Hello everyone,
This is my first post. I have done quite a bit of searching, but have not found the advice I am looking for. Please be gentle if I have missed finding the answers during my search.
I just purchased a couple of Motorola DTR550 radios (made in 2007). I am going on a cruise in a few weeks and I bought these based on all I read here on the forums. They didn't come with any accessories or antenna and I was hoping those of you, in the know, could help guide me in buying what I need to get them up and running.
Questions:
- Antenna:
-- Should I go with a 1/4 wave or 1/2 wave?
-- Will I really get that much more range with a 1/2 wave so it is worth the extra inconvenience?
-- How good are the ebay cheapies (please see links below)
-- What antenna do you recommend (link please)?
- Will the DTR650 (1 hour) charger charge these DTR550s in an hour, or should I get the DTR550 charger?
- I see in the manual the battery is a NNTN4655 but most resalers are saying it is a 53963. The NNTN4655 is quite a bit cheaper. Are they truly interchangeable and has anyone had luck with the NNTN4655?
- Programming software. I understand it is free from Motorola. I could not find a Mac version. Is there one (link please)?
Seems like that will cover it. I appreciate any help and advice you can give.
Thank you,
Gordon
* Antenna links for reference:
900MHz Stubby Antenna Motorola Radio DTR550 DTR650 MTX8250 MTX9250 MTX850 MTX950 | eBay
and
800 900 MHz Antenna Motorola Radio XTS5000 DTR550 DTR650 XTS3000 XTS3500 XTS1500 | eBay
This is my first post. I have done quite a bit of searching, but have not found the advice I am looking for. Please be gentle if I have missed finding the answers during my search.
I just purchased a couple of Motorola DTR550 radios (made in 2007). I am going on a cruise in a few weeks and I bought these based on all I read here on the forums. They didn't come with any accessories or antenna and I was hoping those of you, in the know, could help guide me in buying what I need to get them up and running.
Questions:
- Antenna:
-- Should I go with a 1/4 wave or 1/2 wave?
-- Will I really get that much more range with a 1/2 wave so it is worth the extra inconvenience?
-- How good are the ebay cheapies (please see links below)
-- What antenna do you recommend (link please)?
- Will the DTR650 (1 hour) charger charge these DTR550s in an hour, or should I get the DTR550 charger?
- I see in the manual the battery is a NNTN4655 but most resalers are saying it is a 53963. The NNTN4655 is quite a bit cheaper. Are they truly interchangeable and has anyone had luck with the NNTN4655?
- Programming software. I understand it is free from Motorola. I could not find a Mac version. Is there one (link please)?
Seems like that will cover it. I appreciate any help and advice you can give.
Thank you,
Gordon
* Antenna links for reference:
900MHz Stubby Antenna Motorola Radio DTR550 DTR650 MTX8250 MTX9250 MTX850 MTX950 | eBay
and
800 900 MHz Antenna Motorola Radio XTS5000 DTR550 DTR650 XTS3000 XTS3500 XTS1500 | eBay