MCS2000's

Post by **alex** » Sun Nov 11, 2001 9:34 am

I'm curious to hear from people about these radios. I've been thinking about replacing my A9 VHF Spectra, and I'm wondering what people think about the MCS. One of the key things that this radio needs to have is when scanning on a priority channel, if it detects non-pl traffic, it doesn't sit on the channel (the only thing I hate about the spectra). Also, MDC Encode and Decode. I would also consider getting an Astro spectra, but there's no need for Digital yet in the area I live in.

-Alex

Post by **batdude** » Sun Nov 11, 2001 11:40 am

if you can find an astro spectra, go that route. you'll need digital eventually, one way or another.

if you can find an MCS, i can recommend those as well. they're a bit flakey, and almost every one you find "used" (ebay) needs a trip to the depot to unscrew the codeplug, and as a bonus, they'll load the newest version of the radio firmware...granted, they won't add anything to the radio feature wise, but still...well worth the $230 on a radio you don't know anything about.

if you get the Model 3 MCS, you'll never go back to any sort of display... those 2 lines of 14 characters are worth every penny on readability in the sun... something the astro can't match... (except the W3, which is LCD vice VFD)

i can't wait for an astro mobile with the MCS control head... that'll be the BOMB!

doug

Post by **wavetar** » Mon Nov 12, 2001 11:48 am

The MCS2000 is a very good radio, used primarily in the public safety sector, it is basically the mobile counterpart to the MTS2000 portable. It can support MDC encode/decode, if so equipped. It will also do what you're looking for, and not sit on a channel with improper PL. The earlier comment about the Model III display is true, it's the best looking radio I've seen. The Model II is very good as well, with a handy rotary knob, as opposed to an up/down rocker, for channel selection. Very little ever goes wrong with these radios, the only real weak point would be the volume knob. The rubber cover seems to get lost frequently and the plastic underneath is easily broken. Much like the MTS2000 will never quite measure up to a Saber, the MCS2000 will never quite measure up to a Spectra in terms of durablity & performance, but it's somewhere between 95-99% as good, with my personal preference going to the MCS series.

Todd

Post by **alex** » Mon Nov 12, 2001 12:06 pm

Cool - thanks for the feedback. Couple more ?'s

Do these radio's have flashcodes in them that would determine what level of MDC they support?

On the Model III display, what can you use the 2 lines for? My guess you could do:

Zone
Channel

Or use both lines for the channel name?

Also, does this require Windows programming software, or is it still DOS based.

-Alex

Post by **wavetar** » Mon Nov 12, 2001 12:26 pm

On 2001-11-12 15:06, alex wrote:
Cool - thanks for the feedback. Couple more ?'s

Do these radio's have flashcodes in them that would determine what level of MDC they support?

On the Model III display, what can you use the 2 lines for? My guess you could do:

Zone
Channel

Or use both lines for the channel name?

Also, does this require Windows programming software, or is it still DOS based.

-Alex

The Model III display allows 14 characters for zone on one line, and 14 characters for channel on the other. I cannot change it in the RSS under "display options", just view it. The units were all DOS until April 2001, then switched over to Windows. Older units can also be read with the new Windows RSS, but once you write to them in Windows, you won't be able to read them with the DOS RSS, unless you dump a DOS archive back into them. There are flashcodes on the units to indicate what they support, I don't know the number or position for MDC offhand.

Todd