As to the XPR series of radios for public safety use....
The radios meet the same military specs that the HT1250's meet, plus they're waterproof (submersible). There are many many thousands of HT1250's in use for public safety (mission critical) use and I've never heard anyone 'complain' that the HT1250 isn't good, or designed, for mission critical use. So I find it very interesting that people make this claim against the XPR series.
Someone commented on it's 'lightweight' feel. Part of that is due to using a lithium-ion battery. These batteries are MUCH lighter weight than the old ni-cad or nickel-metal-hydride batteries that radios like the HT1000 and MT2000 (and even the HT1250, in most cases) used.
The XPR series of radios is an excellent analog radio. It has great audio and performs very well. I would suggest that you get a couple of demo units from the salesman and try them for several days (a week would be good). If the salesman doesn't want to let you try them, then find another Motorola dealer that will. I enjoy letting people try the MOTOTRBO radios, even just for analog. The 'satisfaction rate' that I've personally seen is 100%. And they are available in an analog-only model (which can be field upgrade to add digital).
If you're talking about using the XPR series of radios in digital mode, then you'll find that the MOTOTRBO digital system performs MUCH better than analog systems (especially narrowband analog systems). The usable range is consistently better than what analog can provide, using the same site locations and power levels. As to interoperability, someone suggested that even with P25, an agency may have to use some kind of 'bridging system' for interoperability. This is very true. Most people don't realize that a P25 conventional radio is completely 'non-interoperable' with a P25 trunked repeater system, unless some kind of 'bridge' is used (which can be in the VERY expensive 'switch' that controls the P25 trunked system). An IP-based bridging system is now available that can bridge a MOTOTRBO digital system into just about any other kind of system, including analog base stations, analog conventional repeaters, analog trunked system, P25 conventional base stations, P25 trunked repeater systems, and even IDEN. Interoperability between MOTOTRBO and other systems is VERY easy and works VERY well.
By the way, while I do handle some sales, I'm really a technician "through and through". I don't look at products from a technical standpoint. And I think, technically, the XPR series of radios are outstanding.
John Rayfield, Jr. - CETma
WØPM