New to Motorola: Several Questions

[MTS2000des]

Thanks for the detailed post; I just bought an APX 7000 in the VHF/UHF R1 split so it’ll be a good 2m/70cm HT. I already have a DMR HT in my Anytone 878UVII that a friend got me as a gift some time ago, I am interested in getting a Harris XG100P now that this thread has introduced me to it though haha. I was able to pick up my APX from Haloid Solutions so I’m able to be certain of its authenticity and that it hasn’t been tampered with.

Hopefully you didn't overpay. The APX7000 is off support, and parts are hard to get, especially the displays and vocon boards.

 

[KQ4VKM]

Hopefully you didn't overpay. The APX7000 is off support, and parts are hard to get, especially the displays and vocon boards.

I paid ~$2,500 for the radio itself with an impres charger, speaker mic, programming cable, holster, extra battery, and etc. It’s the best deal I found, though I don’t doubt there are better deals out there.

 

[mmckenna]

I don’t doubt there are better deals out there.

There's always a better deal somewhere. At some point, you have to jump and get what you want.

 

[ElroyJetson]

2500 for an out of support radio seems quite steep, since I've seen them sell for under 1000 dollars fairly recently.

However, who am I to complain? I paid 2000 dollars for a Harris XL-185P that's only 700/800 MHz and doesn't even have P25 trunking in it. It's my glorified SCANNER. And not even (yet) useful to scan P25 trunking systems. (Harris radios are better for public safety scanning than Moto, as they really understand the concept of "receive only".)

People get starry eyed over flashcodes that are overflowing with features, but all you really need if you have any desire or need to ever actually transmit is conventional analog, P25 conventional, MAYBE P25 trunking, and of course, scan.

 

[KQ4VKM]

There's always a better deal somewhere. At some point, you have to jump and get what you want.

I struggle with making myself finally pick up what I want because I constantly think “but what if it’s cheaper here, or here, or here…” as I frantically search the web lol

 

[KQ4VKM]

2500 for an out of support radio seems quite steep, since I've seen them sell for under 1000 dollars fairly recently.

However, who am I to complain? I paid 2000 dollars for a Harris XL-185P that's only 700/800 MHz and doesn't even have P25 trunking in it. It's my glorified SCANNER. And not even (yet) useful to scan P25 trunking systems. (Harris radios are better for public safety scanning than Moto, as they really understand the concept of "receive only".)

People get starry eyed over flashcodes that are overflowing with features, but all you really need if you have any desire or need to ever actually transmit is conventional analog, P25 conventional, MAYBE P25 trunking, and of course, scan.

Harris certainly seems to be popular. I only really knew about their military radios (manpacks, the AN/PRC-152, and etc) before today. I had vaguely heard of their public safety radios but I didn’t know they were that popular. As far as overpaying, I always say as long as it’s what you like and want…then it’s worth it. Be it Harris or Motorola lol

 

[mmckenna]

Harris certainly seems to be popular. I only really knew about their military radios (manpacks, the AN/PRC-152, and etc) before today. I had vaguely heard of their public safety radios but I didn’t know they were that popular. As far as overpaying, I always say as long as it’s what you like and want…then it’s worth it. Be it Harris or Motorola lol

There's a lot of good options out there now. For a while the mulitband market was really limited to Thales, Motorola and Harris. With Kenwood/EFJ, Tait and BK joining the club, I'm hoping prices will continue to drop. The APX-8000's have been out for a while and seem to be hitting the used market.

The Harris XL-200's are chonky, so be aware. They are not something that will hide under your coat.

 

[mmckenna]

I struggle with making myself finally pick up what I want because I constantly think “but what if it’s cheaper here, or here, or here…” as I frantically search the web lol

Yeah, did that most of my life. Now starting to loosen up a bit with the money. Can't take it with me, so I might as well have some fun with some of it.

 

[vagrant]

@KQ4VKM - Did you get it with Bluetooth? I enjoy the BT speaker mic with my 7000xe. The radio is a brick and I prefer it off my hip. It also provided perspective on my Kenwood D74 which I thought was a large portable.

 

[MTS2000des]

I paid ~$2,500 for the radio itself with an impres charger, speaker mic, programming cable, holster, extra battery, and etc. It’s the best deal I found, though I don’t doubt there are better deals out there.

Kind of on the high side, but Ebay is retail and you bought the seller not the item, so you did okay. The V/U1s are kind of rare and desired by hams. As others said, hopefully it has the BT option and proper BT antenna (built into the speaker module). Enjoy!

 

[Mogley]

The Harris XG100P are not a bad radio for the price. I have had one for over a year. Good radio and I use it more than my APX7K. If you are going to do NAS, I would go with Harris. Much easier to program.

how hard was it to obtain Harris's software for the radio? Do they make you jump through a million hoops to purchase their software

 

[KQ4VKM]

@KQ4VKM - Did you get it with Bluetooth? I enjoy the BT speaker mic with my 7000xe. The radio is a brick and I prefer it off my hip. It also provided perspective on my Kenwood D74 which I thought was a large portable.

I did, I made sure it had Bluetooth as I had hoped to get a Bluetooth speaker mic one day as well lol

 

[KQ4VKM]

Kind of on the high side, but Ebay is retail and you bought the seller not the item, so you did okay. The V/U1s are kind of rare and desired by hams. As others said, hopefully it has the BT option and proper BT antenna (built into the speaker module). Enjoy!

It does have the Bluetooth option enabled. I bought it from Haloid Solutions (I bought my XTS5000 and EFJ VP600 from them, and I absolutely love/wholeheartedly recommend them for anything related to commercial or public safety radios), I just had to apply for an exemption to their “we only sell this radio to government agencies” policy and then I was able to purchase it.

 

[prcguy]

how hard was it to obtain Harris's software for the radio? Do they make you jump through a million hoops to purchase their software

I hear its out there in the wild, just have to connect with people. If you get a radio someone will probably send it to you.

 

[Mogley]

I hear its out there in the wild, just have to connect with people.

I will leave it at that thank you.

 

[northstarfire0693]

how hard was it to obtain Harris's software for the radio? Do they make you jump through a million hoops to purchase their software

Not hard to come by at all. If you decide to get a XG100 or Xl200 the software is "out there". In the Harris club, someone will reach out to you to get you what you need. I will leave it like that. As far as the APX series goes. The prices I've seen from Command are off the chain for a AN radio that is no longer supported. IF you decide to get into NAS, you will need other "software" to generate system keys. Programing has to be done right or the radio will interfere with the system. If that happens, your radio will become a door stop if you are lucky. You also run the risk of getting a visit from local/state LE.

As others mentioned, the Kenwood's are great little radios. I have a TK5220. Love it, very solid radio. For NAS I started out with a APX 7K then was able to get my hands on a Harris XG. My APX dosent get used a whole lot anymore and I am thinking about getting rid of it. I use the hell out of my Harris XG. MUCH easier to program and has been a very good radio for almost 2 years now.

 

[northstarfire0693]

I hear its out there in the wild, just have to connect with people. If you get a radio someone will probably send it to you.

Exactly

 

[Mogley]

Not hard to come by at all. If you decide to get a XG100 or Xl200 the software is "out there". In the Harris club, someone will reach out to you to get you what you need. I will leave it like that. As far as the APX series goes. The prices I've seen from Command are off the chain for a AN radio that is no longer supported. IF you decide to get into NAS, you will need other "software" to generate system keys. Programing has to be done right or the radio will interfere with the system. If that happens, your radio will become a door stop if you are lucky. You also run the risk of getting a visit from local/state LE.

As others mentioned, the Kenwood's are great little radios. I have a TK5220. Love it, very solid radio. For NAS I started out with a APX 7K then was able to get my hands on a Harris XG. My APX dosent get used a whole lot anymore and I am thinking about getting rid of it. I use the hell out of my Harris XG. MUCH easier to program and has been a very good radio for almost 2 years now.

I appreciate everything . I will be purchasing and XG-100P and I was looking for some guides thank you.

 

[northstarfire0693]

I appreciate everything . I will be purchasing and XG-100P and I was looking for some guides thank you.

Before you pull the trigger on a XG. Post the links on here so others can look at them to make sure you are getting a good deal.

We are here to help.

 

[Mogley]

Before you pull the trigger on a XG. Post the links on here so others can look at them to make sure you are getting a good deal.

We are here to help.

will do thank you