I'm looking to make an informed decision; What radio (portable) is the best for the money? Something used or NOS, VHF. Looking for something in $200 range. Need at least 16 channels (prefer 32+), Narrow-band compliant, strong audio, a display is a plus.
What can you folks, the experts give for advise?
What about MT2000?
CP200 or 200xls?
Vertex? I love /\/\, so I'm not sure I want to step outside the brand, even though I heard they now own Vertex.
Looking for public safety use, so somewhat heavy duty.
Thanks!!!
Best Portable VHF radio for the money?
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bedforddawg
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mikegilbert
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Re: Best Portable VHF radio for the money?
I would vote for the MT2000 or MTS2000 any day of the week. The Jedi series was- and still is EVERYWHERE, so accessories are plentiful and will be for some time.
If they were more rugged I'd recommend the Kenwood TK-280- or even TK-2140. If you want public safety grade, check out the TK-290. It's available with a 4-character top LCD display and at least 160 channels. Takes the same accessories as the TK280/380/480/481 series. The Vertex equivalent of the TK290 is the VX900, but I have no experience with those radios.
If they were more rugged I'd recommend the Kenwood TK-280- or even TK-2140. If you want public safety grade, check out the TK-290. It's available with a 4-character top LCD display and at least 160 channels. Takes the same accessories as the TK280/380/480/481 series. The Vertex equivalent of the TK290 is the VX900, but I have no experience with those radios.
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Tom in D.C.
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Re: Best Portable VHF radio for the money?
Don't overlook Astro Sabers. If you can do without the display, a model 1 can be had these days for under $200, and a model 2 with display for between $200 and $250. Plus you can do P25 (maybe in your future?) if you get one with the right flashcode.
Tom in D.C.
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FireCpt809
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Re: Best Portable VHF radio for the money?
The price of XTS3000's have come down in the $200 range...
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N4KVE
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Re: Best Portable VHF radio for the money?
I love the Jedi series. I'd look for a MTS2000 with display, & full keypad. If you want digital, then go for an Astro Saber, or XTS3000. They can all be found for under $200. I have all 3, & really can't pick a favorite, as they are all excellent radios. But the MTS2000 would probably be the least expensive to buy. GARY
Last edited by N4KVE on Mon Nov 26, 2012 3:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Best Portable VHF radio for the money?
Kenwood TK-290 has a 6 character display and can be easily set up for FPP. I use one of these and am quite happy with it.
I'd second the Jedi line, however. I also have an HT1000 that I love and we still use MTS2000's at work. Accessories are cheap and easily found. One thing to consider is the programming. To program some of these radios can be more expensive than others. If you are considering being able to program on your own, research the costs carefully before making your decision.
I'd second the Jedi line, however. I also have an HT1000 that I love and we still use MTS2000's at work. Accessories are cheap and easily found. One thing to consider is the programming. To program some of these radios can be more expensive than others. If you are considering being able to program on your own, research the costs carefully before making your decision.
"The nice thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from."
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bedforddawg
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Re: Best Portable VHF radio for the money?
Looking to know what version is used on MT2000's.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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MTS2000des
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Re: Best Portable VHF radio for the money?
One word of caution on MT2000s, make sure you get one made AFTER about April 1998 (should have a firmware version of 2.11 or higher) to be fully narrowband compliant. Earlier MT2000's firmware won't do splinter channels. Despite the warning in MTSX RSS telling you to "upgrade the target radio firmware and try again", there is NO WAY to do this on an MT2000, as the controller does not have flashable firmware like an MTS2000 (512K controller). If an earlier one went to the depot after about 1999, they usually DO have new RF board and controller, so always check the F/W version in test mode.
Other than the display problems on some of them, these are by far some of the best analog radios you can buy. The prices have bottomed out. I see MTS2000 VHF's all over Ebay for sub $100, most of them are later production radios, some have display issues.
Mckennna has a point about programming. MT2000/HT1000s use DOS based RSS which is officially NLA from Motorola. It also requires a REAL RS-232 serial port (no USB works in DOS) and a DOS boot source (not something within Windows xx). I've had no problems programming these radios on newer dual core CPU laptops booting to a DOS CD-ROM and running the actual RSS off a small FAT-16 partition, but the laptops have true RS-232 9 pin serial ports, and I use a factory Motorola RLN4008E RIB.
MTS2000's, OTOH, use Windows based CPS, which is designed to run on modern (up to Win7 32 bit at least) computers, you will still need a REAL serial port, RIB and cable. Sadly, the MTS2000 CPS is also NLA from Motorola as well.
The last version of MTSX DOS RSS was R6.08 circa 2005. The last known version of MTS2000 CPS was R02.03, 2008.
Other than the display problems on some of them, these are by far some of the best analog radios you can buy. The prices have bottomed out. I see MTS2000 VHF's all over Ebay for sub $100, most of them are later production radios, some have display issues.
Mckennna has a point about programming. MT2000/HT1000s use DOS based RSS which is officially NLA from Motorola. It also requires a REAL RS-232 serial port (no USB works in DOS) and a DOS boot source (not something within Windows xx). I've had no problems programming these radios on newer dual core CPU laptops booting to a DOS CD-ROM and running the actual RSS off a small FAT-16 partition, but the laptops have true RS-232 9 pin serial ports, and I use a factory Motorola RLN4008E RIB.
MTS2000's, OTOH, use Windows based CPS, which is designed to run on modern (up to Win7 32 bit at least) computers, you will still need a REAL serial port, RIB and cable. Sadly, the MTS2000 CPS is also NLA from Motorola as well.
The last version of MTSX DOS RSS was R6.08 circa 2005. The last known version of MTS2000 CPS was R02.03, 2008.
The views here are my own and do not represent those of anyone else or the company, the boss, his wife, his dog or distant relatives.
Re: Best Portable VHF radio for the money?
The cp200xls is a low cost radio that will hold 128 channels and I believe you can get them new from big M for around $350 each.