XPR7000eC vs XPR3500e vs DTR700. Need your thoughts!

[DP1299]

Ive setup 3 TRBO IPSC systems so far, for other companies. My own employer wants to grow into a radio system, starting off with 10 portables. Its a small two-site company (IPSC not really needed here due to not needing cont contact with workers at the other location). Capital has been approved for up to 30 XPR7550eC portables with 4 repeaters (two at each site), though I really like the XPR7550e radio, I'm having a hard time justifying this over an XPR3500e or the DTR700. My only concern is covering the main bldg. Had my good 'ol radio shop lend me a pair of 3500e UHF radios to test site propagation. No blind spots.

Company produces parts for the military.
Building 420ft x 420ft. Only one concrete wall separating two working areas. Single story. 30ft open ceiling in the work area (90% of the bldg.), rest are office spaces.
Grounds 1050ft x 1050ft

Concerns, thoughts, wants, needs, etc...
NO confidential or company critical messages will go over RF. Though privacy would be great.
Due to the small size of this company and few users/groups, its hard for me to justify the need for a 7550e/7580e.
7000e series has a great, clear, colorful screen that will make contacts lookup look better. Though not critical.
3500e series sounds great, still has a screen, and costs less. But the lack of enhanced privacy OOTB, though its super weak "encryption'.
DTR700 seems to provide all we would need, without having to purchase EID's. The lack of encryption is somewhat made up by FHSS. But this could go bad if we suddenly need multi-site linking, though I don't see this ever happening in the next 10 years.
Want great audio.
Want some privacy.
Any real benefit to 900mhz vs 460mhz?

What are your thoughts?

Thanks
Brad

 

[K2NEC]

How many TG's do you realistically see your company using?

If you don't need a 7550e then you could settle for a 7350e. Still great audio, still a wide variety of accessories but cheaper than a 7550e. And you still have the option for enhanced privacy.

With the DTR radios you are only transmitting on 1W compared to 4W with an XPR. If you don't really need anything more than simplex conversations (no repeater) then the DTR are great for in building coverage. I think I saw a DTR repeater floating around somewhere but i'm not sure how that works or if it even works.

I think some companies will let you try out radios or at least rent them. See how you like the DTR radios (for a few days, weeks, whatever it takes) and if you find they are a no-go then you can't really go wrong with the XPR's.

Just my 2 cents

 

[N5XPM]

This is one of the more solvable questions posted here lately.

Since you have a decent budget, if the DTRs do what you need (for coverage) and have accessories your users want, I would consider going with them first. Cost is lowest as well, but it sounds like performance may be the priority, which is a good decision criteria

for commercial users. DTRs are smaller and lighter and may be preferred by users for that reason.
If you need to connect the two sites, you might be able to obtain two JPS NXU-2As and link the two suites together with a dedicated talk group.

XPR 7550s might work quite well on simplex and purchasing a few and getting licensed for certain users (wanting more security ?) might be a useful complement to the DTRs, but hard to say without knowing more how your operation functions.

You could also use the JPS units to create a cross-system link between XPRs and DTRs.

Setting up TRBO repeaters and linking them would certainly be more fun, but simple and user-friendly is probably more important.

Like to hear what you end up with and how it works.

 

[n1das]

With the DTR radios you are only transmitting on 1W compared to 4W with an XPR. If you don't really need anything more than simplex conversations (no repeater) then the DTR are great for in building coverage. I think I saw a DTR repeater floating around somewhere but i'm not sure how that works or if it even works.

DTR repeater, yes it does work:

Cane Wireless - DRX digital repeater

Two-Way business radios and accessories

www.canewirelesspro.com

The DTR repeater is made from a pair of legacy DTR radios running custom firmware. Strategic placement is key to getting it to work well.

 

[DP1299]

How many TG's do you realistically see your company using?

Original plan was 6 simplex and 2 on repeater, as planned 6 months ago (company moves really slow. You know, govt work...). As for now, I only see a need for 5 TG's.

This is one of the more solvable questions posted here lately.

Since you have a decent budget, if the DTRs do what you need (for coverage) and have accessories your users want, I would consider going with them first. Cost is lowest as well, but it sounds like performance may be the priority, which is a good decision criteria

Now that Ive looked at the DTR700 again, there are a couple of things I really don't like. 1. No belt clip. Machine Maint and Facilities Maint will destroy that holster if left attached to their waist. 2. Noise Cancelling SpkrMic???
I kinda hate to say the DTR700's might be out of the picture just for these reasons. What are your thoughts on this?

Setting up TRBO repeaters and linking them would certainly be more fun, but simple and user-friendly is probably more important.

Lucky for them, Ive got experience with this. That's why I had proposed that in the initial system design.

 

[DP1299]

DTR repeater, yes it does work:

Cane Wireless - DRX digital repeater

Two-Way business radios and accessories

www.canewirelesspro.com

The DTR repeater is made from a pair of legacy DTR radios running custom firmware. Strategic placement is key to getting it to work well.

That would totally work. Is it one pair per TG?

 

[K2NEC]

DTR repeater, yes it does work:

Cane Wireless - DRX digital repeater

Two-Way business radios and accessories

www.canewirelesspro.com

The DTR repeater is made from a pair of legacy DTR radios running custom firmware. Strategic placement is key to getting it to work well.

That's what it was! Thanks