The New Motorola Depot

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:08 pm

Monkey? I don't see it!

Bob W · Post by **Bob W** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:15 pm

Look at the back of the 1/4K cabinet. Now look to the right of it. There's a guy and girl standing there. Now look at the blue table towards the shipping department. There's a computer, the Monkey, a guy in a white jacket, and a second guy with a brown shirt.

RFguy · Post by **RFguy** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:57 pm

The big axe is out in Canada. A number of people were let go this week.
The new word is "broadband". Axing a lot of radio people and re-hiring "computer" people as most future buisiness will be "broadband".

Bruce1807 · Post by **Bruce1807** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:50 am

You can tell it's not a home other wise the "guys about to duke it out" would have pulled their sidearms by now.

Johnny Galaga · Post by **Johnny Galaga** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:53 am

How about a little zoom-in action.

kc7gr · Post by **kc7gr** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 10:10 am

Bob W wrote:I took a really close look at the picture, and found some interesting stuff:

<Snippety>

Re: What looks like a 1/4KW station cabinet: After taking a close look of my own, I'm not even convinced that's what it is. Take a look at the sides of the thing again -- it looks like they're detachable. Unless Moto made some major changes in the design of their 1/4K cabs, that thing looks more like a DEC (Digital Equipment Corp.) rack, of the type that used to house MicroVAXen and MicroPDP11 systems.

It -might- be an automated test rack of some sort (note the dense amount of cabling coming out near the bottom), but I'd be stunned if the El Paxico "depot" even had such.

As for the monkey: It's common practice to have such critters as pets in that part of the world. There's an awful lot of them Down There, thanks to the presence of nearby jungle.

That doesn't surprise me nearly as much as the presence of whaqt may be a Tequila bottle. That alone speaks of a work environment that doesn't care what state of sobriety its inhabitants are in.

What a sad, sad scene... I dread what may happen to the next Astro radio we end up needing to send in for service. Thank God we're slowly getting rid of the things at $DAYJOB.

Keep the peace(es).

KK5FM · Post by **KK5FM** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:04 am

[quote]As for the monkey: It's common practice to have such critters as pets in that part of the world. There's an awful lot of them Down There, thanks to the presence of nearby jungle. [/quote]
A lot of us have pets, but I don't bring them to work, and I don't let them *do* my work for me. With all of the comments in this topic, I'm wondering if the monkey is in charge... :lol:

Post by **Wowbagger** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:16 pm

I cannot tell for sure from the picture, but that "monkey" looks to me like a dual-eyepiece microscope, like one might have for examining SMT parts for possible failures.

ScannerDan · Post by **ScannerDan** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:10 pm

I'll tell ya one thing though them peps need to go on a serious diet.

Rayjk110 · Post by **Rayjk110** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 8:24 pm

mr.syntrx wrote:"Look at this weirdo gringo UHF flashcode, amigo. It's all good, I send him a good one on 800 instead."

Hello, new hamsexy sig line!

wb0qqk · Post by **wb0qqk** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 12:22 am

Paul V. Galvin must be rolling in his grave.

Dan562 · Post by **Dan562** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:39 am

wb0qqk wrote:

Paul V. Galvin must be rolling in his grave.

Possibly at hyper-speed.

Post by **xmo** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 12:19 pm

"Hey, xmo, can you zoom in on that?"

Sure.

"Can you brighten that up?"

Sure.

"Can you sharpen the image?"

Sure.

Hey - maybe I can get a job with CSI!

Post by **alex** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 12:49 pm

Why don't you just post the hires version if it's avaliable

Maybe a contest to see who can pick out the most stuff?

-Alex

Post by **xmo** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:37 pm

OK - Here you go.

And the outside:

RESCUE161 · Post by **RESCUE161** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:30 pm

I still don't see a monkey.

Can someone circle it for me? My brain is fried.

wb0qqk · Post by **wb0qqk** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:33 pm

I still don't see a monkey.

That's because he's still in Schaumberg.

Post by **alex** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:16 pm

It's almost dead center of the photo.

Look at the ceiling, find the lone security camera. there's a set of wires that run behind it, but use them as a reference line all the way down. To the left, look at that C shaped cubicle setup with the person in the green shirt (I think the only one in the green).

Depending on how you look @ it, it looks like a monkey

-Alex

JAYMZ · Post by **JAYMZ** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:44 pm

It looks like a stuffed animal.

Someone bwought dier binky to work...

Bruce1807 · Post by **Bruce1807** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 5:34 pm

That would be the child labourer in green, The blond hair means probably kidnaped from up north

Bob W · Post by **Bob W** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:08 pm

Well, with the hi-rez version, you can tell that the "monkey" isn't. But, I found something scarier.... What I thought was a 1/4K cabinet, behind the "monkey", and others said was a DEC, etc. machine has a crapload of cables coming out the bottom back of it, and it is actually being cooled by one of those large, three foot cooling fans.

nonpulse · Post by **nonpulse** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 8:13 pm

Bob W wrote: What I thought was a 1/4K cabinet, behind the "monkey", and others said was a DEC, etc. machine has a crapload of cables coming out the bottom back of it, and it is actually being cooled by one of those large, three foot cooling fans.

It's the Batboard server !

bernie · Post by **bernie** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:48 pm

My two bits worth:

I have seen some posts here from old friends from my Motorola days.
After 24 years I also got the boot. I saw it coming.

Eleven years later I think that it is the best thing that could have happned.
My sympathies for those that depend on Motorola for a living.

I have observed that companys, even countrys seem to develop much as a person, infancy, youth, young adult hood, adult, senior citizen, then seniality.

If Motorola was a person, its relatives would be looking for a nursing home.

At one time there was a rumor that Siemens was interested in Motorola two way department. I understand that this was more than a rumor, only if...

There is life after Motorola.

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:07 pm

Damn, you guys just had to spoil it, i was having a good laugh at what looked exactly like a monkey with his head above the top shelf to the right of the computer case, and then you had to post the zoomed in and tweaked versions of the picture.

It sure looked like a monkey's face as if he was looking at the camera when the picture was taken..

If that blue bottle is Tequila then i want to work there.. Nothing like a top shelf shot of Blue Agave to keep you going on the next crap radio that comes in.. LOL

n7maq · Post by **n7maq** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:33 pm

One more BS thing, they don’t log the radio in till they start to work on it. I use to be able to send a unit in, and I could see it on my MOL account under repair status by noon the next day. Well last week I sent in 2 Jedi units under an SRN. They shipped out on the 16th. On the 17th I saw no work tickets yet. We sent in several Miniotr IV, and V’s on the 17th. The pagers did get tickets opened for them by mid afternoon of the 18th, but still no MTS2000’s. Same thing on the 21st so I called and opened a case. The person who I was talking with actually told me that she has been getting nothing but complaints. I was kind of surprised with her candor, and her very obvious displease with the MexiDepot supreme. She was very good to talk to, she did not try to give me the usual BS. When I called back two days later to get a status, I was told by a very arrogant rep “they should not have even opened a case for you” and that they have a very large backlog at the new depot, so it will be more than 5 days. I just saw last week on MOL that the repair time was 5 days, now they can not tell me.

The radios showed up today on the repair status window. Now remember both units have a SRN. This SRN does cover the repair cost. When I looked at the work tickets, one shows under repair charge type “Motorola Products Group”, and the other one is listed as T&M. I feel this may be a pain in the tail.

Just a side note, I have had a “stuffed” monkey on my bench for a few years. I came back from vacation one year, and they had him doing my job. He has been hanging around the bench ever since.

bellersley · Post by **bellersley** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 1:57 pm

This is just disgusting.

Sorry, but I don't think I would be able to sit easy knowing that a radio I shelled out some serious money for is being "repaired" by a bunch of people south of the border. I do believe they are capable of quality repairs as a person, it's just normal for someone to want to do their job well. But, it's the corporate attitude that scares me. If these people are being told that "good enough" is well...good enough...that's a very sad state of affairs.

And the thought of a radio coming back as something it wasn't sent in as? That's total BS. If I sent in an Astro Spectra W9 with whatever flash code and host/DSP, I'd expect it to come back with EXACTLY what it went in with. Not everyone can wait 6 months to get the situation resolved. What about a small fire department that only has a dozen radios? Having one in the shop for months could take a signifigant resource away.

The only thing keeping me from getting rid of Motorola is they offer certain things that nobody else does (IE, VHF and 800 SmartZone). If I didn't have the need for trunking, I would have said my good byes to Motorola a long time ago. Ericsson's radios (from my experience anyway) are every bit as durable, easy to program and are capable of a hell of a lot more features.

I'd love to see someone buy out Motorola's 2-way division, a company that actually cares about it's reputation such as Kenwood or Icom.

Johnny Galaga · Post by **Johnny Galaga** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 2:45 pm

That's cool, xmo. So how do you zoom in like that but still keep the image nice and sharp?

mr.syntrx · Post by **mr.syntrx** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 5:45 pm

By using the original hi-res version

Johnny Galaga · Post by **Johnny Galaga** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 6:20 pm

So how did Alex know there was a high resolution version ?

You see that lady on the lower right side sitting at the computer........is she wearing short shorts ?

And, xmo, where did you get the photos from, if you don't mind my asking.

Bob W · Post by **Bob W** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 9:25 pm

Lab coat, no shorts. Everyone knows that radios don't work if there's shorts.

Even with the higher resolution, one thing remains... The two guys that are gonna duke it out. The guy in the back has his hand up. There's even a guy off to the right that's gonna watch - white shirt, jeans....

What's up with all the blue signs of alot of the benches? Is that how they know what they are supposed to be doing?

nh7cy · Post by **nh7cy** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:42 pm

so is there a spanish version of rss/cps out now that we dont know about?

AEC · Post by **AEC** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 11:36 pm

I can see the tags now...

Made in Mexico, with mexican and foreign components..

Box printed in the U.S.A

Packaged in Mexico

This carton is made from recycled mexican paper in the U.S.A

Made with pride in Mexico.

On a side note...

How about THIS printed on YOUR radio's label:

I have YOUR job now.

And friends wonder why I don't buy 'new' Circle-M radios *laugh*

Bob W · Post by **Bob W** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 5:26 am

nh7cy wrote:so is there a spanish version of rss/cps out now that we dont know about?

Yup. It's Ma M's response to lab/depot versions getting out. They've reduced the audience that can use it if it does get out.

ScannerDan · Post by **ScannerDan** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:20 am

Bob W wrote:
nh7cy wrote:so is there a Spanish version of rss/cps out now that we dont know about

Yup. It's Ma M's response to lab/depot versions getting out. They've reduced the audience that can use it if it does get out.

Reducing the Audience??? I think not. They may reduce the audience with the English version.

bellersley · Post by **bellersley** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 1:34 pm

Seeing that pic, I can't help but think of the Mexican version of Where's Waldo - Where's Juan?

Post by **batdude** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 3:47 pm

Bob W · Post by **Bob W** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 4:16 pm

It's even better when you translate back to english:

"Voy a golpear su asno con el pie si usted fija realmente radios antes de enviarlas a los gringos" =

I am going to strike its ass with the foot if you really fix radios before sending them to the gringos

"Consiga robar cogido y esta de nuevo a la granja!" =

Be able to rob again taken and this to the farm!

"los gringos mudos no saben la diferencia entre un GTX y un LCS2000" =

the dumb gringos do not know to the difference between a GTX and a LCS2000

Johnny Galaga · Post by **Johnny Galaga** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 3:50 pm

Johnny Galaga wrote:So how did Alex know there was a high resolution version ?

And, xmo, where did you get the photos from, if you don't mind my asking.

Well ??

Post by **xmo** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:07 pm

"So how did Alex know there was a high resolution version ? "

Lucky guess or didn't believe my CSI photo enhancement story.

"where did you get the photos from?"

Confidential source.

compuman81 · Post by **compuman81** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 7:53 am

ok, this thread is pathetic now...

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:36 am

But you have to admit.. it's damn funny!

Oh well, thats how it goes, american labor is too expensive so they go south of the border... But yet they are all trying to get into america??

mancow · Post by **mancow** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:33 pm

All that equipment and they are still using old CRT monitors. What cheap bastards.

I still don't see the monkey either.

Terry_Glover · Post by **Terry_Glover** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 12:02 pm

Ain't no damn monkey, not even close to looking like one... Somebody was full of shite, but he drew a lot of attention to the picture! LOL...

train_radio_guy · Post by **train_radio_guy** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 2:02 pm

Just thought I'd throw this one in for contemplation's sake.

I wonder if the folks at the Dept. of Homeland Security, as well as those at the various other three-letter acronym agencies have any concerns, knowing that their radios are getting sent to another country for repairs & upgrades?

What is it they say about the weakest link? Surely this should be viewed as compromising our country's security in some form or fashion.

So much for our country being self-reliant. That idea was disposed of some time ago. It really makes one wonder, where it all will end.

trg,

Post by **escomm** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 2:43 pm

Actually Federal customers are still sending their radios to the Federal depot in Maryland.

Bob W · Post by **Bob W** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 9:36 pm

Terry_Glover wrote:Ain't no damn monkey, not even close to looking like one... Somebody was full of shite, but he drew a lot of attention to the picture! LOL...

Maybe I was looking at it like Rorschach ink blots. I think alot of people were looking at the wrong place in the picture, or maybe because different programs dither the pixels differently when when zoomed. I still think it looks like a monkey, or maybe a trained 'possum. At least this will take the zoom factor out.......

kc2dla · Post by **kc2dla** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:40 am

Did anybody find Waldo yet?

gotdaboot · Post by **gotdaboot** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:47 am

just got on this site. ya'll got some old pictures. there are very few radios/phones there yet (in picture). last time there, there were more units, more benches, more people, etc. but, most of all, many, many, many more units in need of repair. wonder how the floods are affecting people getting to work?

firetech792 · Post by **firetech792** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:10 am

The monkey is next to the person in the green shirt. Looks like its right out of the movie "Planet of the Apes".

wb0qqk · Post by **wb0qqk** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:34 pm

Oh well, thats how it goes, american labor is too expensive so they go south of the border... But yet they are all trying to get into america??

Just wonder how long it will be until the Mexican Border Patrol
start catching Motorola technicians sneaking into their country
to find work?

The New Motorola Depot

Monkey or microscope

..