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Help for Motorola BPR 40's

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drewlawson80

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Please help. First off, let me say upfront that I have NO knowledge of the radio industry or how they work. My apologies. I had 6 BPR 40's for my business. We bought 4 more to add and I assumed they would all work together. "Assume", I know. Anyway, I checked behind the battery and they're all the exact same model #, but the 4 I just bought won't communicate with the 6 I have. Most of the channels on the new 4 just have the loud beep when you switch to them and the ones that don't beep won't communicate with the original 6. I literally have no idea what steps to take to make them all work together. I could really use some expert advice. Thank you for your time.
 

SteveC0625

Order of the Golden Dino since 1972
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Please help. First off, let me say upfront that I have NO knowledge of the radio industry or how they work. My apologies. I had 6 BPR 40's for my business. We bought 4 more to add and I assumed they would all work together. "Assume", I know. Anyway, I checked behind the battery and they're all the exact same model #, but the 4 I just bought won't communicate with the 6 I have. Most of the channels on the new 4 just have the loud beep when you switch to them and the ones that don't beep won't communicate with the original 6. I literally have no idea what steps to take to make them all work together. I could really use some expert advice. Thank you for your time.
Take them to a Motorola radio shop along with a copy of your FCC license and have them programmed. It requires special software which can only be purchased from Motorola. The software is $299 plus the purchase cost of the dedicated interconnect cable. It also takes some expertise in radios to program them.

Since you admit you have no knowledge (bravo for saying so), just have them programmed by a Motorola shop. You will be out a lot less money and they'll be done right.

If you really want more detailed info, google bpr40 programming
 

TampaTyron

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As a System Technician for a large Motorola shop, I second the above advice. Alternatively, you could find someone online to send 1 known good radio and the 4 that need new programming (if cost is a concern). Most walk in type radio shops will charge a per radio fee or an hourly fee for the whole batch. In reality, if they are the same model number, it should not take more than a minute or two per radio.........TT
 

WA0CBW

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Good advice! As was mentioned you will need your FCC license as it is required by law. It is against the law for anyone to program a radio with transmit frequencies that require an FCC license. The radios aren't difficult to program but unless you have the equipment and software and understand the lingo and it would be like overhauling your own car engine. Take them to a Motorola radio shop and in less than an hour you will be on your way.
BB
 

ElroyJetson

I AM NOT YOUR TECH SUPPPORT.
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DO NOT ASK ME FOR HELP PROGRAMMING YOUR RADIO. NO.
I'm going to throw my 2 cents in whether you want to hear it or not. I'm a full time radio tech and I have abundant experience with BPR40s.

If you ever need to buy any new radios, BUY ANYTHING ELSE next time. I hate those things with a passion. I have never seen such consistently poor performance out of any other kind of radio.

They are the essence of CHEAP. They rarely meet their specs after they've been used for a while. They're the only radio still made (that I know of) that still require the usage of mechanical adjustments to tune and align them. (PRIMITIVE!) And they have very common problems with receiver sensitivity going way down due to a common problem with the ceramic filters. (Which is a vendor's problem, to be fair about it. Motorola doesn't make those filters.)

I would never advise anyone to get BPR40s. Not even if they're free. My experiences with them have made me hate them and I believe they're the worst radio on the market. That's my opinion borne of more than seven years experience with the type.
 

drewlawson80

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Thanks for all your help. I was reading over ElroyJetson's post and was wondering if there was a certain comparable radio that any of you would recommend to buy in the future.
 

SteveC0625

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Thanks for all your help. I was reading over ElroyJetson's post and was wondering if there was a certain comparable radio that any of you would recommend to buy in the future.
We'd have to know your frequency and type of service. Might be best if you just give us your FCC call sign and we can look it up and get all the info needed to make a intelligent recommendation to you..
 

LDGodsey

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May 24, 2010
Messages
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Location
Buckeye, AZ
BRP40 and BC130

Your radio's need to be programmed,
I have the same problem with a BC130, I have the software and the cables, but, have had no luck programming.
I have all drivers installed for 2 cables. one USB and one RS232.
I will try my XP computer and see if I have any luck.
If so, I will be able to help you.
 

LDGodsey

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May 24, 2010
Messages
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Location
Buckeye, AZ
Your radio's need to be programmed,
I have the same problem with a BC130, I have the software and the cables, but, have had no luck programming.
I have all drivers installed for 2 cables. one USB and one RS232.
I will try my XP computer and see if I have any luck.
If so, I will be able to help you.
I can now program the BC130's if you still need it done,
Thank You
Lloyd Godsey
 
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