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To obtain Motorola software see the Sticky in the Motorola forum.
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For M/A Com/Harris/GE, etc: there are two software packages that program all current and past radios. One package is for conventional programming and the other for trunked programming. The trunked package is in upwards of $2,500. The conventional package is more reasonable though is still several hundred dollars. The benefit is you do not need multiple versions for each radio (unlike Motorola).
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I know a lot of people say all the cheap Chinese radios are junk, but what about Connect Systems? Is the CS-800D any better? It's hard to find any dual-band DMR mobile rigs with a remote control head.
I don’t have one but getting ready to purchase one. It does have a superheterodyne receiver which my MD9600 doesn’t, prone to picking up adjacent noise.
I think it has better support as Jerry at Connect Systems seems to stand behind his products.
I'm a big fan of Jerry and the Connect Systems team, and have bought a number of items over the years from them, but not the CS800. One thing I like, besides the quality of support and service, is that Jerry won't just buy it and resell it, he actually tests the products and makes sure it works correctly before he puts the CS name on it.
Connect Systems is well above the CCR variety. I have two from them, the CS580 and CS800D. The 800 is built like a real commercial radio, and the detachable face is great in today's cars. I used a cup holder mount for the control head and have the radio mounted under the front seat. No special cables are required as it uses as it is a standard cat 5 networking cable with R45 plugs. If you want the radio body in the trunk, just use a longer cable. Jerry has been great with any questions I have had.
It seems the hardware for the radio is fine. The problem is the software. Written in China, the same consulting firm creates the CPS for all the CCR’s. That’s why it’s so easy to transfer code plugs from one brand of CCR to another. I’d prefer to have a dual conversion superhet radio any day vs a direct conversion radio. But that helps to keep the price down. But I believe one day, the CPS, & FW will be decent. Probably be long after the Corona virus vaccine is found.