Batboard

Can anyone answer this and give me the specific reasons, I am considering if upgrading is worthwhile. I know I can get Impress batteries and the chargers for the HT series.

Is the HT series being discontinued and if so, when?

Thanks,

Ken

There was a bit of banter in this thread, got quite amusing too
http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=73404


Towards the end there was a fellow who has experience with the 860 and the 1250.

Physically there's not much difference, virtually the same physical size, same mil spec ratings. Current waris series radios feature improved sealing, which puts them on par with the PR860 as well. I've seen people post they believe the RX audio sounds better with the PR860.

The biggest difference is the PR860 comes standard with Impres LiON battery & charger and 16 channels, for what my sales guy tells me is less money than the 4-channel HT750 with non-Impres NiMH battery & charger. That alone would make my decision, all other things being equal.

Todd

First poster, thanks for the link for the previous discussion, I did review it.

Second poster, I did not realize the PR860 was cheaper than the HT750. When I have looked at parts I thought the same accessories for the PR (that also fit the HT Series) were slightly more expensive, even though in many cases it was the same identical part just a different part number (typically Motorola, bend over here it comes again). I have seen them do this for years, just change the design a little bit just to force you to buy all new batteries, chargers, and accessories, in this case with the PR, it is the same fit, but they are still charging more (I guess under the theory that the PR is new and improved [questionable] and the HT series is being phased out - obsolete).

I have heard from another friend and he seems to confirm this, he is a Motorola dealer and engineer and he says he can not see any differences between the boards in the HT series versus the PR.

kennethlbryant wrote: When I have looked at parts I thought the same accessories for the PR (that also fit the HT Series) were slightly more expensive, even though in many cases it was the same identical part just a different part number (typically Motorola, bend over here it comes again).

Which accessories in particular? Impres now means more than just batteries...there are Impres audio accessories which may look the same as the HT accessories, but contain additional circuitry to enhance the audio quality & clarity. You can use the standard HT accessories if you wish.

I was referring to the batteries, I did think Impress was just the new electronic feedback lithium ion technology.

I did not realize it included audio, whenever Motorola does "audio" improvements in my experience it makes things worse, for example, the expansion and other features in the past where specifically recommended in tech bulletins to turn them OFF when audio and even range problems were encountered. Anyone who has used the 900Mhz stuff can attest although statements made by Motorola to the contrary, you can not even make out what the other person is saying with the "clear audio" technology (whatever it was at the time).

The PR860 is slated to replace the HT750 when it gets canceled. Or so Motorola says.

As noted previously, the PR860 does come standard with an Impres charger and Li-Ion battery, although I would have concernes about putting Li-Ion batteries into fire service. I elect to "downgrade" my customers to NiMH so as not to have exploding batteries on someone's hip while they are in a burning house.

Another bright point for the PR860 is that the software only costs about $100, vs $300 for the Pro Series software. The PR860 does use the same programming cable as the rest of the Professional Series portables and shares audio accessories as well.

The PR860 software is cute-- it feels like a clone from the Commercial Series (CP200, CP150 etc) but yet the PR860 is a Professional Series radio...

Again, I would CONTINUE to ask the same question: "Is the PR860 really better than the HT750 series?"

This is in terms of performance (tech specs) and quality of construction (durability).

Can someone directly answer this question?

Thanks,

Ken

As I stated, physically there's not much difference. When the PR first came out, it had better sealing than the HT, but the HT has subsequently been upgraded. The technical specs are virtually identical. Compare the spec sheets for yourself:

http://www.motorola.com/governmentanden ... tsheet.pdf

http://www.daywireless.com/downloads/mo ... _Specs.pdf

The only difference I can see is the HT750 claims 0.25uV typical sensitivity for VHF/UHF, whereas the PR860 claims 0.30uV typical sensitivity.

Same mil spec ratings, same I.S. options available.

With the two radios being so physically & technically identical, all you are going to get for answers are subjective opinions...some people like the PR860 receive audio better...some don't like the PTT button, etc.

Really it boils down to what you get for your dollar, and the PR860 gives you more...more channels, better standard battery & charger options. That and the fact the HT series has been in production for 10 years now, and the PR only a couple. Therefore the support cycle for the PR should ultimately be several years longer than the HT...something to consider for down the road.

Todd

Thank you that was helpful but as for the channels, I thought they both had a max of 16 channels?

kennethlbryant wrote:Thank you that was helpful but as for the channels, I thought they both had a max of 16 channels?

What I meant was the 16 channel PR860 costs the same or less than the 4 channel HT750 according to what my sales guy was telling me.

I keep hearing that, I need to check that out, hard to believe prices are going down and not up!

Thanks for your valuable input.

I still love the look, feel, and fully loaded features of the HT1550 including keyboard programmability, I just wish they would continue to offer that type of capability in the PR series.

Get the HT1550XLS while you can. I heard at one of the Motorola road shows that they are seriously considering dropping the model due to difficulty in sourcing parts. They just don't sell enough of them to justify keeping it in the portfolio. I'd have to agree...we've only ever sold 3 or 4 of them.

Todd

mmmmm, I've got quite a few dedicated departments to the HT1550XLS, can't believe they would cancel it on me

We've got several P.S accounts and have probably close to 500 portables in their hands, from 4 channel HT750s, to the HT1250 and a few 1550s tossed in for good measure.

I doubt the Waris line will be dropped like a brick overnight, but I would probably expect to see Circle-M do the fade away trick, only for that same models with a facelift surface again witha different label attached (PR1500 as a kin to the XTS1500).

Same look and feel, and virtually the same radio, minus the software....just a different look to it.

Radios are getting to be just like cars; you have new models out every year, and the 'old' models being phased out to make room for the new junk.

It's the same song and dance all over again, BUT, with a HIGHER price tag as well!

Even if the HT750 is dropped, which I doubt it will be, there are still other choices available, and probably better ones too.

Crack open the HT750, it's the same board as the 1250 and 1550, minus a battery and a few minor pieces, but the connections are there for 'upgrading' should you desire.

My HT750 is 16 channels, but has the accy. connections and headers soldered on the board as well as the silkscreened loation for the memory battery.

Cases are cheap also, and even cheaper for the no frills 750.

Don't kid yourself, the Waris line isn't going away any time soon, there is far too much $$ to be made off the accessories and replacement parts yet.

Not to mention that there are hundreds if not thousands of small departments and volunteer agencies that rely on a supply chain that includes the HT750 and its brethren, not to mention the already installed base of millions of these radios already in use nationwide.

One thing to note though, in my corner of the world, the HT1250 and its Ilk are not very well adored by the agencies we serve, they have reception problems and they also have a high failure rate with the speaker-mic retention screws(the morons keep over tightening them!).

Being in mountainous terrain, it doesn't sink in that just because they may be on flat ground, there are still dead spots and no portable is ever going to be able to 'get in' under any circumstance, as they expect them to.

I routinely get .18uV or better on the Waris radios, be it the HT750 or the HT1250.

We also have several companies that have had their HT1250s in use since 2000, and they rarely required repair, and these radios are beat up!

Cases are dented, gouged and cracked up...even display lens are missing and they still work, so they are not fragile radios, but like anything used in extreme environments, they DO require SOME care and a good PM schedule to keep them operational.

Okay, the flame suit is off and the soapbox has been dismantled...

Have a great week everybody!