APX N - EXTERNAL FAQ

APX N PORTABLE RADIO FAQ

Updated: 6.24.2024

APX vs. APX N 2

DURABILITY 2

ACCESSORIES 3

PROGRAMMING 5

DEVICE MANAGED SERVICES (DMS) 6

APPLICATION SERVICES 7

SMARTCONNECT 9

SMARTLOCATE 10

SMARTMESSAGING 11

SMARTMAPPING 13

VOICE CONTROL 14

VIRTUAL PARTNER 16

SMARTTOUCH INTERFACE & DISPLAY 18

AUDIO 19

LTE/BROADBAND 19

GENERAL 21

APX NEXT XE 23

APX NEXT XN 25

APX vs. APX N

What is APX N?

APX N is a new line of next generation portable radios within the

broader APX product family. It includes the APX NEXT series (APX

NEXT, APX NEXT XE, APX NEXT XN) all-band radios & APX N70,

APX N50, APX N30 single-band radios.

Will new software and features

continue to be developed for

the current APX platform?

Yes, new software and other upgrades will continue to be released

for the APX platform for the foreseeable future.

Will all current APX radio

features be supported on APX

NEXT series or APX N70?

Upon initial release, some features supported on existing APX

radios will not be available on APX NEXT and APX N70. However,

over time, the feature set will be expanded upon.

Do APX N interoperate with

other APX radios?

Yes, APX NEXT series can operate on the UHF, VHF and 7/800

frequency bands and can interoperate with all other APX radios.

APX N70 currently is offered in 7/800 and UHF frequency bands.

APX N50 and APX N30 are currently offered in 7/800, VHF and UHF

frequency bands. They can interoperate with other APX radios on

the same frequencies.

What new software features of

APX NEXT will be available on

previous models of APX?

Smar tConnect will be available both on APX NEXT series, APX N70

as well as select WiFi equipped APX models, and APX N50 and

APX N30. SmartConnect on APX portables operates via WiFi and on

APX mobiles operates via WiFi or tethered to a LTE or satellite

modem.

DURABILITY

What are the durability specs

for APX NEXT?

APX NEXT has the same durability specs as the APX 8000. This is

captured in the MIL-STD 810H section of the Spec Sheet.

What are the durability specs

for APX N70?

APX N70 has the same durability specs as the APX 6000. This is

captured in the MIL-STD 810H section of the Spec Sheet.

What are the durability specs

for the APX N50 & APX N30?

This is captured in the MIL-STD 810H section of their respective

Spec Sheet.

What are the water and drop

test standards ratings for APX

NEXT?

APX NEXT has the same specs as the APX 8000. This is captured

in the MIL-STD section of the Spec Sheet: Drop per MIL_STD 810H,

516.6 IV, water submersion IP68 (2 meters, 4 hours).

ACCESSORIES

Will previous APX accessories

Select APX accessories will be certiﬁed for use with the APX NEXT

work on APX N line radios?

radio. Batteries and single-unit chargers will be different. APX NEXT

batteries require the IMPRES™ 2 Multi-Unit Charger and the APX

NEXT pocket. The APX N70 introduced new chargers that can be

shared with APX NEXT. However, batteries are unique to this model.

The APX N50 & APX N30 have new chargers that support both models.

What audio accessories can I

use with APX NEXT XN?

When in hazard zone mode, RSMs or other audio accessories

must meet the requirements of NFPA 1802. There will be an alert

on the radio if the accessory is not approved for hazard zone

mode. The XVN500 RSM is certiﬁed for use in hazard zone mode

and NFPA 1802 certiﬁed when used with APX NEXT XN.

When outside of hazard zone mode, compatible RSMs or devices

that serve the function of an RSM, that do not meet the

requirements of NFPA 1802, can be conﬁgured with APX NEXT XN

as long as they can be quickly and easily deconﬁgured by the user

prior to entering the hazard zone. For example, a boom mic

headset or earpiece.

What carry accessories can I

use with APX NEXT XN?

A carry solution is not required to be compliant with NFPA 1802.

For example, the radio can be worn in a turnout coat pocket.

Motorola Solutions offers an optional carry solution that is

compatible with APX NEXT XN and approved for use in

hazardous/emergency response environments.

Aftermarket / 3rd party carry accessories can be used, but should

not inter fere with the ﬁt, form or function of the device. Also, the

carry solution should be made from materials suitable for use in

hazardous/emergency response environments as they may impact

the performance or void the radio’s warranty.

What batteries can I use with

APX NEXT XN?

Motorola Solutions offers a battery unique to APX NEXT XN in order

to meet stringent speciﬁcations of NFPA 1802. A mechanical

lock-out feature prevents other APX NEXT batteries from

connecting to the radio.

3rd party batteries are not supported as batteries are seen as part

of the radio in the NFPA 1802 standard.

Can wired audio accessories be

used interchangeably on APX N

and other APX radios?

Select APX accessories will be certiﬁed for use with the APX N

radios.

APX NEXT series and APX have a GCAI audio connector.

The APX N70, APX N50, and APX N30 have a separate suite of GCAI

mini compatible audio accessories. An adaptor is available for

those accessories without a GCAI mini equivalent.

Why did the audio connector

change between previous APX

and APX N70, APX N50, APX

N30?

The APX N70, APX N50 and APX N30 picked up the accessory

connector to make the model form factor as eﬃcient as possible

and to leverage a growing ﬂeet of GCAI mini accessories.

Can bluetooth accessories be

used interchangeably on APX N

and other APX radios?

APX N radios do not work/are not compatible with APX Mission

Critical Wireless Bluetooth accessories or “blue dot” MPP pairing.

Commercial off the shelf (COTS) bluetooth accessories will

work/are compatible.

Can the XVE 500 or XE 500

RSM be used with APX NEXT

XN?

Yes, as long as the APX NEXT XN is not set to Hazard Zone Mode

channel/zone. Only XVN 500 is certiﬁed to be used in Hazard Zone

Mode

Can antennas be used

interchangeably on APX N and

other APX radios?

Other APX antennas are not certiﬁed on APX N radios and APX N

antennas are not cer tiﬁed on other APX radios. The connection type

is different between APX and APX N radios.

Can APX N and previous APX

chargers be used

interchangeably?

All APX N radios require different single unit chargers (SUC).

● APX NEXT series offer APX NEXT only SUC or APX

NEXT/APX N70 compatible SUC.

● APX N50 and APX N30 share a compatible SUC

APX N radios multi unit chargers (MUC).

● APX NEXT and APX N70 can use the APX IMPRES™ 2 MUC

and the APX NEXT or APX N70 pocket.

● APX NEXT series offers its own MUC or a MUC compatible

with APX NEXT series & APX N70

● APX N50 and APX N30 are compatible with the same MUC

Can APX N and previous APX

batteries be used

interchangeably?

All APX N batteries are not compatible with other APX models.

● APX NEXT and APX NEXT XE batteries are compatible

● APX NEXT XN batteries are unique in order to meet stringent

speciﬁcations. A mechanical lock-out feature prevents other

APX NEXT batteries from connecting to the radio.

● APX N70 batteries are unique

● APX N50 and APX N30 batteries are compatible

Do APX N radios support

intrinsically safe rating from FM

or UL?

APX NEXT is certiﬁed to UL Div 2 with the appropriate batteries. UL

Div 2 batteries are available as an orderable option for APX NEXT

and ship as the standard battery for APX NEXT XE* (Listed by UL to

non-incendive standards: UL 121201 and CAN/CSA C22.2 No.

213-17 as safe for use in Class I, Division 2, Groups A,B,C,D; Class

II, Division 2, Groups F,G; Class III Division 2 Hazardous (Classiﬁed)

Locations.)

*See APX NEXT XE section of FAQ for additional details about APX

NEXT XE and standard batteries.

APX N70, APX N50, APX N30 are certiﬁed UL Div 1 with the

appropriate orderable battery option.

Given the additional features

supported by APX NEXT, will

battery life be equivalent to

other APX radios?

Customers will be able to see a noticeable difference in battery life

longevity on the APX NEXT. APX NEXT standard batteries have over

20% more capacity than the standard battery on other APX radios.

APX NEXT batteries have power saving algorithms to extend

battery life. Effective March, 2020, APX NEXT ships standard with

4400 mAh batteries (instead of the original 3850 mAh units.) We

expect users will experience about 12-14 hours of battery life with

the standard 4400 mAh batter y, and 17 - 19 hours with the high cap

5650 mAh battery. This assumes a typical duty cycle and proﬁle

(LMR duty cycle: 5/5/90, touchscreen use: 1 hour, SmartConnect

active: 30 mins, LTE Mode: DRX Idle, GPS: Off, Bluetooth: Off, WiFi

duty cycle 80/20, NFC: Off, RSM connected.)

What are self calibration

batteries?

Batteries with the self calibration feature can be identiﬁed through a

logo, battery with a charge, on the battery label. These batteries will

not require users to go through the traditional hours of IMPRES

calibration or recondition process, when charged using the APX

NEXT/APX N70 compatible or APX N50/APX N30 compatible IMPRES

2 chargers.

A software upgrade is required if used with APX charger NNTN8844,

NNTN9115. Refer to the charger user manual to learn how to identify

the charger software version and perform charger software upgrade.

APX NEXT XN, APX N70, APX N50, APX N30 currently offer self

calibration batteries.

PROGRAMMING

How are APX N radios

programmed/provisioned?

All APX N radios are compatible with CPS cable programming or

Radio Management (RM) with traditional

programming/provisioning features.

APX NEXT series and APX N70 are also compatible with

RadioCentral. Using LTE or pre-provisioned WiFi, radios are

programmed and updated over-the-air, using the RadioCentral

provisioning tool. Codeplug and ﬁrmware updates get downloaded

in the background using LTE or WiFi. Once the download is

complete, users receive a notiﬁcation prompt asking them to install

the update now or later. Programming and provisioning over WiFi

comes standard with each APX NEXT series or APX N70 radio, and

requires purchasing the programming tool Radio Management or

RadioCentral. On top of this, to utilize these functions over LTE,

Smar tProgramming is required.

Can I load encryption keys over

the air?

Customers using encryption keys can load them by physically

connecting the radio to the KVL.

With APX NEXT series or APX N70, they can load them over the air

with Touchless Key Provisioning (TKP) & RadioCentral as long as a

KMF is present and the radio is also enabled with OTAR (Over the

Air Rekeying). Unlike programming and software updates that are

done over WiFi or LTE, over the air key loading happens over LMR.

How long does it take to

program a radio or upgrade the

ﬁrmware on RadioCentral?

Programming a radio takes from 1 minute to 15 minutes depending

on the changes needed. With RM or RC, a technician can plan all

the updates in advance and automatically send them to radios as

they become available. A small codeplug change is much faster

than a larger ﬁrmware update. Once the new programming is

pushed through cable, WiFi or LTE, the user has to accept the

change on the radio.

What considerations should a

customer have for an APX

mixed ﬂeet?

Customers can manage their mixed ﬂeet in different ways.

● Using CPS or RM for all APX radios

● Using CPS or RM for all APX radios and RadioCentral for APX

NEXT series and APX N70 to leverage LTE and enhanced

workﬂows of RadioCentral.

RadioCentral support for all APX radios will come at a later date.

What changes are there from

how users program and

provision other APX radios

compared to APX NEXT series

or APX N70 on RadioCentral?

All APX are programmed with CPS (tethered) or RM (tethered, WiFi,

OTAP).

APX NEXT & N70 can also be programmed with RC (WiFi, LTE).

Initial provisioning is enhanced with RC:

- The conﬁguration are planned in advanced

- The radio will automatically download it from RC upon

unboxing (thanks to factory pre-provisioning the radio in RC)

Initial WiFi provisioning on RM is possible under certain

circumstances. Please contact the Application Practice Oﬃce for

details.

How do customers

pre-provision a radio to

coordinate automatic

out-of-the-box programming?

Using the RadioCentral software, users are able to pre-provision

their radios prior to receiving them, based on serial number. The

radios will appear in the user’s RadioCentral instance when they

ship from the factory.

What is Role Based Access?

RadioCentral Role Based Access is a new optional feature that

introduces Admin, Technician, and Reader roles assignable to

users. The role assignment allows access control to individuals

managing the Device conﬁguration in an agency.

DEVICE MANAGED SERVICES (DMS)

What services are available for

APX N radios?

Essential ser vices are designed for customers who want to limit their

investment to basic hardware and software support. Features include:

• Standard Hardware Repair

• Access to MyView portal with device service information

• Technical Support

Optional DMS Add-Ons include:

• Device Management Training - hands on training workshop for

radio technicians

• Accidental Damage

• Tailored services for preventive maintenance or on-demand

codeplug and ﬁrmware updating

Programming Solutions (CPS,RM, RC) are still offered but are not part

of a speciﬁc DMS package.

Can a customer see the status

of their DMS subscription?

Yes - customers can see the status and future expiration date of

DMS subscriptions for all devices in their ﬂeet through the MyView

Portal.

What is included with Device

Management Training optional

service?

Device Management training includes access to an online overview

course as well as a 2-day instructor lead workshop designed for

radio technicians. It covers how to use the RadioCentral

programming tool, as well as MyView Portal capabilities.

APPLICATION SERVICES

What are application services?

APX mission-critical applications bring new intelligence to the ﬁeld

and Application services are subscription based services that

leverage the radio's broadband capabilities. APX NEXT series and

APX N70 offer SmartProgramming, SmartConnect, SmartLocate,

ViQi Virtual Partner, SmartMapping and SmartMessaging

APX N50 and APX N30 offer SmartConnect

What application services does

a customer get in year 1? What

happens after year 1?

One year of any 4 application services along with the broadband

LTE subscription are included with the purchase of an APX NEXT or

APX N70 radio. Additional application services beyond the 4 free

ones can be added in year 1 at the bundle discount rate. At the end

of the ﬁrst year, application services subscriptions will auto-renew

unless a customer indicates they wish to cancel the service.

Can the start of the one year

free trial of the application

services be delayed for some

time after the radio ships?

The start of the one year free trial can be delayed for up to 4

months after the radio ships. This can be selected as an option

when placing the order.

Can APX N radios run apps

from the app store?

No. APX N radios will only be able to operate a select and approved

set of applications. The device does not have access to the general

app store.

SMARTCONNECT

What is SmartConnect?

Smar tConnect on APX N radios maintains your voice

communications when outside of LMR coverage by automatically

switching between the P25 LMR and the LTE cellular network or

WiFi network within seconds. Authentication, status, talkgroups

and encryption are all preserved - without interruptions or resets.

APX NEXT series and APX N70 offer this feature over LTE or WiFi.

The feature is also available on APX N50, APX N30 and other APX

models; however, the APX portables operates via pre-provisioned

WiFi and on APX mobiles operates via preprovisioned WiFi and

tethered LTE or satellite modems

What PTT/radio features are

not available when using

SmartConnect?

At this time, GPS/location on PTT/LMR, group alias, private call,

and site trunking are not available when using SmartConnect.

What determines when APX

radios switch to a broadband

connection?

APX radios are constantly monitoring the quality of the LMR

connection. If the LMR coverage drops below a designated

threshold, which can be pre-conﬁgured in the radio, the radio will

automatically switch to broadband. When the LMR signal becomes

acceptable again, the radio automatically switches back to LMR.

How is SmartConnect different

than other broadband

push-to-talk offerings like

WAVE and Critical Connect?

Although SmartConnect offers interoperability between LMR and

LTE/WiFi networks similar to our other broadband push-to-talk

solutions, there are key differentiators between the solutions. First,

Smar tConnect on APX automatically switches push-to-talk

functionality between LMR and Broadband (LTE or WiFi) when LMR

coverage falls below a cer tain threshold, allowing the user to stay

focused on the mission. Additionally, SmartConnect is a true

extension of your ASTRO P25 system, not just a simple patch

between VoIP and P25. This solution creates an ASTRO system

overlay/zone where the P25 voice and data travels via broadband

instead of the traditional LMR frequencies resulting in broadband

operation which sounds like P25 and retains most P25 system

features.

SMARTLOCATE

What is SmartLocate?

Smar tLocate sends GPS coordinate updates from APX NEXT

series/APX N70 to your command center software, SmartMapping

and/or P1 CAD over the LTE or WiFi network rather than the P25

radio system. Using broadband to communicate location enables

more frequent and customizable measurements, up to once every

three seconds if necessary. This lets dispatchers know your

location with pinpoint accuracy, enabling them to respond to your

movements faster. Utilizing broadband for location updates also

frees space on your P25 system so it can handle more voice traﬃc.

Can SmartLocate operate over

WiFi?

Yes, SmartLocate can operate using both WiFi and LTE.

What system dependencies are

there in order for SmartLocate

to operate?

Smar tLocate does not have any system dependencies and can be

used on any ASTRO 25 system including Analog, Digital, Trunking,

or Conventional. However, Dynamic Mode does require IMW and

cloud connector on the P25 system.

Can APX NEXT series/APX N70

utilize location over LMR rather

than SmartLocate?

Yes, agencies can choose to use location over LMR on APX NEXT

series/APX N70 rather than SmartLocate. If the user wants to

report location data over LMR to an on-prem CAD system they

require IMW. If they want to report location data over LMR to

CommandCentral Aware and/or SmartMapping they require IMW

and CloudConnect.

What applications can users

see radio location on over

SmartLocate?

Radio location from SmartLocate is visible on other APX NEXT

series/APX N70 radios within the SmartMapping application. Radio

location from SmartLocate can also be displayed on a map view

within the command center but will require CommandCentral

Aware. Note that there are plans to expand into other software

applications. Aware also has the capability to integrate with

multiple existing 3rd party CADs. Contact the CommandCentral

Sales Specialist Team for more details.

Is there an accuracy difference

in location over LMR and

SmartLocate?

The accuracy of the GPS (feet displacement) is the same between

LMR and LTE GPS. However, SmartLocate increases the available

location reporting cadence and increases the coverage area within

which you can track GPS, as it is no longer limited to radio system

coverage .

What is SmartLocate Indoor

Positioning?

Indoor Positioning is an enhancement for SmartLocate available

with the 2020.1 release (May 2020) of APX NEXT and at the time of

shipment with APX N70. With this enhancement, APX NEXT

series/APX N70 triangulates its location, using nearby cell-tower

and WiFi access points to enhance accuracy. The radios do not

need to be connected to the WiFi access points, but rather, will

automatically recognize that there are access points present.

Radios can now be tracked more accurately when they are indoors.

Location performance is also improved in marginal conditions, such

as deep street canyons or dense forests.

Is Indoor Positioning an

additional cost for

SmartLocate?

No. There is no extra charge for Indoor Positioning. It is included

with SmartLocate, as well as SmartMapping.

What is SmartLocate Dynamic

Mode?

Smar tLocate Dynamic mode is a new SmartLocate feature

standard with the APX NEXT software release (June 2020) that

dynamically switches between P25 and LTE to send location

updates, where previously, the user would have to choose one or

the other. With Dynamic mode, if SmartLocate is active, the radio

will “prefer” LTE, but it will drop back to P25 if the LTE signal fades.

This adds another level of reliability for location-tracking.

SMARTMESSAGING

What is SmartMessaging?

Smar tMessaging is an application built directly into the APX NEXT

series/APX N70 home screen that allows you to share multimedia

messages across your extended team via LTE. Share text

messages, picture messages, voicenotes and videos with

individuals or groups directly from your radio.

Can SmartMessaging operate

over WiFi?

Yes, SmartMessaging can operate using both WiFi and LTE.

Are there other required

products or infrastructure

dependencies in order for

There are no infrastructure dependencies for SmartMessaging over

LTE between APX NEXT series/APX N70 radios, however,

CriticalConnect data interop will be needed for messaging

SmartMessaging to operate?

interoperability with other APX radio models. To exchange

messages, for example a BOLO (be on the lookout) image from

dispatch, dispatch will require WAVE Dispatch Client (a separate

subscription).

What software is used to

communicate over

SmartMessaging from a

command center?

WAVE Dispatch Application is used to communicate over

Smar tMessaging to the Command Center. A separate subscription

for this application is required.

What kinds of multimedia can

be sent using

SmartMessaging?

As of June 2020), SmartMessaging will allow users to send and

receive text messages, image messages, videos and voicenotes

although the APX NEXT series or APX N70 will not be capable of

taking photos or recording video or audio directly from the device at

this time.These forms of multimedia may be received and

forwarded.

Can I start message groups or

share messages to more than

one individual with

SmartMessaging?

Yes, SmartMessaging allows the exchange of messages between

both individuals and groups. Groups must be predeﬁned by the

system’s administrator.

Can you use SmartMessaging

to communicate to

smartphones and other smart

devices?

Yes. APX NEXT series/APX N70 will be able to exchange

multimedia messages with smartphones and other smart devices,

provided the devices have the WAVE PTT mobile application and

subscription ser vice. WAVE PTT application is available on both

Android and IOS platforms.

Can you communicate over

SmartMessaging to other APX

radio models?

Yes. APX NEXT series/APX N70 can exchange messages with other

APX radios models, provided users have a subscription to Critical

Connect and have Critical Connect cloud connector.The APX radios

receive the message over LMR and the messages are limited to text

only.

Can messages be logged or

securely archived for future

reference?

Currently, SmartMessaging server sync has the ability to delete

messages after being stored for 30 days. This was introduced in

the ASTRO 2022.1 SW Release. Do note that SmartMessaging will

not be static, and there is full intention to deliver updates and

expand capabilities, such as the integrations with our secure digital

evidence management platform.

SMARTMAPPING

What is SmartMapping?

Smar tMapping is a modern, intuitive mapping tool built right into

APX NEXT series/APX N70, allowing you to view your precise

location and track nearby oﬃcers on a modern mapping interface

integrated right into your radio. You can also search an address or

colleague, drop waypoints, quickly pinpoint oﬃcers in distress, and

initiate voice calls and alerts, all right through the SmartMapping

application.

How can I pinpoint an oﬃcer in

distress using SmartMapping?

When an oﬃcer presses the emergency button on his/her radio,

their icon, which is displayed on the SmartMapping map, will visibly

change to indicate their emergency button has been pressed.

Others viewing the SmartMapping map will be able to quickly

identify any emergency icons at a glance from the mapview.

Can SmartMapping operate

over WiFi?

Yes, SmartMapping can operate using both WiFi and LTE.

What levels of detail can I see

about my current location with

SmartMapping?

From the APX NEXT series/APX N70 home screen, the

Smar tMapping widget will display the approximate street address

(or closest intersection) associated with the device’s GPS location.

Upon clicking into the mapview, users will see their location

displayed on a map, with the ability to click through to view further

details including street address and GPS coordinates.

Are there ways to locate an

oﬃcer or point of interest other

than navigating the mapview?

Yes. SmartMapping allows users to search an individual by name or

predeﬁned identiﬁer. A user may also search a speciﬁc address.

Simply navigate to the search box within the SmartMapping toolbar,

enter search information, and SmartMapping will pinpoint the

person or place on the map interface. You can also view all nearby

oﬃcers within a list view menu or search historical waypoints and

addresses.

Can SmartMapping provide

navigation instructions?

Smar tMapping cannot provide speciﬁc navigation instructions at

this time, but will however display the bearing/direction and

distance of a selected oﬃcer or point of interest.

Are there other required

products or infrastructure

dependencies in order for

SmartMapping to operate?

There are no infrastructure dependencies for SmartMapping to

operate, although tracked APX radios require SmartLocate or IMW

and Cloud Connector (tracked APX NEXT series/APX N70 radios

require Smartlocate; tracked APX radios require IMW and cloud

connector)

How does SmartMapping relate

to SmartLocate and

CommandCentral Aware?

Smar tMapping is the application and mobile map interface for APX

NEXT series/APX N70 that will display the user's current location,

as well as the location of other tracked radios directly on the

screen. SmartLocate, a separate application for APX NEXT

series/APX N70, is the location routing service that collects and

shares location information and updates over LTE and WiFi to other

radios/devices as well as to the command center. CommandCentral

Aware is the command center software with browser-based

mapping screen where command center staff can monitor the

location and status of oﬃcers in the ﬁeld.

Can you communicate with

other radios through

SmartMapping?

Yes. You can initiate a private call or call alert with the radios

displayed on the map, provided the radios support receiving private

calls or call alerts over the P25 LMR network. This can be done by

tapping on the oﬃcer’s location pop-up from the mapview and

navigating to the contact details page. From here, simply tap the

‘call’ icon to initiate a private call, or the ‘page’ icon to send a call

aler t. In the future, SmartMapping will support other forms of

communication from the map view.

Can SmartMapping show the

location of devices other than

APX NEXT or APX N70?

At this time, SmartMapping can show the location of other APX

radios, provided IMW is set up with a cloud connector. Talk with

your technical sales specialist for more information.

What map layers are available

on SmartMapping?

With SmartMapping, you can switch between “base layers” of street

map, terrain map, or satellite imagery.

VOICE CONTROL

What is voice control?

Voice control enables users to interface with their APX N radios in

an entirely new way - using their voice. There are a series of voice

commands that can be leveraged each with multiple wording

variations, from changing zone, channel and volume, to getting

battery status. This lets you use your radio with eyes-up

awareness.

Can you use Voice Control from

an accessory?

The X V/XVP/XVE/XVN RSM is the only accessory with which

Vir tual Partner is accessible using the dedicated ViQi button on the

front grill. The RSM is the only accessory certiﬁed for use with

Voice Control. It is also the only accessory with a dedicated ViQi

button on the front grill.

What can you control on the

radio using voice control?

Actions available on APX NEXT series & APX N70 using intuitive

voice commands:

- Zone/Channel change and query

- Channel change and query

- Zone change and query

- Volume control and query

- Radio proﬁle changes

- Battery query

- Home (go to home zone and channel)

- Scan on/off

- Cancel

- Time

- Virtual Partner access

-Command help

Actions available on APX N50 & APX N30 using speciﬁc voice

commands:

-Channel change and query

-Zone change and query

-Battery query

-Volume change

-Scan on/off

-Preset change

-Proﬁle change

-Command help

What happens if you are using

voice control when a radio

transmission is received?

If voice control is programmed to high priority mode, and the button

has been pressed and held to initiate voice control, the voice

control operation continues to execute and the received audio will

be muted. The voice control conﬁrmation feedback audio is mixed

with any incoming radio transmission. If voice control is set to low

priority mode and there is received radio transmission upon

pressing and holding the button, voice control will not be initiated.

How does voice control relate

to virtual partner?

Voice control uses a set of commands to control radio features.

The same ViQi button can be used for both voice control and virtual

par tner. When voice control and virtual partner are accessed by the

same button, a user will say speciﬁc voice control commands to

initiate a virtual partner session.

VIRTUAL PARTNER

What is virtual partner?

Users can now do search lookups with agency databases (any

state and federal) directly in the ﬁeld using Virtual Partner powered

by ViQi on their APX NEXT series and APX N70 radios. Users can

initiate a search request with the press of a button and using

natural language. When search results become available, ViQi

Vir tual Partner alerts the user with an audible and textual indication

that depicts the severity and nature of information found. The alert

can be programmed to be discreet and non-intrusive to in-progress

user operations. Users can stay in control of the situation with

intelligence at every step.

Is virtual partner available in

my State or Province?

ViQi Virtual Partner is only available in the United States at this

time. ViQi Virtual Partner requires a connection to the State

Message Switch in order to request information from State and

Federal databases for Vehicle and Person search. State policies

regarding authentication, query parameters, and voice access vary

and not all states are supported at launch. ViQi Virtual Partner is

currently not available in the following States: Alabama, Arkansas,

Colorado, Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan,

Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada,

Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, and Vermont. In addition, in Arizona Vehicle

search is not suppor ted but Driver’s License is supported. VIN is

not supported for Idaho or New Mexico. Additional States will be

added via future enhancements to Virtual Partner or State policy

updates. **Canada will be available in the future after ViQi Virtual

Partner integration with Canadian data.

What can you query with ViQi

Virtual Partner?

Vir tual Partner can query license plates, driver’s license numbers

and Vehicle Identiﬁcation Numbers (VINs). As of Software Release

2020.4, users who have a ViQi Virtual Partner Subscription and

their device location in the cloud (via SmartLocate or IMW Cloud

Connector) can ask ViQi for their location or the location of other

units. In this same release, oﬃcers who run a ViQi Virtual Partner

query that generates a hot hit can automatically send their dynamic

location to an intelligence operator monitoring the incident over an

Aware map thereby increasing oﬃcer safety. Because virtual

par tner is a cloud-based service, it enables new capabilities to be

added seamlessly.

When do you have to say "Hey

ViQi?"

"Hey ViQi" is a voice command that is used to enter a Virtual

Partner session when the radio is enabled with Voice Control.

Voice Control is the default feature when you press and hold the

ViQi button. Once you are in a Virtual Partner session, you don't

need to say it again. "Look up information" is an alternate voice

control command to initiate a session. At any time you want to

re-enter a virtual partner session, you must say "hey ViQi" again.

*If you have voice control and virtual partner programmed on

separate buttons, you never need to say "Hey ViQi".

Can ViQi Virtual Partner query

results be relayed via text

instead of voice?

Currently, query results can only be relayed audibly. Displaying

query results via text is being evaluated for a future release.

Can you use Virtual Partner

from an accessory?

The X VP RSM and XVE500/XVN 500 RSM are the only accessories

with which Virtual Partner is accessible using the dedicated ViQi

button on the front grill. However, Virtual Partner can be conﬁgured

in other accessories with programmable buttons.

If using Virtual Partner, are

there any ASTRO system

requirements?

Vir tual Partner can be conﬁgured to work over LTE. Virtual Partner

over LTE does not have any ASTRO system requirements. Virtual

Partner over LTE is system agnostic. Please contact your technical

sales specialist for more details.

What happens if you are using

virtual partner and a radio

transmission comes through?

When using VP on BB/LTE the radio stays on the same LMR TG and

the VP transmissions are sent and received via LTE. When the user

presses the ViQi button the LMR audio is muted. When VP has

audio responses, they can be mixed with the LMR audio. The

agency can set the mixed audio levels in CPS. There are four mix

levels:

ViQi VP Audio Only - VP plays only; LMR is muted

ViQi VP High Audio Mixed (Default mode) - VP audio plays at the

current radio volume level and LMR audio is mixed at ~10 db lower

volume

ViQi VP Equal Audio Mixed - LMR and VP are mixed equally at the

current radio volume level.

ViQi VP Low Audio Mixed - LMR audio plays at the current radio

volume level with VP audio mixed at ~10 db lower volume.

SMARTTOUCH INTERFACE & DISPLAY

How many characters can the

new larger top display show at

once?

14 characters

Can users wear gloves when

operating the touch screen?

Yes. The SmartTouch display allows users to use the touch screen

interface while wearing a wide assortment of gloves including

medical gloves and protective work gloves (up to 3mm thick).

Additionally, the touch screen is operational in wet conditions

without risk of false actuation.

Can you turn off the bright

touch screen?

Covert mode is available to fully turn off the screen as well as to

dim the larger screen. Night Mode provides the option to display a

less-bright color scheme on the screen.

If the touch display is rendered

unusable, can you still access

and control mission critical

radio features?

Yes. Due to segregated operating systems - one for radio and one

for applications - any breakage or malfunction of the touch screen

or apps processor does not inhibit the usage of the mission critical

radio features and functionalities controlled using the hardware

knobs and buttons.

Which APX N radios have a

keyboard within the

touchscreen?

APX NEXT series and APX N70 offer a keyboard.

APX NEXT series radios can be used for search function, logging in

and typing freeform text messages via SmartMessaging.

The keyboard on APX N70 has been tailored to administrative

functions like logging in to CommandCentral Admin. It is not

available in search or freeform messaging due to the size of the

display which has grown smaller to allow for the addition of P1-P6

buttons.

AUDIO

How many mics does the new

XVP/XVE 500/XVN 500 RSM

have vs. the previous APX

RSMs?

The new RSMs have four high dynamic range mics and the

adaptive audio noise reduction technology to provide the clearest

transmission in high noise. The APX XP RSM and Windported RSMs

have two mics or less.

What is the difference between

the microphones used in APX N

compared to those used in

other APX radios?

APX N incorporates high dynamic range microphone technology.

High dynamic range mics allow for more intelligible audio the

higher a person speaks or even shouts into the radio. That means

in mission critical situations, you will be heard and understood.

What is receiver automatic gain

control?

Automatic gain control is technology that normalizes the audio

levels in a radio. This means low audio levels can be automatically

increased and vice versa, high audio levels can be automatically

lowered. Receiver automatic gain control directly addresses the

common public safety user complaint of “constantly adjusting their

radio volume throughout their shift”. This new technology will

signiﬁcantly reduce the number of necessary radio volume

adjustments, creating a better user experience.

What are the differences

between the new XVP / XVE

500/XVN500 RSM and the

previous APX RSMs?

The new RSMs include the following:

• A larger, more clear speaker

• Four digital microphones

• Enhanced windporting design

• Better ergonomics reducing muﬄed audio

• New adaptive noise suppression

• Dedicated ViQi button

LTE/BROADBAND

What LTE carriers are available

to use for Application Services?

APX NEXT series and APX N70 are certiﬁed for use on the

AT&T/FirstNet and Verizon networks in the US and the Bell Mobility

network in Canada. Motorola Application Services are complete

solutions, which includes LTE data ser vice, so customers do not

need to acquire broadband data subscription independently.

Will customers need to

LTE is included in all application service subscriptions

purchase a subscription from

the cellular carriers to enable

LTE ?

(Smar tConnect, SmartProgramming, SmartLocate, SmartMapping,

Smar tMessaging, ViQi VP) when SIM cards are pre-installed at the

Motorola Solutions factory.

Can customers provide their

own SIMs to use in this device?

Star ting in October 2022, customers can choose to purchase APX

NEXT & APX N70 radios without Motorola managed LTE service

otherwise known as BYOS (Bring Your Own SIM). However, these

radios are only certiﬁed for the AT&T FirstNet (USA), Verizon (USA),

and Bell Mobility (Canada) wireless carriers. Customers who use

any other wireless carrier will not receive any Motorola customer

support to resolve any LTE issues. Although BYOS customers will

receive a 33% price discount on app service subscriptions (up to 3

services), customers will have to take on many more

responsibilities in managing their own LTE service. Please reach

out to your account manager to get the full list of responsibilities

that Motorola would normally manage for you.

Can customers have two SIM

cards in an APX NEXT series or

APX N70 radio for use on two

different LTE networks?

No, APX NEXT series and APX N70 have a single removable SIM

slot.

Can customers remove the SIM

card for the APX NEXT series or

APX N70 and use it in another

LTE device?

The SIM is locked to the device with which it ships from Motorola

Solutions. Although the SIM is accessible and can be physically

removed, it will not work in any other device but the one that it was

locked to, when the radio was built by Motorola Solutions.

How do customers change the

LTE chipset if necessary during

the product’s lifetime?

The APX NEXT series and APX N70 have the latest embedded LTE

chipset that’s augmented with a powerful applications processor

and undergone rigorous system and interference testing to ensure

optimal performance and ruggedness. As the dynamic evolution of

the commercial carriers chipsets continues, Motorola expert

technicians can help manage the chipset replacement process

while guaranteeing that the replacement process does not

compromise the devices’ performance or durability.

Devices with ﬁeld-swappable chipsets are prone to the integrity of

the housing being compromised allowing the radio to become

susceptible to the introduction of dust, water, etc. into the device

leading to a limited life cycle. Field-swappable chipsets are not as

rugged in design in order to accommodate ease of installation and

still require the installer to have the appropriate certiﬁcations and

equipment on site to perform the replacement procedure in order to

maintain IP68 protection, intrinsically safe approvals, and to

ensure the radio is not damaged in the process. Motorola Solutions

technicians can guarantee that performance and device integrity is

maintained through the chipset replacement process.

GENERAL

What frequency bands and

frequency band conﬁgurations

can APX N radios be ordered

in?

APX NEXT is available for operation on UHF, VHF, and 7/800 MHz

frequency bands. Customers can order APX NEXT out of the

factory in single, dual, or all-band conﬁguration. When ordering in

single or dual-band conﬁgurations, additional bands can later be

enabled via ﬂashport upgrade.

APX N70 is available in 7/800 and UHF bands, VHF to follow. APX

N50 and APX N30 are available in all bands 7/800, VHF and UHF.

What antenna comes with APX

NEXT?

APX NEXT ships standard with an all-band whip antenna,

supporting operation on 7/800, VHF, and UHF frequencies. A

single-band 700/800MHz stubby antenna can also be selected for

any conﬁguration that includes 700/800MHz. In 2021, additional

single-band only antennas will be made available, to support

operation on just one of the above frequency bands.

How long does it take for APX

NEXT to turn on?

APX NEXT functions on a segregated processor - one for radio and

one for applications. No matter what, the radio processor turns on

and is functionable in under 4 seconds. Users have the option to

keep their radio in cold or warm start mode. In cold start mode, the

apps processor takes about 25 seconds and from warm start

mode, the apps processor takes about 5 seconds to power on.

Regardless of whether the apps processor is in the process of

turning on or has become unresponsive, the radio functionality is

never compromised.

What happens if the app

processor malfunctions, is

radio functionality

compromised?

APX NEXT functions on a segregated processor meaning that the

radio and apps functionality are separate and independent. If the

apps processor goes down, radio functionality is maintained.

Do APX N radios support Man

Down/Fall Alert?

Yes. Man Down/Fall Alert is available as an additional standalone

option.

Does APX N support Personnel

Accountability?

APX Personnel Accountability will be supported on APX N radios,

giving users the ability to press the PTT button or other button to

acknowledge roll calls, PAR checks and evacuation notiﬁcations

sent by Incident command via MDT/laptop running APX Personnel

Accountability Application. Note, that as with other APX radios, the

APX N radios will only be able to receive and acknowledge the

above notiﬁcations at this time. An MDT/laptop/tablet with LTE

connection will be needed to initiate them.

Is DVRS PSU functionality

supported on APX NEXT and

APX N70?

Yes. DVRS PSU functionality is supported on APX NEXT and APX

N70 as an added option which may be selected during ordering.

Is APX NEXT shipping in

Canada?

Upon the 2020.1 (May 2020) release, APX NEXT is available in

Canada as well as the US. APX NEXT is certiﬁed to operate on the

Bell Mobility LTE network.

What special considerations

are there for APX NEXT in

Canada?

APX NEXT in Canada has embedded Bell LTE data service.

Smar tProgramming, SmartConnect, SmartMapping,

Smar tMessaging, and SmartLocate are currently the available

application ser vices, which are hosted in the Canada Commercial

Cloud. ViQi Virtual Partner is not currently available in Canada.

Will the APX N50 and APX N30

offer more than a limited

keypad?

Our customer research indicates users are not often typing text,

rather using the keypad for shortcuts. At this time we are only

offering model 2.

APX NEXT XE

What is APX NEXT XE, and what

does ‘XE’ indicate?

‘XE’ is indicative of the Extreme Series of APX radios, designed with

exaggerated ergonomics and extreme features for operation in

more rigorous environments. Similarly, APX NEXT XE is the Extreme

Series to the APX NEXT platform, bringing XE features to the

advanced APX NEXT P25 Smart Radio.

Who is the ideal customer for

APX NEXT XE?

APX NEXT XE is an ideal solution for ﬁre/EMS, or other public

safety customers interested in the advanced features and

capabilities of APX NEXT but prefer XE ergonomics for use in more

extreme environments.

What enhancements and

differences are included with

APX NEXT XE that are not

included on standard APX

NEXT?

APX NEXT XE includes an exaggerated t-grip shape, enlarged

buttons and controls, higher-torque knobs, and XE crash bar for

added screen protection and easier use with gloves and in harsh

environments. Additionally, APX NEXT XE ships standard with a

hazloc certiﬁed UL Div 2 battery, and is orderable in a high visibility

colored housing. APX NEXT XE has a slightly larger physical form

factor than that of the standard APX NEXT. Refer to data sheets for

additional details on APX NEXT and APX NEXT XE dimensions and

other design specs.

How does the performance and

durability of APX NEXT XE

compare to other APX XE

models?

APX NEXT XE meets the same extreme durability speciﬁcations of

the APX8000XE and other XE models, including delta-T testing,

IP68 dust resistance and submersion (2 meters, 4 hours) and

operating temperature of -22F to +140F. See MIL-STD section of

data sheet for full list of environmental specs. Additionally, APX

NEXT XE brings advanced features and capabilities to and XE radio

including high dynamic range microphone technology for clearer

audio, longer lasting UL battery, larger color top display, large

ultra-durable front touch screen display and LTE capabilities, among

all other advanced features APX NEXT has to offer.

How durable is the APX NEXT

XE touch screen?

The APX NEXT XE touch screen is built ultra durable, designed for

all weather use and extreme environments. The touch screen is

built with toughened glass, reinforced with a rigid steel plate

underneath and a protective exterior crash bar to withstand various

drops and impacts. The device is tested to withstand a 4ft drop to

concrete on all faces, edges, and corners, and a 4.6oz steel ball

drop from 20in directly onto the display. Additionally, the screen is

resistant to false actuation by water, snow, ice, or debris, and can

be operated with gloves up to 4mm thick.

What battery ships standard

with APX NEXT XE?

APX NEXT XE ships standard with a 4400 mAh UL Div 2 battery

while the standard battery for APX NEXT (non-XE) is 4400 mAh

(non-UL). The standard battery for APX NEXT XE meets a higher

hazardous location certiﬁcation (HazLoc) rating, certiﬁed

intrinsically safe for use in Class 1, Division 2 environments. A

5650mAh UL DIV 2 battery is also available as a high capacity

battery option.

What colors are available for

the APX NEXT XE housing?

APX NEXT XE is available in Impact Green as well as black. Impact

Green is a high visibility color option often preferred by ﬁre

agencies as it is the most visible color in smoke.

Are APX NEXT accessories

compatible with APX NEXT XE?

Many APX NEXT Accessories, including batteries, antennas, RSMs

and audio accessories (including the XE500 RSM, originally

released for APX) are compatible with APX NEXT XE, but there are

preferred accessories for use in extreme environments (see

question below). Be sure to check accessory speciﬁcations and

consult your Motorola Solutions representative if considering

standalone or alternative accessory options for APX NEXT XE or for

use in extreme environments. Due to the larger design and

exaggerated controls of APX NEXT XE, speciﬁc carry solutions have

been designed for APX NEXT XE. Standard APX NEXT carry

solutions are not compatible.

What accessories are designed

speciﬁcally for APX NEXT XE?

The X VE500 RSM is the preferred remote speaker microphone for

APX NEXT XE, designed for use in extreme environments,

supporting the same functions of the XV RSM (including ViQi) and

advanced environmental specs of the XE500 RSM. The XE500 RSM

is also compatible with APX NEXT XE but does not support ViQi.

The X VE500 is available as a standalone accessory. APX NEXT XE

ships standard with a redesigned holster that includes a belt clip

and integrated D-ring for use with a Boston Leather Strap. (2.5” and

3” belt clip options available) A Boston Leather carry case is also

available for APX NEXT XE as a standalone option.

Are there any features or

capabilities supported by APX

NEXT that are not available for

APX NEXT XE?

No, APX NEXT XE supports the same features and capabilities that

are available with non-XE APX NEXT models. This includes Smart

Application Ser vices, frequency bands and band conﬁgurations

(including single, multi, and all-band conﬁgurations), LTE networks,

antennas, and all other orderable device options available for APX

NEXT (not including select accessories). Rather, APX NEXT XE

offers several enhancements as noted in the previous

question/answers that are not available in standard APX NEXT

Models.

Is APX NEXT XE available in

Canada?

Yes, APX NEXT XE is available in Canada as well as the US.

APX NEXT XN

How does the performance and

durability of APX NEXT XN

compare to other APX NEXT /

APX XE models?

APX NEXT XN meets the same extreme durability speciﬁcations of

the APX NEXT XE, APX8000XE and other XE models. See MIL-STD

section of data sheet for full list of environmental specs. It also

goes beyond those durability speciﬁcations to be certiﬁed to the

stringent NFPA 1802 requirements for ruggedness and software

safety features. See Hazard Zone section of the data sheet for full

list of specs.

Similar to APX NEXT XE, APX NEXT XN brings the same advanced

features and capabilities to the radio including high dynamic range

microphone technology for clearer audio, IMPRES2 UL batter y,

larger color top display, large ultra-durable front touch screen

display and LTE capabilities, among all other advanced features

APX NEXT has to offer.

Is APX NEXT XN orderable and

shipping today?

The APX NEXT XN and XVN500 RSM can be quoted, ordered and is

shipping today.

Accessory questions?

Refer to the Accessories section for details on APX NEXT XN batteries,

RSMs, antennas.