Batboard

The word is that Motorola will soon release the VHF and UHF XTS4000 models for state & local government sales.

No word yet on other bands. The big concern the Motorola has about making this product available for wider distribution is that the product limitiations [short battery life and reduced range compared to a standard portable antenna] will generate volumes of complaints.

If it looks like a cell phone it should run all day and talk everwhere just like a cellphone - right? No...

When you consider that this product has all the features of an XTS5000 in a tiny package - it is totally amazing how well it works.

If only I could talk my agency into buying them.......probably not going to happen.

what ARE the statistics on battery life? and what UHF band are they looking to release in, both 403-470 and 450-520?

At the rate we break our town issued nextels, we would definately go bankrupt in a month!

libuff wrote:what ARE the statistics on battery life? and what UHF band are they looking to release in, both 403-470 and 450-520?

It's made for the feds, so likely 380-470.

It looks like you can by them in Canada....

http://connect-wireless.com/branded/mot ... ts4000.htm

I noted the following items on the brochure:

1. No FPP, of course -- yet!
2. RGB screen -- nice.
3. 630 mAh battery for output of 1 to 2 watts. A fair compromise for
the battery's size, obviously, but you'd better carry a spare anyway.
4. Current brochure covers the VHF model only.

How much? I know, it depends on the flashcode and features. What is the base price?

The initial UHF offering is Range 1, 380 - 470

All ASTRO Digital XTS4000 packaged models include the following hardware features:
2 Li Ion Batteries
Plastic Holster
Encryption Module equipped with DES-XL/DES-OFB/ADES/DVP-XL and OTAR
1 Antenna 380-470 MHz
User Guide/CD Manual


Flash options are more bundled than on other radios, you pick one of two packages.

Conventional Package H44 option includes the following:
Conventional, Digital Operation, Digital ID, Remote Monitor Radio Trace, One Touch, Repeater Access, Conventional Vote Scan, and Conventional Radio Cloning

Trunking Package H45 option includes the following:
Smartzone, Digital Operation, 9600 Trunking, Digital ID, Remote Monitor, One Touch, Repeater Access, Omnilink
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With the conventional package and a charger the radio will probably list at around $3500, add another $900 to upgrade to the trunking package.

FPP? What's that?

Does this thing actually have a phone in it as well, or is it just a two-way radio in a phone case?

Just a 2-way in a phone case.

That'd be bomb if they actually made one with a phone in it.

I feel a new avatar is now appropriate

This is one astro product I can safely say that I will not own. While cool for sure I think its use for the "normal" user isn't worth while, secret service type stuff, sure.

Jason


Oops I lied, mine will be coming.

KS4VT wrote:It looks like you can by them in Canada....

http://connect-wireless.com/branded/mot ... ts4000.htm

Connect Wireless is out of Ontario, CA (as in California) not Ontario, CAN...

OK...I stand corrected.

I want to say that somewhere I saw a video clip of a FPP VHF XTS4k. I'll confirm later.

I won't be needing the video clip....

libuff wrote:what ARE the statistics on battery life?

I couldn't find the actual battery life in the specs. Maybe I missed it. However, according to the service manual the battery drain is:

Standby = 89 mA
Receive = 210 mA
Transmit = 950 mA

The battery capacity is 630 mAh, so using the 5% transmit, 5% receive, and 90% standby rule, the battery will last 4.6 hours. For 10/10/80 it is 3.4 hours, and if it never receives or transmits (standby only) the battery should last 7.1 hours.

Also note that the output power is a mere 2 watts

This thing reminds me of the HT100 versus the HT220. It was a cute toy to wear around at the hamfest, but that was about it.

Does it have Bluetooth? That would be nice for covert use...

In terms of a hobbyist (or at least, non LEO) capacity, this could be quite practical price depending. I carry a UHF radio with me all the time which is used 99% of the time on RX. Something like this would be perfect as it doesn't stand out and scream for attention.

I wonder if it uses the same accessories as an iDEN phone as in, PTT headsets and the like.

While I wouldn't spend $5,000 on one, I'd think nothing of dropping $1500 give or take.

Trunking Package H45 option includes the following:
Smartzone, Digital Operation, 9600 Trunking, Digital ID, Remote Monitor, One Touch, Repeater Access, Omnilink

I have a question in regards to the flash packages. Is this something that will become common in the future when ordering radios, where if you want trunking you don't just get the individual options but you get a "set" of options? Or is this already standard practice?

Asolutely incredible- at least the coolness factor. Anyone care to speculate on base price??

XMO already offered up the price in this thread.

With the conventional package and a charger the radio will probably list at around $3500, add another $900 to upgrade to the trunking package.

Sorry, didn't see that before.

I guess that's "reasonable" for an astro radio- especially considering the physical package. One question for anyone who's handled one , I would THINK it's got to be slightly tougher built than the iden radio it mimics, No?

It's bigger and bulkier and more squared off. I didn't get to actually mess with it but it looked pretty robust.

JRUTA wrote:Sorry, didn't see that before.

I guess that's "reasonable" for an astro radio- especially considering the physical package. One question for anyone who's handled one , I would THINK it's got to be slightly tougher built than the iden radio it mimics, No?

I’ve had a play:

No Bluetooth but does have a rubber covered socket for a headset.

You need three antennas to cover VHF (136-151, 145-166, & 162-174 MHz).

Single antenna for UHF to 470 MHz.

High band UHF is still only a definite maybe.

The battery life is short so welcome to the vehicle charging cradle. Moto quote 4 hours for the 5/5/90% duty cycle. And remember for the type of service these units are intended they’re not going to be sitting on dispatch with the more typical 50% rx duty cycle.

The audio is a bit strange as you need to remember to turn on the speaker if you want to use it like an HT, default is cellular style earpiece audio mode. This means you'll miss hearing normal calls unless you use Astro alerting features. Speaker audio is weak.

As XMO mentioned the demo model had EMC with like everything except DVP.

CPS 9 worked fine but needs a special cable.

The color screen is hard to read outside in the sun.

There is a dirty great big 0 with a slash thru it printed on the secure button on the top of the unit. Any bad guy who is familiar with high tier Motorola products is gonna wonder 'bout that on your overweight Razar.

Having said all, there is a nice solid feel to the thing and people other than radio techs do think you packing a cellular phone with a big battery.

It is a surveillance radio, not a replacement for a general purpose HT or a phone - if you want a small P25 radio get a XTS2500.

Astro Spectra wrote:There is a dirty great big 0 with a slash thru it printed on the secure button on the top of the unit. Any bad guy who is familiar with high tier Motorola products is gonna wonder 'bout that on your overweight Razar.

Fail. You should have killed the bad guy LONG before he got close enough to see the Ø.

Ah, you see that's why the XTS 4000 is for three letter agencies and not law enforcement or Batboard members. Surveillance is part of getting to know your enemy ... not just killing them.

Therefore one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the most skillful. Seizing the enemy without fighting is the most skillful.

Astro Spectra wrote:Ah, you see that's why the XTS 4000 is for three letter agencies and not law enforcement or Batboard members. Surveillance is part of getting to know your enemy ... not just killing them.

Therefore one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the most skillful. Seizing the enemy without fighting is the most skillful.

+1

Just wondering if the London UK Metropolitan Police are using the XTS-4000.

As far as I know, they have a SmartZone System, and as seen in the UK TV Series "The Bill" they are using a mobile phone lookalike radio. (if you have cable with UK programs you might have access to that series to check).

Thanks

i think MET went to tetra a few years back....



d

They sure did. No more Smartzone analog, its all DIMETRA.....

I still see some of them (at least from pics) with those oddball jedi speaker mic. I guess not EVERYONE has went TETRA yet across the pond?

So has Motorola really restricted sales, or is that just someone's opinion on who may purchase?

Yes, really restricted. I know this because I asked my longtime friend/authorized Moto dealer if he knew anything about it (which he did not) and when he got back to me he said it is in fact a restricted item. despite the fact that HE'S a dealer- anyone wanting one would need the proper "connection" (meaning me- lol) Fact is I think it's kinda silly to restrict a radio that does the same thing as a 5K simply because it's packaged differently, hell I'd sooner buy an SSE if it were readily available!

XTS4000 will be released to State and Local Government agencies on or around April 27th, 2008, Did anyone else get this email?

dxon2m wrote:I still see some of them (at least from pics) with those oddball jedi speaker mic. I guess not EVERYONE has went TETRA yet across the pond?

ALL England, Wales & Scotland Police are on the national TETRA system, including the Met Police in London.

Those Jedi Mics with the UHF antennas were for the MTS2000's on the Met Police Moto Type II Smartzone system which is now mostly unused.

TETRA is too expensive here to be sold commercially, thats where TRBO is coming in, however TETRA is quite popular commercially in other European countries.

Radio isn't high up the budget list for most commercial companies here in the UK, so most prefer to settle for the cheapest option!

Rich

RADIO43 wrote:XTS4000 will be released to State and Local Government agencies on or around April 27th, 2008, Did anyone else get this email?

Yes.

Update: XTS4000 will be available for sale on April 25th to State and Local Governement Users. I have the spec sheets so if anyone is intrested in any info just PM me.

Here is one interesting receiver fact for the VHF model:

1% BER - 0.25 uV
5% BER - 0.22 uV

As far as receiver sensitivity & selectivity, spec sheet says - Measured in Digital Mode per TIA/EIA IS 102.CAAA


Hope this helps.....

Played with one today. VHF we put some local repeaters in it and it did well. From the factory it was putting out 2.8 watts. RX was .19 not sure where they got .25 from. I'll keep playing and let everyone know if I find anything neat.

Wont be too long till they show themselves on ebay......

I wouldn't mind getting one, just for the pure fact that every guy has a 5000,3000 etc and i could hide it in my pocket...

PARANOID

Hiding in your pocket, come on

looks neat and will be keen to get my hands on one and try it out

Cheers

Id rather see them release the sse5000 and and support it maybe a model 2 and 3. I would love a saber type radio with the platform of astro25