HT1000 vs HT1250 Performance [Just throwing this out there]

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nick.dejohn
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HT1000 vs HT1250 Performance [Just throwing this out there]

Post by nick.dejohn »

I did some searching around and couldn't really find what I was looking for so I thought I would put this out there. I have a few friends that are firefighters and were issued Motorola HT1250 VHF Limited Keypads about 2 years ago. They have been struggling with them since then. They came from HT1000 radios and they swear up and down that the HT1250 does not operate as good as the HT1250.

So, with that said, a test was performed. A firefighter took an HT1250 VHF, with the standard antenna, fully charged battery, with a speaker mic, inside a leather holster attached to a fireman's strap and did a radio test from inside a building. The HT1250 had troubles getting out of the building. Now, we took an HT1000 VHF with the exact same configuration, in the exact same spot and performed the same radio test and the radio got out of the building.

Putting the backbone of the radio system aside, I find it odd how the HT1250 can not get out of the building but the HT1000 can. I'm looking for some pointers to share with my friends as to what they can do to improve the performance on the HT1250. Neighboring departments to them have no problems with their HT1250's.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Please put a subject that matches up with what your post is about - "Just throwing this out there" doesn't mean anything to anyone who is casually browsing -Alex]
Nick
MT2000 man
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Re: Just throwing this out there

Post by MT2000 man »

Has that said HT1250 been aligned recently ? If not, maybe it's out of alignment ?
Will
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Re: Just throwing this out there

Post by Will »

There was a serious problem in the antenna matching circuit in many HT1250 and it's brothers and cousins. This is an ongoing problem.

We had a serious problem with railroad radios some years ago. That customer has since gone to Kwoodie HH radios.

Be sure you have the correct antenna, many of the aftermarket antennas are not tuned properly for the HT1250 series radios.
nick.dejohn
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Re: Just throwing this out there

Post by nick.dejohn »

The radios are fresh out of the box with no formal retuning of any kind. The antennas are the standard Motorola VHF antenna that comes with the radio.
Nick
jmr061
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Re: Just throwing this out there

Post by jmr061 »

If you get the speaker mic cord too close or in contact with the antenna, the output pretty much goes down to nothing.

Make sure the cord is as far from the antenna as possible.

Jason
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HLA
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Re: Just throwing this out there

Post by HLA »

i'd check the power setting on the 1250 and make shure it's on high. 5 watt output is 5 watt output no matter what the source is so if they are both really on high power then it's an antennae issue or something after the transmitter output.
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thebigphish
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Re: Just throwing this out there

Post by thebigphish »

MFD? operator error. :-)

What is your RX deck for this test? Another HT1250? The HT1000 did have a hotter RX sensitivity than the Waris units did, so you may be getting out...and not being heard.
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CircleBat
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Re: HT1000 vs HT1250 Performance [Just throwing this out the

Post by CircleBat »

There was a serious problem in the antenna matching circuit in many HT1250 and it's brothers and cousins. This is an ongoing problem.

We had a serious problem with railroad radios some years ago. That customer has since gone to Kwoodie HH radios.

Be sure you have the correct antenna, many of the aftermarket antennas are not tuned properly for the HT1250 series radios.Will

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Private messageE-mail Will

Will was right on the mismatch. that was why the driver/P.A. went on these radios.. the HT1000 had a better reciever end than the ht750/1250 series .. The HT750/1250 had many issues with the transmit side and the HT1000 worked alot better on Transmit ..The only downside is that replacement parts on the HT1000 are slowly disappearing.

circlebat
nick.dejohn
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Re: HT1000 vs HT1250 Performance [Just throwing this out the

Post by nick.dejohn »

Thanks everyone for the replies. Im just trying to figure out what is the best course of action to take to get the most out of these radios? Im not sure if sending them back to Motorola will do anything.
Nick
jmr061
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Re: HT1000 vs HT1250 Performance [Just throwing this out the

Post by jmr061 »

Take the speaker mic off and leave the radio in the same spot and key up the ptt on the radio. Bet it gets better tx out.

Jason
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Bill_G
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Re: HT1000 vs HT1250 Performance [Just throwing this out the

Post by Bill_G »

It would be an interesting experiment to measure the rssi from both models of radios at a known point. I've seen some darn poor performance out of HT1250's where an old Icom portable worked fine.
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MTS2000des
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Re: HT1000 vs HT1250 Performance [Just throwing this out the

Post by MTS2000des »

The Pro series are a lower tier than the Jedi series ever were.
One of my friends worked for an agency who were issued HT1250's on a conventional simulcast VHF repeater. Even though his radio benched within specification, it sucked in the field. He could stand in a location where he would barely trip the repeater with then1250, switch to an HT1000/MT2000 and put in a decent 8-10db quieting signal. Both radios were not using RSM's and had proper antennas in good condition for the rated band split.

He ended up buying a used HT1000 for his duty radio out of frustration with the HT1250 and it's piss poor performance.

The Pro series is one I won't miss when they are all finally EOL'ed.
I've heard a local Kenwood dealer say the HT750 and HT1250 are why the Kenwood TK2180/3180 and TK2150/3160 became such good sellers (and still are).
After using a TK2180 and 3180 for a few months I see why. Miles above any Pro series garbage and cheaper too.
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CircleBat
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Re: HT1000 vs HT1250 Performance [Just throwing this out the

Post by CircleBat »

The HT1000 is more water sealed than the HT1250's.. the only disadvantage about the HT1000 is the common grounding problem

CircleBat
motorola_otaku
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Re: Just throwing this out there

Post by motorola_otaku »

Will wrote:There was a serious problem in the antenna matching circuit in many HT1250 and it's brothers and cousins. This is an ongoing problem.
Does this also apply to the 220 MHz HT1250s with SMA antenna connectors?
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K8TEK
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Re: Just throwing this out there

Post by K8TEK »

motorola_otaku wrote:
Will wrote:There was a serious problem in the antenna matching circuit in many HT1250 and it's brothers and cousins. This is an ongoing problem.
Does this also apply to the 220 MHz HT1250s with SMA antenna connectors?
As far as I know, it was only the VHF model with the problem.
K8TEK::Tim
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FireCpt809
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Re: HT1000 vs HT1250 Performance [Just throwing this out the

Post by FireCpt809 »

I have to agree about the VHF HT1250's we use a mix of HT1000 and HT1250s our DN HT1000's are as old as 1997 and still outperform the HT1250's all the time. we are on a voted conventional VHF repeater with 6 reciever sites mostly on water towers. We will be at a call and no one with a HT1250 can get out. They usually have to ask me to call dispatch on the radio with my XTS5000. We also have had alot more failures with broken radios on the HT1250's where the HT1000's take the abuse on the fireground alot better.
CircleBat
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Re: HT1000 vs HT1250 Performance [Just throwing this out the

Post by CircleBat »

I find the VHF HT1250 works alot better with the 150 mhz whips.. don't use the 170mhz whips or the stubby antennas

CircleBat
N4KVE
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Re: HT1000 vs HT1250 Performance [Just throwing this out the

Post by N4KVE »

I have a few Jedi radios on 900 & UHF & they work great. But a few years ago, I picked up a few Waris 900 & UHF radios. While they transmitted just fine, they just didn't sound right on receive, even after an alignment. They also didn't feel as solid. I ended up selling them & buying more Jedi's. I know this isn't very scientific, but my ears could tell the difference. The only thing the Waris had going for it was the battery gage. GARY N4KVE
RadioSouth
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Re: HT1000 vs HT1250 Performance [Just throwing this out the

Post by RadioSouth »

I switched from Jedi's to Waris a few years back and am also back to Jedi. My Jedi's receive OK in many spots where the Waris don't break squelch. I do like the audio of the Waris line when utilizing the voice expansion, companding feature though.
AEC
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Re: HT1000 vs HT1250 Performance [Just throwing this out the

Post by AEC »

RF matching issues aside, the groundplane the HT1250 utilizes is poor in comparison to the Jedi.
I have identical issues from my HT1250LS+ and the TX range is miserable at best.
460 band local repeater, the Waris always drops out in known good signal/service areas, RX is fine most of the time though(almost equal).

The ONLY misgiving on the Jedi is the front end overload to nearby strong signals, none of the Jedis appreciate it, and all were optimized for a tighter band segment and mod. accept. BW than factory.
They are 'narrow' tuned from 435 - 469 Mhz, afer that, it's factory alignment for the front end filter alignment.

I routinely perform front end alignment on all radios that have the option in software, it's the best way to wring out the smallest dB of usable signal while keeping the receiver sensitive for potential wide band usage in a future app.
My admiration goes to the Jedi, hands down.
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