This might get some negative responses, but... (CPS related)

[mavericknet]

I've had enough of dealing with the idio.... err management at Motorola. I've applied three times for the CPS (Customer Programming Software) for the CDM radios I own and am responsible for. I then got hold of a vice president, after a lengthy discourse of how I was directly responsible -under contract- to several small emergency public safety agencies, he said I would need to be an authorized dealer or service shop to perform those services on the CDM/HT, after which he said that there was no chance that I.. or anybody else in my area could become a dealer or service shop... I attempted to call him many times again, and I recieved either poor responses or nothing.

I'm at wits end, I have demands for service, and a loyalty to a product.. There has to be something illegal in this, restraint of trade, or some consumer affairs abuse (as I own radios that would make a consumer as well). I'm considering bringing my case to my State Attorney General, who loves to kick around corporations... Has anybody else felt this way... we're getting locally shafted by our radio service shop, nobody wants to deal with them anymore, but they're all we have in this town (by authorization).... anybody's ideas input...

In case anybody from Motorola is reading this, understand nobody here wants to do this, we have all come together to discuss what many of us believe to be a superior product, but we are not going to stand by and not be able to maintain and support the products we buy... Just my $.02... if anybody's got a better solution I'd love to hear it... As always (for those legally minded out there about libel and slander) this post is my OPINION, protected by amendment #1 of the constitution of the United States.... grrrr....

[Mike in CT]

Maverick...

though I don't deal with /\/\ anymore, I thought I would give you a bit of support... and background...

not that it means much, but this problem has been around for years...

not sure why /\/\ is like this... maybe someone more business oriented could tell me.

At one time I was in charge of a fleet of around 80 mobiles, and about 100 portables... not a large system, but constant maintenance was the order of the day.

When I dared stop in at the local /\/\ shop who sold us the equipment for such items as a portable antenna, or a battery, they couldnt (wouldn't?) sell it to us... citing /\/\ policy.

The standard line was "Bring it in, we'll look at it."

Look at it? to have a spare portable antenna???

and heaven forbid you asked to buy a channel element, or PL "reed".

Anyway, the system went over to GE a couple of years later, GE was always willing to sell any and all kind of parts, software, etc...

Like I said, not that my reply helped you, but you aren't alone... past, present and (hopeully not) future.

Keep smiling...

73, Mike in CT
KM1R

[wavetar]

The MSS you were dealing with were @ssholes, obviously. There is NOTHING which states an MSS cannot sell ANY part to whoever walks in off the street, other than RSS.

Todd

[nmfire10]

Kenwood

[mancow]

Too bad Thales doesn't have Uhf, 800 and trunking models yet.
They make any Moto product look like junk.




mancow

[OX]

Take all of your Moto equipment back for a refund citing performance issues with the manufacturer and lack of support. Then go get something else.

I don't know what it is with corporate attitude in general anymore. It seems like all the corporate folks that I deal with daily are jumping into the a$$hole wagon with the economy starting to get turned around.

As for Motorola, they're getting all that revenue from new DHS contracts. Sadly, they don't need your business anymore.

[KitN1MCC]

who was it NECS or Howards old shop.

i know utility is very good and they will support smaller guys who do work i know i have purchased stuff from them and told them what i am doing they were like ok. small places are better served by smaller guys

[ASTRO_25]

Switch to Kenwood, or Vertex. Tell the sales guy with one of those companies what troubles you've had, and what deal they can cut you. They'd love to use you as a reference customer.

Then, write a formal letter to that Vice President at Motorola, and tell him that they totally lost all of your business. Outline in $$ how much, then outline how much future business and maintenance they lost, and how you'd never recommend Motorola products because of this very issue, and then carbon copy the CEO, CFO, and COO, and LMR Division head, and director of sales at Motorola. Make sure that VP's name is clearly outlined in that letter that everyone gets.

I guarantee you they'll come graveling back, and then you can play Motorola against your new vendor. It's the art of the deal, and believe me, you STILL have all the leverage.

I promise you'll get results.

[W4WTF]

Your not alone. I know of at least 3 fire departments around here who went with Kenwood because they could get the software cheap, and easy. It may not seem like much, but when you have to pay the MSS every time you need a programming change made, it sure adds up.

It seems like every 3-4 months a local department gets a new fireground freq or makes a change. Take 20-40 radios you maintain, and add the cost of paying to have them reprogrammed 3-4 times a year.

Then try to buy the software to do it yourself.

Then look at kenwood and Icom. I have had both email me software at no cost.

[KitN1MCC]

i like vertex myself. less intermod

[8443833]

[ moderated ]

Unless you want Motorola to come along and shut this site down, there will be no messages containing or relating to the following subjects:

The sale or trade of Radio Service Software (RSS)

Links to sites offering the sale, trade, or giving away of Radio Service Software (RSS)

Profanity, pornography, defamation, or slanderous remarks directed towards anyone

Commercial advertising

Any other items which may be deemed as offensive

Thanks,

Alex

[8443833]

im sorry to have caused a problem, it wont happen again.

Regards,
8443833

[Adamwest]

Hi all

Is it ok to give a name and phone number of guy at Big M that can sale the software to certain people? Just do not want a brick dropped on my head. RSS is a nasty subject that I try to stay away from. He's a friend that maybe could help you and maybe not.


adam

[darkside_wa]

Motorola = Microsoft ?

Its a tad lame, that you buy equipment and cant support it because of some strange business strategy on the behalf of a corporation.

It definately explains the shift in the market place to other companies and manufacturers.

Regs
Rod

[cfdeng3]

I have had similar issues. I am involved with an orginization which has several hundred portables and about 75+ mobiles. We get the biggest run around when trying to do the RIGHT thing and PURCHASE the software. It is easier to do the wrong thing when you run into so many problems!

[jim]

Hmmmm. Let us think for a minute here, Motorola. If you won't sell CPS/RSS to a customer legitimately, how will they obtain it so that they can program the $50,000 worth of product in which they have just purchased from you? Hmmm. I wonder what they will do? Maybe they will download or copy it? Naaah. They wouldn't do that.
If people have several written records of denial of legitimate purchase of software from "M" and someday get caught with a bootleg version, how can ANYONE take legal action? Seriously- they made several attempts to go about it legally and the company wouldn't sell it to them. Of course, they will come after you, 'cause they (and Microshit) are gods in their own minds.

When I purchsed my Grand Cherokee, I also purchased a factory service manual. If they wouldn't sell it, I'd purchase a 4-Runner from Japan.

When our department purchsed a $300,000 fire engine last year, we demanded full schematics. If they wouldn't provide it, we would have went elsewhere and purchsed from someone that would.

There is Kenwood, Vertex and Icom that are willing to many times, give you the RSS when you purchase a radio. You'll just have to buy a cable. They work every bit as well as Motorola products- sometimes better. Yes, there really is something better than Motorola at times, although many won't accept this. I would trade my HT1250 lowband for a TK190 any day of the week. You also don't have to do weekly firmware upgrades to make them work properly. You also can't "brick" one while programming them.

[weco-usa]

[moderated]

There are to be NO MORE suggestions about where else to go...

End of discussion.

-alex

[chtucker]

It took a little effort and follow up, but once I got a hold of "the" agreement, I am able to purchase any RSS I want.

Called up, opened account in the name of the governmental agency and I was up and running.

Within a month I spent $3500 in cables and software. ht600,h1000,mt1000,m1225,maratrac,cdm series,ht1250/750,mt2000,mcs2000,maxtracs yada yada, I got everything I needed.

It takes a little bit of effort and I would assume ordering it under a governmental name is easier.

That being said, Every single Kenwood/Icom I have bought, my vendor gave me the software and the cable. I bought 100 tk-290s and I made him created the code-plug and then I just had to mod for options.

If you are dealing with a vendor they can help with moto too. It took a nudge from a district manager for things to be sped up.

Howard

[jim]

Funny....I don't recall anyone saying "where to go" for anything.

[kmoose]

Funny....I don't recall anyone saying "where to go" for anything.

I think that is because their posts were moderated, Jim.....

[weco-usa]

[moderated]

There are to be NO MORE suggestions about where else to go...

End of discussion.

-alex

SORRY, Alex

jim wrote:
Funny....I don't recall anyone saying "where to go" for anything.

Well I didn't exactly point to anything, just suggestion of searches to try on a search engine...... But NOT a real link, maybe barely a hint.......

Won't happen again

[RADIOMAN2002]

The best option for your problem with Motorola is buy something else. Our department did after a lost of hassles with the CDM line of radios. Went to Vertex and have been quite happy. We now won't even allow a Motorola rep in our Head Quarters. And to boot the local Vertex shop is taking all the service away from Motorola for the entire county, Fire, P.D., transit buses all of it. I will be very happy when Motorola land mobile division is sold off or declares bankruptcy!
BTW there is a dealer in NYC with a multi-million dollar restraint of trade lawsuit going on right now against Motorola. Most times when someone sticks it out against the drunken bat they do win and win big. I refer you to the Reach Pager settlement in the 70's where Motorla had to pay Reach pager millions of dollars for theft of a patented idea. And just recently the tool proof lawsuit, which I don't really know much about, but appears Motorola was tagged for introducing a virus into certain models of radios.