Motorola Oddballs through the years

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 4:41 pm

This is the heavy duty railroad VHF loop antenna. Standard on many RR portables.

[quote=
HT200 with odd antenna

[/quote]

techie · Post by **techie** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 1:33 am

Those red ht220's look like the prison alarm units.. no speaker, no ptt button, just a alarm button and a red led on top (shielded to be visible only from above)

RADIOMAN2002 · Post by **RADIOMAN2002** » Fri Jan 01, 2010 9:37 am

Maybe not blue but HT-1250 housings are available in red.

n3eg · Post by **n3eg** » Sun Jan 10, 2010 4:41 pm

Somewhere I have a picture of a red Minitor 3 that was left out in the sun and turned PINK!

firefighter105 · Post by **firefighter105** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:50 am

wavetar wrote:Ooooh, I likey the clear MTS!

I am in the same opinion then

wazzzzzzzzup · Post by **wazzzzzzzzup** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:29 am

MOCOM70 scrambling voice privacy adapter from 70s. im guessing these were before the DVP systems.

data radio from the 80s

any idea when motorola changed from the cursive style logo to the modern logo?

Tom in D.C. · Post by **Tom in D.C.** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:53 am

What's that red control head and old mic from, a 41V maybe?

KX5MOT · Post by **KX5MOT** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 5:21 pm

Here are a few of the clear SP50 i have

radioinstl · Post by **radioinstl** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 3:25 pm

wazzzzzzzzup wrote:
any idea when motorola changed from the cursive style logo to the modern logo?

Motorola went by Galvin MFG Corporation from 1928-1947
They started using the Motorola script (the one with the lighting bolt crossing the t) on their products in 1930 and used that till 1947
They then used a more rolling script from 1941-1955
Next was a very cursive script from 1949-1950
They used a block print from 1947-1955
The more modern Motorola with batwings was from 1955-1967
Then they put the batwings in a circle from 1967-2000
From 2001- current the use the modern Motorola with a green circle with the bat wings in it.

I have pictures of all of them from the Motorola if someone wants to host them and put them here I can email them,

wazzzzzzzzup · Post by **wazzzzzzzzup** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:49 pm

upload them to www.imageshack.com its free, its where i uploaded all the cool radio pics from, lookin the first 10-20 posts in this thread, it will tell you how. very easy. i would definitely like to see all the different logos/ be sure to cut and paste the forum links, not the forum thumbnails.

wazz

Post by **913** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 5:43 am

Here's a fairly rare Motorola Radius CP50. Uses SP50 accessories, FPP, 20 channels. Pretty cool rigs.

wazzzzzzzzup · Post by **wazzzzzzzzup** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:19 am

how bout a SP version top plate for a HT220 12 position TX and RX selectable freqs. i wonder what this was used for? usually repeaters have a set input.

Motorola Sensar pager

or a uhf 408Mhz portable repeater

d119 · Post by **d119** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:48 am

wazzzzzzzzup wrote: or an APCOR uhf 408Mhz portable repeater

I don't think that's an APCOR device. It's just an MX-based suitcase repeater. APCOR (Advanced Portable Coronary Observation Radio) sets were generally white, had an integrated handset and ECG lead inputs.

Bill_G · Post by **Bill_G** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:09 pm

Yep. That's a portable rptr, not an apcor. The 12 freq escutcheon with separate tx/rx select might be for railroad since districts tend to have a fixed set of freqs common to all carriers, but they'll mix and match the gozintas and gozouttas for their specific rptr pairs without stepping on each other primary areas.

wazzzzzzzzup · Post by **wazzzzzzzzup** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:19 pm

thanks, i fixed it, apparently the guy on ebay is mis informed as well.

FireCpt809 · Post by **FireCpt809** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 1:37 pm

The 12 freq HT220 might have been an aftermarket mod. In the late 70's there used to be a guy in the burbs of Chicago called S.P. Electronics that did some aftermarket mods to HT220's and MT500's Factory SP products woudnt have another companies name on the top.

Here is one made by Boca Bob...

http://www.theportableclinic.com/index. ... 7&Itemid=9

RFguy · Post by **RFguy** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:54 pm

I have a Motorola Mocat 40 in my collection. Looks similar to this one.

Tom in D.C. · Post by **Tom in D.C.** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 4:18 pm

About that 12RX/12TX HT220, in the early days of amateur repeaters there was no strict rule about TX/RX offsets. The 600 kHz offset was common on 34/94, but the common offset was 540 kHz for 22/76, and the offset for the most popular NYC VHF repeater at one time was 1 mHz (147.73 in, 146.73 out). So, as you went from place to place you actually needed to be able to select your offset and the setup on this HT220 was one of the ways it was done because all the radios were crystal controlled. My first ham VHF FM radio was a Galaxy that had 3 transmit positions and 3 separate receive positions, all crystal controlled. In addition, each crystal had its own air trimmer capacitor which made it virtually impossible to keep the radio on frequency because the settings changed when you put the metal case back on the radio. Thinking back about those radios compared to what we consider common today makes me realize how far we've come with electronics.

KB1JHU · Post by **KB1JHU** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 3:12 pm

Saw the pic on the first page of the megaphone and I just came across this pic from my days in the Cub Scouts (late 80's).

It's tough to see, but there's a cop in the background with a moto on his belt as well.

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:06 pm

the mocat is not too odd

wb0qqk · Post by **wb0qqk** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:27 pm

KitN1MCC wrote:the mocat is not too odd

Certain models were unique and seem to be collectible according to the prices they sell for on eBay.

One such version was the Model 4009 - designed for law enforcement in the late 70's. It had two separate
receivers - one specifically crystalled for CB Ch. 9 which had it's own squelch control. When the Ch. 9 switch
was on, any emergency traffic would override the other channel selected by the rotary switch.

Troopers would listen to the truckers on Ch. 19 and if someone called on Ch. 9, the second receiver would
switch over automatically. It also had "Extender" which is Motorola's trademark name for a noise blanker.

FireCpt809 · Post by **FireCpt809** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:47 pm

KB1JHU wrote:It's tough to see, but there's a cop in the background with a moto on his belt as well.

An MT500 I saw one in service the other day still. UHF Tband.

jhooten · Post by **jhooten** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 5:40 am

techie wrote:Those red ht220's look like the prison alarm units.. no speaker, no ptt button, just a alarm button and a red led on top (shielded to be visible only from above)

AHHHHHH...... the good old days.
Yes they are. Spent a few days walking the housing unit with two radio pouches. One for the slim line HT220 alarm transmitter and one for the MT500 two channel two way. Then we went to HT1000s with MDC for the alarm function which meant one radio could be the alarm transmitter and two way.

wb0qqk · Post by **wb0qqk** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 7:39 am

Motorola HT220 (Model N1200A) VHF surveillance transceiver on 154.800 mHz.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 4:43 pm

This is my pick for the #1 oddball /\/\ product. Vehicle mounted gasoline powered car heater!!

The top pic is an ad for the radio from 1948 I found on the web. Bottom two are a pic of the unit I have in my collection. Still looking for a control head for it.

wb0qqk · Post by **wb0qqk** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 5:51 pm

I never knew Motorola made a gas heater. I'd seen Stewart-Warner models, but not Motorola.

A buddy of mine had a Eberspacher gas-fired heater in a 1972 Volkswagon. The mileage took
a dive when it was on, but that thing could really heat up the passenger compartment.

wazzzzzzzzup · Post by **wazzzzzzzzup** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 6:35 pm

how did they isolate the carbon monoxide fumes from the combustion so that the people in the car wouldn't be breathing in the fumes?

wb0qqk · Post by **wb0qqk** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 2:46 am

The VW unit was mounted in the trunk and had an exhaust pipe.
No carbon monoxide or fumes entered the passenger compartment.
I don't know how the Motorola unit worked that.

boomboy64 · Post by **boomboy64** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:46 am

wb0qqk wrote:A buddy of mine had a Eberspacher gas-fired heater in a 1972 Volkswagon.

I used to have one of those for pre-heating my airplane engine in the wintertime. It was installed in an old toolbox with a quart can of gas and a motorcycle battery. Very portable. Had a flex duct that would blow the air right into the engine and you could carry it right out to the airplane.

Oh yeah, gotta include at least one radio-related thing to make it relevant... I also had a HT-220 wired to an external antenna and used to hit repeaters at obscene distances from 5000 ft.

Cheers,

RADIOMAN2002 · Post by **RADIOMAN2002** » Thu Mar 11, 2010 5:15 am

If you want to include weird antenna's how about the guy wires from a 2,500 ft TV tower. Hit a ham machine nearly 250 mi away with a HT220.

mikegilbert · Post by **mikegilbert** » Fri Mar 12, 2010 11:30 am

How about the white Sabers from Jurrasic Park

Also the elusive limited-release Babyphat HOT5000

WCHija · Post by **WCHija** » Fri Mar 12, 2010 11:57 am

Can we get a new forum for the babyphat mod?

SlimBob · Post by **SlimBob** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:37 pm

mikegilbert wrote:How about the white Sabers from Jurrasic Park

SRSLY. This that a painted case or were those custom packed in LA?

MTS2000des · Post by **MTS2000des** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:53 am

those had to be painted, or some kind of prop mock-ups.

Bill_G · Post by **Bill_G** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 4:40 am

At least they knew how to talk into the front of the radio. How many times have I seen someone talk into the portable belt clip or palm mic hangup button?

smokeybehr · Post by **smokeybehr** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 6:42 pm

Bill_G wrote:At least they knew how to talk into the front of the radio. How many times have I seen someone talk into the portable belt clip or palm mic hangup button?

I get so sick of seeing HT's used like a phone, with the speaker up to the ear, talking into the bottom of the battery.

N6LAU · Post by **N6LAU** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 8:10 pm

Great... Now my wife wants a Babyphat Hot5000!

dfc2 · Post by **dfc2** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 12:07 pm

LOL...look very close... It's been messed with MS Paint..... Look at terh edges of the case real close. you can see the lines where the painted using a paint program of some sort.

DFC2

com501 · Post by **com501** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:18 pm

913 wrote:Here's a fairly rare Motorola Radius CP50. Uses SP50 accessories, FPP, 20 channels. Pretty cool rigs.

That's a GP68, not FCC type accepted, but Bearcom used to sell them!

OK, its NOT a GP68, but Bearcom DID sell GP68's!!

Post by **Mfire39** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 2:47 pm

com501 wrote:
913 wrote:Here's a fairly rare Motorola Radius CP50. Uses SP50 accessories, FPP, 20 channels. Pretty cool rigs.

That's a GP68, not FCC type accepted, but Bearcom used to sell them!

Doesn't look like a GP68 to me..

-Marc

resqguy911 · Post by **resqguy911** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:14 pm

Mfire39 wrote: Doesn't look like a GP68 to me..
-Marc

Me either..

com501 · Post by **com501** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:39 pm

Yeah, you are right. I had to go and look at it. I threw that piece of junk away years ago. Pretty sure I had a CP50 at one time, too. Also a piece of junk.

mikegilbert · Post by **mikegilbert** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 4:29 pm

dfc2 wrote:LOL...look very close... It's been messed with MS Paint..... Look at terh edges of the case real close. you can see the lines where the painted using a paint program of some sort.
DFC2

I thought the

would have been obvious enough. I shifted the hue on the yellow case in photoshop. Also took a stab at painting an XTS5000 case a few years ago. Used Krylon Fusion plastic paint- with decent results.

http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.p ... 62&start=0

4n6inv · Post by **4n6inv** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 4:20 pm

It would be cool as grits if it just sat on a desk or something. The paint job would last me all of about a day - at best before something relatively innert scratched it off and I was stuck with a thin black line on my "cool new white radio". In a month, it would look like hell - just from casual use - unless the Krylon is some super-duper ass-kicking paint.

mikegilbert · Post by **mikegilbert** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 3:32 pm

How about the PFD3000. An 800mhz Smartzone radio packaged in a brick phone housing.

http://www.connectel-cz.com/LMPS/RNSG/p ... fd3000.htm

motorola_otaku · Post by **motorola_otaku** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 6:06 pm

Cool, now I have another favorite search term for eBay.

I seem to recall the logic section of an early-90s vintage DynaTAC resembling a Spectra, so it's not too surprising that they'd make a full-duplex trunking radio version a la the CoveragePLUS Maxtracs.

mikegilbert · Post by **mikegilbert** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 6:55 pm

I remember those! They had a regular handset that resembled a Motorola bag phone.

**edit**

Found a user manual on ebay. Definitely another odd one.

com501 · Post by **com501** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 11:31 am

I still have one, also the 6000 version IMTS unit that was IMTS VHF and cellular in one package...

chrismoll12 · Post by **chrismoll12** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 1:08 pm

These here are the only handie talkie units you'll ever need! HT-200's! Both are lowband that was used at an airport
HT-200 is H21DCN-1100A
The Handie-Talkie FM Radiophone H21DCN-1100AW
Anyone know whats up with the difference in appearance and model numbers?

MT2000 man · Post by **MT2000 man** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 7:14 pm

I think those HT200 antennas need to be a little taller in that first picture lol