Motorola Ecosystem Lock-in - Any way out?

[VE3XYU]

We have a fleet of about 50 CP200/CP200D's, and now a couple of R2's.
They are UHF, and running analog.
About ten of my CP200's are almost TWENTY YEARS OLD, which is amazing, but are keeping us analog.
If they were to stop working, I understand that the cost to convert all of our D's and R2's to digital will be a considerable.
Also, the fact that Motorola's prices keep going higher and higher...it makes me wonder if this is where we want to be.

This may be the wrong forum to ask, but are there any other brands with the same class of business radio, that would work analog/digital out of the box, and be compatible with 200D/R2 in digital mode?

Please don't recommend anything not properly licensed by IC/ISED/FCC

Thank you

 

[mmckenna]

We have a fleet of about 50 CP200/CP200D's, and now a couple of R2's.
They are UHF, and running analog.
About ten of my CP200's are almost TWENTY YEARS OLD, which is amazing, but are keeping us analog.
If they were to stop working, I understand that the cost to convert all of our D's and R2's to digital will be a considerable.
Also, the fact that Motorola's prices keep going higher and higher...it makes me wonder if this is where we want to be.

This may be the wrong forum to ask, but are there any other brands with the same class of business radio, that would work analog/digital out of the box, and be compatible with 200D/R2 in digital mode?

Please don't recommend anything not properly licensed by IC/ISED/FCC

Thank you

Kenwood.

I've got about 80 of the NX-1300 portables at work, running DMR just fine. They'll do analog.

I've got a bunch of the NX-3000 series. Depending on the site, they are either running just analog or NXDN trunking, but they'll do DMR if I'm ever inclined.

No reason at all why you couldn't migrate to another brand if things are set up correctly. If you are running CP200's, the NX-1300 is probably more than sufficient for what you are doing. They are nice basic radios and you should be able to get them for a good price.

 

[mmckenna]

NX-1300DUK is the UHF, 5 watt, 64 channel (no display) DMR model. It'll do analog + DMR. I paid about $220 each for them a year ago. But talk to your dealer. I'm under state contract, so you may not be able to get exactly the same price on them.

NX-1200DV/1300DU - NEXEDGE KENWOOD

NX-1000 Series portable radios are ready to serve in all public safety, public sector and commercial roles with flawless performance and advanced feature sets. In addition, enhanced and increased features extend the digital capability.

www.kenwood.com

 

[VE3XYU]

NX-1300DUK is the UHF, 5 watt, 64 channel (no display) DMR model. It'll do analog + DMR. I paid about $220 each for them a year ago. But talk to your dealer. I'm under state contract, so you may not be able to get exactly the same price on them.

NX-1200DV/1300DU - NEXEDGE KENWOOD

NX-1000 Series portable radios are ready to serve in all public safety, public sector and commercial roles with flawless performance and advanced feature sets. In addition, enhanced and increased features extend the digital capability.

www.kenwood.com

Thank you very much for this helpful info. I will look into Kenwood.

 

[mmckenna]

Please don't recommend anything not properly licensed by IC/ISED/FCC

And thanks for adding this line.

Far too many will recommend some cheap POS Chinese junk radio.

 

[TampaTyron]

Third vote for the NX-1300. We are a very large Moto dealer and we are converting most of our low tier customers to Kenwood vs the CP200D/R2 amid the pricing and supply chain fiasco. We have our own in house brand of Chinesium and the NX1300 are the same price to the customer, but are much better quality. We have also figured out how to do IPSC on the Kenwood radios too, which is nice. TT

 

[PACNWDude]

My vote on this type of use case is slightly used or refurbished Motorola radios. Sunny Communications out of Colorado has been great for this. My employer is almost all Motorola (with some Kenwood and Icom for other use cases), but slightly used/refurbished radios has allowed for more site across the country to have something that is built well, with the tax payer making that premium purchase, and us then paying cents on the dollar a year or three later.

 

[VE3XYU]

My vote on this type of use case is slightly used or refurbished Motorola radios. Sunny Communications out of Colorado has been great for this. My employer is almost all Motorola (with some Kenwood and Icom for other use cases), but slightly used/refurbished radios has allowed for more site across the country to have something that is built well, with the tax payer making that premium purchase, and us then paying cents on the dollar a year or three later.

Thank you for the tip. I am located in Canada and buying across the border doesn't usually work out financially, but I will certainly look into second hand options closer to home. I would hope that if a CP200D's digital mode is unlocked...it transfers to the new owner.

 

[VE3XYU]

Third vote for the NX-1300. We are a very large Moto dealer and we are converting most of our low tier customers to Kenwood vs the CP200D/R2 amid the pricing and supply chain fiasco. We have our own in house brand of Chinesium and the NX1300 are the same price to the customer, but are much better quality. We have also figured out how to do IPSC on the Kenwood radios too, which is nice. TT

Very cool, thank you

 

[TampaTyron]

Yes, unlocked CP200D is based on hardware, not owner........... please don't give Moto any ideas. TT

 

[VE3XYU]

Yes, unlocked CP200D is based on hardware, not owner........... please don't give Moto any ideas. TT

Thanks! lol