XPR XPR7350E type radio, but Chirp programmable?

[MidnightWolf5]

Hello! My work uses XPR 7350E radios, on UHF frequencies. I may soon be required to carry one, however, all the radios are abused, and old. Batteries don't last, speaker mics are swung around, etc.

Now, is there any comparable radio that can be programmed with Chirp? If possible, I'd like to get my own, so I'm able to adjust any settings without having to go to the person that programs all the radios, and has Motorolas software. Along with potentially use it outside of work. Price isn't a huge concern, I know the 7350's aren't cheap.

 

[Tank67]

What do you mean by "chirp"? Also, you're going to need CPS to do any sort of programming.

 

[clbsquared]

Just about any radio you buy is going to have its own CPS. Most are free and included with your purchase. Don’t use CHIRP. Use the appropriate software for the model you buy.

 

[Mogley]

A tyt md380 would work well. Damn thing is indestructible. Great range for a 100 dollar DMR radio.

 

[Mogley]

A tyt md380 would work well. Damn thing is indestructible. Great range for a 100 dollar DMR radio.

Ooh and the software is free and a programming cable comes with the radio too.

 

[K2NEC]

Ooh and the software is free and a programming cable comes with the radio too.

MotoTRBO software is free too and a programming cable is like $30.

Hello! My work uses XPR 7350E radios, on UHF frequencies. I may soon be required to carry one, however, all the radios are abused, and old. Batteries don't last, speaker mics are swung around, etc.

Now, is there any comparable radio that can be programmed with Chirp? If possible, I'd like to get my own, so I'm able to adjust any settings without having to go to the person that programs all the radios, and has Motorolas software. Along with potentially use it outside of work. Price isn't a huge concern, I know the 7350's aren't cheap.

There is no "comparable" radio to a 7350e that programs with Chirp. Chirp is intended for cheap chinese radios and the quality is completely different than that of a 7350e. If you're that hard pressed about not having an "old and abused" radio, first verify that you aren't using RAS or encryption, and get yourself a 7350 in whatever condition you want from ebay or even used-radios.com
People don't tend to care about their radios unless it's theirs or the repair is coming out of their paycheck.

 

[TampaTyron]

I guess it comes down to the RF band and how they are programmed. VHF or UHF and just using analog or DMR? Then almost any cheap DMR radio in the same band should be able to communicate with it (assuming no RAS, encryption, or trunking). Any idea on type of system? Also, if the radios are that trashed, they need a refresh or PM or something. TT

 

[mmckenna]

Hello! My work uses XPR 7350E radios, on UHF frequencies. I may soon be required to carry one, however, all the radios are abused, and old. Batteries don't last, speaker mics are swung around, etc.

Now, is there any comparable radio that can be programmed with Chirp? If possible, I'd like to get my own, so I'm able to adjust any settings without having to go to the person that programs all the radios, and has Motorolas software. Along with potentially use it outside of work. Price isn't a huge concern, I know the 7350's aren't cheap.

Not sure what country you are located in, but if you are in the USA, there's some FCC rules you are required to follow:

- You, as an employee, are NOT licensed to use those frequencies. The employer or their service provider is. It is 100% the responsibility of the licensee (not you) to control all radios that are operating under their FCC license. It is not legal for you to just add a radio on their system without direct permission from the licensee. Doesn't matter how you program it, how much you spend on it, or what some random dude on the internet says, the FCC Rules are exceedingly clear on this:

Federal Register :: Request Access

§ 90.403 General operating requirements.​

(a) Licensees of radio stations in the private land mobile radio services shall be directly responsible for the proper operation and use of each transmitter for which they are licensed. In this connection, licensees shall exercise such direction and control as is necessary to assure that all authorized facilities are employed:
(1) Only for permissible purposes;
(2) Only in a permissible manner; and
(3) Only by persons with authority to use and operate such equipment.





-Your employer or their radio service provider is required by the FCC to protect their license and not allow unauthorized users to use said system. This means that they can absolutely tell you "no, you cannot operate your own radio on their system" and be totally legal and covered in doing so.

The red text below also says that if they permit you to add your own radio to their system, it is 100% their responsibility to make sure that the radio is meeting FCC specifications for Part 90 at all times, and that includes maintenance and alignment of said radio. In other words, they would be legally and financially responsible for the maintenance and operation of your radio.

Part B, below, means they can also require you to not program any additional frequencies into said radio that THEY are not licensed for. Doesn't matter what you are licensed for...

Federal Register :: Request Access

§ 90.427 Precautions against unauthorized operation.​

(a) Each transmitter shall be so installed and protected that it is not accessible to or capable of operation by persons other than those duly authorized by and under the control of the licensee. Provisions of this part authorizing certain unlicensed persons to operate stations, or authorizing unattended operation of stations in certain circumstances, shall not be construed to change or diminish in any respect the responsibility of station licensees to maintain control over the stations licensed to them (including all transmitter units thereof), or for the proper functioning and operation of those stations and transmitter units in accordance with the terms of the licenses of those stations.

(b) Except for frequencies used in accordance with § 90.417, no person shall program into a transmitter frequencies for which the licensee using the transmitter is not authorized.




-Section C and D reiterates what was said above, your employer is responsible for the maintenance and care of the radio you buy, meaning they are required to maintain 100% control of the radio at all times:

Federal Register :: Request Access

§ 90.433 Operator requirements.​

(a) No operator license or permit is required for the operation, maintenance, or repair of stations licensed under this part.
(b) Any person, with the consent or authorization of the licensee, may employ stations in this service for the purpose of telecommunications.
(c) The station licensee shall be responsible for the proper operation of the station at all times and is expected to provide observations, servicing and maintenance as often as may be necessary to ensure proper operation. All adjustments or tests during or coincident with the installation, servicing, or maintenance of the station should be performed by or under the immediate supervision and responsibility of a person certified as technically qualified to perform transmitter installation, operation, maintenance, and repair duties in the private land mobile services and fixed services by an organization or committee representative of users in those services.
(d) The provisions of paragraph (b) of this section shall not be construed to change or diminish in any respect the responsibility of station licensees to have and to maintain control over the stations licensed to them (including all transmitter units thereof), or for the proper functioning and operation of those stations (including all transmitter units thereof), in accordance with the terms of the licenses of those stations.



Now, none of this means you cannot do what you are asking. It just means that there are still FCC rules that apply (see above) and you cannot add a radio without their permission. It would be your responsibility to ask for written permission from your employer to add a radio to THEIR radio system. Failing to do this means you would not be operating with their permission under their license, and if so, the FCC could take offense to you operating without a license. Your employer may also take offense to this and drop you as an employee.

So, ASK first, get permission from the LICENSEE and get it in writing.


Also, you would need to talk to whoever runs the radio system and make sure you have the right information to program into the radio. There's more to it than just the frequencies. If it's a trunked system, then you have an entirely new set of challenges.

Tread carefully and get permission and all the information you need -before- buying a radio.
Better yet, just tell them if the radios they are providing are having issue and let them take care of fixing the issue. You are not required to provide your own radio. If they want you to carry a radio, they should be providing a working radio for you.

 

[MidnightWolf5]

Thank you for breaking it down for me a bit more. I'm in the US, so that all applies.

The radio would be with the employers full permission. It has encryption and all that, so you can't just walk in there and talk on their channels anyway. Given the chance, I'd just like more options for a radio, rather than the same radio someone else has been using and abusing for years.

 

[N4KVE]

An abused, & old XPR7350E is still 1000 times better than any CCR that uses chirp.

 

[MidnightWolf5]

MotoTRBO software is free too and a programming cable is like $30.

There is no "comparable" radio to a 7350e that programs with Chirp. Chirp is intended for cheap chinese radios and the quality is completely different than that of a 7350e. If you're that hard pressed about not having an "old and abused" radio, first verify that you aren't using RAS or encryption, and get yourself a 7350 in whatever condition you want from ebay or even used-radios.com
People don't tend to care about their radios unless it's theirs or the repair is coming out of their paycheck.

Is it really just $30? I thought you had to pay $100+ for some license from Motorola, just to get their programming software.

 

[clbsquared]

Thank you for breaking it down for me a bit more. I'm in the US, so that all applies.

The radio would be with the employers full permission. It has encryption and all that, so you can't just walk in there and talk on their channels anyway. Given the chance, I'd just like more options for a radio, rather than the same radio someone else has been using and abusing for years.

At the very least, you’ll need a radio that’s capable of the type of encryption the company is using. And there there is the issue of getting the key for said encryption. It wouldn’t do much good for encryption to be in place and then the company just hands over the key to everyone. Kind of defeats the purpose.

 

[clbsquared]

Is it really just $30? I thought you had to pay $100+ for some license from Motorola, just to get their programming software.

Not anymore.

 

[mmckenna]

Thank you for breaking it down for me a bit more. I'm in the US, so that all applies.

The radio would be with the employers full permission. It has encryption and all that, so you can't just walk in there and talk on their channels anyway. Given the chance, I'd just like more options for a radio, rather than the same radio someone else has been using and abusing for years.

If they are really running encryption, then you have some challenges:

You need to make sure the radio you purchase is capable of the same type of encryption as what they use.
Getting encryption keys will be required. It isn't always as easy as just reading them out of another radio. If they are using higher level encryption, you'll need someone with a keyloader to load your radio.

I've never used "Chirp", and I have no idea if it'll handle encryption or not. Chirp is intended for hobbyists.

 

[MTS2000des]

Using something for work should be coordinated through your employer and whoever is responsible as listed on their part 90 license: after all, they should be aware of the exact equipment utilized and should guide you through proper programming. As mentioned, Chirp is for toy hobby radios and hams, not professional and industrial radios made by reputable LMR manufacturers. If things like encryption, RAS, or trunking are involved, they should really be doing the programming for you as it will become a part of their system once setup.

 

[mmckenna]

I wonder what sort of employer runs encryption on their radios, yet won't supply reliable equipment and/or maintain what they have, and also allow employees to program random Chinese radios to access their encrypted radio system.

Something doesn't add up here.

 

[MidnightWolf5]

I wonder what sort of employer runs encryption on their radios, yet won't supply reliable equipment and/or maintain what they have, and also allow employees to program random Chinese radios to access their encrypted radio system.

Something doesn't add up here.

That's because you read this wrong. Their equipment works fine for what it's needed for. But I've watched people complain about it for years. It's old and abused, but still works.

As for random Chinese radios? I never mentioned those. I'll buy a $500, $750, $1,000 radio depending on if it's good, and would work with the current systems. However, when I last looked into this, the programming software was an additional $100+ to program the radio. That's why I was looking for an alternative. If the programming software really is only $30 now, I'd have no problem getting the same kind of Motorola, or a similar one.

 

[mmckenna]

That's because you read this wrong. Their equipment works fine for what it's needed for. But I've watched people complain about it for years. It's old and abused, but still works.

Well, that's better news, then. It's not uncommon for people to complain about the radios. Some will complain they have the wrong brand name sticker on them. Some will complain because it doesn't work where they want it to. Some will just complain.
30 years of doing this and usually it's user error or user expectation issues.

As for random Chinese radios? I never mentioned those. I'll buy a $500, $750, $1,000 radio depending on if it's good, and would work with the current systems. However, when I last looked into this, the programming software was an additional $100+ to program the radio. That's why I was looking for an alternative. If the programming software really is only $30 now, I'd have no problem getting the same kind of Motorola, or a similar one.

Chirp is designed for those random Chinese radios and/or ham radios used by hams, not commercial stuff.

Cost for programming software/cables has always been a challenge. There's been two paths of thought on this:
- Make the software expensive, hard to get and then lock it down -Kenwood, L3Harris, others current solution, Motorola's older solution-
- Make it free, easy, cheap -Motorola's current approach, Kenwood's old approach-

For what its worth, Motorola used to make it exceedingly difficult/costly to procure software/OEM cables.


If your employer is going to be OK with you doing your own thing, then stick with the same radio they have. It'll make life much easier. Going with different brands gets to be an issue since difference manufacturers will use different terminology, and trying to convert programming data from one radio into another can be a real headache if you don't understand it well. Also, some manufacturers like to add "features" that make interoperability with other brand radios difficult/impossible.

Just make sure you CYA with the licensee before adding your own radio.