Batboard

We'd like to add a contemporary (meaning still in commercial production) Motorola mobile VHF radio to our EOC, but it must be WinLink-capable.

Anybody have packet experience with the current generation of radios?

TIA.

Bill

Icom IC-V8000 is hard to look past.

That or the Yaesu FT-2800M which has a FAR SUPERIOR front end to the Icom. I use a 2800 on my APRS Digi and i used to have one mobile before i went with a quad band FT9800, its a rock solid radio.

The thing i don't like about the V8000 is it SUCKS on receive. Intermod is a real problem on these, and the receive selectivity is dismal. If your going to use it in an EOC situation where someone else might be transmitting on a nearby VHF PS frequency then good luck, it will desense the V8000 on every transmission.

Read the reviews on Eham and QRZ, and do some google searches. The V8000 has been a lemon since it came off the production line.

Guys, he said Motorola (though he may have added that later).

As far as I know, any contemporary Moto mobile has flat audio inputs/outputs on the accessory connector (though that's not really required for 1200bps packet). My biggest concern would be cooling... if you're planning to run high duty cycle, I'd suggest extra cooling, or a real base-station radio designed for continuous duty (MTR2000, maybe a Kenwood TKR-x50). My biggest concern would be wiring up a pimpin' XTL5000 to a packet rig!

Keep air moving across the heat sink and you shouldn't have any issues.

Yep, realized he said moto, but when i saw a recommendation of that crappy V8000 i just had to chime in!

If you want a cheap packet radio that is a Moto just get a good ole' Maxtrac or Radius, or a GM300 or CDM mobile, sure its not the latest and greatest, but for packet use who cares??

The duty cycle on packet is so little i wouldn't worry about any extra cooling unless your trying to send the entire encyclopedia britannica or something.