Batboard

We are in the process of switching over to 800 MHz and the choice of two above radios. The salesman can only say that the major difference is that the 5000 is Project 25 capable, but that it's about 10+ years out before we have P25. Are there any more advantages or disadvantages of the 5000 over the 3000? Need some info to make an informed decision. Thanks!

Both are Project 25 capable.

The 5000 is the newer product and will therefore probably have a longer support life. Also, the 5000 is a smarter radio. It has a 32 bit processor and 8 megs of RAM compared to the 3000 with a 16 bit CPU and 1 meg. The 5000 will do 3600 baud control channel systems and 9600 baud control channel systems in the same radio at the same time with no feature trade offs. The 3000 can do this (Motorola does not like to tell you it will or quote the price for this option), but looses some features when the radio is flashed for both.

The 5000 is 700/800 dual band so it is more future -proof than the 3000.

With either radio you don't need to buy all the features up front either, you can change the radio feature set with a flashport kit that Motorola will sell you later - for at least as much money as the option(s) would have cost up front.

You say you are switching to 800 - are you going on to an existing system or installing a new system? What is the system configuration? Smartnet II, Smartzone 3.x, Smartzone 4.x? Single site, multicast, simulcast, or Omnilink?

What's the point of a dual band 700/800 radio when nextel just got allocated officially to 700?

apco25 wrote:What's the point of a dual band 700/800 radio when nextel just got allocated officially to 700?

Really? What source brought you this info?

Not to be snotty or something, but this is both interesting and intriguing- unless of course, you're just making a guess that this is what will happen when the FCC makes a decision....

-Josh

Just because Nextel or other CMRS operators are allocated frequencies at 700 MHz does not automatically represent a problem.

Nextel (and other CMRS operators) became a problem at 800 MHz because they bought up SMR systems whose frequencies are co-mingled with 800 MHz public safety operations. Then, as they deployed many additional tower sites to service the handset marketplace, the character of their operation became different than the adjacent public safety users. Coupled with the different emission characteristics of their digital transmitters, these systems can cause interference to the in band public safety users.

Frequency separation solves these problems (by sub-band filtering) Cellular and public safety get along fine at 800 because they are in different sub-bands, not on adjacent channels as is the case with Nextel.

The new 700 MHz allocations will have dedicated sub-bands for public safety, thereby precluding the mess that currently exists at 800.

Therefore, the 700/800 radios are a good investment so that public safety customers are covered for the future. Their own system could add 700 MHz sites, or they might want to interoperate on new systems installed in neighboring areas.

Here is a link to the Motorola press release that describes your system:

http://www.motorola.com/LMPS/pressreleases/page2489.htm

The Smartzone 4.1 platform uses the traditional Motorola 3600 baud control channel format. Mixed mode means that the system supports both analog radios and talkgroups as well as digital radios and talkgroups.

Either the XTS3000 or the XTS5000 will operate on a 4.1 system just fine. There probably won't be a lot of difference in price and the word is that the 3000 may be discontinued in a couple of years, so the 5000 is probably the best bet.

A tier 3 full kepad XTS5000 will run about $4800.00 and if you add DES, figure about $5600.00. With typical State contract discount you are probably looking at about $3600.00 or $4200.00 with DES. You might also look at the XTS2500 for a lower cost digital capable portable, but there is no secure capability on the 2500.

Just my quick and limited thoughts. Have both a 3k and a 5kR. The 5k, which is really loaded with features (up to 512 talkgroups), has a real time clock, and of couse both will do IMBE.

I like my 5k better, it just feels better in my hand. Athough they use the same battery, it just feels like a more ergonomic radio.

It it feels good....... Anyway, I just programmed my first channel in the 5k, so I haven't had it but a couple of days. New cable is required, serial or USB. If you run 98 to program other radios, make sure you get the serial cable. Has the RIB built in, "cord wart". Around $300 price tag, ribless of course.

Functions, oh so many, really haven't had time to play with it. 3k will use the JEDI cable, 5k and 2.5 k will not. New windows software for the 5k also.

Hope I helped a little. Mark