XPR XPR7550 as Marine Radio

[radioguy102]

Can an XPR7550 VHF be appropriately used as a VHF radio? Respectful answers only please, I am simply curious.

 

[tweiss3]

The VHF version does have part 80 certification for marine use, when programmed and used appropriately.

 

[dickie757]

Would you take the chance of having to use it while in 60 feet of 40°F saltwater?

 

[radioguy102]

Would you take the chance of having to use it while in 60 feet of 40°F saltwater?

The water is never 40 degrees in Florida lol. Sometimes I wish!

 

[mmckenna]

Can an XPR7550 VHF be appropriately used as a VHF radio? Respectful answers only please, I am simply curious.

That radio does have FCC Part 80 approval, so it can legally be -used- on the Marine VHF band:

FCC - OET TCB Form 731 Grant of Equipment Authorization

Couple of things you also need to consider:
VHF Marine uses wide band FM analog. These radios only do narrow band FM analog out of the box (yes, as well as DMR, but you don't want to run DMR on marine VHF). You'll need to find a way to enable wide FM on it. I'm not a Motorola guy, so ask one if/how that's done.

Disclaimer:
If you are in the USA, programming Marine VHF frequencies into any transceiver requires a GROL license.

 

[K2NEC]

To add onto what mmckenna said, you'll need the wideband entitlement from Motorola to enable wideband in the CPS (or you may already have it if you use it for HAM)

 

[eorange]

What? I need a GROL license to program a marine frequency in my Yaesu VX-3R?

 

[dickie757]

I would not rely on my 7350e as a lifesaving device on my boat.

 

[K2NEC]

I'd trust a 7350e over a Yaesu

 

[PACNWDude]

It is legal and possible, they just do not float like a dedicated Icom or Yaesu marine/LMR device. I worked in the oil industry and we had Motorola PR1500 VHF radios programmed for both commercial band channels and some Marine VHF....work great.

But dedicated Marine VHF handhelds always had simpler controls, larger displays, and then when Digital Selective Calling (DSC) became popular, that function meant you were better off with two radios.

If I still had a boat, my handheld would be an Icom IC-M94D. Then, the UHF XPR7550e I use for GMRS would be the second radio. (I second the Yaesu comment above - even though I still own a few).

 

[nokones]

The cost for the XPR 7550 wideband entitlement download is only $5.00 from Motorola. What I don't know is if the radio can be used on Part 80 freqs or even it is type accepted for Part 80.

You will need to read the Part 80 rules to see if a Part 90 radio is allowed to be used. If it is allowed, you will need to adhere to the emissions and other technical requirements/aspects in accordance with Part 80.

 

[nokones]

What? I need a GROL license to program a marine frequency in my Yaesu VX-3R?

If Part 80 says you do, then you do.

 

[mmckenna]

What I don't know is if the radio can be used on Part 80 freqs or even it is type accepted for Part 80.

It is. Linked to in my post above.

You will need to read the Part 80 rules to see if a Part 90 radio is allowed to be used. If it is allowed, you will need to adhere to the emissions and other technical requirements/aspects in accordance with Part 80.

Not Part 90. Needs to be Part 80. That's why Motorola, Kenwood, Harris and others have Part 80 on many of their radios, market them as such, and also have a section in the manuals dealing directly with Marine VHF usage, right down to channel assignments.

 

[radioguy102]

Thank you all!