Opinions on Vehicle Adapters

gpdmaj · Post by **gpdmaj** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 4:31 pm

Our county will be switching over to 800MHz over the next year and because of cost we are considering vehicular adapters (convertacoms) for our unmarked admin and investigative units instead of mobile units ($1000 opposed to $4500). The portable that we will be using is the XTS5000. I'm interested in the forum's opinion on using these, their reliabilty, and other information that will help guide our agency in making an informed decision. Thanks!

Code636 · Post by **Code636** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 5:05 pm

as long as your not using them with shoulder mics for police, your ok. trying to jump out of a car, grab your radio, put shoulder mic on, let alone putting it in a leather holder and snapping strap down! yeesh
I rigged up a toggle switch for mine, like a mobile, I need it I flip it on, otherwise the rapid charger uses all the time.

wa2zdy · Post by **wa2zdy** » Sun Apr 20, 2003 4:33 am

the speaker/mics connect to the same connector on the radio that the MVA connects to, so the radio cannot be used in the MVA if it has the speaker/mic attached. Moot point.

wd9cms · Post by **wd9cms** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 7:00 am

I have been using the XTVA with vhf/uhf/800 XTS3000's for 4 years with no problems and XTS5000's for the last year with no problems. Both radios require an additional rf adapter which mounts between the radio and antenna. This rf adapter or switch is a NTN8327A which is less expensive if you order it as an option with the radio at time of purchase rather than after the fact. One thing you need to remeber is only the radios with this adapter will work with the XTVA. If you order all the radios with the RF Adapter you will not have any problems using any radio in the department with the XTVA. However, if you only order the ADM/Detective radios with this adapter then you will not be able to take a radio from patrol without the adapter and use it with the XTVA. Hope this helps...