VM8000 PDF?

[Chelse]

Does anyone have the original PDF of the VM8000 mobile spec sheet?

I'm looking for the full-sized PDF, but all I've found is a blurry photo someone took of the printed spec sheet.

EFJohnson has not put anything online yet, and I'd like to get photos and information from that PDF to start advertising. Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you!

 

[kd4efm]

See attached.

 

[Chelse]

See attached.

Thank you!

 

[AF1UD]

Its extremely expensive. Maybe in a few years when this becomes more common we will see the price drop.

 

[mmckenna]

Its extremely expensive. Maybe in a few years when this becomes more common we will see the price drop.

Yes.
But the feature set isn't quite as good as the Harris and Motorola offerings, plus Kenwood/EFJ base prices (without all the add on features) tends to be lower than others.

Out of the range of most hobbyist, for sure, but there are hams/hobbyists wandering around with APX-8000's, VP-8000's, as well as various Harris multiband radios, so I'm sure we'll see some show up here in the near future.

Maybe when Tait and BK come to the party with their offerings, we'll see more options.
And I keep hoping that competition in this field drives prices down, but not joy on that front, yet.

 

[d119]

What "feature set" items are lacking? Is it anything anyone would actually use, or just fodder for sole-sourcing products from major vendors?

 

[mmckenna]

What "feature set" items are lacking? Is it anything anyone would actually use, or just fodder for sole-sourcing products from major vendors?

Well, LTE is a big one. I know most are not using it, but some larger agencies are starting to. State of California/CRIS is using it. Georgia State Patrol is using it. A few other agencies I know of are using it. Probably not a big enough deal, but I think PTToC is just going to continue to spread and Kenwood/EFJ leaving it out may eventually keep them out of the running in some larger projects.

Personally, I think having P25 and DMR is a multiband radio is a great idea. EFJ/Kenwood and Tait are on the right track here. I only wish Kenwood would get NXDN active on these soon.

 

[d119]

I only wish Kenwood would get NXDN active on these soon.

Well we have a specific use case for nearly 60 of these radios on NXDN, and I've been loud and clear to both the dealer, the MR, and Kenwood directly about this, as have many other people (yourself included I'm sure). They are working on it, so it's going to happen. It HAS to happen.

We're literally using a mix of P25, narrowband analog, DMR and NXDN at work. Our plans are to expand NXDN operation from simplex to G2 Type C trunking, and a lot of that hinges on where the VP/VM 8000 end up with NXDN.

I've been assured it's in the pipe. Same thing with Tier 3 Trunking for DMR.

 

[DeoVindice]

Well, LTE is a big one. I know most are not using it, but some larger agencies are starting to. State of California/CRIS is using it. Georgia State Patrol is using it. A few other agencies I know of are using it. Probably not a big enough deal, but I think PTToC is just going to continue to spread and Kenwood/EFJ leaving it out may eventually keep them out of the running in some larger projects.

Personally, I think having P25 and DMR is a multiband radio is a great idea. EFJ/Kenwood and Tait are on the right track here. I only wish Kenwood would get NXDN active on these soon.

There have been rumors of a "broadband voice gateway" feature coming to EFJ equipment for a bit. LTE connectivity on mobiles would be through an external modem. For portables, there is allegedly an LTE peripheral in development in concert with Tait - something like an LTE RSM.

 

[mmckenna]

I've been assured it's in the pipe. Same thing with Tier 3 Trunking for DMR.

Yeah, I've brought it up many times, hear the "in the plans" thing. They seem to be taking their sweet-a$$ time. I would have bought about 40 of them a year ago, but couldn't wait for "some day" to come.

 

[mmckenna]

There have been rumors of a "broadband voice gateway" feature coming to EFJ equipment for a bit. LTE connectivity on mobiles would be through an external modem. For portables, there is allegedly an LTE peripheral in development in concert with Tait - something like an LTE RSM.

Yeah, that's an approach that was suggested. Our PD vehicles already have the LTE modems. It's the portables I'm most concerned about. Tait Axiom has a good approach, but at the time, didn't have a multiband portable.

 

[d119]

LTE is going to be the nail in LMR's coffin, but I don't want to steer off topic here.

I'd imagine DMR T3 can't be far off, considering they've released conventional. Is Motorola's IP Site Connect a proprietary thing or can any DMR radio use it? I don't know squat about DMR infrastructure linking.

 

[wsp44]

DMR Tier 3 is supported now, they released the FW to support it a couple months ago, and it's an option when ordering VP8K now, NXDN is on the road map. LTE can't be supported by the VP due to it not having the hardware, It will require some form of external device, and my guess is the VM will be the same way.

The VP's do support wifi, so my guess is that JVC is going to recommend that route getting back to LMR, which again will require an external device to provide the network.

 

[mmckenna]

DMR Tier 3 is supported now, they released the FW to support it a couple months ago, and it's an option when ordering VP8K now, NXDN is on the road map.

Right, they've been saying 'it's on the roadmap' for at least 2 years now. I agree with them prioritizing DMR, that makes sense. Would just like to hear more than "on the roadmap" at this point. The radios I've seen have an NXDN ESN on the back, so it looks like the hardware is there and available. Just would like to see a working product in the near future. I have a very specific need for a multiband P25/NXDN radio for some users. EFJ/Kenwood is supposed to be bidding on a large project I'm involved in, and having NXDN option would add value points.

LTE can't be supported by the VP due to it not having the hardware, It will require some form of external device, and my guess is the VM will be the same way.

Right, what I heard through the grapevine was that "Japan" didn't want to support/include LTE capability and that there were other plans.
WiFi works well in a mobile environment where an LTE modem is probably already installed for most public safety users. Doesn't work for portable where they'd be away from the car. Adding LTE to a speaker mic is an option, but that probably isn't going to natively handle changing talk groups. Anyway, Tait Axiom already has that...


I'm confident that EFJ/Kenwood is well aware of all this and has a plan. Just frustrating when there's an immediate need for NXDN + P25 + multiband portables. But I'm sure I'm small potatoes in the larger scheme of things.

 

[d119]

Well my agency has no interest in using LTE for anything radio-related, we're one of the few who believe in self-sufficiency these days.

I'll have to look into a DMR Tier III license.

 

[emacs]

Is Motorola's IP Site Connect a proprietary thing or can any DMR radio use it? I don't know squat about DMR infrastructure linking.

Any DMR subscriber radio that supports site roaming should work on an IPSC system. I know from experience that NX-1000 and NX-3000 radios will work fine with Moto SLR repeaters in an IPSC setup (as well as Hytera IP Multisite repeaters). What is proprietary as far as I’m aware is the inter-repeater communications/IP transport, for example you can’t have a Moto repeater at one site linked via IP to a Kenwood repeater at another.

 

[wd8chl]

So, it looks to me that while Capacity Plus is compatible with Tier II DMR, Connect Plus is the one that is proprietary and can only be used with motorola radios.

 

[d119]

So, it looks to me that while Capacity Plus is compatible with Tier II DMR, Connect Plus is the one that is proprietary and can only be used with motorola radios.

Correct.

 

[ramal121]

And Connect Plus is on its way out.

 

[wsp44]

At the time of Tier 3 release EFJ stated that they could confirm that VP8000's worked on Leonardo FW 6.0.25.4 and newer, Tait TN9300 FW 03.46.00 and newer.
They couldn't not confirm if it worked on TRBO connect plus (which it won't as others have stated) and they also said due to known issues it wouldn't work on Hytera t3.