What kind of Digital Radio's is Your Agency using??

[hoser147]

Im looking for input on what brand and/or model digital radio's is your agency using? Right now my county and others around me are studying digital radio's to use on the Ohio MARCs system, they are looking at the big M and Johnson so far. Any Input (Good or Bad) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Hoser

[KS4VT]

On 813A there are XTS3000's Astro Spectra's, XTS5000's, XTS2500's, XTL1500's, XTL2500's and XTL5000's. Very few Johnson's (2 or 3) are in service that are digital capable and most will go away with re-banding.

[16b]

Sadly, since the Ohio MARCS is a Motorola system you'll only be able to look at either them or EF Johnson for radios. I know of a group on MARCS who use EFJs, but I don't know what they think of them. If your department is seriously considering them I can try to put you in touch with someone from this group. I have heard from other users who tried the EFJs on an analog system and were unimpressed with their performance overall and had serious concerns about their reliability in decoding the control channel data. There isn't much to say about the Motorola radios other than if you've got the money, they are the clear choice. I've had experience with XTS3000s, XTS5000s, Astro Spectras, and XTL5000s, all of which work just fine. The 3000s and Astro Spectras haven't been in production for a while; you'll get an XTS/XTL-5000, -2500, or -1500, depending on exactly what features you need.

[hoser147]

Originally Posted by 16b

Sadly, since the Ohio MARCS is a Motorola system you'll only be able to look at either them or EF Johnson for radios. I know of a group on MARCS who use EFJs, but I don't know what they think of them. If your department is seriously considering them I can try to put you in touch with someone from this group. I have heard from other users who tried the EFJs on an analog system and were unimpressed with their performance overall and had serious concerns about their reliability in decoding the control channel data. There isn't much to say about the Motorola radios other than if you've got the money, they are the clear choice. I've had experience with XTS3000s, XTS5000s, Astro Spectras, and XTL5000s, all of which work just fine. The 3000s and Astro Spectras haven't been in production for a while; you'll get an XTS/XTL-5000, -2500, or -1500, depending on exactly what features you need.

That would be great its kinda torn in this county as to which radio's, one chief is pushing for Moto's and the other EFJs both are the big dogs as far as depts go. The smaller communities are volunteer and will pretty much go with what the others agree on..........Thanks Hoser

[swhetsell]

WV State Police is making the move to digital in the new statewide system. We are using EF Johnson 3500 series mobiles in all cars, and Motorola Astro Portables (but i'm not sure of the model right now). Both of which seem to be working well for us.

[DaveNF2G]

Don't you have a state bid system? Just choose the brand/model that is most affordable at the contract price.

[hoser147]

Originally Posted by DaveNF2G

Don't you have a state bid system? Just choose the brand/model that is most affordable at the contract price.

Yes it is done thru the State bidding system. Right now we have 2 Motorola XTS5000 portables and a Spectra W7 in the watch room. Right now the XTS 5000 will probably go to the Incident commander and what is purchased beyond that depends on affordability and usage.........Hoser

[REDave]

The Armer System uses some Kenwood 5400 or 5700 not sure of the model but I hear they perform OK

[KX5MOT]

On the Oklahoma State DPS system for the newer radios we are using XTS5000/XTS2500 portables and t XTL5000/XTL2500 Mobiles which work very well.

[kb9sxk]

I have used EFJ and Mot side by side on Indiana's Safe-t system. For the $, the EFJ wins.

[e911god]

XTS5000 portables. Astro Spectra Mobiles soon to be upgraded to XTL5000's.

[hoser147]

Originally Posted by kb9sxk

I have used EFJ and Mot side by side on Indiana's Safe-t system. For the $, the EFJ wins.

Can you enlighten me on what you like/dislike about the two? Our county is at a deadlock between the two. Thanks Hoser

[K9JRF]

My PD agency is using MOTO XTS-5000 model 2. We dont have mobiles, only portables.. Never had any experenice with the EFJ.. I have noticed some of the State Troopers in our area are carrying the EFJ radios, but havent heard any comments one way or another...

[RodStrong]

My agency uses XTS2500 handhelds. We are happy with them so far. Been using for pushing a year now.

Good luck.

[hoser147]

Thanks for the info all, still got about a month before the contracts are to be signed, so any other imput would be great. THANKS Again Hoser

[kb9sxk]

Originally Posted by hoser147

Can you enlighten me on what you like/dislike about the two? Our county is at a deadlock between the two. Thanks Hoser

Price
The EFJ kills the 2500. the 5000 is even
Encryption is included in the EFJ
Ruggedized is standard in the EFJ
uses most jedi stuff
scans more than 16 talkgroups

[greeneyes965]

What ever champaign county illinois is using

[steele_lpd]

The majority of the PD's around NH are using older Motorola XTS3000's. Some have the limited keypad and others (mostly State Police) are using the full keypad version. As more and more are breaking down they're switching to the XTS2500's... again with the limited keypad.

To the best of my knowledge most, if not all, of the PD's and Fire Departments (with the exception of Manchester and Nashua because they're on their own 800MHz trunking systems) are using ASTRO Spectras... or XTL's with ASTRO Spectra control heads.

The digital radios provided to the fire departments came though grant money... Motorola was the only option for mobiles... ASTRO Spectras... When it came time for portables the departments were given an option... Either Motorola (XTS2500's) or Kenwood's TK-5210's.

I use an XTS2500 for fire department operations and it does work well. The only problem we had was with the antennas. They came from the dealer with wide band antennas that didn't work for us because our frequencies are near the top of the band. They worked fine for fireground operations but did not work well for talking back to dispatch (keep in mind the dispatch center is about 30 miles away and the closest base station they have is on a mountain about 10 miles away).

I have not had a chance to do anything with the Kenwoods other than some programming. The XTS2500's are smaller (in height) than the 3000's but feel heavier. Feedback from local PD's that have a mix of older XTS3000's and newer XTS2500's is that the 2500's do work better (for their particular application).

[Grog]

Originally Posted by steele_lpd

I use an XTS2500 for fire department operations and it does work well. The only problem we had was with the antennas. They came from the dealer with wide band antennas that didn't work for us because our frequencies are near the top of the band. They worked fine for fireground operations but did not work well for talking back to dispatch (keep in mind the dispatch center is about 30 miles away and the closest base station they have is on a mountain about 10 miles away).

What frequency/band are you using?

[stickair]

Here in Europe, usually the public safety services uses TETRA, TErrestrial Trunking RAdio. If I have to be honest: THAT'S A -.-. .-. .- .--. !!! Yeah, very small terminals and lot of functions in, but: what about the power? 1W? yeah, digital... it doesn't need so much... but... 1W?

Here I think our public services must use APCO25, iDAS or analogic another time.
There was some firemans dead coz the useless of this ONLY watt.

Greetings!