What's the use of a DTR-550?

[needairtime]

I acquired a DTR-550 at a hamfest cheaply as I thought it could be interesting to figure out what it could do. So far I found it runs on 900MHz ISM band digital. It does 1W, and looks like a license-by-type.

Well, that's all fun and great, but I don't have a cable or the keyboard, or another 900MHz digital radio to play with. What can I do with these radios? I do have a 900MHz AT&T digital POTS cordless but I highly doubt I could snoop on that phone...

Sorry for those who are thinking about selling these after the DTR-700 came out ... ?

 

[W8RMH]

They are license-free business radios. You will need another DTR-550, or other capable DTR radio to use it. Won't work with anything else. Uses frequency hopping technology.

Great radios for 350,000 square feet / 30 floors. I've used them for special ops, very secure. You can get a new one for less than $300.

 

[needairtime]

So these are not compatible with anything other than another Motorola DTR-xxx? Sounds like a dud to me I guess (for ham use), oh well, wonder if I should part it or hold onto it in case I chance upon another...

It seems to work however, I did not try using it fearing it needed an FCC license, but looks not.

 

[N4KVE]

Some of the local event venues [gun shows, antique shows] use them. They work well. The 2 huge benefits are no FCC license needed, & impossible to listen to unless you have another unit programmed exactly the same, due to frequency hopping technology.

 

[alcahuete]

So these are not compatible with anything other than another Motorola DTR-xxx? Sounds like a dud to me I guess (for ham use), oh well, wonder if I should part it or hold onto it in case I chance upon another...

It seems to work however, I did not try using it fearing it needed an FCC license, but looks not.

They're absolutely amazing radios, however, you cannot use them for ham use. Unless you have another DTR or DLR radio, it isn't going to be of any real use to you.