Wow sorry to hear that,I thought about buying one a while back instead I bought a Relm P800 BK radio instead, so for now That’s all I need I am happy I did instead of U3 radio!!
Looked at the BK's, but the special rx only key they need to provide which is one time use only seemed impossible to work with?
The U3 IMO would only be good for an agency, say that has to put a Phase 2 radio on a network at budget basement prices, like maybe a parks worker who trims trees, or school facilities maintanance. This would be for a "must buy new" purchasing agency, but for you guys, an APX4000 is 10x better in every respect, and they go for 50% less used. I wonder how close the APX900 is to the U3 in price...I am sure the APX900 would kill the U3 in every single respect as well, and maybe be the same price? Look at the weight of the radios, the APX900 might even be half the weight of the U3.
To round up my time with the U3.
16 channel positions, 64 zones.
Radio is heavy for it's size...very heavy...old STX era heavy...heavier than an APX6000.
No user programmable scan list, must be programmed via PPS "talkgroup scan" G series style.
No lockout/nuisance delete function, or hold obviously.
Zone changes are a long complicated process, takes longer than on a G series, and involves like 3x the amount of menu button pushing.
All external buttons are fixed function, no programability, like a Moto or G series.
Audio is louder than a G series, but is extremely shrill, with no bass at all, and 500mw audio is much weaker/worse than the 500mw audio from a Motorola.
Screen is as bright in low settings as the G series is at max brightness, and there is no backlight on off button.
Seems to have the same RX sensitivity as the G5, but also has the ability to not be knocked off the air by a cell tower.
Doesn't need to affiliate to RX ONLY recieve, and doesn't seem to cut off transmissions or anything like that.
RX ONLY is a channel setting, and the default, but the radio can still TX on conventional, there is no TX INHIB switch or function to NAS and talk on conv.
Changing channels, new selected trunked talkgroup RX is instant, no waiting for reaccuire like the G series
Displays RSSI dBm and frame error rate on RX, wirthout being in any special menu miode, which is cool.
Takes standard Moto antennas, the 800 version Unication antenna is VHF shaped, has similar RX signal as standard Moto 7" whip.
Accessory port is XPR/APX style, but they relocated the screw hole so they cannot interchange.
Belt clip seems super sturdy, Moto quality.
Programming is almost the same as the G series, you select RX ONLY SCAN and you select the system, then click add from a list or pre imported talkgroups...the U3 allows RRdb talkgroup and system imports like the G series. You must reimport talkgroups for every single system, so if like me, you need channel positions programmed as systems with specific sites used by the talkgroups, you would need to repeatedly import the same talkgroups from the RRdb over, and over, and over again.
On receive, jujst like a G series, you see the channel name displayed, then it switches back and forth to the talkgroup name as it receives, annoying.
PPS, you enter a system, add talkgroups to channel and zone...that is it, the PPS is extremely limited, you cannot really do anything else other than those tasks, as the rest of the radio is fixed hardware and operational functionality.
So, in closing, imagine a giant G series that takes much longer to change zones, has no l/o or hold, cannot be field scan list programmed, and has very shrill audio that is weaker than a 500mw Motorola speaker, and you start to see how limiting this would be for many people at the $1500 delivered price...assuming you are not an agency that needs to deploy phase 2 radios on the cheap and must buy new. If you are interested in buying this from me, send me a message...maybe you can play with it and sell it all over again, turn it into a Unication traveling gnome
Paul
