APX 7500 and APX 7000

[sampsondeputy]

currently my agency operates on the NC VIPER system using XTL sand XTS radios. Everyone on the system has to upgrade to a TDMA capable radio. We want to upgrade to a dual band radio (VHF/800). The APX 8000 and 8500 is way too expensive. We would like to use the APX 7000 and 7500, phase II, but they have been discontinued. Does anyone know a good surplus or auction place to check for these radios? We need around 120 of the 7000 and around 170 of the 7500.

 

[ResQguy]

currently my agency operates on the NC VIPER system using XTL sand XTS radios. Everyone on the system has to upgrade to a TDMA capable radio. We want to upgrade to a dual band radio (VHF/800). The APX 8000 and 8500 is way too expensive. We would like to use the APX 7000 and 7500, phase II, but they have been discontinued. Does anyone know a good surplus or auction place to check for these radios? We need around 120 of the 7000 and around 170 of the 7500.

If you absolutely must have those particular models, Sunny's is the only place I would trust for a municipal purchase. Used-Radios.com™ - Buy, Sell, Repair or Trade Today!
They may not be listed on their website, but give them a shot. They work with hundreds of government agencies to service and turn over surplus equipment.

 

[buddrousa]

Buying used surplus for Government Emergency Service Radios is asking for trouble.
#1 No Warranty
#2 No Service Shop
#3 You are buying someone else's problems
#4 Who is going to Program your radios
#5 Where do you think you would get support

 

[sampsondeputy]

If you absolutely must have those particular models, Sunny's is the only place I would trust for a municipal purchase. Used-Radios.com™ - Buy, Sell, Repair or Trade Today!
They may not be listed on their website, but give them a shot. They work with hundreds of government agencies to service and turn over surplus equipment.

Thanks for the feedback. We are not married to this model, but to my knowledge it’s the only dual band Motorola other than the 8000 and 8500. Any other suggestions on a different dependable model?

 

[MTS2000des]

Not always true. Reputable resellers like Sunny Communications offer full service. Never bought anything from them, but know plenty of agencies who have. These aren't "can't test=doesn't work" hackjobs on ebay and are priced accordingly, but their entire business is catering to governments not hobbyists.

They stand behind their product. They have a FULL service staff with legitimate software, high end service monitors, and stocks of OEM parts. This is where the rubber meets the road. FWIW, APX7000s and 7500s are STILL FULLY SUPPORTED by MSI and thus, just because it's a used radio, if the provenance is correct, and it's been fully vetted by a shop like Sunny's, there is NOTHING wrong with buying one or a hundred. A good shop will vet the product, do a full PM, and update firmware/ROS, and offer a guarantee.

Always buy the SELLER not the item.

 

[sampsondeputy]

Buying used surplus for Government Emergency Service Radios is asking for trouble.
#1 No Warranty
#2 No Service Shop
#3 You are buying someone else's problems
#4 Who is going to Program your radios
#5 Where do you think you would get support

We have a radio service shop that can get Motorola parts. Other issues can be forwarded to Motorola for a bench repair if needed. I program our current system. I agree with the no warranty and potentially purchasing someone else’s problem. We are just trying to find a cost effective solution to the situation we are in by the TDMA switch over. With a very limited budget, we have to weigh many options. Any suggestions?

 

[sampsondeputy]

Not always true. Reputable resellers like Sunny Communications offer full service. Never bought anything from them, but know plenty of agencies who have. These aren't "can't test=doesn't work" hackjobs on ebay and are priced accordingly, but their entire business is catering to governments not hobbyists.

They stand behind their product. They have a FULL service staff with legitimate software, high end service monitors, and stocks of OEM parts. This is where the rubber meets the road. FWIW, APX7000s and 7500s are STILL FULLY SUPPORTED by MSI and thus, just because it's a used radio, if the provenance is correct, and it's been fully vetted by a shop like Sunny's, there is NOTHING wrong with buying one or a hundred. A good shop will vet the product, do a full PM, and update firmware/ROS, and offer a guarantee.

Always buy the SELLER not the item.

Great points. I appreciate everyone’s input.

 

[GTR8000]

Buying used surplus for Government Emergency Service Radios is asking for trouble.
#1 No Warranty
#2 No Service Shop
#3 You are buying someone else's problems
#4 Who is going to Program your radios
#5 Where do you think you would get support

#1 The cost savings of purchasing surplus APX 7x00 instead of new APX 8x00 make it an acceptable risk worth taking in forgoing a warranty. Besides, do you know how few APX radios wind up going out for warranty repair? Firsthand knowledge of 3,000+ radios that were put in service back in 2013, and less than 50 ever had to be serviced under warranty to this day.
#2 Any MSI shop can still service the APX 7x00 series as far as they're able to, and beyond that the MSI Depot will service them until 2022/2023 for a flat repair fee. That flat fee is still less than the added cost of buying a brand new APX 8x00, reinforcing the "acceptable risk" from #1
#3 You're assuming the radios would be problematic, when they could be perfectly fine and perform for years, requiring only an initial tuning
#4 Any MSI shop or anyone with APX CPS, a non-issue
#5 See #2

If you purchase from a reliable seller, and know the pedigree of the radios you're purchasing, there shouldn't be any issue with going that route. Cost savings can be tremendous.

 

[buddrousa]

And they get the state key from where? A Radio no longer in production has no warranty to the 2nd 3rd hand owner.

 

[MTS2000des]

A Radio no longer in production has no warranty to the 2nd 3rd hand owner.

Again, I second all the responses GTR8000 pointed out and then some. Used cars have no warranty and run fine if they are cared for. Plenty of agencies get hand down vehicles, and so long as they are vetted and maintained, the fact that Ford or Chevy doesn't make them anymore and the warranty is expired means they shouldn't be driven.
Complete and utter nonsense.

 

[buddrousa]

Again as a Public Servant I ask you do you want your life as well as your mothers life placed in the hands of used outdated unknown life history of the radio past? How about you putting your life on the line and depending on the used radio to save your life my answer is no and I do this for a living. A used car can be seen, mileage seen, lookup the car history. I bet you think used Ambulances, Fire Trucks, AEDs are no problem either.
I can see the headline now (We are sorry for your loss but the cheap used radio failed and your family member was lost).

 

[MTS2000des]

Again as a Public Servant I ask you do you want your life as well as your mothers life placed in the hands of used outdated unknown life history of the radio past?

Please. Give me a break. You obviously have comprehension problems. I never said buying an unknown history anything. Read my post. Reading is fundamental. Buying a vetted product from a vetted vendor who has fully tested, certified, and offers post sale support isn't the same as buying junk off Craigslist or Ebay. Got it?

How about you putting your life on the line and depending on the used radio to save your life my answer is no and I do this for a living.

So do I. I manage a system with close to 15,000 active IDs and 350 talk groups. 15 sites. a 19 agency PSAP in a major metro area. So your point is what, are done slinging it around? Again, the O/P, like many of my users, don't have 9 grand to buy new. Buying VETTED, TESTED, CERTIFIED by a QUALIFIED SHOP gear is not a safety issue. Do I need to say it again?

A used car can be seen, mileage seen, lookup the car history. I bet you think used Ambulances, Fire Trucks, AEDs are no problem either.

Again, if the vehicles come from a reliable source who has vetted, refurbished to factory specs, and stands behind them, what is your problem? You sound like a radio salesperson who is pissed off that there are legitimate companies that undercut grossly inflated margins so the goal is to scare some guy with all this mantra about liability.

I'm the first guy to say RUN FAR, FAR AWAY from Ebay junk. But legitimate businesses who fully test, refurbish, resell and warrant their product are nowhere in the same league. They would not be in business if they sold junk that got people killed. Quit defaming them because that is EXACTLY where your words are headed and I would strongly caution you.

 

[KevinC]

This is going nowhere at this point and the original question has been answered.

I do wish members weren't so confrontational, but I guess that's just life on the internet.