APXTM TWO-WAY RADIOS

APX 6500
O5 CONTROL HEAD
INTERACTIVE END USER TOOLKIT (IEUTK)
APX 6500 O5 CH RADIO PARTS AND CONTROLS
 O5 Control Head

Mode Emergency
Volume Dimmer Home
LED Indicators Knob (Orange) Button*
Knob Button Button*

ZONE A
CHAN 1
ZONE CHAN STS CALL RPGM

4 Way Navigation Button*

Accessory Port Power Button
Menu Select
(Microphone)
Buttons*

* These radio controls/buttons are programmable.

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APX 6500 O5 CH PREPARING YOUR RADIO FOR USE
 Turning on/off the Radio

Press the Power Button briefly to power on the radio. If CH MISMATCH appears, means that either the Control
Head has been connected to an incompatible transceiver,
After a short time, the red, yellow and green LEDs light up. or vice versa.
The display then shows Zone and channel text, and menu
items display on the screen. If your radio does not power up, contact your dealer.

The backlight will turn on to the last selected dim level. To turn off the radio, press the Power Button after the LEDs
light up.
Note:
Pressing the Power Button before the LED lights up will
be ignored.

If FAIL ##/## appears in the display, the radio will not

function until the condition has been corrected.

If ERROR ##/## appears, some non-critical data has been

changed.

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
back on. If the radio fails the power-up test again, record
the Error XX/YY code and contact your dealer.
Power Button

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APX 6500 O5 CH PREPARING YOUR RADIO FOR USE
 Adjusting the Volume

To increase the volume, rotate the Volume Knob clockwise.

To decrease the volume, rotate the Volume Knob counterclockwise.

Volume Knob

ZONE A
CHAN 1
ZONE CHAN STS CALL RPGM

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING RADIO CONTROLS
Emergency – Depending on the programming, initiates or Multiple Private Line (Conventional Only) – Selects the
cancels an emergency alarm or call. Multiple Private Line lists.

Ext PA On/Off – Toggles the audio routing between the Nuisance Delete – Temporarily removes an unwanted
connected public address (PA) loudspeaker amplifier and the channel, except for priority channels or the designated
radio’s internal public address (PA) system. transmit channel, from the scan list.

Information – Displays the basic radio information, IP-related One Touch 1 – 4 – Launches a specific feature with one
information, and buttons or switches control mapping. single button-press. You can setup as many as four
separately programmed buttons for four different features.
Intercom – Enables users of multiple control heads to talk to
each other via the control heads in a multi-control head setup. Phone – Allows you to make and receive calls similar to
standard phone calls.
Internet Protocol Address – Displays the Internet Protocol
(IP) address, device name and status of the radio. Private Call (Trunking Only) – Allows a call from an
individual radio to another individual radio.
Location – Determines the current location (latitude,
longitude, time and date), and also the distance and bearing Private Line Defeat (Conventional Only) – Overrides any
to another location. Or, turns the GPS functionality on or off coded squelch (DPL or PL) that is preprogrammed to a
for all location. channel.

Message – Enters the current message list. Radio Profiles – Allows for easy access to a set of
preprogrammed visual and audio settings of the radio.
Monitor (Conventional Only) – Monitors a selected channel
for all radio traffic until function is disabled. Recent Calls – Allows for easy access to the list of calls
recently received or made.

Rekey Request – Notifies the dispatcher you want a new

encryption keys.

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING RADIO CONTROLS
Repeater Access Button (RAB) (Conventional Only) – Status (Astro 25 Trunking Only) – Sends data calls to the
Allows to manually send a repeater access codeword. dispatcher about a predefined status.

Reprogram Request (Trunking Only) – Notifies the Talkaround/Direct (Conventional Only) – Toggles between
dispatcher you want a new dynamic regrouping assignment. using a repeater and communicating directly with another
radio.
Request-To-Talk (Conventional Only) – Notifies the
dispatcher you want to send a voice call. Talkgroup (Conventional Only) – Allows a call from an
individual radio to a group of radios.
Scan – Toggles scan on or off.
Text Messaging Service (TMS) – Selects the text
Scan List Programming – Selects the scan list for editing. messaging menu.

Secure/Clear – Toggles secure transmission on or off. TMS Quick Text – Selects a predefined message.

Select – Selects the assigned list for editing. User Login – Automatically registers with the server.

Selective Call (Conventional Only) – Calls an assigned Zone Down – Toggles downward through the zones in the
radio. radio.

Site Display (Trunking Only) – Views the current site or Zone Select – Allows selection from a list of zones.
enable a site search for SmartZone operation.
Zone Up – Toggles upward through the zones in the radio.
Site Lock/Unlock (Trunking Only) – Locks onto a specific
site.

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING RADIO CONTROLS
Assignable Settings or Utility Functions

Dimmer – Changes the display brightness.

Front/Rear – Switches one of two control heads to be active

at one time.

TX Power Level – Toggles transmit power level between high

and low.

Voice Announcement – Audibly indicates the current feature

mode, Zone or Channel the user has just assigned.

Voice Mute – Toggles voice mute on or off for the channels

which have enabled In-Call User Alert. When Voice Mute is
active, the radio remains muted to all conventional dispatch
calls and affiliated trunking group calls.

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING RADIO CONTROLS
 Accessing the Preprogrammed Functions

You can access various radio functions through one of the following ways:
• A short or long press of the relevant programmable buttons.
OR
• Use the Menu Select Buttons ( ).

Using the Menu Select Buttons

The Menu Select Buttons allow to access the menu entries of features.

Note: Check with your dealer or system administrator for the list of features activated in your radio.

Your radio may be preprogrammed differently from the following example, but the steps for selecting a zone may appear as
shown below:

• Press the Menu Select button ( ) directly below ZONE.

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING RADIO CONTROLS
Using the Advance Programmable Buttons

This feature is to help you to shorten the process of applying certain common features.

(Quick Access) One Touch Button – Enters a menu with a short press on the preprogrammed One Touch button.
Features assigned to these buttons are Call, Call Alert, Phone, Repeater Access, MDC RTT Button Access, Status and
Message.

Emergency (Orange)
Button*

Menu Select Buttons*

* These programmable buttons support the One Touch Button feature.

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING RADIO CONTROLS
Using the Navigation Buttons

Home Button
The button returns you to the Home (default) screen. In most cases, this is the current mode.
For selected radio features, the button is also used to save user-edited radio settings or information before returning you to
the Home screen.

Note: Some features do not require you to press to go to the Home screen. Refer to the individual feature sections in this
manual for further details on saving user-edited radio settings or information.

Dimmer Button
Use this button to adjust the brightness of the display.

Volume Knob
Use this Volume Knob to adjust the volume of the speakers by turning it clockwise or counterclockwise.

Mode Knob
Use this Mode Knob to scroll through the channels by turning it clockwise or counterclockwise.

4-Way Navigation Button

Use this button to scroll up , down , left or right .
Press and release one of the button to scroll from one entry to the next one.
Press and hold one of the button to have the radio toggles through the list automatically (release the button to stop).

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING STATUS INDICATORS
 Status Icons

The liquid crystal display (LCD) of your radio shows the radio Monitor (Carrier Squelch)
status, text entries, and menu entries. Selected channel is being monitored (during conventional
operation only).

The following are the icons that appear on the radio’s display.
In-Call User Alert
• On = The feature is enabled. Voice muting of the
Receiving affiliated trunking talkgroup or selected conventional
Radio is receiving a call or data. channel is activated.
• Off = The feature is disabled. Voice muting of the
affiliated trunking talkgroup or selected conventional
Transmitting channel is deactivated.
Radio is transmitting a call or data.

Power Level
Call Received
• L = Radio is set at Low power.
Radio has received an Individual Call.
• H = Radio is set at High power.

Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI)

The number of bars displayed represents the received Scan
signal strength for the current site, for trunking only. The Radio is scanning a scan list.
more stripes in the icon, the stronger the signal.

Direct Priority-One Channel Scan

• On = Radio is currently configured for direct • Blinking dot = Radio detects activity on
radio to radio communication (during channel designated as
conventional operation only). Priority-One.
• Off = Radio is connected with other radios • Steady dot = Radio detects activity on channel
through a repeater. designated as Priority-Two.

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING STATUS INDICATORS
Vote Scan Enabled Hexadecimal
The vote scan feature is enabled. Indicates that the text entry is currently in hexadecimal
mode.

Secure Operation
• On = Secure operation.
• Off = Clear operation.
• Blinking = Receiving an encrypted voice call.

AES Secure Operation

• On = AES Secure operation.
• Off = Clear operation.
• Blinking = Receiving an encrypted voice call.

Location Signal
• On = Location feature is enabled, and location
signal is available.
• Off = Location feature is disabled.
• Blinking = Location feature is enabled, but no
location signal is available.

User Login Indicator (IP Packet Data)

• On = User is currently associated with the
radio.
• Off = User is currently not associated with the
radio.
• Blinking = Device registration or user
registration with the server failed
due to an invalid username or pin.

Data Activity
Data activity is present.

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING STATUS INDICATORS
 Text Messaging Service (TMS) Icons
Status Icons

The following icons appear on the radio’s display for TMS Message Index
features: Indicates the index of the current message the user is
viewing.
Example: If the user is looking at the third message out of
Inbox Full a total of 6 messages in the Inbox folder, the icon is
The Inbox is full. displayed as the icon on the left column.

Message Sent Priority Status

The text message is sent successfully. • The “Priority” feature is toggled on before the message
is sent.
Message Unsent
• Messages in the Inbox folder are flagged with “Priority”.
The text message cannot be sent.
Request Reply
• The “Request Reply” feature is toggled on before the
Unread Message message is sent.
• User receives a new message. • Messages in the Inbox folder are flagged with “Request
• The selected text message in the Inbox has not been Reply”.
read.
Priority Status and Request Reply
Read Message • User is composing a message with a priority status and
The selected text message in the Inbox has been a request for a reply.
read. • Messages in the Inbox folder are flagged with ”Priority”
and “Request Reply”.
Normal Message
User is composing a message with normal priority and
Numeric
without a request for a reply.
Indicates that the text entry is currently in numeric mode.

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING STATUS INDICATORS
Mixed Case
Indicates that the text entry is currently in normal text
mode.

Uppercase
Indicates that the text entry is currently in uppercase
mode.

Lowercase
Indicates that the text entry is currently in lowercase
mode.

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING STATUS INDICATORS
 LED Indicator

Red
LEDs
Yellow
Green

ZONE A
CHAN 1
ZONE CHAN STS CALL RPGM

The LED indicator shows the operational status of your radio.

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING STATUS INDICATORS
Solid red – Radio is transmitting.

Rapidly blinking red – Radio has failed the self test upon powering up or encountered a fatal error.

Solid yellow (Conventional Only) – Channel is busy.

Blinking yellow – Radio is receiving a secured transmission.

Solid green – Radio is powering up, or is on a non-priority channel while in the Scan List Programming mode.

Blinking green – Radio is receiving an individual or telephone call, or is on a Priority-Two channel while in the Scan List
Programming mode.

Rapidly blinking green – Radio is on a Priority-One channel while in the Scan List Programming mode.

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING STATUS INDICATORS
 Intelligent Lighting Indicators

This feature temporary changes the radio’s display backlight color and the alert text background color to help signal that a radio
event has occurred.

Note: This feature must be preprogrammed by a qualified radio technician.

Backlight and Bar Color Notification When

Orange Emergency Alerts The radio initiates an emergency alarm or call.

The radio receives an emergency alarm or call.

Red Critical Alerts The radio is out of range.

The radio enters fail-soft mode.

The radio is unable to establish a full connection with the system.

The radio is unable to authenticate or register with the system.

Green Call Alerts The radio receives a private call.

The radio receives a phone call.

The radio receives a call alert.

The radio receives a selective call.

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING STATUS INDICATORS

Orange Emergency Alerts

Red Critical Alerts

Green Call Alerts

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING STATUS INDICATORS
 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.

You Hear Tone Name Heard

Short, Radio Self Test Fail When radio fails its power-up self test.
Low-Pitched
Reject When unauthorized request is made.
Tone
Time-Out Timer Warning Four seconds before time out.

No ACK Received When radio fails to receive an acknowledgment.

Play
Individual Call Warning Tone When radio is in an individual call for greater than 6 seconds without any activity.

Talk Prohibit/PTT Inhibit (When PTT button is pressed) transmissions are not allowed.

Long, Time-Out Timer After time out.

Low-Pitched Timed Out
Tone
Out of Range (When PTT button is pressed) the radio is out of range of the system.

Invalid Mode When radio is on an unpreprogrammed channel.

Play

A Group of Busy When system is busy.

Low-Pitched
Tones

Play

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING STATUS INDICATORS
You Hear Tone Name Heard

Short, Valid Key-Press When correct key is pressed.

Medium-Pitched
Radio Self Test Pass When radio passes its power-up self test.
Tone
Clear Voice At beginning of a non-coded communication.

Priority Channel Received When activity on a priority channel is received.

Play
Emergency Alarm Entry When entering the emergency state.

Central Echo When central controller has received a request from a radio.

Long, Volume Set When volume is changed on a quiet channel.

Medium-Pitched
Emergency Exit When exiting the emergency state.
Tone

Play

A Group of Fail-soft When the trunking system fails.

Medium-Pitched
Automatic Call Back When voice channel is available from previous request.
Tones
Keyfail When encryption key has been lost.

Console Acknowledge When status, emergency alarm, or reprogram request ACK is received.
Play
Received Individual Call When Call Alert or Private Call is received.

Site Trunking When a SmartZone trunking system fails.

Call Alert Sent When Call Alert is received by the target radio.

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APX 6500 O5 CH IDENTIFYING STATUS INDICATORS
You Hear Tone Name Heard

Ringing Fast Ringing When system is searching for target of Private Call.

Enhanced Call Sent When waiting for target of Private Call to answer the call.

Play Phone Call Received When a land-to-mobile phone call is received.

Gurgle Dynamic Regrouping (When the PTT button is pressed) a dynamic ID has been received.

Talk Permit (When PTT button is pressed) verifying system accepting transmissions.

Play

Unique, New Message When a new message is received.

Low-Pitched
Chirp

Unique, Priority Status When a priority message is received.

High-Pitched
Chirp

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APX 6500 O5 CH GENERAL RADIO OPERATION
 Selecting a Zone

A zone is a group of channels.

Procedure:

1 to ZONE.

2 Press the Menu Select button directly below ZONE.

3 to the required zone.

4 Press or the PTT button to confirm the selected zone.

5 Press the PTT button to transmit on the displayed zone.

ZONE A
CHAN 1

Menu Select Buttons

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APX 6500 O5 CH GENERAL RADIO OPERATION
 Selecting a Radio Channel

A channel is a group of radio characteristics, such as

transmit/receive frequency pairs.

Procedure:

[Mode knob]
1 Rotate the Mode knob until the display shows the desired
channel.

2 Press the PTT button to transmit on the displayed channel.

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APX 6500 O5 CH GENERAL RADIO OPERATION
 Making a Radio Call

You can select a zone, channel, subscriber ID, or talkgroup by using:

• The preprogrammed Zone menu
• The Mode Knob
• A preprogrammed One Touch Call button
• The Contacts list

Note: If the feature inactivity timer is enabled, your radio automatically exits the feature when your radio is left idle long enough
for the time to expire. You will hear the Menu Inactive Exit Tone upon feature exit.

Emergency
(Orange)
Dimmer LED Indicators Mode Knob*
Volume Knob Button*
Button

ZONE A
Home
Button*
CHAN 1
ZONE CHAN STS CALL RPGM

Accessory Port (Microphone) Power Button Menu Select Buttons* 4-Way Navigation Buttons

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APX 6500 O5 CH GENERAL RADIO OPERATION
 Making a Radio Call
Making a Talkgroup Call

To make a call to a group of users, your radio must be 5 Press the PTT button to make the call.
configured as part of that talkgroup.
ASTRO Conventional Only:
Procedure: The LED lights up solid red.
The display shows the talkgroup alias or ID.
1 to TGRP. OR
Trunking Only:
2 Press the Menu Select button directly below TGRP. The LED lights up solid red.
The display shows the last-selected talkgroup.
Speak clearly into the microphone.
3 to the required talkgroup. Release the PTT button to listen.
OR
Turn the Mode Knob to select the channel with the desired
talkgroup.

4 Press the Menu Select button directly below SEL.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Multiple Control Head Features

This feature allows a transceiver to control a combination of up to four O5 control heads on APX Mobile (depending on the
model).

You can use the CAN cables to connect in any configuration that does not exceed 131 feet (40 meters) in combined length.

Refer the O5 Control Head Installation Manual (HLN6947) for further information.

The Multiple Control Head (MCH) feature consists of 2 modes that can be programmed via Customer Programming Software
(CPS):
• All Active mode
• One Active mode

Note: If two or more control heads are connected to the system before enabling the MCH feature in the CPS, the radio will
display EXTRA CH or CH ID # ERR. Both errors are FATAL.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Multiple Control Head Features
All Active Mode

The All Active mode enables all connected control heads Procedure:
attached to the radio to operate concurrently with each other.
1 Press the Menu Select button directly below INTC to
When you activate a feature on one control head, the rest of activate the intercom feature of any of the control heads.
the control heads will have the same activated features and
indicators on their respective display. 2 Press the PTT button to initiate an intercom transmission.
All control heads that are attached will receive the same
Note: The multiple control head feature allows only control intercom call.
heads of the same type to be connected. Upon power up, if a The display of the control heads receiving the intercom call
control head of a different type is connected to the radio, the shows the alias/ID number of the transmitting control head.
radio reports the FATAL error CH MISMATCH on the display
of all attached control heads. 3 Press the Menu Select button directly below EXIT to
deactivate the intercom feature.
OR
Intercom Feature in All Active Mode Press to deactivate the intercom feature.

The intercom feature allows one control head user to talk to The intercom feature also deactivates when user initiates a
another control head user in a Multiple Control Head mode change.
configuration. At any given time, when a control head being If the radio is on an emergency channel, pressing of the
operated has priority for the intercom call, all other control Emergency button or the emergency footswitch button on
heads are blocked until the active control head releases PTT any control head also deactivates the intercom feature.
button.

This can be made on any attached control head.

This feature only applies to control heads in the All Active
mode.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Scan Lists

Scan lists are created and assigned to individual channels/groups.

Your radio scans for voice activity by cycling through the channel/group sequence specified in the scan list for the current
channel/group.

Your radio supports different types of Scan Lists:

• Trunking Priority Monitor Scan List
• Conventional Scan List
• Talkgroup Scan List

A maximum of 200 Scan Lists can be programmed in your radio.

These lists must be preprogrammed by a qualified radio technician.

Emergency
(Orange)
Dimmer LED Indicators Mode Knob*
Volume Knob Button*
Button

ZONE A
Home
Button*
CHAN 1
ZONE CHAN STS CALL RPGM

Accessory Port (Microphone) Power Button Menu Select Buttons* 4-Way Navigation Buttons

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Scan Lists
Viewing a Scan List

Procedure:

1 to SCNL.

2 Press the Menu Select button directly below SCNL.

3 to view the members on the list.

4 Press to exit the current display and return to the

Home screen.

Emergency
(Orange)
Dimmer LED Indicators Mode Knob*
Volume Knob Button*
Button

ZONE A
Home
Button*
CHAN 1
ZONE CHAN SCNL CALL RPGM

Accessory Port (Microphone) Power Button Menu Select Buttons* 4-Way Navigation Buttons

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Scan Lists
Editing the Scan List

This feature lets you change scan list members and priorities. 5 to select more channels to be added or deleted.
OR
Procedure: Use the Mode Knob to select additional channels to be
added or deleted.
1 to SCNL. OR
Use the keypad to go directly to additional channels to be
2 Press the Menu Select button directly below SCNL. added or deleted.
The display shows the lists that can be changed.
6 Press to exit scan list programming and return to the
3 to the entry you want to edit. Home screen.

4 Press the Menu Select button directly below SEL to add

and/ or change the priority of the currently displayed
channel in the scan list.
OR
Press the Menu Select button directly below DEL to delete
the currently displayed channel from the scan list.
OR
Press the Menu Select button directly below RCL to view
the next member of the scan list.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Scan Lists
Viewing and Changing the Priority Status

Procedure A Scan icon indicates that the current channel is in the

scan list as a non-priority channel.
1 Below the SEL, DEL, and RCL screen, press the Menu The LED lights up solid green.
Select button directly below SEL to view and/or change OR
the priority status of the currently displayed channel. A Priority-Two Channel Scan icon indicates that the current
OR channel is in the scan list as the Priority-Two channel.
Below the SEL, DEL, and RCL screen, press the The LED blinks green.
button or press the Menu Select button directly below OR
SEL, one or more times to view and/or change the scan list A Priority-One Channel Scan icon indicates that the current
status icon of the currently displayed channel. channel is in the scan list as the Priority-One channel.
The LED rapidly blinks green.
You hear all traffic on the Priority- One channel, regardless
of traffic on non-priority channels.
OR
No icon indicates that the current channel is deleted from
the scan list.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Scan
Turning Scan On or Off

This feature allows you to monitor traffic on different channels

by scanning a preprogrammed list of channels.

Procedure:

[Preprogrammed Button]
1 Press the preprogrammed Scan button.

SCAN ON
ZONE CHAN SCAN CALL PHON

Menu Select Buttons

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Scan
Transmitting While the Scan is On

Radio Programmed for Talkback Scan Radio Programmed for Non-Talkback Scan

Procedure: Procedure:

1 Press the PTT button to transmit on the channel indicated 1 Press the PTT button at any time to transmit on the
by the display. selected channel or fixed channel.

The radio does not begin scanning again for a predetermined To make a Call Alert page, or Private Conversation call while
hang time after you release the PTT button, allowing the scanning, press either the Menu Select button directly below
other party to respond. PAGE or CALL.

If the other party responds within the hang time, scanning The call is entered on the selected channel and scanning is
does not resume until the full hang time expires after they halted until the call is exited by pressing or pressing the
have finished speaking, allowing the conversation to be Menu Select button below either PAGE or CALL.
completed.

To transmit on the selected channel if another channel is

active, first turn scan off by pressing the Menu Select button
below Scan momentarily.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Scan
Deleting a Nuisance Channel

If a channel continually generates unwanted calls or noise Procedure:

(termed a “nuisance” channel), you can temporarily remove
the unwanted channel from the scan list. 1 When the radio is locked onto the channel to be deleted,
to NUIS.
This capability does not apply to priority channels or the
designated transmit channel. 2 Press the Menu Select button directly below NUIS.
The radio continues scanning the remaining channels in
the list.

Emergency
(Orange)
Dimmer LED Indicators Mode Knob*
Volume Knob Button*
Button

ZONE A
Home
Button*
CHAN 1
ZONE CHAN STS CALL RPGM

Accessory Port (Microphone) Power Button Menu Select Buttons* 4-Way Navigation Buttons

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Scan
Restoring a Nuisance Channel

Procedure:

To restore the deleted nuisance channel, do one of the following:

• Turn scan off, then on.

OR
• Change channel.
OR
• Turn off the radio, and then turn it back on.

Nuisance mode delete can be disabled by the system administrator.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Scan
Hang Up Box (HUB)

To temporarily suspend Scan Mode operation, remove the control head from the Hang Up Box (HUB).
You are allowed to use the control head while scan is suspended.

However, Priority Member scanning is not suspended.

This feature applies to all Scan Lists and Scan Types.
Scan is resumed once the control head is returned to the holding clip and the preprogrammed hang time has elapsed.

Note: Priority Scan List members are continuously scanned only when the Scan List, Designated Tx Member field is set to
“Talkback” in the radio programming. Otherwise, all scan mode operation is suspended.

Emergency
(Orange)
Dimmer LED Indicators Mode Knob*
Push-to-Talk Volume Knob Button*
Button
(PTT) Button

Accy No-Dot
Button (Purple)*
ZONE A
Home
Accy 1-Dot Button*
Button*
CHAN 1
ZONE CHAN STS CALL RPGM
Accy 2-Dot Button*

Accessory Port (Microphone) Power Button Menu Select Buttons* 4-Way Navigation Buttons

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Emergency Operation

The Emergency feature is used to indicate a critical situation.

If the Orange button is preprogrammed to send an emergency signal, this signal overrides any other communication over the
selected channel.

Your radio supports the following Emergency modes:

• Emergency Alarm
• Emergency Call (Trunking Only)
• Emergency Alarm with Emergency Call
• Silent Emergency Alarm
• Special Considerations for Emergencies

Check with your dealer or system administrator for more information on the programming of this feature.

Only one of the Emergency modes above can be assigned to the preprogrammed Emergency button or the Emergency
footswitch.

Note: To exit emergency at any time, press and hold the preprogrammed Emergency button for about a second.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Emergency Operation
Sending an Emergency Alarm

This feature allows you to send a data transmission, which

identifies the radio sending the emergency, to the dispatcher.

Procedure:

1 Press the preprogrammed Emergency button.

A tone sounds and the display alternates EMERGENCY
and the home display.

A dispatcher acknowledgment ACK RECEIVED display

follows.
AND, Trunking Only:
A high-pitched tone indicates that the alarm has been
received by the trunked system’s central controller. Emergency (Orange) Button*

2 Press and hold the emergency button or the PTT button to

return to normal operation.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Emergency Operation
Sending an Emergency Call (Trunking Only)

Procedure:

1 Press the preprogrammed Emergency button.

A tone sounds and the display alternates EMERGENCY

and the home display.
OR
A short low-pitched tone sounds when the selected
channel does not support emergency.

2 Press and hold the PTT button.

Speak clearly into the microphone.

3 Release the PTT button to end the transmission and wait Emergency (Orange) Button*
for a response from the dispatcher.

4 Press and hold the emergency button or the PTT button to

return to normal operation.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Emergency Operation
Sending an Emergency Alarm with Emergency Call

This feature gives your radio priority access on a channel for 2 Press and hold the PTT button.
conventional system, and to a talkgroup for trunking system. Speak clearly into the microphone.

If the radio has both emergency call and alarm features 3 Release the PTT button to end the transmission and wait
enabled, it automatically proceeds to the call mode after the for a response from the dispatcher.
alarm is acknowledged.
4 Press and hold the emergency button or the PTT button to
return to normal operation.
Procedure:
Turning the radio off also cancels the emergency state.
1 Press the preprogrammed Emergency button.
A tone sounds and the display alternates EMERGENCY
and the home display.

A dispatcher acknowledgment ACK RECEIVED display

follows.
AND:
A high-pitched tone indicates that the alarm has been
received by the trunked system’s central controller.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Emergency Operation
Special Considerations for Emergencies

• If you press the emergency button while in a channel that

has no emergency capability, a low-pitched tone sounds.

• If the unit is out of the range of the system and/or the

emergency alarm is not acknowledged, a tone sounds and
the display shows NO ACKNOWLEDGE.

• If you press the emergency button, then change to a mode

that has no emergency capability, the display shows NO
EMERGENCY and a continuous low-pitched tone sounds
until a valid emergency mode is selected or until the
emergency is cancelled.

• When an emergency is active, changing to another mode Emergency (Orange) Button*

where emergency is enabled (trunked or conventional)
causes an emergency alarm and/or emergency call to be
active on the new mode.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Trunking System Controls
Using the Fail-soft System

The fail-soft system ensures continuous radio Procedure:

communications during a trunked system failure.
1 Rotate the Mode Knob to change to a different repeater
If a trunking system fails completely, the radio goes into fail- frequency.
soft operation and automatically switches to its fail-soft
channel. 2 Press the PTT button to talk, and release the button to
listen.
The fail-soft condition is indicated by a faint beeping tone
every nine seconds (radio un-squelched) until the trunking
system returns to normal operation. When the trunking system returns to normal operation, your
radio automatically leaves fail-soft operation and returns to
To continue, in Fail-soft, to communicate with other talkgroup, trunked operation.
refer to the following procedure.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Trunking System Controls
Going Out of Range

Out of range when your radio goes out of the range of the
system, it can no longer lock onto a control channel.

Procedure:

1 You hear a low-pitched tone.

AND/OR
The display shows the currently selected zone/channel
combination and OUT OF RANGE.

Your radio remains in this out-of-range condition until:

It locks onto a control channel.

OR
It locks onto a fail-soft channel.
OR
It is turned off.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Trunking System Controls
Trunked Announcement

The announcement capability allows you to make • Non-Ruthless Preemption:

announcements to the entire user group, as well as monitor When a non-ruthless preemption announcement is
talkgroup calls and other announcements. initiated, the initiating unit receives a telephone-type busy
tone, followed by a call back when all associated talkgroup
Announcement calls are handled in two different ways, conversations end.
depending on the trunked central controller configuration. Once an announcement call is pending, any attempts by
other users to initiate a talkgroup call will result in a
The two types are called ruthless and non-ruthless telephone-type busy tone. These users will not receive a
preemption. call back until the announcement call is complete.

• Ruthless Preemption:
When a ruthless preemption announcement call is initiated, Initiating an Announcement
the requesting radio begins transmitting immediately. All
associated talkgroup calls taking place on other channels If your radio has been programmed to allow announcement
are immediately halted, and the radios are steered to the calls:
announcement call.
Transmitting radios continue to transmit until the PTT Procedure:
button is released, at which time they also unmute for the
announcement call. Individual calls (Private Conversation 1 If channel is set as the primary mode, turn the Mode Knob
and telephone interconnect) are not affected. to locate the announcement-group mode.

2 Press the microphone PTT button to initiate the

announcement.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Ignition Switch Options

This feature allows the user to select the radio’s functionality PTT Tx Inhibit
based on the Ignition State of the radio user’s vehicle. The
available options are as follows. This option allows the user to power on and power off the
radio through the Power button regardless of the Ignition’s
Blank current state. In addition, if the Ignition is not present, then all
PTT button transmissions are inhibited. However, the radio is
This option allows the user to power on and power off the able to affiliate with the Trunking systems.
radio through the Power button regardless of the Ignition’s
current state.
Required

Tx Inhibit This option allows the user to power on the radio only if the
Ignition is present. The radio can be powered off either
This option allows the user to power on and power off the through Power button press or when Ignition is lost. In
radio through the Power button regardless of the Ignition’s addition, the radio automatically powers on when the Ignition
current state. In addition, if the Ignition is not present, then all is present only if the radio was turned off due to the ignition
transmissions are inhibited. This includes receiving any being removed.
Trunking dispatch communications since the radio will not
affiliate with the Trunking systems. This option allows the radio to power off when Inactivity Auto
Power Off Timer expires, or, when Ignition Auto Power Off
Timer expires.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
Soft Power Off Note: While "Ignition" is not present, the radio powers-off with
a radio-user Power Off button / knob selection if the radio was
This option allows the user to power on the radio either powered-up with an Emergency Power Up footswitch-press
through Power button presses or when the Ignition is or Ignition Auto Power Off timer is running.
detected.
While "Ignition" is present, the radio powers-on with a radio
Meanwhile, if the Power button was pressed or the Ignition user Power On button / knob selection only if the radio was
was removed, the radio will be turned off. powered-down with Inactivity Auto Power Off timer.

This option allows the radio to power off when Inactivity Auto
Power Off Timer expires, or, when Ignition Auto Power Off Emergency Power Up
Timer expires.
This feature allows the user to power on the radio and
automatically transmits an emergency mode transmission on
Ignition Only Power Up personalities with emergency enabled, with the use of a
footswitch. In addition, when the Ignition Switch option is set
This option allows the user to power on the radio only when to either Tx Inhibit or PTT Tx Inhibit, this feature will not be
Ignition is detected and will power off when it is removed. The available to the users.
radio does not power on or off with the Power button press.
Press the footswitch to turn on the radio and launch
This option allows the radio to power off when Inactivity Auto Emergency.
Power Off Timer expires, or, when Ignition Auto Power Off
Timer expires. A tone sounds and the display shows Emergency.

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
 Voice Announcement

This feature enables the radio to audibly indicate the current Note: Voice announcements support certain number of zone-
feature mode, Zone or Channel the user has just assigned. channel, but not all.

This audio indicator can be customized per customer Seek advice from your dealer or qualified technician for
requirements. the best selection of this feature.

This is typically useful when the user is in a difficult condition The two options of priority for the Voice Announcement
to read the content shown on the display. available are:
• High – enables the voice of the feature to announce even
Each voice announcement is within a limit of three seconds when the radio is receiving calls.
maximum. The sum total duration for all voice • Low – disables the voice of the feature from announcing
announcements in a radio shall be no more than 1000 when the radio is receiving calls.
seconds.

Note: This feature must be preprogrammed by a qualified

radio technician.

The features which Voice Announcement supports are:

• Zone
• Channel
• Scan
• PL Disabled
• Talkaround/Direct
• Tx Inhibit

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APX 6500 O5 CH ADVANCED FEATURES
Procedure: • Press either the Menu Select button or preprogrammed
button of the radio to launch or terminate Scan, PL
You hear a voice announcement when the features below are Disabled, Talkaround/Direct or Transmit Inhibit.
preprogrammed in the radio. The radio announces the corresponding feature activation
or deactivation.
• The radio powers up.
The radio announces the current zone and channel it is
transmitting.

• Press the preprogrammed voice announcement button

(which specifically programmed to playback the current
zone and channel).
The radio announces the current zone and channel it is
transmitting.

Note: Pressing this preprogrammed playback button will

always enable the voice feature to announce in High
priority.

• Change to a new zone.

The radio announces the current zone and channel it is
transmitting.

• Change to a new channel remaining within the current

zone.
The radio announces the current channel.

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APX 6500 O5 CH UTILITIES
 Selecting a Radio Profile

This feature allows you to manually switch the visual and OR

audio settings of the radio. The display, backlight, alert tones, Press the Menu Select button directly below EXIT to exit
and audio settings are defined according to the the screen without making any changes.
preprogrammed radio settings of each radio profile.
OR
Please refer to a qualified technician for more information. [Menu]
1 to PRFL.
Note: The radio automatically exits the feature, if the feature
inactivity timer is enabled, when the radio is left idle and the 2 Press the Menu Select button directly below PRFL to
timer expires. You will hear the Menu Inactive Exit Tone upon access the Profiles feature screen.
feature exit.
3 to scroll through the menu selections.

Procedure: 4 Press the Menu Select button directly below SEL to select
the required radio profile.
[Preprogrammed Button] The radio returns to the Home screen.
1 Use the preprogrammed Profile button. The profile name on the Home screen indicates the current
selected radio profile.
2 to scroll through the menu selections. OR
Press the Menu Select button directly below EXIT to exit
3 Press the Menu Select button directly below SEL to select the screen without making any changes.
the required radio profile.
The radio returns to the Home screen.
The profile name on the Home screen indicates the current
selected radio profile.

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APX 6500 O5 CH UTILITIES
 Controlling the Display Backlight

You can enable or disable the radio’s display backlight as Procedure:

needed, if poor light conditions make the display difficult to
read. 1 Press the Dimmer button to adjust the brightness of the
display.
Depending on how your radio is preprogrammed, you can OR
also maintain a minimum backlight level on the radio’s Press any key of the keypad, the Menu Select or Menu
display. Navigation buttons, or any programmable radio controls or
buttons to turn the backlight on.

Emergency
(Orange)
Dimmer LED Indicators Mode Knob*
Volume Knob Button*
Button

ZONE A
Home
Button*
CHAN 1
ZONE CHAN STS CALL RPGM

Accessory Port (Microphone) Power Button Menu Select Buttons* 4-Way Navigation Buttons

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APX 6500 O5 CH UTILITIES
 Using the Time-Out Timer

This feature turns off your radio’s transmitter. You cannot Procedure:
transmit longer than the preset timer setting.
1 Hold down the PTT button longer than the preprogrammed
If you attempt to do so, the radio automatically stops your time.
transmission, and you hear a talk-prohibit tone. You hear a short, low-pitched warning tone, the
transmission is cut-off, and the LED goes out until you
The timer is defaulted at 60 seconds, but it can be release the PTT button.
preprogrammed from 3 to 120 seconds, in 15-second
intervals, or it can be disabled entirely for each radio mode, 2 Release the PTT button.
by a qualified radio technician. The LEDs relight and the timer resets.

Note: You will hear a brief, low-pitched, warning tone four 3 Press the PTT button to re-transmit.
seconds before the transmission times out. The time-out timer restarts and the LED lights up solid red.

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APX 6500 O5 CH UTILITIES
 Using the Digital PTT ID Feature

This feature allows you to see the radio ID (number) of the

radio from whom you are currently receiving a transmission.
This ID, consisting up to a maximum of eight characters, can
be viewed by both the receiving radio and the dispatcher.

Your radio’s ID number is also 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.

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