Radios compatible with SL300 series?

[otterman524]

I work for a small company that uses sl300 series radios with a Celwave model L445SUM7000BT repeater hooked into a Vertex Standard EVX-R70. Currently, replacing the SL300 radios is getting too expensive, and I have been tasked with seeing if there are cheaper radios that could work with this system and what the steps would be to integrate them tuned into our existing system. I have tried to get assistance from Motorola support but so far they have been very slow to respond and have not provided me with anything useful. This is my first time working with a system like this, does anyone have any tips or answers that might help get closer to a solution?

 

[K2NEC]

The SL300 series are one of the cheapest DMR capable radios offered by Motorola, not many cheaper options that still offer your part certification. If you are using analog then your options are a lot broader than if you are using DMR. I would consult the vendor that put your system in as well. I'm not sure of the exact dollar amount but the CP100d or CP200d might be cheaper than the SL300

 

[mmckenna]

I work for a small company that uses sl300 series radios with a Celwave model L445SUM7000BT repeater hooked into a Vertex Standard EVX-R70.

The Celwave Duplexer model number says you have a UHF system.

The repeater:

EVX-R70 - Motorola Solutions

EVX-R70

www.motorolasolutions.com

Shows that it is capable of analog or DMR digital.

Currently, replacing the SL300 radios is getting too expensive, and I have been tasked with seeing if there are cheaper radios that could work with this system and what the steps would be to integrate them tuned into our existing system.

SL300 is a DMR capable radio, and it shows analog capability.

I have tried to get assistance from Motorola support but so far they have been very slow to respond and have not provided me with anything useful. This is my first time working with a system like this, does anyone have any tips or answers that might help get closer to a solution?

Motorola support isn't going to be much help. About all they could do is direct you to a local Motorola shop that would look at your system and tell you which Motorola model radio you'd need to buy to work with that system. They won't suggest another brand that might save you money.

There's a lot involved in replacing the radios. They need to be programmed to work exactly the same as the originals and within the confines of the FCC license (if you are in the USA).

It won't be as simple as buying a radio off Amazon.

Unless you have all the details necessary to program a new radio, as well as the programming software/cables, you don't have much of an option.

You need to contact a radio shop that has the skills to do this correctly. That might be the same radio shop that set your system up. It is possible to lock some of these systems down with passwords, so random radio guy may not be able to do it.

Since this is primarily a hobby radio site, you'll probably get a lot of hobby oriented responses. You may get some that suggest you buy some cheap Chinese radios off Amazon/EBay and use those. Before you spend money on that, you need to understand that there are a ton of variables and randomly guessing the setup on the radios will not be easy. Also (if you are in the USA), there are FCC requirements that dictate what radios you can be using. The cheap $15 radios off Amazon/eBay rarely meet those FCC requirements.

If your employer is expecting you to do this without the proper training/equipment/knowledge (especially knowledge of the FCC rules), I'd recommend politely declining and giving them the contact information for a local radio shop.

As for the SL300's, you are probably looking at $300 each for replacements, maybe a bit less if you have a good shop.
There are less expensive DMR capable radios from other vendors. You pay a premium for the Motorola brand name on the current radios. But getting those from the same shop can save you a lot of headaches.

Unfortunately, once you let a radio shop in to set up a system like that, they kind of have you under their control. Unless you have a trained/experience radio guy on your staff (not a hobbyist), you don't have many options.

 

[otterman524]

The Celwave Duplexer model number says you have a UHF system.

The repeater:

EVX-R70 - Motorola Solutions

EVX-R70

www.motorolasolutions.com

Shows that it is capable of analog or DMR digital.



SL300 is a DMR capable radio, and it shows analog capability.



Motorola support isn't going to be much help. About all they could do is direct you to a local Motorola shop that would look at your system and tell you which Motorola model radio you'd need to buy to work with that system. They won't suggest another brand that might save you money.

There's a lot involved in replacing the radios. They need to be programmed to work exactly the same as the originals and within the confines of the FCC license (if you are in the USA).

It won't be as simple as buying a radio off Amazon.

Unless you have all the details necessary to program a new radio, as well as the programming software/cables, you don't have much of an option.

You need to contact a radio shop that has the skills to do this correctly. That might be the same radio shop that set your system up. It is possible to lock some of these systems down with passwords, so random radio guy may not be able to do it.

Since this is primarily a hobby radio site, you'll probably get a lot of hobby oriented responses. You may get some that suggest you buy some cheap Chinese radios off Amazon/EBay and use those. Before you spend money on that, you need to understand that there are a ton of variables and randomly guessing the setup on the radios will not be easy. Also (if you are in the USA), there are FCC requirements that dictate what radios you can be using. The cheap $15 radios off Amazon/eBay rarely meet those FCC requirements.

If your employer is expecting you to do this without the proper training/equipment/knowledge (especially knowledge of the FCC rules), I'd recommend politely declining and giving them the contact information for a local radio shop.

As for the SL300's, you are probably looking at $300 each for replacements, maybe a bit less if you have a good shop.
There are less expensive DMR capable radios from other vendors. You pay a premium for the Motorola brand name on the current radios. But getting those from the same shop can save you a lot of headaches.

Unfortunately, once you let a radio shop in to set up a system like that, they kind of have you under their control. Unless you have a trained/experience radio guy on your staff (not a hobbyist), you don't have many options.

Thank you. This was just the information/answer I was looking for, as the people requesting this do not have radio knowledge, and the Amazon special was one of the solutions suggested. We definitely do not have a professional radio guy, so over to the radio shop it is.

 

[mmckenna]

Thank you. This was just the information/answer I was looking for, as the people requesting this do not have radio knowledge, and the Amazon special was one of the solutions suggested. We definitely do not have a professional radio guy, so over to the radio shop it is.

Good plan.

There's a few older posts on this site where someone with zero radio knowledge decided they could do it better using advice from a hobby radio page. It never goes well.

The radios you have are reasonably priced for what they are. I know the powers that be may not think that, but $300 for a quality DMR radio isn't a lot of money. If they are having issues with the radios lasting in their application, then they are probably using the wrong radios. Going to a cheaper radio is going to result in a higher failure rate. Sometimes paying more for a higher tier radio is the right thing to do.

I understand, though. I've seen it happen many times.

 

[MTS2000des]

Not sure if your EVX repeater is configured, but if RAS is used on your SLs, you're stuck with MSI TRBO subscribers. Really need to know how your repeater is programmed (analog, digital, RAS, basic privacy vs clear) to know exactly what subscribers are compatible. If RAS is NOT in use, any DMR conventional capable subscriber should work.

 

[AM909]

For the original poster, apparently a novice, I'll point out that "subscribers" mean the radios used by the end-users of the system, e.g., the SL300.