MOTOTURBO Ion

[cferguson4809]

I know it’s a new player in the game, but does anyone know if there are any used ones for sale out there I wanna get a price on one but can’t seem to find any on eBay.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

It's spelled MotoTRBO and here's a Fleabay listing

 

[cferguson4809]

My bad on the spelling, and how did you find that. When I searched all that came up were batteries and lapel mics. Lol

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

, and how did you find that.

Found it right away by spelling it correctly...

 

[FFPM571]

Just so you know you cant program them with anything other than Radio Management that is registered to a radio central account.

 

[K2NEC]

They're really not worth getting on the used market because its a coin flip whether or not you will be able to program it.

If you're serious about the Ion, buy one new

 

[cferguson4809]

Just so you know you cant program them with anything other than Radio Management that is registered to a radio central account.

That shouldn’t be an issue, one of my employers already has a wave account directly from Motorola I have reached out to the tech guy to see if he has a radio central account.

Edit: does this mean that the programming is done on the cloud and sent to the radio from the cloud?

They're really not worth getting on the used market because it’s a coin flip whether or not you will be able to program it.

If you're serious about the Ion, buy one new

Yea especially since the difference is only a few hundred bucks.

 

[Firebuff880]

That shouldn’t be an issue, one of my employers already has a wave account directly from Motorola I have reached out to the tech guy to see if he has a radio central account.

Yea especially since the difference is only a few hundred bucks.

It's not the Wave account you need. You need a Radio Central Account through Customer Hub, and the Serial number of the ION has to be in your Account before you can access it/Program it with Radio Central, or provision it on Wave.

Geting MSI to move the Serial Number from the original owner's Hub to yours is not an easy or fast process.

 

[cferguson4809]

It's not the Wave account you need. You need a Radio Central Account through Customer Hub, and the Serial number of the ION has to be in your Account before you can access it/Program it with Radio Central, or provision it on Wave.

Is this not the same we they use to program the already existing radios? If not, what is the cost for this? I’ve tried to ask officially but Motorola tells me “Contact your dealer” and the dealer says “IDK contact Motorola”

 

[Firebuff880]

Is this not the same we they use to program the already existing radios? If not, what is the cost for this? I’ve tried to ask officially but Motorola tells me “Contact your dealer” and the dealer says “IDK contact Motorola”

If you are the original owner, then MSI sort of knows how to set up the ION in your space, but moving a used one over is almost a black art form. The black art part is the reason that MSI says "talk to the Dealer", and the dealer says "talk to Motorola". They both just want you to buy a new one. It's much easier!

 

[cferguson4809]

If you are the original owner, then MSI sort of knows how to set up the ION in your space, but moving a used one over is almost a black art form. The black art part is the reason that MSI says "talk to the Dealer", and the dealer says "talk to Motorola". They both just want you to buy a new one. It's much easier!

I know that—that’s why I said I’d go ahead and do it in my reply. The savings just aren’t significant enough to justify the hassle.

Is this not the same we they use to program the already existing radios? If not, what is the cost for this? I’ve tried to ask officially but Motorola tells me “Contact your dealer” and the dealer says “IDK contact Motorola”

This quote refers specifically to my efforts to get clear answers about programming capabilities. I’m not willing to spend $2,299 on what could end up being a very attractive WAVE-only radio if I can’t access the LMR features I need for use on local amateur and GMRS repeaters. I’m happy to invest in this platform because it offers the features I’m looking for—but I want to fully understand how it all works before committing.

My main questions are:

1. How do I obtain a copy of the CPS or Radio Management (RM) software?
2. Once I have the software, does it require a physical programming cable or is it cloud-based?
3. Is it possible to enable Front Panel Programming (FPP) for simplex and basic repeater use?

I’m looking for clarity on these points so I can move forward confidently.

 

[FFPM571]

1 Set up an account with Motorola. buy it. not cheap
2 Wifi. Unless you check a box in RM that allows local programming
3 NO

 

[Firebuff880]

I know that—that’s why I said I’d go ahead and do it in my reply. The savings just aren’t significant enough to justify the hassle.

This quote refers specifically to my efforts to get clear answers about programming capabilities. I’m not willing to spend $2,299 on what could end up being a very attractive WAVE-only radio if I can’t access the LMR features I need for use on local amateur and GMRS repeaters. I’m happy to invest in this platform because it offers the features I’m looking for—but I want to fully understand how it all works before committing.

My main questions are:

1. How do I obtain a copy of the CPS or Radio Management (RM) software?
2. Once I have the software, does it require a physical programming cable or is it cloud-based?
3. Is it possible to enable Front Panel Programming (FPP) for simplex and basic repeater use?

I’m looking for clarity on these points so I can move forward confidently.

1. You set up the aforementioned customerHub account, buy the licenses, and then download them from the Software Entitlement area (myView) of the customerHub.

2. The software is useless! You have to gain access to the device through the online version of Radio Management called Radio Central. Then you can program the radio and update firmware, assuming everything else is in line. Remember my comment about the block art. The programming job, when scheduled, will connect to WiFi or Cellular. If you set the General Setting / Network / Programming Connection correctly, you can then update the DMR side from your Radio Management. Not at all sure about CPS, I have never tried it but I don't believe it works. Also, if the person you buy from has already enabled the RM option, and the unit is not password protected, you should be able to update the DMR side from a local RM, but the Android/Firmware updates I believe must come from Radio Central, at least that has been my experience.

Android 13, M2024.01 DMR, are currently the latest packages.

3.) No FPP is not supported on this subscriber.

I am unable to read a Motorola ION using Radio Management

The all-things-MOTOTRBO blog by Wayne Holmes DJ0WH.

cwh050.blogspot.com

You seem bound and determined to go down this road, so I wish you luck! But I will not be contributing further.

 

[FFPM571]

And FYI.... They don't fix them at the depot. If you have a problem with them and they are under the warranty period you have to contact Mototola about a replacement. I am not sure they will even do it if you are not the original owner or out of warranty. I have 5 go bad with 3 of them being bad displays in the last 6 months. And they are a one for one replacement. You have to send your old one in befoer they issue a replacement. Still want to buy one?

 

[cferguson4809]

1. You set up the aforementioned customerHub account, buy the licenses, and then download them from the Software Entitlement area (myView) of the customerHub.

2. The software is useless! You have to gain access to the device through the online version of Radio Management called Radio Central. Then you can program the radio and update firmware, assuming everything else is in line. Remember my comment about the block art. The programming job, when scheduled, will connect to WiFi or Cellular. If you set the General Setting / Network / Programming Connection correctly, you can then update the DMR side from your Radio Management. Not at all sure about CPS, I have never tried it but I don't believe it works. Also, if the person you buy from has already enabled the RM option, and the unit is not password protected, you should be able to update the DMR side from a local RM, but the Android/Firmware updates I believe must come from Radio Central, at least that has been my experience.

Android 13, M2024.01 DMR, are currently the latest packages.

3.) No FPP is not supported on this subscriber.

I am unable to read a Motorola ION using Radio Management

The all-things-MOTOTRBO blog by Wayne Holmes DJ0WH.

cwh050.blogspot.com

You seem bound and determined to go down this road, so I wish you luck! But I will not be contributing further.

1. Thank you.
2. Most of that was helpful but why do you keep talking about previous owners, I have said multiple times one even directed at you that I was going to buy band new IF I bought one at all.
3. Thanks for the info.

And FYI.... They don't fix them at the depot. If you have a problem with them and they are under the warranty period you have to contact Mototola about a replacement. I am not sure they will even do it if you are not the original owner or out of warranty. I have 5 go bad with 3 of them being bad displays in the last 6 months. And they are a one for one replacement. You have to send your old one in befoer they issue a replacement. Still want to buy one?

Honestly probably not, there are whispers of us moving to the LCRA P25 system and away from Wave at which point it would be worthless to me, if they were significantly cheaper, or more durable then yea I would probably consider it but not at the price point I was quoted.

 

[MTS2000des]

If you're buying one new from an MSI authorized dealer, then they should be guiding you on setting up your RC and Customer Hub account not a hobby forum.

In your original post you said:


I know it’s a new player in the game, but does anyone know if there are any used ones for sale out there I wanna get a price on one but can’t seem to find any on eBay.

The many experienced posters responded why this is a bad idea with these and other "Smart" radios like the APX NEXT, iON, etc.

 

[cferguson4809]

If you're buying one new from an MSI authorized dealer, then they should be guiding you on setting up your RC and Customer Hub account not a hobby forum.

In your original post you said:


I know it’s a new player in the game, but does anyone know if there are any used ones for sale out there I wanna get a price on one but can’t seem to find any on eBay.

The many experienced posters responded why this is a bad idea with these and other "Smart" radios like the APX NEXT, iON, etc.

For your first point, I would like to direct you to the following post that I already made explaining that I have already tried that.

I’ve tried to ask officially but Motorola tells me “Contact your dealer” and the dealer says “IDK contact Motorola”

For your second point, I would like to point you to K2NEC's post and then my reply to that post below.

They're really not worth getting on the used market because it's a coin flip whether or not you will be able to program it.

If you're serious about the Ion, buy one new

Yea especially since the difference is only a few hundred bucks.

I was agreeing with K2NEC that it was not work buying used, since there is so much risk and only a few hundred bucks are able to be saved.

 

[MTS2000des]

If a dealer won't help you, find another dealer if you want to buy a new radio and they tell you to contact MSI. Bottom line is, these radios are not intended for end user self-maintenance henceforth why they are sold and provisioned on the back end to a customer account. Everyone here speaks with experience dealing with these devices for a living including myself.

When the student is ready, the professor will appear.