Send a Hazloc radio to Motorola for repair in 2024

[tropiradio]

I've got a XPR3500e Hazloc radio that the customer dropped hard and both the screws that hold the lower part of the chassis got detached from the front cover because the threaded plastic pieces broke off, so the screws are no longer attached to anything and now the chassis just pulls out. Also the radio immediately goes into TX after boot and for now could not see any obvious reason for that (PTT switch seems undamaged), but the main concern would be of course the integrity of the radio and compliance to operate in explosive environments has obviously been lost.

Never had to repair a Hazloc radio, nor do I have the equipment to verify full compliance, so I was thinking of sending it back to Motorola for service. I was told by my dealer that the radio will need to be assigned a ticket number and sent to El Paso TX, but it may take between 4-6 or even 8 weeks for it to be even processed. Being a Hazloc radio it may take even longer. Also absolutely no information on cost of repair estimate is provided beforehand and I was told it is virtually impossible to talk to a human to find out more details or cost of the process. Obviously they don't want to make it easy for repairs and would probably prefer if one would just buy a new radio.

Was wondering if anyone might have recently sent in a radio for repair to Motorola, and how the experience was.

BTW I also have a CP200d from another customer that out of the blue simply stopped powering up and now seems to be brain dead. It only takes between 40-45mA on power on but does not boot or do anything at all. Tried putting it in Flashzap (holding PTT and 2nd button at power up) which once seemed to cure this same issue on this radio in the past (about 2 years ago) but its not helping this time.

Without knowing anything much at this point about the Motorola in-house repair process, was thinking that might send in both radios to make it more justifiable, but wonder if the ultimate costs and waiting time involved may be worth it, specially in the case of the Hazloc radio, against just buying a new one.

 

[Firebuff880]

Probably cheaper and easier to destroy the XPR3500e and replace it with a new one.

 

[tropiradio]

Probably cheaper and easier to destroy the XPR3500e and replace it with a new one.

A new Hazmat (actually its a DEP570e) is $590 my price (plus a long 4-5 month factory lead time), so not exactly cheap or quick solution, but without knowing total repair cost and time going through Motorola you may be right in just replacing it.

But why "destroy" the radio? Worst case scenario would be to use for parts, or just replace the front cover and have customer use as a regular radio outside Hazmat requirement usage. They only have a couple of Hazmat radios that are exclusively used by the fueler trucks, but rest of the fleet are all conventional equipment.

 

[Firebuff880]

But why "destroy" the radio? Worst case scenario would be to use for parts, or just replace the front cover and have customer use as a regular radio outside Hazmat requirement usage. They only have a couple of Hazmat radios that are exclusively used by the fueler trucks, but rest of the fleet are all conventional equipment.

Okay, then repair it to a non-hazmat state in-house.

 

[buddrousa]

Most Shop Radio Techs will not inhouse repair Intrinsically Safe Radios due to the fact if the radio fails in an IDLH Conditions due to the fact that the Radio Shop and the Radio Tech would be held liable for for the Damage or Injuries is this something you want your name listed on?

 

[N4KVE]

Okay, then repair it to a non-hazmat state in-house.

This. Keep it off the fuel trucks.

 

[chrismol1]

Who does the Hazloc or Intrinsically Safe radio repair? Is that Motorola in-house only or somebody like United Radio?

 

[buddrousa]

A Motorola Dealer will send it to a Motorola Depot for proper repair they will see all the IS parts and gaskets are reinstalled and the radio meets the IS Standards again.

 

[tropiradio]

A Motorola Dealer will send it to a Motorola Depot for proper repair they will see all the IS parts and gaskets are reinstalled and the radio meets the IS Standards again.

That is exactly why I need to consider sending it out to Motorola for servicing due to the obvious risks and liabilities. But it has been impossible to not even get an estimate of the repair cost, or the time involved, which might make it easier to decide if simply getting a new Hazloc radio instead might make more sense. I was also hoping someone here might have had a recent experience on this process and could provide some input on how it all went.

 

[buddrousa]

The Motorola Radios I sent back for Depot looked at the Radio and sent my Dealer a Repair Price with the option to fix or return it to use as is.
Your options my be better to replace due to age than repair.

Motorola XPR 3500e

The Motorola XPR 3500e radio features 128 channels, a display, digital transmissions, and a 5 year warranty. Purchase XPR3500e accessories and parts.

www.radiodepot.com

 

[PACNWDude]

I have standardized on XPR7550e radios over the XPR3xxx, but my employers flat rate repair cost from Motorola for the CP200 is $210, and $310 for the XPR3xxx.

El Paso, Texas is where they would be sent....but as others have said, might be better to just get a new radio to maintain IS rating.

I have to stress UL IS rated radios and batteries where I work, and as others have said, the repair shop have to be able to verify that for liability reasons. Repair shops that repair IS rated radios must be inspected and certified to do so. It is more of a legal/safety issue than many seem to understand (I worked in oil/gas industry and it is really tightly monitored and scrutinized).

 

[tropiradio]

Given the helpful information posted here, I will now be able to better present both options to the customer and let them decide if they want to repair or buy a new radio. I will also recommend to get a new radio as the best solution and keep the other one as a non-TIA radio.