Homeboys-Scanna said:
A speaker is a speaker. Motorola prolly set it all up to make them look like "special" speakers just to charge more money. Dispatch consoles aren't real radios. They don't have SWR's and get hot when you transmit a lot. It's just a big overpriced glorified computer device that handles audio.
These speakers are unique to the MCC series radio consoles. They are special because they are electronically controlled by the processor for handling multiple audio outputs. Typically there are two speakers on the setup, one for the 'Selected' channel or talkgroup that the dispatcher is using, and the other speaker handles all the 'Unselected' channels or talkgroups. On the MCC 5500 console, the dispatcher can choose the level of audio for each individual channel. Again, this is accomplished through the processor, allowing the dispatcher many options for audio levels and control. It's a nice thing to have when you are monitoring 10+ channels.
Additionally, although a dispatch console is technically not a radio, it is a controller for an actual radio somewhere else. The SWR meter on the console gets its information from the radio, and the radio...get this...gets warm. I'd much rather have my "glorified" computer over a simple two way radio any day.
On a side note, my center uses a MCC5500 console with an Astro P25 800MHz trunk system (law) and VHF (fire, law backup, road commision, jail) mix. It works like a charm and the audio is crisp and clear.