GP380's on ebay

trainman111 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 04:02 PM

Are the GP380's on ebay actually legit Motorola radios? The reason why I ask is according to the Motorola website, these radios should have 255 channels, but the ones on ebay all advertise 128 channels. A friend of mine just bought one of these radios a few weeks back off of ebay, and it looks legit to me, but I figured I would ask just incase someone knows something that I don't.

K8TEK · #2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainman111

Are the GP380's on ebay actually legit Motorola radios? The reason why I ask is according to the Motorola website, these radios should have 255 channels, but the ones on ebay all advertise 128 channels. A friend of mine just bought one of these radios a few weeks back off of ebay, and it looks legit to me, but I figured I would ask just incase someone knows something that I don't.

Link?

trainman111 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 05:17 PM

I figured most people would do an ebay search but here's a link:

gp380, 2-Way Radios, Walkie Talkies, Ham Radio items on eBay.com

Click on any one you want, VHF or UHF. They are all 128 channels with the exception of two UHF versions which are 16 channels.

avguy · #4 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 06:26 PM

If the tags are good, they are real Motorola.
The catch is that they are not meant for the North American market, so they are not supported here.

trainman111 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 07:15 PM

Right, but they would still work. Basically I'm looking for a good Motorola HT to take with me to watch trains without having to spend $500 on the North American version. According to the specs, they have the same sensitivity and selectivity, so I can't imagine there's a whole lot of difference. I guess the real question is whether they're genuine or not.

gcr33 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 07:54 PM

I am just wondering why you would spend any money for a two way radio to listen to trains?
Seems to me a scanner in VHF is where most of the train action is.

C138Kaysone · #7 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 07:59 PM

ahhh the HT1250 European version "GB380"

Looks the same but i seen them on other websites ranging from 300 dollars, i almost bought one from china that would come with the software but i didnt buy it because i didnt think it was smart for the guy to even provide the whole works but it looked like a bad investment to me if i did.

trainman111 · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcr33

I am just wondering why you would spend any money for a two way radio to listen to trains?
Seems to me a scanner in VHF is where most of the train action is.

Because a commercial radio has MUCH better sensitivity and selectivity than any brand scanner due to the fact that commercial radios are designed to cover a much smaller frequency range. There are many railfans out there who use ham radios and commercial radios instead of scanners because of their increased performance and ruggedness.

Astro25 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainman111

Because a commercial radio has MUCH better sensitivity and selectivity than any brand scanner due to the fact that commercial radios are designed to cover a much smaller frequency range. There are many railfans out there who use ham radios and commercial radios instead of scanners to their increased performance and ruggedness

100% agreed. Not to mention the fact that most (if not all) current scanners on the market do not deliver anywhere close to the audio clarity and loudness needed in a train watching environment.

That and - accidents happen. Scanners, unfortunately, don't do to well with drops on to gravel or hard pavement.

trainman111 · #10 (**permalink**) 05-25-2009, 06:27 PM

What would I ask the seller for to confirm the legality of the radio? The serial number? And how would I verify that the number is genuine? I also noticed that some of the radios come with programming software, which puts up a red flag to me since that it supposed to be bought from Motorola directly. Has anyone had positive experience with these overseas sellers? I just dont want to buy one and find out that its a fake radio or that its stolen or doesnt work.

zz0468 · #11 (**permalink**) 05-25-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainman111

What would I ask the seller for to confirm the legality of the radio? The serial number? And how would I verify that the number is genuine? I also noticed that some of the radios come with programming software, which puts up a red flag to me since that it supposed to be bought from Motorola directly. Has anyone had positive experience with these overseas sellers? I just dont want to buy one and find out that its a fake radio or that its stolen or doesnt work.

Did you try looking at the sellers feedback? A quick look in one of them found this:

"BEWARE, RADIO'S ARE COPY'S AND ILLEGAL IN EUROPE. NO CE-LABEL. TAKEN BY CUSTOMS"

trainman111 · #12 (**permalink**) 05-25-2009, 10:27 PM

Yes I did look at that, but I noticed that was the only comment that confirmed that they received a fake radio. What about the other sellers? Do you think they are all fake as well? I physically looked at one of these radios, and they look awfully genuine. I'll take a look again at that radio and see if I can find a CE-label on it. If it's not there then I guess we'll know the answer to the main question but then another question arises as to why U.S. Customs let it through if European Customs stopped it.

zz0468 · #13 (**permalink**) 05-25-2009, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainman111

Yes I did look at that, but I noticed that was the only comment that confirmed that they received a fake radio. What about the other sellers? Do you think they are all fake as well?

Other sellerS? There seems to be only one other seller, and their auction states "95% NEW!" So, yeah, I think they're counterfeits, too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainman111

I physically looked at one of these radios, and they look awfully genuine.

You DO realize that these counterfeit radios are actually Motorola manufactured parts, right? What's generally done is they're assembled from spare parts and factory seconds. So, they'll LOOK genuine...

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainman111

I'll take a look again at that radio and see if I can find a CE-label on it. If it's not there then I guess we'll know the answer to the main question but then another question arises as to why U.S. Customs let it through if European Customs stopped it.

Probably for the same reason Motorola pulled a GP68 auction of mine, while others were allowed through to completion. They fell through the cracks.

trainman111 · #14 (**permalink**) 05-25-2009, 11:15 PM

Well that all makes sense. It really is a shame that all of these people are getting gyped buying non-genuine radios. It's also a shame that there aren't any "real" GP380's on ebay. It's a good radio that I'd like to get my hands on without having to buy new from a dealer.

MTS2000des · #15 (**permalink**) 05-26-2009, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainman111

Well that all makes sense. It really is a shame that all of these people are getting gyped buying non-genuine radios. It's also a shame that there aren't any "real" GP380's on ebay. It's a good radio that I'd like to get my hands on without having to buy new from a dealer.

for not much more money you can buy a good Icom or Kenwood fully supported US version new with a warranty from a US dealer. Icom and Kenwood programming software can be legally purchased from most dealers for a nominal cost, and no silly hoops like ma M makes you jump through. Programming cables are also easily obtainable. and you'll have a good quality, FCC certified, legal for US use on part 90 radio you can program.

Josh · #16 (**permalink**) 05-26-2009, 05:26 AM

Another note on the 'GP380' radios, you can't tell from looking at it what systems it does, whether it be european 5-tone signaling or MDC1200, etc etc... I think some do a form of trunking too, which would limit the number of conventional channels to 16/32.

Moto was avid in pulling auctions for export radios advertised to Americans, but apparently not anymore.

You can give it a try and see what you get, or just save a bit longer and buy a true, legit HT1250 radio and be done without any hoops, hassles, or surprises.

-Josh

jfyrfytr25 · #17 (**permalink**) 05-26-2009, 01:16 PM

BEWARE!!

as many have said it may be a parts built radio. Even if it is, it may still be a good radio and work well.

the problem you and anyone else in the US will have is getting it programmed.
Motorola has all of their radios region coded and a specific software for each region.
so this radio has an asian region code, if you try to read it with the North American CPS it will give you an
error message.

Moto will only sell the appropriate software in the appropriate country. since radios from other countries were never ment to to be in this country, there is no reason for any moto shop to possess other countries CPS.

therefore, the ONLY way to program this radio would be by finding a pirated copy on your own, which we all know is highly illegal.

for another 150-200 bucks you can get an HT1250 which is the american version of this. you would be able to have it programmed at any moto shop in the US and you may even be able to get moto to sell it to you if you want.

bottom line is, you may save a few bucks with this, but in the long run it will cost much more with the aggrevation it will cause you.

ATF1224 · #18 (**permalink**) 05-26-2009, 02:59 PM

Two of my friends have bought these GP380's with no issues. The radios are actual GP380's that support 255 channels, but for whatever reason the seller was putting the wrong information with the radio.

jfyrfytr25 · #19 (**permalink**) 05-26-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATF1224

Two of my friends have bought these GP380's with no issues. The radios are actual GP380's that support 255 channels, but for whatever reason the seller was putting the wrong information with the radio.

how did they get them programmed?? because no LEGIT moto shop would do it.

and if they have the software themselves then it was obtained illegally (if they are in the US)

which i dont think the OP is looking to do.

i just want anyone thinking of doing this to be aware that it aint as easy to get this programmed as an HT1250 or the like.

ATF1224 · #20 (**permalink**) 05-26-2009, 03:12 PM

The radios being sold on ebay come with a RIBless USB cable and the programming software.