Motorola PR1500 ...? Did anyone else see this radio at IWCE

Crimestopper · Post by **Crimestopper** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 6:03 am

Well, I saw a new radio the other day at IWCE, as well some other off the line portables. The new PR1500 is going to be released sometime this month. It is Motorola's claim for the HT1000 replacement, and a upgrade model type of the waris professional line. It looks like a cross of a HT750 and the XTS1500, with standard convertional flavors UHF VHF, etc.. With a jedi accessory port. As it was told to me this radio is replacing the HT1000 series, and it offers some special features. I will try to order a demo, but I'm sure others will beat me to the punch. I also saw some smaller portables that seem to work on a "iden" type of technology, in the 900mhz band I believe. If anyone has any insight it would be a big help.

Thanks
Steve
Crimestopper

Cam · Post by **Cam** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 6:50 am

Is it going to be black or some ugly color like the MT1500 or XTS1500? Is it a top display?

ASTROMODAT · Post by **ASTROMODAT** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 8:39 am

It's as beautiful as a Glock!

Hoseman292 · Post by **Hoseman292** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 9:03 am

Okay... so now I'm curious but its about time! I always thought that Motorola took a step backwards in "looks" with any of the radios after the Jedi series. I'm glad they're back on the right track. Someone give up some pictures.

Thanks,
Tim

Tom in D.C. · Post by **Tom in D.C.** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 9:06 am

The data's here, but I didn't find any photos:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Mo ... gle+Search

Tony Soprano · Post by **Tony Soprano** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 9:50 am

I have the dealer product brochure for the PR860 and the PR1500 on PDF, should anyone want it. They are indeed black in color, and if they work well, will prove to be a worthy HT1000 replacement. The document also includes published performance specs.

PM me if you would like a copy.

Tony

transistor747 · Post by **transistor747** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 9:52 am

The new little "IDEN looking" radios are spread-spectrum 900MHz ISM units. I believe they have the feature-set that /\/\ started putting in IDEN recently so that units could communicte at a short distance "off-net".
The units have individual call and group call.
1 watt is the xmit spec
They are models DTR-550 and DTR-650.

Crimestopper · Post by **Crimestopper** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 5:42 pm

I know I have problem with colors (ie color blind) but I thought the radios were Gray in color....I guess dealer cost will be around $800.00 and they will come with the impress battery..

WheLeN · Post by **WheLeN** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 7:03 pm

I Like It! Look's pretty cool, can't wait to Purchase one.

Guess /\/\ finally made up it's mind on a REAL replacement for the almighty HT1000, remember when everyone was saying it was the MT 1500?

I did an fcc lookup on the fcc-id for the VHF PR1500 (AZ489FT3807
) and it came back with this:

https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/form ... or_pdf=pdf

So i guess it's the equivalent to the XTS 1500/2500 and MT 1500 physically?

Hoseman292 · Post by **Hoseman292** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 7:40 pm

Dealer cost around $800 huh? I'll take two (VHF & UHF)

Thanks for the great info.

Tim

MotoVio · Post by **MotoVio** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 8:29 pm

Tightness

Post by **akardam** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 8:46 pm

Is it just me or does the big M's trip with curvacious radios seem silly? Fuzzy things should be curvy. Radios should not. Give me my gosh darn brick, man :)

Cam · Post by **Cam** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 11:13 pm

VioLenT wrote:Tightness

Interesting, thanks for posting.

I found it strange that they would put two radios AT THE SAME TIME that have the same prefix and are build on different frames.

Any idea what the 860 is based on? Is it all new?

The battery looks a little strange on the 1500, like it is the wrong size or something.

THANK GOD THEY ARE BLACK. Why is/does Motorola making/make tan/grey/other ugly color radio? I can understand the yellow (and you can still get it in black) but what marketing study told them that off tan or grey is a good color?

MotoVio · Post by **MotoVio** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 11:32 pm

The 860 uses all the waris accesories and the 1500 uses all the jedi accesories, In this brochure I have (thx Tony Soprano) /\/\ Stresses that the PR 1500 is..
"HT1000 Compatible. Upgrading to the PR1500
will not make your customers existing equipment
obsolete.This new unit is compatible with most
HT1000 accessories."
and
"Did you know?
The majority of HT1000
accessories are backwards
compatible with the PR1500,
making it an easy transition
for current customers." rofl.

Also, they make a reference to the HT750 in the 860 Brochure:
"Durable,but not too heavy. For customers upgrading from the HT750, they’ll notice
more features, but not more weight.The combination of light weight (12.8 oz.with
impres Li-ion battery)and long battery life make the PR860 perfect for long shifts and
heavy use."

So I guess you could say the 860 was Intended to replace the HT750.. maybe? Smells like an HT750 in a new case to me.

For those of you that don't know yet, 1500 = 32 Channels, 860 = 16 Channels

Vio

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:03 am

i wonder how well they will hold up in a Rail Road envriroment

mr.syntrx · Post by **mr.syntrx** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:21 am

The XTS2500 shape is cool. I got to play with a 2500 just recently, and I've become quite fond of them.

CFDtracker · Post by **CFDtracker** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 3:28 pm

Cam22 wrote:The battery looks a little strange on the 1500, like it is the wrong size or something.

I agree.
Let me think... I know, the battery is too short.
Here, I fixed the problem...

I think I should design radios for the big M.

Cowthief · Post by **Cowthief** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:44 pm

Hello.

This all started around the time circle M and Disney got together.
First it was the FRS units.
The newer MDTs kind of look like a one ear Mickey.

MotoVio · Post by **MotoVio** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 1:11 am

lol, Here's some sorta high-res pics for those of u who requested

mr.syntrx · Post by **mr.syntrx** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 2:10 am

Any confirmed list prices?

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 3:53 am

obviously they're trying to save by using the HT750 battery as they did with the XTS2500.

Does make the radio look odd though.

In fact I'd venture to say its the XTS2500 model I housing and frame.

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 4:59 am

Very nice ! Wonder if that scalloping in the front corners is gonna make it a bit stickier. Looks like the identical control format to the HT1000. Any
mention of replacing the MT2000 with a display version of this ?

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 5:07 am

On a closer look it appears the A-B-C rotary is rotated past the 'C' position and past a popple. Is it a lock position to prevent inavertent turning of the switch ? (Knocked the A-B-C out of position on the Jedi many times).

Wes · Post by **Wes** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 7:56 am

The PR1500 looks identical to a XTS2500 Model I. IDENTICAL!!!. The XTS2500 sucks when carrying it with the belt clip because of the battery being so short (exact same size battery as the waris series) and the belt clip position being so far down the back of the radio (half way down) It causes the radio to set kinda high up on your belt thus causing the top of the radio to gouge into your side instead of being even with the top of your belt like previous models.

RadioSouth, what you are seeing is not part of the ABC concentric switch, but is actually the reference mark for the channel selector. The "handle" for the concentric switch is on the back of the channel selector. it is not visable from the front.

Wes

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 3:20 pm

Thanks Wes, the ring with the channel #'s spins and the reference indicator is fixed ?

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 3:56 pm

The XTS2500 battery and HT750/1250 are not the same battery.

One uses the XTS series charger, the other uses the HT series charger.... they will fit on either radio, but one will not charge attatched to the wrong radio.

I have an XTS2500 and use an HT1250 standard capacity battery with it all the time, it does a good job.

-Josh

Wes · Post by **Wes** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 6:43 pm

RadioSouth,

yesthat is correct. The ring with the channel numbers is made to the selector knob and it spins.....

Wes

GP-38 · Post by **GP-38** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 12:02 am

[null]

Mon Apr 18, 2005 3:17 am

One of the main reasons for the curvacious design is for drop durability. If you were to drop a radio with hard, square corners and one with rounded corners, guess which one is more likely to break. I'm sure the "good looks" theory falls into place somewhere in /\/\'s eyes, but I wouls suspect it has more to do with the above.

craig · Post by **craig** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 4:39 am

Does anyone know if the RF is accessable through the side connector like the jedi series, or will we still be using the RF adapters on the antenna jack for public safety mics and convertacoms?

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 5:01 am

I for one sure hope its back on the side connector where it belongs or if not at least use the XTS style adapter.

The waris line with the mx/BNC adapter kluge is a joke.

Cam · Post by **Cam** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 8:07 am

It is in the side connector.

Wes · Post by **Wes** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 10:26 am

Can't speak for the new PR series , but on the XTS2500 radio which is on this same chassis, the RF connection IS NOT on the side connector.

Wes

MotoVio · Post by **MotoVio** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 1:09 pm

Wes wrote:Can't speak for the new PR series , but on the XTS2500 radio which is on this same chassis, the RF connection IS NOT on the side connector.

Ain't that a b1tch... no wonder they only listed the 6191/6193 jedi mics and that new Emergency RSM on the accessories list, this walkie was made to replace the HT1000 but it doesn't have a PSM?

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 2:15 pm

I would think that if the Jedi mics fit then an XTS PS mic will fit using the RF adapter on the radio.

The physical relationship between the housing and mic connectors would have to be the same if they have resused the design.

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 2:52 pm

With 'M' doing it who knows ? They might have a similar model for another couple hundred targeted for sales to PS that will take the PSM. Heck if you wanted the priveledge of buying a PSM for your HT1000 you were stuck popping for a 16 ch. unit.

craig · Post by **craig** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 7:43 pm

While we are on the topic, why in the world did Motorola stop putting the RF on the side connector anyway? Maybe some of you techs out there can answer this, as I am just a technically savy cop and not a technician. I know that on some occasion, the rf switches in the sabers would go bad. Hence the reason for going to a physical switch on the side of the jedi series instead of an electronic switch as in the Saber series. Did the jedi design not hold up as well? I have owned at least six jedi series radios, JT1000s, and MT2000s as well as been around hundreds of jedi radios in general and never have I experienced, or observed anyone else experience an RF switch failure. So what gives?

I can't stand the waris line's excuse for a PSM and the XTS radios, though better designed than the waris line, are very expensive and more complicated for the end user than the jedi series ever was. I'm looking at this from the stand point of an end user who wants to be able to connect and disconnect my PSM within seconds and go. It is annoying to have to remove the radio's antenna, screw an adapter into the antenna port and then fight a PSM onto the radio and reverse order to disconnect the PSM. I loved the MT2000s for this reason. Leave your radio antenna on, click on or off your PSM as you see fit and go. No extra parts, that retail a $140, to carry around. Why mess with such a good thing?

Post by **HumHead** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 8:52 pm

Motorola probably stopped and thought about what percentage of their users actually used external RF accessories for their radios.

You can bet that the RF switching and RF on the side connector add a meaningful amount to the production cost (When you're doing large scale production, meaningful is counted in fractions of cents). From a manufacturing perspective it doesn't make much sense to spend money building in a feature that you can't charge more for and that a large percentage of your customers will never use.

By selling the kludged arrangement that they seem to be adopting, they save un-recoupable manufacturing cost on every unit produced, and make extra revenue from the users who want to add the feature.

It's all $$$$

MotoVio · Post by **MotoVio** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 11:11 pm

Does anyone think the PR1500 might use the NMN6247A PSM / NTN8327B RF Adapter Combination from the XTS Series?

According to /\/\
The PR1500™ Standard Package Includes

NiCD 1525 mAh, 7.5V Battery
Single Unit Universal Rapid Charger
VHF or UHF Antenna
2.25” Belt Clip
Remote Speaker Microphone Adapter
Accessory Connector Dust Cover
User’s Guide CD
Two Year Standard Warranty

What's the RSM Adapter for?

KB2ZTX · Post by **KB2ZTX** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 4:48 am

I heard them say at the Motorola class that the PR1500 will use the same battery charger and speaker mic's as the ht1000. Seem they tried to make this unit backwards compatible.....strange...

Wes · Post by **Wes** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:53 am

Since this is the same chassis as the XTS2500, I would assume the speaker mic adapter is the same as the one that comes with that radio.

What it is is a piece of plastic that snaps onto the back of the radio right above the battery that helps support the speaker mic when it is attached to the radio. I'll try to snap a pic of my XTS2500 to illustrate what this is.....

Wes

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 4:21 pm

I've been told the switch was due to better rf performance out of the antenna connector when compared to the side connectors. No longer using a mechanical switch (jedi) or voltage sense (saber) does make sense as its one less thing to fail.

Again, if the jedi/xts 6193 speaker mics fits then a xts PS mic with the antenna adapter should work.

Doesn't someone have a 2500 sitting around along with a 3000/3500/5000 PS mic?

When I first switched to the xts I thought I wasn't going to like the PS mic adapter setup. I was used to the Jedi or Saber radios using PS mics with the rubber cap for the antenna or the saber hex bolt.

After nearly 2 years using my PS mic daily on the XTS I don't have any issues with it. The connection is strong, in fact I think it actually improves the strength of the accessory connector.

The waris line PS mic is a joke. While they work fine the appearance is too cheesy. You look like an idiot wearing it. Doesn't help that its physically huge, bumps into things and is easily damaged.

Its my understanding the PS mic was offered as a well after the fact option. Maybe they shouldn't have offered it to begin with!

I for one welcome the new 1500 series portables. They look like worthy HT1000 replacement, just as it was a worthy replacemetn of the MT1000.

Nexrad16 · Post by **Nexrad16** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:59 pm

I think Kenwood and M have the same designer. TK-5210 looks like a M radio.

Crimestopper · Post by **Crimestopper** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:30 pm

I saw the new style public safety mic's for the 1500 and the other series as well. The rep at the show was clueless as to when the mic will be open to the market but my guess is around 3-6 months. The new public safety mics look nice, and they are for the Jedi platform as well as the waris platform. Granted they only work on the appropiate radios they look nice....

Steve
Crimestopper

roadhawg00 · Post by **roadhawg00** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:47 am

Anything is better than these ps and i mean ps waris mics who designed them they same people that design urban freeway connectors? On our 750/1250 we have had trouble with the wire where it goes through that rubber piece at the connector, after so many bends that shorts out. We have had to scrape away pieces of that black tape covering the side connector attachment, cause sometimes the tx or rx want work. There is not a good pin to radio connection. Does anybody know what rss the new one will use, let me guess another high price package that will get 6 or 7 updates, huh? My guys hate them and wanted their 1000's back, yes cops that didn't want new goodies.Course i guess i miss those big block days myself and would trade my 4.6L any day for my old 460 or 383.

craig · Post by **craig** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 2:05 pm

Crimestopper wrote:I saw the new style public safety mic's for the 1500 and the other series as well. The rep at the show was clueless as to when the mic will be open to the market but my guess is around 3-6 months. The new public safety mics look nice, and they are for the Jedi platform as well as the waris platform. Granted they only work on the appropiate radios they look nice....

Steve
Crimestopper

Any pictures of the new mics? I have been waiting every bit of two years for /\/\ to release the new PSMs for the waris line. How do they adapt the RF into the mic on the new version? Obviously with an adapter, but what does it look like?

MotoVio · Post by **MotoVio** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 2:08 pm

apco25 wrote:I for one sure hope its back on the side connector where it belongs or if not at least use the XTS style adapter.

The waris line with the mx/BNC adapter kluge is a joke.

apco25 wrote:The waris line PS mic is a joke. While they work fine the appearance is too cheesy. You look like an idiot wearing it. Doesn't help that its physically huge, bumps into things and is easily damaged.

roadhawg00 wrote:Anything is better than these ps and i mean ps waris mics who designed them they same people that design urban freeway connectors? On our 750/1250 we have had trouble with the wire where it goes through that rubber piece at the connector, after so many bends that shorts out. We have had to scrape away pieces of that black tape covering the side connector attachment, cause sometimes the tx or rx want work. There is not a good pin to radio connection.

I agree, the PD in my old hometown switched from HT1000's/HT600's to all HT1550'S with PSM's recently and they all.. (for lack of a better word) suck. A good percentage of the officers detached the PSM and just use the radio by itself cause of the crappy Public Safety Speaker Mic, they said they would much rather have stayed with the HT1000.

The PR1500 uses the same CPS at the Astro 25 Portable's

RVN4181P - Astro 25 Portable CPS R05.00.00 [XTS 2500/5000 SSE5000 XTS1500 MT1500 PR1500]
List Price: $265.00

The PR860 uses it's own CPS

RVN5022A - PR860 CPS R01.01 TUNER R02.12.00
List Price: $99.00

MotoVio · Post by **MotoVio** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 2:14 pm

I almost forgot, Is that the MIC next to the (V) on the PR1500? Cause if it is all i can say is.. wtf? I couldn't picture myself getting used to talking into the top-left of the radio.

Crimestopper · Post by **Crimestopper** » Sun May 01, 2005 9:35 pm

I will try to get some info on the PSM's. The new waris style got rid of the "CLAW" attachment, and it looks like a big improvement and the Jedi, had a spring flap for the antenna port. ... I will try to keep you up to date on the product...

Steve
Crimestopper

N4KVE · Post by **N4KVE** » Mon May 02, 2005 5:04 am

Hello all. I live in Ft. Lauderdale & a buddy of mine used to work at M in Plantation a few years ago. His position for a few months was only to fix or replace the relay that switches RF to the mike on a JEDI. Seems they broke enough in the field to keep him busy for a while. Later they gave him B7 JEDI'S, UHF & VHF, with components & instructions to convert them to JT 1000's. He also peeled off the orig serial # decal & attached the JT 1000 decal. This is how the 1st JT's were built- as a convert. Hope this helps. 73'S TO ALL. GARY N4KVE.

Motorola PR1500 ...? Did anyone else see this radio at IWCE

Motorola PR1500 ...? Did anyone else see this radio at IWCE

PR1500, etc.

Disney radios.

PSM`

HT replacement

JEDI PS SWITCH.