Need a new radio.

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Cam
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Need a new radio.

Post by Cam »

Looking for a new handheld VHF.
This would be used for backcountry skiing and heli ski. I have been using a HT1000 but switched to a Icom FT30 last year as I never seemed to have the right freq. The Icom has a lot more channels and I can program it with my laptop which I could not do with my Ht1000. My problem is that one, if I don't have my laptop which is about half the time and I need to change something I can't. This happens more then I would like as even when you think you have all the info before you head out it seem like something always changes or there is something they forgot to tell you or passed on wrong. Then I stuck trying to borrow a radio. So I'm thing that FFP is high on the list. The other problem is that I don't really like the Icom, it just feels kind of cheap and just doesn't work as I would like (kind of hard to explain but you know what I'm talking about).

So one to something new. 8)

What do you guys thing of the following radios.

HT1550XLS
TK-2180

I'm also kind of thinking about a JT-1000 but I think I would go with one the above first do to have more channels.
I don't really know much about the 1550 or the 2180 and have not used either. I do have a TK380 and have a lot of time using a TK480 on a LTR system. Liked both. Samething with the HT1550, never used one but I been around lots of HT1250 LS.

I know the /\/\ take a special battery to do FFP but I'm less clear on the Kenwood. From what I can see you need to order it with some kind of " tactical zone" in order to have FFP.

What about the software and cable/rib for the Moto? What is the software running? Can it be had? Will it run on a modern computer? Has Motorola got a USB cable for this radio (I know that is asking a lot)?

Anyothers I should be looking at?

Thanks
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Rayjk110
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Re: Need a new radio.

Post by Rayjk110 »

The 2180 is a very nice radio, and can also be upgraded to be a field-programmable unit if you so desire and have a full keypad radio. IMO it's more rugged than an MTS2000. It might cost a little more, but it's worth it.
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W2MB
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Re: Need a new radio.

Post by W2MB »

I own both an HT1550XLS and a JT1000. The JT1000 seems better on transmit and the HT1550XLS seems better on receive. Both aren't terribly user friendly from an FPP perspective. In the end, I prefer the JT1000.
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SD70MAC
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Re: Need a new radio.

Post by SD70MAC »

I would stay away from the TK2180 has some range issues on tx and rx. I don't have an HT1550XLS but the newer HT1250 out transmit and recieve the TK2180 hand down in a side by side test. Kenwood makes some good radios but this one is not one of them. I want to upgrade from my JT1000 to an HT1550XLS myself,I just wish there was a way to get around using on the special batteries when using FPP. I paid to have my JT moded so I don't have to use the programming key and I have foud that all I have too do is clone my codeplug to another JT1000 VHF and that makes it not have to have the key also.
SD70MAC out

My collection;
XTS5000 VHF FPP,XTS3000 VHF M1&M3,XTVA,XTS2500 UHF Q FPP,Astro Spectra"s W3 VHF,W9 VHF,W7 800,HT1250 35-50,XPR4500 Q,2 CDM1550LS+ VHF 160ch,CDM1550 X 160ch VHF 25w,MAXTRAC 42-50 32ch,CDM1250 42-54
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tvsjr
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Re: Need a new radio.

Post by tvsjr »

Range issues? Funny, my 2180s will blow a 1250 or 1550 away on a calibrated service monitor (along with XTS3000s and 5000s for that matter - I own or have owned all of the above). Of the departments I work with, I have several dozen, nearing 100, 2180s in service without a hint of problems. They are solid, rugged radios. The JT1000s are discontinued, and only support 16 channels. The 1550s are likely to be discontinued in the not-too-distant future (likely when we see an FPP TRBO product) and are not the most rugged radio in the world. Plus, the Tactical Zone feature of the 2180 is unmatched by any Motorola product.

Good luck getting CPS for the Waris (1250/1550) line from Moto - it's restricted. No USB cable available, though a USB-serial works fine. Ditto for the 2180, but the software is no problem to order.

I would go with a 2180 full keypad/tac zone/FPP, if you can't afford an FPP XTS2500/5000.
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Cam
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Re: Need a new radio.

Post by Cam »

tvsjr wrote:Range issues? Funny, my 2180s will blow a 1250 or 1550 away on a calibrated service monitor (along with XTS3000s and 5000s for that matter - I own or have owned all of the above). Of the departments I work with, I have several dozen, nearing 100, 2180s in service without a hint of problems. They are solid, rugged radios. The JT1000s are discontinued, and only support 16 channels. The 1550s are likely to be discontinued in the not-too-distant future (likely when we see an FPP TRBO product) and are not the most rugged radio in the world. Plus, the Tactical Zone feature of the 2180 is unmatched by any Motorola product.

Good luck getting CPS for the Waris (1250/1550) line from Moto - it's restricted. No USB cable available, though a USB-serial works fine. Ditto for the 2180, but the software is no problem to order.

I would go with a 2180 full keypad/tac zone/FPP, if you can't afford an FPP XTS2500/5000.

Is the FFP/Tac zone something that you order when buying the radio or is it a software thing? I can't seem to find much on it.
if you can't afford an FPP XTS2500/5000.
Well I could and I almost listed the 2500 with FFP but I was kind of thinking why? I'm not sure that the XTS would really do anything more for me that the others would not other then be BatBoardSexy of course. 8) Plus the bet clips on the XTS2500 are too far down on the back of the radio. :x :x :x
Last edited by Cam on Tue Oct 28, 2008 2:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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tvsjr
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Re: Need a new radio.

Post by tvsjr »

Yes, the software has to be upgraded to support the Tactical Feature Set. For some reason, I'm not seeing that option in the price sheet I have in front of me, but Kenwood should be able to help you. You also have to have late firmware (1.14 or greater) and new software (KPG-89 v1.40 or better) to support it.
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Terryr23
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What radios do you own?: Kenwood tk2180 XTS3000 CDM1550

Re: Need a new radio.

Post by Terryr23 »

Anyone have any more details on how to make a TK-2180 into a FPP unit?
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VE9MP
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What radios do you own?: FPP Railroad XTL9000 Cleancab

Re: Need a new radio.

Post by VE9MP »

Anyone care to share the details on how to make a 2180 FPP'able?
-----Nick-----

"I can trip some repeaters in Maine, but I'm not getting any audio into it, is there some type of tone frequency I use? If so do you know what one is for Maine?" - The SMT Machine
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tvsjr
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Re: Need a new radio.

Post by tvsjr »

It's a different firmware, which, at least at this point, has to be applied at the factory. I don't even think they're offering retrofits - new units only.

It's not just FPP - it also lets you build a custom zone with channels already in your radio, with a custom scan list... radio-to-radio cloning... etc.

Ask your friendly dealer about "Tactical Feature Set" - it's available for the x180s and the P25 units.
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d119
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Re: Need a new radio.

Post by d119 »

tvsjr wrote:It's not just FPP - it also lets you build a custom zone with channels already in your radio, with a custom scan list...
A-la CalFIRE no doubt.
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VE9MP
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Re: Need a new radio.

Post by VE9MP »

I asked RayRay about it, who is now a Kenwood dealer about it but he never got back to me :lol:

After owning and using both HT1250's and TK-2180's...sorry Moto, but the 2180 wins hands down both performance and ruggedness wise.
-----Nick-----

"I can trip some repeaters in Maine, but I'm not getting any audio into it, is there some type of tone frequency I use? If so do you know what one is for Maine?" - The SMT Machine
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Rayjk110
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Re: Need a new radio.

Post by Rayjk110 »

Well I never got back because you didn't PM me!

:-)
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