three different keys structured to
another keyset; by changing keysets, you would automatically switch
from one set of keys to the other. Every channel to which one of the
original keys was tied to will now have the equivalent new key
instead.

KEY FAIL

ILLEGAL KEY

1 Press U until KSET

appears on the display.

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below KSET. The
display changes to show the
last user-selected and stored
keyset and the available
keyset menu selections.

80

KSET

KEYSET 1

SEL

KS1 KS2

Special Radio Features

3 Press D, E, or F

directly below the desired
keyset.

OR

Enter the number of the
desired keyset using the
keypad.

4 To save the newly selected

keyset, press the button
directly below SEL. The radio
will then exit keyset selection
and return to the home
display.

Note: Press h, the PTT button, the ABRT menu selection, or turn

the 16-Position Select knob to exit this menu at any time
without changing the keyset selection.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 81

Special Radio Features

Key Zeroization

This enables the user to erase all or selected encryption keys.

Use the Menu

1 Press U until the display

shows ERAS.

ERAS

2 Press D, E, or F

directly below ERAS. The
display shows the last user­selected and stored
encryption key, and the
available menu selections:

ALL = erases all the encryp­tion keys in the radio. The
display shows ERS ALL

KEYS and YES and NO.

SNGL = selects the displayed

encryption key to be erased.
The display shows ERS SNGL

KEY and YES and NO.

ABRT = exits this menu and

returns to the home display.

Note: Press h, the PTT button, the ABRT menu selection, or turn

the 16-Position Select knob to exit this menu at any time
without erasing any keys.

SNGL ABRT

YES NO

YES NO

ALL

ERS ALL KEYS

ERS SNGL KEY

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3 Press D, E, or F

directly below the desired
menu selection.

OR

Press V or U to find the
desired encryption key. The
display shows the selected
key, and the available menu
selections shown in step 2.
Press D, E, or F
directly below the desired
menu selection.

OR

Enter the location number of
the desired key, using the
keypad. The display shows
the selected key, and the
available menu selections
shown in step 2. Press D,
E, or F directly below
the desired menu selection.

Special Radio Features

4 Press h, the PTT button, the

ABRT menu selection, or turn
the 16-Position Select knob
to exit this menu.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 83

Special Radio Features

Use the Buttons

Note: This is the method used for erasing the single key in radios

with the single-key option, and for erasing all keys in radios
with the multikey option.

1 With the radio on, press and

hold the Top Side button;
while holding this button
down, press the Top button.

Note: DO NOT press the

Top button before

pressing the Top Side
button, unless you are
in an emergency
situation; this would
send an emergency
alarm.

2 Before the keys are erased,

the display shows PLEASE

WAIT.

3 When all the encryption keys

have been erased, the
display shows ERASED.

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PLEASE WAIT

ERASED

Special Radio Features

Over-the-Air Rekeying (Rekey Request) (ASTRO Conventional
Only)

The over-the-air rekeying (OTAR) feature allows the dispatcher to
reprogram the encryption keys in the radio remotely. The dispatcher
performs the rekey operation upon receiving a rekey request from the
user.

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find REKY.

2 Press D, E, or F directly

REKY

REQUEST REKY

below REKY.

3 Press the PTT to send the

PLEASE WAIT

rekey request.

Note: Pressing the PTT again, or the Home or Emergency

button, will exit the feature and allow the user to
transmit in the normal manner.

4 If the display shows REKEY

REKEY FAIL

FAIL and a bad-key tone

sounds, the rekey operation has
failed.

Note: If this occurs, your radio does not contain the Unique

Shadow Key (USK). This key must be loaded into the
radio with the key-variable loader (KVL) before the
rekey request can be sent. Refer to your local key
management supervisor for more information.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 85

Special Radio Features

Digital PTT ID

Receive

This feature allows you to see the radio ID number of the radio you
are currently receiving. This ID can be a maximum of eight characters
and can be viewed by both the receiving radio and the dispatcher.

Transmit

Your r a di o’s ID number is automatically sent every time the PTT
button is pressed. This is a per-channel feature. For digital voice
transmissions, your radio’s ID is sent continuously during the voice
message.

86

View Your Radio’s ID Number

Use the Menu

Special Radio Features

1 Press U to find CALL or

PAGE.

2 Press D, E, or F directly

below CALL or PAGE.

3 Press V.

Use the Preprogrammed Call or Page Button

1 Press the Call or Page button.

2 Press V.

CALL PAGE

MY ID:
701111

MY ID:
701111

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 87

Special Radio Features

Dynamic Regrouping (Trunking Only)

The dynamic regrouping feature lets the dispatcher temporarily
reassign selected radios to a single special channel so they can
communicate with each other. This feature is typically used during
special operations and is enabled by a qualified radio technician. You
will not notice whether your radio has this feature enabled until a
dynamic regrouping command is sent by the dispatcher.

Note: If you try to access a zone or channel that has been reserved

by the dispatcher as a dynamically regrouped mode for other
users, you will hear an invalid tone.

When your radio is dynamically regrouped, it automatically
switches to the dynamically regrouped channel. You see the
dynamically regrouped channel’s name, and hear a “gurgle”
tone.

Press the PTT button to talk; release it to listen.

When the dispatcher cancels dynamic regrouping, the radio
automatically returns to the zone and channel that you were
using before the radio was dynamically regrouped.

Reprogram Request (ASTRO 25 Trunking Only)

This feature lets you notify the dispatcher that you want a new
dynamic regrouping assignment.

Use the Menu

1 Press U to find RPGM.

2 Press D, E, or F directly

below RPGM.

The reprogram request is sent
to the dispatcher.

RPGM

REPRGRM RQST

88

3 If you hear one beep

- Press the PTT button to send
the reprogram request again.

OR

-Press h to cancel and return
to the home display.

OR

If you hear five beeps, the
reprogram request was
acknowledged by the dis­patcher. Your radio returns to
the home display.

OR

Special Radio Features

If the dispatcher does not

NO ACKNOWLDG

acknowledge the reprogram
request within six seconds, you
see NO ACKNOWLDG and hear a

• An alert tone

low-pitched alert tone.

Try again or press h.

Use the Preprogrammed Reprogram Request Button

1 Press the Reprogram

REPRGRM RQST

Request button. You see

REPRGRM RQST.

The reprogram request is sent
to the dispatcher.

ASTRO XTS 4250 Digital Portable Radio, Advanced Model 89

Special Radio Features

2 If you hear one beep

- Press the PTT button to send
the reprogram request again

OR

- Press h to hang up and
return to the home display.

OR

If you hear five beeps, the
reprogram request was
acknowledged by the dis­patcher. Your radio returns to
the home display.

OR

If the dispatcher does not
acknowledge the reprogram
request within six seconds, you
see NO ACKNOWLDG and hear a
low-pitched alert tone.

Try again or press h.

• One beep

• Five beeps

NO ACKNOWLDG

• An alert tone

Select Enable / Disable

The dispatcher can classify regrouped radios into either of two
categories: Select Enabled or Select Disabled.

• Select-enabled radios are free to change to any available channel,
including the dynamic-regrouping channel, once the user has
selected the dynamic-regrouping position.

• Select-disabled radios cannot change channels while dynamically
regrouped. The dispatcher has forced the radio to remain on the
dynamic-regrouping channel.

The Scan or Private Call feature cannot be selected while your radio
is Select Disabled.

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