Motorola Inc. today unveiled the a trio of P25 Phase 2-capable additions to its APX P25 two-way radio series—the APX 7000XE Portable, APX 6000 Portable and APX 6500 Mobile—at the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO) Conference in Houston.

The APX 7000XE is the first Motorola radio designed for use by first responders in extreme conditions and provides multiband interoperability in 700/800MHz and VHF or UHF.  The smallest handheld P25 Phase 2 capable radio, the APX 6000 portable, and the APX 6500 mobile were developed for single band radio users as a smart investment. The new additions also provide interoperability with Motorola's ASTRO 25, SmartNet and SmartZone systems.

Each radio has FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certified hardware encryption, integrated GPS for accountability and location tracking and future ready capabilities with P25 Phase 2 technology, expandable memory, over-the-air programming, audio, and other features like intelligent lighting.

"Motorola products are targeted for the specific needs of first responders in extreme situations," said Brenda Herold, corporate vice president of Motorola Enterprise Mobility Solutions. "We are proud to present the Motorola APX 7000XE as a solution to address issues like loud fireground conditions, large fire gloves that may restrict use of radio controls, and distractions stemming from limited screen visibility."

Firefighters and other mission critical users working in extreme or hazardous conditions may benefit from the glove readiness of the APX 7000XE. "The large knobs on the APX 7000XE make changing channels and adjusting the volume very easy with gloves on. These knobs are in a class all to themselves," said Lieutenant David H. Hudik, EMT- PRN, Elgin, Ill. Fire Department.  

The new T-grip design provides a wider control top with exaggerated controls and knobs, distinct channel knob "clicks" and a "high resistance feel" volume knob. A push-to-talk (PTT) button and a large emergency button located at the base of the antenna also make usage easier.

Noise reduction software combined with the latest AMBE digital voice vocoder and Motorola's exclusive Extreme Audio Profile work with the 1-watt speaker so that audio can be heard over background noise created by sirens and tools in an emergency situation. Lastly, a larger top display allows first responders to see radio status and channel or zone information without removing the radio from their turnout gear.

The APX 6000 portable radio is the smallest P25 Phase 2-capable radio designed specifically for mission critical users and comes in three models for different environments.  Key elements ranging from ergonomic form factor to advanced hardware include a dual-sided, two-microphone design, the latest AMBE digital voice vocoder, and Mission Critical Wireless to communicate with an encrypted wireless Bluetooth earpiece.

Key features of the APX 6500 mobile radio include a flexible platform to allow users to choose from 2 control heads, mid and high power models and different installation methods, and is also equipped with the latest AMBE digital voice vocoder.

The APX 6000 and 6500 radios also include a text messaging feature and pre-recorded voice file for the description of the selected channel or zone.