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Perplexed by Date code newer M accessories

Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2019 7:46 am
by RadioSouth
Happy New Year !

I have a few Motorola Speaker Mics NIB (or NOS) coded 1386-MAL2 anyone have a clue on the date coding ? I don't think the model was available in 1986. Could it be 2013 8th month 2nd day or something similar ?

Re: Perplexed by Date code newer M accessories

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 11:32 am
by RFguy
I've dealt with this before and made some notes.

Accessory and Battery 3-digit date codes:

The old Motorola date codes are 3-digit long. The first digit is the last digit of the year. The last 2 digits is the week of the year.
Example Date code 245 is 2012 45th week


There are 3 formats for 4-digit date codes

Accessory 4-digit date codes (format 1):
This format adds the day of the week at the end of the standard 3-digit date code. Example: 2453 is 2012 45th week, 3rd day of the week.
We can just ignore the last digit on a 4-digit date code as we typically don’t have to go down to that level of detail.


Accessory 4-digit date codes (format 2):
This format the first digit is the last digit of the year and the last digits is the day of the year.
Example: date code 3164 is 2013 164th day


Battery 4-digit date codes:
This format adds a second digit for the year. The first 2 digits is the last 2 digits of the year the battery was manufactured. The last 2 digits is the week of the year.
Example date code 1245 is 2012 45th week.



I have seen a MOTOTRBO RSM with 1521 on bag and back of RSM and 5216 on box. I assumed this was 2015, week 21 and 2015, day 216

I have seen a MOTOTRBO RSM with 30/15 on bag, 1530 on RSM and 5313 on box. I assumed this was 30th week of 2015, 2015, week 30 and 2015, day 313.

Re: Perplexed by Date code newer M accessories

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 10:45 am
by RadioSouth
Thanks, appreciate the response. 'Use to' be predictable.
Found a date code on the speaker mic 1137 and the box 1386-MAL2, weird.

Re: Perplexed by Date code newer M accessories

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 11:59 am
by RFguy
Maybe this?

1137 = 2011, 37th week

1386 = 2011, 38th week, 6th day of the week

Re: Perplexed by Date code newer M accessories

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 7:23 pm
by Karl NVW
MAL2 is the assembly location code, it's somewhere in Maylasia

Re: Perplexed by Date code newer M accessories

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:22 am
by RadioSouth
Yup, 'Made in Malysia' on the box. I was thinking 2013 as '13' appeared in both codes but RF makes points closer to what M has used in the past so 2011 looks like it. Used to be much simpler with same format on acc's/ Batteries.
Thanks guys.

Re: Perplexed by Date code newer M accessories

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2019 11:32 am
by N4KVE
Also, they tend to date products a few months in the future, as they figure it will take a few months to get from mfg to the customer. Eg, I have had brand new radios, & batteries in my hand in Mar 2016, but were dated as built May 2016. GARY.