Motorola Minitor III vs IV

scannerpro · #1 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 11:05 PM

Whats the difference? I've been trying to find a comparsion chart on the internet and can not find one. If someone could help that would be great. Thanks for your time!

chrismol1 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 07:49 PM

Design
The Minitor III was the first minitor to be computer programmable in the 90's then the IV came out.

Chauffeur6 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 08:27 PM

There is no functional difference except the knobs were changed for the IV. Everything else internally is identical. Both pieces of junk.

ffexpCP · #4 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 08:28 PM

Guts are the same, I've seen M3 boards inside a 4 case.

The only difference is the case design and knobs with a better 'feel'

scannerpro · #5 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 11:05 PM

Thank you for the replies. I'll look around before I make a final choice.

scannerpro · #6 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chauffeur6

There is no functional difference except the knobs were changed for the IV. Everything else internally is identical. Both pieces of junk.

I understand what you mean I hear alot of people complain about the III Pagers

Sonic1131 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 12:29 AM

Lots and Lots of complaints about the III .The IV is better .

Chauffeur6 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonic1131

Lots and Lots of complaints about the III .The IV is better .

Except that makes absolutely no sense since they are the exact same pager where it counts. The IV is just a III in a different plastic case with different knobs on top. That's it, really, no other difference.

tac9c819 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 10:00 PM

Our Fire Department has had better luck with the Min IV, one the knobs don't fall off like the III. If you get a Min IV make sure the serial number starts with 839, Min III are 253. We just sent in three Min III that quit working and motorola sent them back unrepairable, they still seem to fix the IV. Good Luck!

K8TEK · #10 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 02:05 AM

Yes, the IIIs are absolute garbage. The knobs fall off all the time. I personally prefer the old Minitor II with tone reeds.

FireFighterGA · #11 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chauffeur6

There is no functional difference except the knobs were changed for the IV. Everything else internally is identical. Both pieces of junk.

Why junk...if I may ask? I live in a rural mountainous area and when tones drop, my IV works just fine. Now, if I am in a very low lying area, any info being transmitted by dispatch can be distorted at times but only in 2 distinct areas.

pdfdems286 · #12 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 05:50 PM

nothing beat's the II's for realiability and readability. pardon the pun,but those old crystal job's are rock solid. next up on my hit list is the minitor v. nice,has a boatload of feature's. when i go out of <for lack of a better term> "my first due area" , the v does not read the page as well as the II did. i still have a II, but it's only a backup.

Chris5 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 12:16 PM

I know im prob a little late on this one but it seems to me that the minitor 2s have a better antenna shall I say? They seem to be able to pick up stuff at a further distance. I have the 2 and the 3 and like them both. I’m not big on the rest of them as far as the look.