Compare Motorola XTS2500 & E F Johnson 51SL ES

[eroomhj]

Comparing the above radio for operations and ware and tare.
Also programing capability, ease, w/ service software.

[Jim202]

I tend to find it easier to program the EFJ 5100 than the Motorola. this is also
true with the EFJ 5300 mobiles.

With that said, there are some interesting differences in the functionality of
the 2 radios. With the EFJ, you can take a trunking radio and program it to
a receive only on a per channel or talkgroup basis.

Also on the EFJ radios, you get the full 16 channels in the scan list, where
the Motorola limits you to 15 channels (modes) or less.

On the EFJ, you can program a button to display the actual frequency on the
channel your on. When you go into TX, it will then display the frequency also.

Down side of the EFJ portable, is that you can't TX on the portable while it is
in the charger. You will blow the internal fuse and render the charger a dead
body. Yes you can open up the charger and replace the fuse on the circuit
board. Not recommended for the novice.

Like Motorola, there are different versions of the programming software for
the EFJ. When you first power up either a portable or a mobile, you should
see 2 sets of numbers flash by the screen. You need to capture both sets
of numbers so that the correct version of software can be used. Like
Motorola, too new of software will not work on an older radio. Unlike
the Motorola RSS, the EFJ software will allow you to go back and use
older versions.

Guess that covers the basic information.

Jim

Comparing the above radio for operations and ware and tare.
Also programing capability, ease, w/ service software.

[eroomhj]

How about the trunking version of the EFJ radio?
Will it work on Motorola smartzone system?
How the quality of the output on a smartzone system?
Have been using EFJ radio for a long time?
How long have you used a Motorola Radio?
Do you make your own repairs?
EFJ can you read the ID of the radio you are talking to?
EFJ can you receive the emergency?
EFJ can you transmit Text beteen radios?
These are some of the questions That I like to get answered, can you help me out.

[MTS2000des]

The EFJ's can be used on SZ/Astro 25 and analog systems if they are flashed to do so. The city of Marietta, GA spent just under a mil buying EFJ 51/53 mobiles and portables for use on the new Cobb county Astro 25 Smartzone TRS. They outperform many of the Motorola radios use on the system, they have the enhanced vocoder and sound very good on the air. As far as features, not sure. The ones I've used are basic setup, so I don't know if they do all the cool features like text messages, caller ID, etc. The city used to use MTS2000 portables analog Smartnet on the old Cobb system. They went digital in July and the comments from the officers I know is they are very pleased with the radios performance. Marietta fire just switched the first of October and are also using the same radios on the same Motorola SZ6 digital TRS.

[Jim202]

It may answer some of your questions if you just go to the EF Johnson web site and look at the specs
for the radio your interested in. There are a number of basic functions that both company radios
provide.

Reason that many agencies are going the EFJ route is price and service. They are getting fed up
with the Motorola high horse attitude of both the sales and service. Even the Federal Government
has switched over and is buy EFJ radios in huge numbers. The 5100 portables use the same
accessories in most cases, even the same batteries as the XTS Motorola portables.

Jim

How about the trunking version of the EFJ radio?
Will it work on Motorola smartzone system?
How the quality of the output on a smartzone system?
Have been using EFJ radio for a long time?
How long have you used a Motorola Radio?
Do you make your own repairs?
EFJ can you read the ID of the radio you are talking to?
EFJ can you receive the emergency?
EFJ can you transmit Text beteen radios?
These are some of the questions That I like to get answered, can you help me out.

[eroomhj]

I'm thinking about the XTS2500, do you think I can the same proformance out of the EF johnson 5100. I think that the EFJ is priced a little to high for the XTS2500.

[MTS2000des]

when the city of Marietta put out an RFP for portables, the 2500 is what Motorola submitted, and it was a miserable performer. The radios were taken to known trouble spots for the CCDTRS, including the MPD HQ building, the Cobb county jail, and the 2500 proved to be what it is: a low tier radio. The EFJ excelled in all areas, weak signal areas, vocoder performance. A side by side comparison is the best way to test them.