Tytera TYT/Tytera MD380 DMR HT

[RayAir]

IMHO, the md-380 is a fine radio for the price. I now have 3 of them serving as scanners.

They work very well for DMR Conventional, and better than expected on Capacity Plus and Connect Plus TRS.

These radios are the only reason I got back into scanning due to the huge shift to DMR around my home location.

I also own a Motorola SL7550. It is a great little radio. It is on a state DMR system (amateur). I'm not into amateur radio and would like to change some programming on it.
It's only good on the Event channels for severe weather, missing persons or other local emergencies.

 

[Voyager]

Others do not need to make daily changes. They simply drop by a friend's house every once in a while to make any necessary changes. The friend didn't pay for the CPS either, but rather works for an entity where the software is legally used. I wonder what the policy is on that? Eg. Work uses the CPS for their 2-way system, but the employee uses the same CPS to program his friends ham radios.

Easy to answer. the Motorola SW license agreement allows you to install the SW on one computer. So, if your friend's computer is the one the company uses for programming, it's fine. Otherwise, it too is pirated.

 

[N8OHU]

Speak for yourself.

My point was that the programming software and firmware updates are more readily accessible for the "cheap Chinese radios", than they are for the more expensive ones, unless you're willing to spend the money to buy the software.

 

[N4KVE]

My point was that the programming software and firmware updates are more readily accessible for the "cheap Chinese radios", than they are for the more expensive ones, unless you're willing to spend the money to buy the software.

A friend came over a few months ago, & we were discussing this point. He's a real computer geek, while I'm not. It took him exactly 30 seconds on the internet to find any CPS one could need. I didn't need anything, but he was proving a point. If you know how to look for anything, it's out there.

 

[AK9R]

Folks, the topic of the thread is not how to get Motorola radios programmed.

 

[jonvenusti]

I don't get it. People will spend thousands on an HF setup but skimp on HTs and just get Chinese junk. Having a Motorola is like a Rolex and a TYT is like a watch from the dollar store or a Chinese street vendor. Yeah their made in Malaysia but the quality difference is so extreme. You get what you pay for. The TYT is a toy the moto is a tool

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[N4KVE]

Folks, the topic of the thread is not how to get Motorola radios programmed.

You are correct, but in this thread many times people state that when you buy a TYT, the CPS is included, but when you buy a MOTO radio, plan on spending an extra $265 to program it. This is not the case whether you program it at work, or a friend programs it, or a friend gives you a disc.

 

[NavyBOFH]

I don't get it. People will spend thousands on an HF setup but skimp on HTs and just get Chinese junk. Having a Motorola is like a Rolex and a TYT is like a watch from the dollar store or a Chinese street vendor. Yeah their made in Malaysia but the quality difference is so extreme. You get what you pay for. The TYT is a toy the moto is a tool

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We are talking two different things as well. There are also some very cheap HF rigs out there. Just because it's not a top ICOM or a Hiberling rig doesn't mean it's junk in that world either.

For the HOBBY of ham radio, and given some peoples budgets and experiences, you'd be hard pressed to find any other DMR radio worth the money you spend on the Tytera.

Now if I want to talk about high-end commercial radios in the world of ham radio - lets talk about how many people go out and get a Mobat or Codan rig for hobby use.


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[N4KVE]

I have several Moto DMR radios, & I'm very happy with them. A few months ago I was able to pick up a used CS700 for $100 to bring to a friend in Canada the following month. I had a month to play with it, & I must say I was very pleased with how well it worked for the $100 I paid. Sure it lacked features my Moto radios have, but it worked quite well. My friend who now owns it is also very happy with it. It's funny how we all have our priorities. While he had no problem paying $100 for the CS700, he would never pay the going rate for even a used Moto radio. However, he would blindly fork out his hard earned money for the next Apple product no matter what it was, or how much it cost. LOL.

 

[N8OHU]

I don't get it. People will spend thousands on an HF setup but skimp on HTs and just get Chinese junk. Having a Motorola is like a Rolex and a TYT is like a watch from the dollar store or a Chinese street vendor. Yeah their made in Malaysia but the quality difference is so extreme. You get what you pay for. The TYT is a toy the moto is a tool

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Not everyone that buys a DMR radio can justify spending over 500USD for one, especially if they have already invested in another digital voice mode like D-STAR or System Fusion. That's where the lower cost models fit into the equation.

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

I don't get it. People will spend thousands on an HF setup but skimp on HTs and just get Chinese junk. Having a Motorola is like a Rolex and a TYT is like a watch from the dollar store or a Chinese street vendor. Yeah their made in Malaysia but the quality difference is so extreme. You get what you pay for. The TYT is a toy the moto is a tool

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But some folks don't have thousands to spend on HF or even hundreds to spend on HT's. I live on a very tight budget, so I have to plan my purchases wisely. My $165 MD-380 "toy" does everything I want / need it to do. It has performed almost flawlessly (one small glitch with the volume setting showing up in the display sometimes when I change channels, but it doesn't affect how the radio works so it's no big deal to me) since I bought it about 6 weeks ago and I am very pleased with my purchase of it.

If you have the bucks to buy a "tool," hey, more power to you. Just don't look down your nose at those of us who don't have that kind of money. It's snobbery like that that almost kept me from becoming a ham to begin with.

 

[jonvenusti]

But some folks don't have thousands to spend on HF or even hundreds to spend on HT's. I live on a very tight budget, so I have to plan my purchases wisely. My $165 MD-380 "toy" does everything I want / need it to do. It has performed almost flawlessly (one small glitch with the volume setting showing up in the display sometimes when I change channels, but it doesn't affect how the radio works so it's no big deal to me) since I bought it about 6 weeks ago and I am very pleased with my purchase of it.

If you have the bucks to buy a "tool," hey, more power to you. Just don't look down your nose at those of us who don't have that kind of money. It's snobbery like that that almost kept me from becoming a ham to begin with.

For 100 more dollars you could own a quality product from an American company

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[Voyager]

Just wait until the manufacturers involved decide to target the HF market...

Should get interesting.

 

[Voyager]

For 100 more dollars you could own a quality product from an American company

Who would that be?

 

[NavyBOFH]

For 100 more dollars you could own a quality product from an American company

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Which one with similar capability? Motorola won't sell ANYTHING new for that cheap minus a blister packed radio set. Other than that I can't think of an "American" company that has a ~$350 NEW radio that competes.


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[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

For 100 more dollars you could own a quality product from an American company.

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Is the radio itself made in America, hmmm?

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

For 100 more dollars you could own a quality product from an American company

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Once again, some people may not have that "extra 100 dollars."

 

[jonvenusti]

Who would that be?

You can get a new old stock XPR 3500 on ebay for less than 300. Yeah it's not made in the United States but it is an American owned company. If you need to get a Motorola repaired it gets fixed in the United States. Good luck calling up TYT and getting the MD380 repaired LOL. They have virtually 0 customer support

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[johnls7424]

Not everyone that buys a DMR radio can justify spending over 500USD for one, especially if they have already invested in another digital voice mode like D-STAR or System Fusion. That's where the lower cost models fit into the equation.

In all honesty you may get what you pay for, but already its worth the investment and the money spent on it was well worth.

 

[Voyager]

You can get a new old stock XPR 3500 on ebay for less than 300. Yeah it's not made in the United States but it is an American owned company. If you need to get a Motorola repaired it gets fixed in the United States. Good luck calling up TYT and getting the MD380 repaired LOL. They have virtually 0 customer support

And that is FPP?

...and I'm not even going to mention the Motorola service charge for a bricked unit.

When repair charges exceed the cost of a new unit, the repair cost becomes irrelevant. (this is generally called "disposable radios")