Finding radios compatible with the DTR550/650s

[campradio]

Hi folks!

I work at a large summer camp on over 100 acres. We currently use DTR 550s/650s for essential staff, but as radios break/get dropped in water, we're having trouble finding replacement 550s or 650s as they were discontinued. It's not in the budget this year to upgrade to 700s or look at switching to a new version altogether, so I was hoping to find another kind of radio that would be compatible with the DTRs. Don't need to be at all fancy- if we can even find something that only has public channel capabilities/no screen, that is totally fine. Does anyone have any suggestions for where I might start looking?

Thanks!

 

[GlobalNorth]

With Motorola's use of FHSS in the 650, there is no compatible alternative to them. It's going to be an eBay/used approach to obtaining replacements.

 

[alcahuete]

DLR radios are compatible to an extent. Aside from that, as was said, there are no others.

 

[PACNWDude]

For those closer to the other radios DTR410's could also be used, but they have a shorter and fixed antenna, so slightly less range than the DTR550/650 radios in that same original series release. I bought many DTR410's for school campus use, then had to buy some 550/650's for those at the outside edges of some of the larger campus locations. DTR410's have about a mile range while the larger antenna 550/650's often get 1.5 miles or more. (1W 900 MHz FHSS ISM band radios, so they are already limited in range).

 

[BigDogg795]

Also for what it's worth you can look for DTR600's instead of the 700's and you might find them a bit more accessible pricewise. Also, are partial upgrades an option (one or two newer radios for admin/bosses and handing down the older equipment to the regular users)?