XTS2500 ? for Firefighting

cfdeng3 · Post by **cfdeng3** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 5:50 pm

Well I have done a lot of searching on this forum and need some advice. We are going to buy new portables for all of our firefighters. Currently we use HT1250's. At a recent fire 4 portables died due to water damage including mine. That is 6 we have lost in the last year which is 1/4 of our portables.

We used to use the HT1000 and Mt2000 which were GREAT.

Ok so now I am looking at the XTS2500 or similar. Can anyone offer advice on how they like these radios or offer some better choices? Are any of you using them in the fire service?

We are operating on 460.xxx UHF

Thanks for your help!

Bruce1807 · Post by **Bruce1807** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 6:35 pm

You can now buy a ruggadized version
We just upgraded our fireman to these in the 1.5 version and I have had no complaints

mr.syntrx · Post by **mr.syntrx** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 6:40 pm

Take a look at the XTS 2500I, which is a water resistant version of the 2500.

I don't think the standard version would be much better than the 1250 as far as water resistance is concerned.

cfdeng3 · Post by **cfdeng3** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 11:10 am

Does anyone know the pricing for the waterproof version? Does that jack up the price huge?

Thanks

Bruce1807 · Post by **Bruce1807** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 3:41 pm

about $250 more and about $25 extra if you want it in yellow

Rod Farva · Post by **Rod Farva** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 4:44 pm

I prefer an XTS5000R to me the XTS2500 is great for office staph but I would not put my life on the line with a XTS2500, Go with a XTS5000R you will not be dissapointed. The XTS series are an above price book item, have your department talk to a bigger agency and place an order thru them you will save a bunch of money, get a better radio and not get shafted by the Motorola rep that will grease your behind and take you for all your worth.....

Bruce1807 · Post by **Bruce1807** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 6:41 pm

The XTS5000R has better water immersion specifications by being a little deeper and a about twice as long submerged as a 2500R

However personally I see no relability issues between a 2500R and a 5000R and I'm a little curious on Rod's reasoning behind his comments.
If he is coparing a 5000 R against a 2500 (no R) then it's a no brainer but if you compare the 5000R against a 2500R I see little problem and would have no problem putting mine or someone elses life on the line with one.
The 2500R has some advantages in that is lighter and smaller and comes in a 1.5 version

Post by Pj » Sun Aug 20, 2006 6:51 pm

If used with a good quaility case that properly covers the radio, either should work.

We bought some really good leather wrap around cases for our 1250's and 750s and yet to lose one to water. However, I can't find the same cases anywhere for my personal radio.