Batboard

Im looking to upgrade to a newer radio (I have an mts2000 now). Ill use my new radio as my primary and sometimes backup fire ground radio as I do with my MTS. Any comments on an XTS3000 used for conventional use on the fire ground? Does Motorola even sell these anymore? I see them on ebay and was thinking of picking one up. I also see the XTS2500 out there as well. Any thoughts on which is the better radio? Also, I do have CPS R05.03.00 for the ASTRO Saber & XTS3000 radios. Is this the latest and greatest CPS out there for the XTS3000? If so, will this program any XTS3000 I end up purchasing? Thanks.

Yes 05.03 is the latest and last CPS for the Astro Saber and the XTS3000, which for all intensive purposes is a astro saber in a new style case..LOL
The XTS3000 is out of production now, as the XTS5000 took its place followed by the XTS2500 and now finally the APX series.
The XTS3000 would be fine for your purpose described but if you have the extra money the XTS2500 is a better choice in the long run offering a few more bells and whistles in a smaller/lighter package. Do some searching on the board and you will find many threads on comparisons/pro-cons of both the radios.

Thanks for the info. Will this latest version of CPS program all XTS3000's? Meaning, as long as you have the latest version, you can read and program any radio the software was designed for?

I don't know how important this might be to you, but while the XTS3000 can have a button programmed for Hi/Low power, the XTS2500 can't. To get around this, some people program a bank of channels as Hi power. The next bank would be the same freq's, but all programmed as Low power channels. In other words on the 2500, you can program a channel as Hi or Low power, but you can't program a button to toggle back & forth. I have 2 3000's, & find they are excellent radios. I don't have any 2500's so I really can't comment on them. In my business, I have learned that newer isn't always better. It might be smaller, but not better. GARY N4KVE

Forgive my lack of knowledge but why have this option? Why not just transmit in high power at all times? Why have both? Not sure if my MTS2000 has this feature.

If your intrested in an XTS I have a really nice VHF model II in the forsale trade area.

Sorry, looking for a UHF 450-520 split.

mfred wrote:Forgive my lack of knowledge but why have this option? Why not just transmit in high power at all times? Why have both? Not sure if my MTS2000 has this feature.

All my MTS2000's can toggle back & forth between Hi/Low power. Why use Hi power when you need to talk simplex to another radio that is 100 yards away & your battery is 8 hours into it's discharge cycle? As I said, this feature may not be important to you, but it is to many people. Just pointing out this shortcoming to you. GARY N4KVE

Thanks for all the info. I received some info on the radio I may purchase. The seller has two up for sale - One with Flashcode: 599108-0C1E00-2 with Host R07.71.06 and DSP N08.03.05. and the other with Flashcode: 101001-000000-5 with Host R07.02.02 and DSP N07.03.10. Is one better than the other? Also, what does "This radio does not have tags" mean. Thanks in advanced.

The first radio you list has very recent firmware & a flashcode with lots of options. The second radio listed has older firmware & a flascode with less options. It really depends on what kind of system you will be using the radio on. I think you said a conventional system. Now if both radios cost the same, then you would want the first radio, however if the second radio costs alot less & you were just using the radio in analog conventional, then grab the second radio. A radio without tags is like a car without a VIN plate. Might be parts built or an insurance write off [Panter] radio. Or worse yet, stolen. If this radio was to be used for Ham freq's then a radio without tags would be fine, but I believe you mentioned fire service, so you would definitely want a radio with a serial # tag for that. Sometimes a parts built radio doesn't get an ideal factory alignment. It really depends on the source. There are people on this forum who are in the radio business & a parts radio from them is as good as any factory radio. There are other radios from hacks who really don't know what they are doing. Either way, a radio used for life & death situations should be purchased from a reliable source, & have tags. GARY N4KVE

Can the lesser radio have its firmware and flashcode updated by me with CPS or will it need to be sent to Motorola for a fee? Thanks.

Because you want to use this radio for the FD, you need to have it "officially" done through your local M dealer. I'm sure the radio shop your FD deals with could help you in this regard. GARY N4KVE