NX5000 Mobiles
Hardware
DIY USB Programming Cable
The programming cable is super easy to DIY. You just need a spare USB cable and an RJ45 plug. Note that Kenwood, like Motorola, uses reverse pin numbering.
The view below is looking into the mic jack on the control head.
Analog Transmit Audio Response
Many users have noted that the analog TX audio in the NX5000 series sounds "flat", "muddy" and generally "not so good."
I analyzed all 9 valid mic types by sweeping the microphone input with a sine wave from 100 Hz to 5 kHz and running an FFT on the demodulated audio.
Tips & Tricks
If you want to interface with these radios for things such as crossband repeaters or APRS modems, see the page NX5000 Interfacing.
Software
RSSI Mapping
The following is the mapping between the RSSI signal bars and true signal level, as tested on an NX5800 running 4.51 FW.
| Antenna Icon | -116 dBm |
| 1 Bar | -111 dBm |
| 2 Bars | -95 dBm |
| 3 Bars | -80 dBm |
Bluetooth Programming
To use Bluetooth programming on the NX5000 series, you must first enable the KWD-5003BT Bluetooth Data feature. This is a paid license that can be obtained through your dealer, but is included automatically if the KCH-20R or KCH-21RM control heads are used.
Next, ensure that your codeplug has Bluetooth enabled and configured with a valid device name as shown below.
Finally, to program the radio you must configure your KPG-D1N to program via bluetooth, using the Setup → COM port menu as shown below. Find your device using the Device List popup which will search for valid Bluetooth devices in range.
Once this is all configured, you should be able to read/write the radio just like a serial cable was connected. Handy!
Boot Loops
There have been some cases of these radios getting stuck in boot loops. The radio(s) will power up, show the boot screen, and then power off. The process will repeat as long as power is applied.
Hardware Fix
If you encounter your NX5000-series mobile is bootlooping, first try re-seating the ribbon cable(s) that connect the brick to the head. This has been known to solve random boot loops in several separate cases.
Tech Notes
The following procedure comes from a tech at Kenwood:
Power on the radio(s) while holding the menu button. This should bring up the transceiver information screen. If the radio(s) come on and stay powered on this screen, you will be able to read them with KPG-D1. Once they've been read, they should reset to the default channel/zone and no longer be stuck in a bootloop.
