XPR-7550E as my first DMR radio...some questions

[racin06]

I'm an amateur radio guy and I have been using analog and D-STAR HTs for quite some time. I'm looking to purchase my first DMR radio now that there are an increasing number of DMR repeaters in my area. I'm looking to go "all-in" and purchase a high end DMR radio. The XPR-7550E is at the top of my list. I have a few questions:

1. I'm assuming that I will need the programming software from Motorola. Is there a cost for this software?
2. Other than my Amateur Radio license, do I need a license with Motorola to use the 7550E?
3. Are there any Motorola dealers that give discounts to Ham's?

 

[clbsquared]

Yes, you will need to purchase the MotoTRBO software from Motorola. I believe it's around $250.00 for a 3 year subscription. But first you'll need to set up a Motorola Online account and sign the licensing agreement. There's no cost for the licensing agreement. You're just agreeing to their terms when it comes to purchasing and using their software.

businessonline.motorolasolutions.com

Sent from my HTC One A9 using Tapatalk

 

[Forts]

Have fun getting approved for an account too.... Took me 3 tries before they finally graced me with the option to spend money.

 

[Forts]

As an alternative, look into Hytera radios (PD782 or 982). Both are excellent radios and CPS is either very cheap or free from most dealers.

 

[radiomankc]

Go for the Motorola option. You won’t be disappointed. Plus, code plugs are much easier to obtain with repeaters/talkgroups/contacts preprogrammed into the. Yes, the software is about $200 or so but you won’t be disappointed. Getting a Motorola Online account is not as difficult as it seems. Sign up for it not as an individual but as your name d/b/a (Doing Business As) something like “Digital Radio Solutions”, etc.

 

[AI7PM]

My first was an XPR7550. Love it. That lead to XPR5550s for mobile and go-kit. I had/have access to an MOL account. Many clubs have an account for their members.

Hytera would be my next choice. A bit easier on the budget, but still good commercial grade. I'm familiar with a group who uses lot's of Hytera. The guys I've spoken within that group like it as well as Moto.

 

[com501]

+1 on the ham club accounts. Check your local club and see what they can do or have done. Payinbg for the software is worth it, you get updates, firmware and you can call in for tech support if you need it.

 

[N4KVE]

Great radio to start with. Many people I know with Motorola radios do not wish to spend the $169 for the programming CPS, or $40 for the cable. There's plenty of people locally who do have the CPS, & drop by the few times a year they need to add a new repeater to their radio. Some people make it seem like they need to program their radio 3 times a week. What a joke. Whenever I reprogram my radio, I check when I reprogrammed it last. Usually 8-12 months before. So find out if someone locally has the ability to program the radio. Meet them at Micky Dee's twice a year, & buy them a Happy Meal. KEN Bryant has great ham friendly prices, & also has practically new "demo" radios at a great discount. I've known Ken since 1995, & he's a stand up guy. 706-896-0000. Tell him GARY recommended you.

 

[alcahuete]

I have several 7550e's and they are great for amateur radio and otherwise. The audio leveling entitlement key (or whatever the heck it's called) makes using the ham band a dream, since there are SO many different radios and people who talk into the mic differently. I can literally set my volume knob to the level I want and never have to touch it. Best damn thing since sliced bread.

I don't agree with having a club or someone else program your radio from time to time. Reason being, while I don't program my radio a lot, I travel a lot, and my radio goes with me just about everywhere. What are you going to do, meet the guy at McDonald's and sit there for a couple hours programming for the trip? What if you find another frequency you want to add? What if the timeslots or whatever change on the repeaters you use? What if you want to rename a channel? Etc., etc.

Skip a few Starbucks runs and buy the software. Then you have it when you need it, and can fiddle around setting everything up exactly how you want it.

I'll second Ken Bryant at https://northgeorgiacommunications.com/. Very good ham friendly pricing.

 

[N4KVE]

I don't agree with having a club or someone else program your radio from time to time. Reason being, while I don't program my radio a lot, I travel a lot, and my radio goes with me just about everywhere. What are you going to do, meet the guy at McDonald's and sit there for a couple hours programming for the trip? What if you find another frequency you want to add? What if the timeslots or whatever change on the repeaters you use? What if you want to rename a channel? Etc., etc.

Everyone has different needs. But for what you describe for me, & many others happens once every 8-12 months. I have my friends codeplugs in my laptop, so I make any changes at home. The Micky Dee's session is 2 minutes to press the write button. There are some who bury themselves in their laptop daily for hours, trying to perfect their code plug. I think there are more important things in life. For me, my code plug does what I need, so every 8 months, I may add any changes.

 

[alcahuete]

The Micky Dee's session is 2 minutes to press the write button.

I'm impressed if somebody can create an entire code plug in 2 minutes. Are you forgetting the couple hours it likely takes to create the code plug before writing it? Sure, you can use pre-created code plugs, but then you lose all the customization. Most pre-created ham plugs aren't going to have police, fire, marine, etc. that I also enjoy monitoring on my radios. To each his own.

I certainly don't bury my head in my laptop with my code plug every day. I probably haven't changed my core code plug in 6 months or more. Last month I went to Seattle and Las Vegas. The month before that I was in D.C. In June I was in Europe. May in D.C. Local repeater rearranged its talkgroups. Also had to set my radios up for my new hotspot. Wanted to rearrange a couple of my zones a couple weeks ago, and alter a few of my scan lists. Added a PL on the receive end of one of the channels, as there was interference.

That's a lot of trips to McDonald's and a lot of happy meals! To save $200? No thanks.

 

[N4KVE]

New Moto users get my codeplug, which has been perfected over 5 years. There is no police, fire, or marine I can put in a UHF XPR7550, or 6550. My friends codeplugs are already in my laptop, so when they need a change, they tell me what they want, & I do it at home. I'm retired, so I'm glad to help my fellow ham friends. So when I do meet them at Micky Dee's, it's just a push of the write button. My friends do not use hot spots, as we have numerous DMR repeaters within a few miles, so they would serve no useful purpose. We are very lucky to have so many repeaters locally. Most have only 1 TG per TS. One friend is the general manager of a Dodge dealer. Every time I drop by his work to update his radio, I get a 20 minute "test drive" in a 707 HP Hellcat Challenger. I say that's worth it.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Everyone has different needs. But for what you describe for me, & many others happens once every 8-12 months. I have my friends codeplugs in my laptop, so I make any changes at home. The Micky Dee's session is 2 minutes to press the write button. There are some who bury themselves in their laptop daily for hours, trying to perfect their code plug. I think there are more important things in life. For me, my code plug does what I need, so every 8 months, I may add any changes.

I edit codeplugs every few weeks but mainly when system changes or I need to add something. Literally today I blew a codeplug into my VHF XTL that added support for Omnilink and full spectrum scan (migrating an existing system in as Zone 2 as well as building a new site and I don't want to wait for CC information to trickle down) as well as added a new conventional P25 2m repeater. Made similar changes to my XTS's (minus the conventional channel) on both VHF and 7/800. On my UHF XTL I fixed an issue in my programming with CVS and added a new zone with MPL enabled for a regional link system (which CVS runs on the local channels in another zone). I haven't fully finished building the codeplugs yet though (push them as I need them) but once they are done they won't be touched for 1 year or so at a time.

I last time I programmed my XPR6550...13.0 had just been released.

 

[CanesFan95]

Motorola is notorious for their convoluted process to get setup on MOL and get the software. The best thing to do is to call em and just talk to someone on the phone. You do not need a license from Motorola to use the radio. However, by default, the software only lets you program analog frequencies with a 12.5 kHz bandwidth. Problem is, almost all ham analog repeaters are 25 kHz. To get the software to let you change it to 25 kHz, you'll need an Entitlement ID (EID) from Motorola. You get it via MOL by taking a short online video course.

Another option for ham-friendly pricing is Sandy's:

Motorola Two Way Radio Dealer : SANDY'S COMMUNICATIONS NORTHRIDGE, CA 91325 .

I would recommend to get the long version of the antenna rather than the shorter stubby one. The longer antenna (sometimes called a "whip" antenna) is supposed to perform slightly better. Also, consider upgrading to a higher-capacity Impress battery. The XPR7550e comes in 2 varieties: Capable and Enabled. The Capable version means if you want to add certain extra features, you'll have to order them and pay extra. But if you get the Enabled version instead, you'll get many of those extras standard. However, many of those extras may be beyond what you'll need for ham use. You can tell it's an 'e' model if there is a grey pill-shaped ring around the PTT button.

 

[CanesFan95]

You'll be programming the radio frequently at first, because it takes a while to learn it and get it programmed just the way you want. Therefore, you really should spend the extra coin and get setup to be able to do your own programming. And be sure to buy the programming cable. Even though the radio can be programmed via Bluetooth, there are a few things you can't do without the actual cable:

1. Firmware updates. Motorola releases firmware updates every so often, but you can only upgrade the radio firmware with the cable. The programming software won't let you do it via Bluetooth.

2. Voice announcements. There's a way to program the radio so when you hit a button, the radio will make a voice announcement telling you what it's doing. For example, "Scan On", "Low Power", "High Power", etc. Loading the voice announcement sound files into the radio can only be done with the cable. Bluetooth will not work.

3. Bluetooth off by default. Brand new radios may come from Motorola with Bluetooth turned off by default. Therefore, the first time you program the radio, you'll have to have the cable. Then you can enable Bluetooth in the software so that it can be turned on via the radio's menu. And, if you ever accidentally disable Bluetooth in the software and write to the radio, then you'll need the cable again.

 

[mikewazowski]

The XPR7550e comes in 2 varieties: Capable and Enabled.

WiFi Capable and WiFi Enabled.

There's no other difference between the two models.

 

[alcahuete]

WiFi Capable and WiFi Enabled.

There's no other difference between the two models.

Not quite. Enabled also has Connect Plus and Capacity Max by default, as well as a 3000 mAh battery, vs. 2100 with the Capable model.

 

[mikewazowski]

Not quite. Enabled also has Connect Plus and Capacity Max by default, as well as a 3000 mAh battery, vs. 2100 with the Capable model.

Thanks! Didn't realise that.

 

[alcahuete]

Thanks! Didn't realise that.

No problem. The WiFi and battery are worth the extra price, IMO. Most of the people here are never going to use the other two features.