Motorola CLR series in Europe...will it come to NA?

[n1das]

I periodically browse what radios Motorola offers in other parts of the world that are not sold in the NA region. I also take a look at their PMR446 and UHF business radio offerings. Some of their higher end PMR446 offerings might make good FRS radios if Motorola were to offer an FRS version for the USA and Canada. I have definitely noticed an uptick in business use of FRS since new FRS radios hit the market after the revised Part 95 rules went into effect in 2017 so there is a market for them. I for one would prefer an FRS radio that leverages a Part 90 design instead of something designed from the ground up to be another FRS consumer bubble pack.

Motorola has a new CLR series PMR446 analog radio and a UHF 450-470MHz licensed business version for the EU region. The CLR series looks identical to the DLR 900MHz FHSS digital radios sold in the NA region, except for the slightly longer antenna. It caught my attention due to it looking identical to the DLRs. I'm wondering if there is a CLR series planned for the NA region as a replacement for the very popular CLS series UHF analog business radios. The CLS series is a low end analog business radio. I like to refer to them as business bubble pack radios, similar to FRS bubble packs. The CLS series is really low end and such that some of the newer FRS radios on the market are actually better quality than the CLS radios.

CLR446 unlicensed (PMR446) business radio:

CLR Series Unlicensed Business Radio - Motorola Solutions EMEA

The Motorola Solutions CLR Series Unlicensed Business Radio is the tool you need to connect instantly and share information with your team.

www.motorolasolutions.com

CLR PLUS licensed business radio:

CLR Series Licensed Business Radio - Motorola Solutions EMEA

The Motorola Solutions CLR Series Licensed Business Radio is the tool you need to connect instantly and share information with your team.

www.motorolasolutions.com

 

[gman1971]

Aren't those similar to the DTR radios?

 

[n1das]

Aren't those similar to the DTR radios?

The CLR's look and feel are identical to the DLR series 900MHz FHSS radios which work with the DTRs. The CLRs are ANALOG 446MHz and 450-470MHz and have a slightly longer antenna than the DLR's antenna. The CLR446 is the PMR446 version. The CLR PLUS is the 450-470MHz version. They appear to be positioned alongside the very popular CLS series analog UHF business radios. I'm curious to know if they are the eventual replacement for the CLS series. So far they appear to be only available in the EU region.

 

[gman1971]

Would be nice to have FHSS UHF stuff on the US... but it seems unlikely, since the DTRs are already kinda good... maybe DTR on UHF? not sure how that will be allowed... although nothing that money can't really buy... FHSS will certainly be a lot less intrusive and a lot more "spatially efficient" than mere FM 25, or even 12.5

G.

 

[n1das]

Some people don't like the large round PTT button on the front of the radio, like the on the CLS and CLP series radios. I think it's due to people being so accustomed to having a PTT button on the side of a larger radio due the larger form factor. The large round PTT button on the front of the DLRs and CLRs actually makes sense given the radio's ultra-small form factor. The DLRs (and the CLRs) are smaller than most FRS bubble packs. Having PTT on the side of the radio would feel awkward and uncomfortable. Having previously owned DLRs, the radio is comfortable to hold in either hand and PTT is easily operated with a thumb press. PTT is easy to operate with a thumb or finger press, no matter how you grab the radio. The large round front PTT button makes sense given the ultra-small form factor.

 

[gman1971]

Nice, small radio are always a plus... especially if the performance is there.

 

[n1das]

The CLR446 and CLR PLUS likely have Motorola's crappy and much hated X-PAND audio companding system, like all of Motorola's business radios and FRS bubble packs and PMR446 radios. The compander is always enabled on narrowband channels and there is no option to disable it. The audio companding feature works OK provided all radios talking to each other are companding their audio. It's an all or nothing type feature. When receiving transmissions from radios that don't compress their audio because they don't have companding, the expander expands audio that wasn't compressed originally and blows it apart. The received audio sounds muffled and distorted and sounds like 'expletive' overall. Motorola could really clean up the audio by providing an option to disable the companding feature.

 

[gman1971]

Ouch, that sucks. Yeah, I've heard how bad it sounds. Wonder if there is any key combination to turn it off... or something... oh well. The DTR radios seem to have pretty good audio, would be cool if they released them in UHF... shame no VHF will be possible, but, hoping and dreaming is always for free...

G.

 

[n1das]

Nice, small radio are always a plus... especially if the performance is there.

Agree 100%, from being a DTR650 and DTR700 owner and previously owned some DLRs. The only reason I sold my DLRs was I had too many radios (LOL) and needed to unload a few of them. I sold them to a friend for his business (a radio shop). At first he wasn't sure what he was going to use them for except maybe as radio rentals for his customers. Now he and his employees use them all the time around the office and at jobsites because they are so convenient and work well for local on-site simplex type use.