Fleet in need of update.

[KG4INW]

Originally Posted by IAmSixNine

Thanks cabletech for the clarifications..

For further clarification, it's all Part 90 users except what cabletech noted and T-band.

[W2NJS]

More misinformation, something the posters on this Board do with regularity.

Narrowbanding affects 150 to 470 mHz, but does not affect T-band 470-512 mHz. The current T-band users screamed so loud the FCC backed off, probably because the band will be taken away from Part 90 licensees down the road a ways.

[KG4INW]

True.

Originally Posted by cabletech

As for Motorola, they bought out the Standard/Yessue line. Vertex is still a standalone company.

Not sure how I missed this but Motorola bought out Vertex Standard. Yaesu is now a totally separate company (again).

[gtaman]

Originally Posted by W2NJS

More misinformation, something the posters on this Board do with regularity.

Narrowbanding affects 150 to 470 mHz, but does not affect T-band 470-512 mHz. The current T-band users screamed so loud the FCC backed off, probably because the band will be taken away from Part 90 licensees down the road a ways.

You mean the state of New York did most most of the screaming😃

[speedway_navigator]

The HT-1000 radios will do 12.5 kHz but I can't find that the radio is type accepted to do that.

The OET page for the FCC ID gives a 404 error for the UHF version, the VHF version (AZ489FT3768) has links to some supplemental docs and those links are bad, they are listed as pdf but the url is for text, so you have to save the file as a pdf to view it.

The docs refer to narrowband so I'm assuming they are certified.

[mmckenna]

The UHF HT-1000 I had would do 12.5, and it wasn't a hack or modification. They are type accepted for narrow band. The only issue with -some- of the models (and it doesn't apply in this case) is the older models don't do the splinter channels.

[ARTVANDALAY]

I have read that the HT 1000s are capeble of Narrowbanding only if they have the suffix DN in the model number, which ours do. We are not getting rid of the HT1000s because of the narrowbanding mandate, and quite frankly they have been the best portables we have ever had. We are because none of the guys want to lug around such a heavy portable.

[KG4INW]

All HT1000s will do 12.5. However, only the DN revisions will do the splinter freqs as mmckenna correctly noted. Either way, I hear ya!

[RodStrong]

Originally Posted by ARTVANDALAY

Hello, I am a fleet mechanic for a relatively small excavation company (25 pieces). Due to narrow banding, a number of our mobile and portable radios need replacement. We are looking into a few different options, but I would like to know your opinions.

-We operate on one VHF channel around 151 Mhz (I'd have to look it up).
-We do not use any repeaters, or trucking.
-We have a mixture of 25Watt and 40Watt mobiles, but would like to buy 40Watt
-We do not need a lot of options, just simple units.

Not trying to poop on a Motorola post, but regarding mobiles, with what you have described as your needs, I would go with the Vertex VX-2100's. Land Mobile Radio | Vertex Standard | VX-2100/2200

50 watts, 3 year warranty (best warranty out there), simple to use, and bulletproof. And they can be had for less than $250 each, which is less than what you would pay for a 25 watt CM300, and probably a hundred dollars less than a 45 watt CM300.

I take care of hundreds of radios of many brands (vast majority Motorola), from high tier to low tier, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy this radio for a scenario as you have stated. If you have questions about this radio or dealer recommendations, shoot me a PM. Good luck.

[ARTVANDALAY]

Thank you for the suggestion, I will look into the Vertex. I am curious, how long would you guys expect it should take a dealer tech to reprogram six P1225s and two HT1000s? My dealer expected that it will cost me around $35.00 per radio to reprogram, does that sound fair? I thought it seemed high...

[SteveC0625]

Originally Posted by ARTVANDALAY

Thank you for the suggestion, I will look into the Vertex. I am curious, how long would you guys expect it should take a dealer tech to reprogram six P1225s and two HT1000s? My dealer expected that it will cost me around $35.00 per radio to reprogram, does that sound fair? I thought it seemed high...

You asked about "how long to program" and then told us "how much" the dealer wants to charge. (Apples and oranges???)

To partially answer your question, $35 per radio is in the ball park, but maybe a touch on the high side. Dealers around here are charging $30 per. That doesn't mean you are being ripped off, it could just be a difference in cost of living in your area versus mine.

Time wise, just to narrowband 8 handhelds should not take more than a day, even if he realigns them as he reprograms them. But, since we're only 30 days away from the deadline, I can not assure you that his shop work load isn't such that he can even get to them right away. Remember that many, many other businesses and agencies have waited until the 11th hour to deal with this mandate. I've been counseling folks for several years that waiting until the 4th quarter of 2012 is not a good idea at all.

[bryanknj]

I recommend that you look into the Vertex VX450 series of portable analog radios. Three models exist with display, without display, and range from 32 channels to 512 channels in both VHF, and UHF. I have begun switching the personnel at my police department over to these models, and so far they are standing up well, and are very reasonably priced at less that $300.00. Here is a link to the Vertex page Land Mobile Radio | Vertex Standard | VX-450 for the portables.

They also have a comparable mobile radio, very similar to the portable, and a good choice to go with. The channels on the mobiles range from 8 to 512, with just a limited display, or a full display, and, again, are available in VHF, and UHF. The link is Land Mobile Radio | Vertex Standard | VX-4500/4600 with two mobile models currently available to choose from.

I am not sure if you do the programming on your own, or not, but if you the software is inexpensive, and it is possible to upgrade the radio's firmware through the same cable, which also is reasonably priced. The same software programs both radios, and it is quite easy to learn.

In my opinion, Vertex has developed an excellent line of analog radios with this series..