Motorola Technical Bulletin: Recommended Cleaning and Disinfecting Guidelines

Radio Solutions Channel PartnerIn response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Motorola Solutions is providing recommended cleaning and disinfecting guidelines for 2-way radios, body-worn cameras, and accessories based on current and best understanding of radio hygiene.

Per global health authorities, removing germs, dirt and impurities from surfaces lowers the risk of spreading infection. Using chemical disinfectants may kill germs that remain on surfaces after cleaning, which further lowers the risk of spreading infection.

General Cleaning Recommendations

  • Apply 0.5% detergent-water solution with a cloth, then use a stiff, non-metallic, short-bristled brush to work all loose dirt away from the device. Use a soft, absorbent, lintless cloth or tissue to remove the solution and dry the device.
  • Make sure that no solution remains entrapped near any connectors, cracks or crevices.

Disinfecting Guidelines

  • Devices may be disinfected by wiping them down with over-the-counter isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) with at least 70% alcohol concentration.
  • When cleaning with isopropyl alcohol, the alcohol should never be applied directly to the device. It should be applied to a cloth, which is then used to wipe down the device.
  • The effects of certain chemicals and their vapors can have detrimental effects on plastics and the metal platings.

Do not use bleach, solvents or cleaning sprays to cleanse or disinfect your device.

Motorola does not certify the above cleaning will remove COVID-19 or other foreign substances, however, the cleaning methods are approved for their products.

Download the Motorola Cleaning and Disinfecting Bulletin

Information from the WHO website: Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19

Information from the US CDC website: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

How to Change Language on Motorola Wireless Remote Speaker-Microphones

APX and MOTOTRBO Bluetooth MicWe frequently receive support requests from Motorola wireless speaker-mic users to change the language from French back to English. This is caused by accidently turning on the WRSM and holding the PTT button at the same time.

The mics affected are the RLN6554 and RLN6544 for APX series radios, RLN6562 for MOTOTRBO XPR/SL series DMR radios, and the RLN6551 long range wireless mic for vehicle applications.

Motorola Wireless Bluetooth Speaker-Mic Language Selection Instructions

 

Updated Motorola APX XE500 RSM Best Practices Training Video for Firefighters

Firefighter Mic for APX 6000, APX 8000Below is an updated training video from Motorola Solutions for firefighters using APX series 2-way radios and remote speaker-microphones. The original video “Say It Loud and Clear” was developed with help from the IAFC.

The new version includes the XE500 extreme temperature remote speaker-mics designed for firefighters in addition to the standard RSM’s with Windporting.

Best Practices Video for Clear Audio Using Motorola APX Series

New Magnum AVL UI Software Upgrade V32.01 Added 7/19/19

Magnum AVL GPS Fleet ManagementOur latest Magnum AVL web interface upgrade 32.01 offers improvements for both desktop and mobile device users. The new software download is automatic when you log-in with your desktop, tablet, or smartphone. Desktop users can check the UI version in the top right corner and mobile users will see it when they click on the “Account” button. Take note of the “Messages” link – this announcement, status updates, and other important news items are posted here.

Summary of Magnum AVL User Interface Improvements Trips, Stops, Locations, Ky Events, Map

  • New “Stops” View button with Daily Summary – click the new “Stops” button and see a condensed summary of the day for the vehicle selected. This new view captures and summarizes events in a vehicle’s trips and shows: Stops | Moves | Idles.
    • Events are now color-coded
    • Duration and distance columns added
  • Improved “Locations” View – key events have been color-coded and certain events have a duration column

There are short demo videos showing the changes posted in your “Messages” page too. Or you can watch them at the links below.

  • Link to video for desktop computer users
  • Link to video for mobile device users

Motorola Wireless Microphone FAQ’s and LED Status Indicators

Motorola RLN6544 Wireless RSMThe Motorola wireless remote speaker-mic (WRSM) is a popular accessory for APX, XTL, and XPR series hand-held and vehicle mounted two-way radios.

Paired with portable radios it provides range about 30 feet and with the PMMN4097 mobile palm mic/gateway you can roam up to 300 feet from the vehicle. There is “mission critical” for APX and a “operations critical” software version for MOTOTRBO DMR radios.

 Choose the Correct Wireless Mic for your Motorola Radio

Motorola’s model nomenclature and product tiering make it easy to purchase the wrong mic for your radio. Depending on the included charger bundle the product SKU changes slightly. Below is a summary of the configurations and their compatible radios.

Hand-held APX Series With Internal Bluetooth Enabled

APX Portable Radios

  • RLN6554 – Wireless RSM with Battery, Clip (RLN6544) and Dual Unit Charger (PMLN7120)
  • RLN6544 – Mission Critical Wireless RSM with Battery and Clip Only

These models are compatible with APX 8000, APX 7000, APX 7000XE, APX 6000, APX 6000XE, APX 4000, APX 3000, and SRX 2200.

It is important to make sure your radio has Bluetooth enabled. The blue dot means is has the internal hardware only. You also need to have the software option (free since April 2016) and your programmer has it turned ON. Notice this same mic can also be used with the PMMN4097 mobile palm mic/gateway.

MOTOTRBO XPR 7000 Series With Bluetooth EnabledDisplay and Non-Display Models

  • RLN6562 – Operations Critical Wireless Remote Speaker Microphone with Battery and Belt clip and Dual Unit Charger (PMLN7120)

This model is compatible with XPR 7350, XPR 7350e, XPR 7550, XPR 7550e, XPR 7580, and XPR 7580e with Bluetooth enabled. It may be turned OFF or disabled to save battery life. It is not compatible with XPR 6000 series or with the long range PMMN4097 mobile palm mic/gateway.

Wireless Mic for APX, XTL, and XPR Series Vehicle Mounted Radios

  • RLN6551 – Long Range Wireless Mobile Accessory Kit, includes WirelessLong Range Wireless Speaker Mic Remote Speaker Microphone (RLN6544), Mobile Microphone Bluetooth Gateway (PMMN4097), Vehicular Charger (PMLN6716)
  • RLN6552 – Same as above without vehicular charger

These models are compatible with APX 8500, APX 7500, APX 6500, APX 4500, APX 1500, XTL 5000, XPR 5350, XPR 5350e, XPR 5550, XPR 5550e, XPR 5580, XPR 5580e, XPR 4350, and XPR 4550.

Adding this wireless mic is easy – replace the palm mic with the combo mic/gateway and “touch-pair” – that’s it. APX users can use the same mic with their portable hand-held radio.

Motorola Wireless Mic Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can I use a Bluetooth adapter? No
  2. Will this work with other radio brands? No
  3. My mic started speaking the French language. How do I get it back to English? This happens when you power up the mic and press the PTT at the same time. To change languages follow the instructions in the graphic.How to change language in wireless RSM
  4. What is WRSM battery model number? PMNN4461
  5. Can I still use a receive-only earpiece? The WRSM uses the same RLN4941 or PMLN7560 earpieces as most of the the wired mics.
  6. What do the microphone LED status indicators mean? There are 2 LED lights on the microphone that provide battery level and audio availability status. Status Indicator Definitions
  7. What do the status lights on the WRSM charger mean? The graphic below shows the LED light color indicators and their meanings.Battery Status Indicators by Flashing Color
  8. Does the mic require maintenance? Yes – you should check for firmware updates for improved battery, connectivity, and audio performance especially if more than 6 months old.

Buy online these wireless remote speaker-mics and other radio accessories with low pricing and fast delivery. If you prefer, call our Dover, Delaware office during normal business hours where you will never get an automated attendant or voice mail. We can be reached at 302-734-9250 M-F 8-5pm EST.

How To Update Firmware in Motorola Wireless PTT Pods

Bluetooth Accessories Require Latest Firmware for Best PerformanceWireless Bluetooth PTT for MOTOTRBO

Motorola wireless accessories use a pod with APX, XTS, XPR, and SL 7000 series radios. The pod can be used as a stand-alone wireless push-to-talk (PTT) or power a surveillance kit, earbud, and also connect with the completely discreet earpiece. The pod has internal firmware that can be updated by the user to take advantage of the latest software release from Motorola.

The NTN2571 mission-critical secure pod includes encryption for APX and XTS models and the NNTN8127 operations-critical pod is designed for MOTOTRBO DMR XPR and SL 7000 radios. Each pod as unique firmware that should be upgraded for improved battery life and performance.

Instructions to Upgrade Firmware in Motorola Wireless Bluetooth Pods

Motorola Solutions provides a Windows application to upgrade their wireless bluetooth accessories. The Accessory Programming Software tool is a free download and supports both pods. The install guide includes easy step-by-step instructions with computer screenshots. In addition to the programming tool, you will also need to download the latest pod firmware.

  • Contact Motorola for the latest mission-critical NTN2571 software update
  • Contact Motorola for the latest operations-critical NNTN8127 software update

Motorola Accessories Compatible with Wireless PodsWireless surveillance kit with acoustic tube

The accessories below are compatible with either wireless pod. Some accessories require upgraded firmware if you have an older pod.

  • Motorola PMLN7052 Wireless Surveillance kit with acoustic tube
  • Motorola NTN2575 Replacement Earpiece with 9.5 Inch cable
  • Motorola NTN2572 Replacement Earpiece with 12 inch cable
  • Motorola NNTN8295 Wireless Earbud with 45 inch cord
  • Motorola NNTN8294 Wireless Earbud with 11.5 inch cord
  • Motorola NNTN8298 Black Headphones with in-line mic
  • Motorola NNTN8296 Wireless Covert Kit
  • Motorola PMLN7696 Completely Discreet Wireless Earpiece
  • Motorola NNTN8737 3.5mm Earbud Headset Adapter – 10 Pack

User Manuals and Quick-Start Guides

Motorola Mission-Critical Bluetooth (NTN2571)

Operations-Critical Bluetooth (NNTN8127)

Monitoring Speed with Magnum AVL GPS Tracking Improves Profitability

Magnum AVL GPS Fleet ManagementYou may have heard excessive speeding can reduce fuel economy but few of us know how much it costs. We found some useful information compiled from DOE data.

Your vehicle’s fuel mileage decreases once it exceeds optimal speed. For most vehicles, this is happens at about 55 mph. Every time you go over this speed, you’re wasting fuel and money. A slight decrease in your highway driving speed can significantly reduce your fuel consumption.

Impact on Fleet Fuel Efficiency When Exceeding 55 MPH per DOEMagnum AVL Logo Truck and Map

According to studies backed by the DOE, the average fleet vehicle will be at its advertised peak efficiency MPG at 55 mph. As speed increases you can lose up to 28% of fuel efficiency when traveling at highway speeds.

The impact for every 5 mph increase is shown below:

3% less efficient at 60 mph
8% less efficient at 65 mph
17% less efficient at 70 mph
23% less efficient at 75 mph
28% less efficient at 80 mph

Magnum AVL Speed Reporting and Alerts Provide Driver Coaching

Our Magnum AVL GPS fleet management system has two types of speed alerts. The first is a high speed alert. Set the threshold at, for example, 70 mph and if a driver exceeds that threshold you can be notified (or get a daily report of all violations).

The second alert is “posted speed” alert. Set this alert to be triggered if a driver exceeds 12 mph over ANY posted speed limit on any road. Alerts can be sent to your email or phone but you may want to have a daily or weekly report sent to you showing all violations with exact time and location.

Here are short videos explaining how to setup alerts and reports to coach your drivers. Provide recognition to those with the least violations and watch your fuel bill drop next month.

Contact Anthony at our Dover office (302-734-9250 8-5pm EST) for more information and a demonstration. Our low cost wired and plug-in trackers can be purchased, leased, or rented without a long-term contract.

Magnum AVL GPS Tracking Video Training Library

Magnum AVL GPS Fleet Management

Our new Magnum AVL Enhanced GPS Fleet and Asset Tracking provides 60 second updating at $19.95 per month. Upgraded GPS devices use the Verizon nationwide network and provide more data to manage your fleet. Our web based user interface includes new features and powerful reports. This article contains videos to learn how to use Magnum AVL.

Links To Magnum AVL Training Videos

Magnum AVL User Interface Help Videos

Fleet Management Wb Interface

After logging in to Magnum AVL fleet management, the interface shows the list of vehicles and/or assets on the left with the map on the right. There are 5 navigation buttons at the top – Dispatch, Dashboard, Reports, Data/Admin, and Alerts. The links below explain each section in detail.

Magnum AVL device pricing and all of our service plans are available for purchase at our online store. We also can help answer question or provide a demonstration by calling our Dover, Delaware office at 302-734-9250 weekdays 8-5pm EST.

Motorola Minitor VI – Buy the Intrinsically-safe Model or Not?

Motorola Minitor VI PagerWith the introduction of the Motorola Solutions Minitor VI fire pager, you now have the choice between a UL certified intrinsically-safe model or one that does not have the certification.

Intrinsically-safe electronic equipment can be used in hazardous atmospheres with dangerous concentrations of flammable gases or dust. Non-intrinsically-safe electronic devices could cause an explosion by creating a spark or excessive heat.

Minitor VI ANSI/ISA TIA 4950

Should I Order an Intrinsically-Safe Minitor VI?

Unless your fire department has a formal intrinsic safety program, you probably should save the $50 and buy the non-intrinsically-safe model. Another way to determine if you need IS is to check your radio for the FM Certification label. If your radio is not IS then your Minitor VI should not need the certification.

Rules for Ordering Mobile Computer Docks; Do I need RF Pass-Thru?

Determine If your Computer Has Any RF Antenna Connectors

Most rugged mobile computers can be ordered with 0, 1, or 2 external RF connectors. A single connector is used for cellular WAN such as Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint and the second is used for WLAN (WiFi) external antennas. The first step is to determine how many antenna ports (if any) are on your computer.

The photos below show a Panasonic CF-18 with one and two RF connectors:

Computers with RF Pass-Thru

If your computer does not have RF connectors, it will only work in a docking station that has no RF pass-through capability.

If Computer Has RF Pass-Thru Follow These Rules For Dock Purchases

Docks with Single and Dual RF Pass Thru

If your computer has RF capabilities you can use a docking station that has:

a) has no RF pass-through or

b) you must match the RF capabilities (Single or Dual) with the RF pass-through on the docking station (Single or Dual).

For example:

  • If you have a single RF computer, you can order a docking station with single RF pass-through or non-RF pass-through
  • If you have a dual RF computer, you can order a docking station with dual RF pass-through or non-RF pass-through

For more information on Panasonic, Gamber Johnson, or Havis docks call our office at 302-734-9250 M-F 8-5:00pm EST or use the form below.