Just as the title asks, what is the radio of choice nowadays? Especially with all the changes in narrow banding and P25, P25 Phase 2, 700 mhz, etc...
Fire Fighters and Police Officers: What radios are you using?
- Thread starter SoCalHAM
- Start date
I work for 2 police departments. My fulltime department uses HT1250 portables exclusively. Mobiles are kinda scattered, we have 2 motorola rigs (Radius M1225 and something newer), and a Kenwood TK-7160H.
My part time department uses Kenwood mobiles (unknown model, but I use my HT1250), and GE Orion mobiles.
Both departments are VHF conventional.
My part time department uses Kenwood mobiles (unknown model, but I use my HT1250), and GE Orion mobiles.
Both departments are VHF conventional.
Don't buy any Icom products very little quality in those builds. We recently switched from HT Motorolas to Icoms plastic pieces of S!#@* well you get the point. Seems when 14 people complain about the same thing the boss has decided to look back at Motorola or Kenwood products -------------STAND BY
bunnyfurr said:
Thanks bunnyfurr I wasn't planning on it . I own a Motorola XTS5000 and I wouldn't use anything else now besides the newest radio which is the APX. I am looking to get two more XTS5000's but at $1000 a pop it can't be right away. Front panel programming kicks ass - I understand smaller departments can't buy P25 top tier radios like LAPD does. I got to see LAPD's radio inventory - they currently own just over 10,000 Motorola XTS5000 M3's. That works out to be 50 million on portable's alone not to mention their new comm center and the 8 thousand XTL5000's in the cars.
NCFD43
Member
Right now we carry HT1000's on our apparatus, and we have a mix of HT1250's and PR860's and a couple EX600's floating around for the full timers and part timers to carry around during the day/night. Were currently on VHF for dispatching, and UHF for our fireground freq's, but soon we will be switching over to 800MHZ on the MARCS frequencies. We will simulcast on our VHF for paging and what not, but all the dispatching and firegrounds will all be on the 800 radio's. I believe were keeping the UHF radios the last i heard.
My town just switched to the county for dispatching. We went from using HT1250's, CDM1250's and 750's to XTS2500 M2's on a digital smartzone system. I love it! Each public safety department got the same equipment.
Lt.214
Lifetime VIP Donor
On our county wide system which is 800Mhz digital trunked P25, all Public Safety radios are Motorola XTs 5000's Model ll's(Astros). All others(Public Works, Roads, etc) use the XTS 2500's. Mobiles are XTL5000's or Q5's(looks like the same damn thing but a black housing).
The 5000's should be able to cook breakfast for you with all their capabilities. I haven't had the chance to get my hands on an APX 7000, but I would like to try one for a few weeks.
Chris
The 5000's should be able to cook breakfast for you with all their capabilities. I haven't had the chance to get my hands on an APX 7000, but I would like to try one for a few weeks.
Chris
Fast LT1
Member
Full time department: Kenwood radios, not sure what they are, digital 800mhz
Reserve: Maxon's in uhf
Fire Dept: Maxon and vertex standards in vhf 155-160 range
Reserve: Maxon's in uhf
Fire Dept: Maxon and vertex standards in vhf 155-160 range
kinnelonfire75
Member
In town we use HT1250s as portables and CDM1250s as mobiles for our UHF system. We also have HT1000s that are older for doing mutual aid to Lo-Band towns. The cops are on the same exact system as us...
dwg1523
Member
County wide we use XTS1500's portables with some 2500's in use by various chiefs. We are on Motorola's ASTRO P25 digital trunked system 800 mhz. Most all of the mobile radios are XTL1500's.
Mix of Motorola XTS3000, XTS5000 and APX7000 portables. Mix of Motorola Astro Spectra and XTL5000 mobiles.
All of which are great for public safety use because they are very intuitive.
All of which are great for public safety use because they are very intuitive.
dustymedic
Member
Both of my agencies are on the Same Motorola 800 Hz Type II system. We have Centracom Gold Elites & various Astros in dispatch. My issued walkie is a XTS2500, but everyone else has anything from MTS2000, XTS5000, and some E.F.Johnson walkies. Radios are MCS2000, and a little bit of everything else. Some reserve equipment still has Spectras, but those should disappear in the fall during re-banding..
My department's officers use HT1250's and HT1000's. Our volunteers use HT1000's, MTS2000's, or Kenwood portables
Most of NH is VHF conventional. Mobiles are mostly Motorola ASTRO Spectra's or XTL mobiles. Portables are either XTS3000's (older PD radios) or XTS2500's (newer PD and most fire/EMS).
localhero800
Member
Fire department- gp300, gp350, p1225, and officers have xts2500, which IMHO are JUNK! All motorola 100w radios in the trucks.
EMS- Vertex vx-180 portables.. Vertex mobiles in the rigs.
SO/PD- Ht1250's and vx180's for backups.
Personally- Ht1000 , Vx170 (for scanning/Ham), 2x Kenwood TK-250g, and Icom 320s in my truck. ht1k is my favorite radio out of all of them! Just dropped it in flood water today and i pulled it out and let the water pour out ( CRACKED CASE) and it transmitted the rest of the day just fine!!!
EMS- Vertex vx-180 portables.. Vertex mobiles in the rigs.
SO/PD- Ht1250's and vx180's for backups.
Personally- Ht1000 , Vx170 (for scanning/Ham), 2x Kenwood TK-250g, and Icom 320s in my truck. ht1k is my favorite radio out of all of them! Just dropped it in flood water today and i pulled it out and let the water pour out ( CRACKED CASE) and it transmitted the rest of the day just fine!!!
Both departments are on our county wide P25 700/800 system. XTS2500 for portables, and XTL2500/XTL5000 for mobiles.
Our county is solely VHF using Kenwood 272G's. The fire dept's are all voluenteer (except 1) and have 5 repeaters throughout the county. The S.O. and Munucipal police all use the same frequency and they have 3 repeaters spread out in the county. Oh, and the S.O. guys get to have dang near CB antennas on their handhelds Laird Tech EXH-155-SFK [EXH-155-SFK] - $26.95 : The Antenna Farm :: , Your Two Way Radio Source! :roll:
We have several different locations and use mostly XTS5000's, and some BK's here and there though I'm not 100% sure on the model. Most people hate the dozen or so Racal Thales 25 radios we have though.
County is UHF Conventional.
Mostly Kenwood TK-3180 handhelds, 8180 or 8160 mobiles.
Statewide system is 700/800MHZ P25 Motorola.
Older mobiles are XTL5000. New ones are XTL1500. Very few handhelds. Troopers have XTS5000, 3000, or 2500.
I have a Kenwood TK-5410 portable on that system and a TK-5910 mobile.
Mostly Kenwood TK-3180 handhelds, 8180 or 8160 mobiles.
Statewide system is 700/800MHZ P25 Motorola.
Older mobiles are XTL5000. New ones are XTL1500. Very few handhelds. Troopers have XTS5000, 3000, or 2500.
I have a Kenwood TK-5410 portable on that system and a TK-5910 mobile.
PD:
Full-time Officers use HT1250s.
Special Officers (same as a full-time officer just part-time hours, no pention/benefits) use HT1000s
I have my own HT1250 because when I started there we didn't have the HT1000s and used a mix matched of GP300s, P4(i think), and tiny Kenwoods.
FD:
Mt1500. pretty have with this radio, has all the channels and capability we need, accept for not being intrinsically safe. Fit right into my radio strap for my MT2000 and uses the same style Mics.
EMS:
HT1250. No problems with them accept when people really abuse and misuse them.
Full-time Officers use HT1250s.
Special Officers (same as a full-time officer just part-time hours, no pention/benefits) use HT1000s
I have my own HT1250 because when I started there we didn't have the HT1000s and used a mix matched of GP300s, P4(i think), and tiny Kenwoods.
FD:
Mt1500. pretty have with this radio, has all the channels and capability we need, accept for not being intrinsically safe. Fit right into my radio strap for my MT2000 and uses the same style Mics.
EMS:
HT1250. No problems with them accept when people really abuse and misuse them.
wkr518
Member
now and since Christ was in high school:
FD uses Lowband 46mhz MT1000,P200 and a few HT750 from Motorola. Maxtrac/M216 ,GE Orion/Rangers ,CDM750 for mobiles in 46mhz
personal fire radio: PR860 lowband
4 County channels, 1 Village channel
future
mid to late May)-$12M system!! Countywide
XTS1500 model 1.5 display 800mhz Digital P25 Trunking portables
XTL1500 800mhz Digital P25 trunking mobiles
2 main dispatch channels
5-7 talk groups for zones
3 800mhz conventional (non digital) fire ground channels
a few XTL2500 dual control head set ups
Our mutual aid radios range from VHF conventional to 800 non digital radios.
FD uses Lowband 46mhz MT1000,P200 and a few HT750 from Motorola. Maxtrac/M216 ,GE Orion/Rangers ,CDM750 for mobiles in 46mhz
personal fire radio: PR860 lowband
4 County channels, 1 Village channel
future
mid to late May)-$12M system!! CountywideXTS1500 model 1.5 display 800mhz Digital P25 Trunking portables
XTL1500 800mhz Digital P25 trunking mobiles
2 main dispatch channels
5-7 talk groups for zones
3 800mhz conventional (non digital) fire ground channels
a few XTL2500 dual control head set ups
Our mutual aid radios range from VHF conventional to 800 non digital radios.
patrol530
Member
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In the jail we use kenwood tk2180's in UHF. Certain posts and all supervisors have one channel, jail wide, then each block has its own UHF frequency. Supervisors can also tie into any block's frequency. All radios also have a seperate channel for the PAS or personal alarm system. Orange button pushed or emergency pin pulls transmit to the arsenal on that channel.
I want to keep operational security but theres a rumor statewide that albany can tie into any radio in the state and activate the mic to hear whats going on, even if the radio is turned off. Many old timers that don't actually need a radio keep the battery out. Certain bigwigs in the jail can also kill any and all radios in the jail if need be.
County fire uses low band in the 46 range, and simulcast and page in VHF. My dept's trucks have a hodge podge mix of CDM1250, kenwoods, icoms, and one vertex standard mobiles. Icom and motorola ht1000's for portables. Our dept. also has its own VHF freq for fireground. My personal radios are a ht750 lowband and ht1250 vhf.
In the jail we use kenwood tk2180's in UHF. Certain posts and all supervisors have one channel, jail wide, then each block has its own UHF frequency. Supervisors can also tie into any block's frequency. All radios also have a seperate channel for the PAS or personal alarm system. Orange button pushed or emergency pin pulls transmit to the arsenal on that channel.
I want to keep operational security but theres a rumor statewide that albany can tie into any radio in the state and activate the mic to hear whats going on, even if the radio is turned off. Many old timers that don't actually need a radio keep the battery out. Certain bigwigs in the jail can also kill any and all radios in the jail if need be.
County fire uses low band in the 46 range, and simulcast and page in VHF. My dept's trucks have a hodge podge mix of CDM1250, kenwoods, icoms, and one vertex standard mobiles. Icom and motorola ht1000's for portables. Our dept. also has its own VHF freq for fireground. My personal radios are a ht750 lowband and ht1250 vhf.
wkr518 said:now and since Christ was in high school:
FD uses Lowband 46mhz MT1000,P200 and a few HT750 from Motorola. Maxtrac/M216 ,GE Orion/Rangers ,CDM750 for mobiles in 46mhz
personal fire radio: PR860 lowband
4 County channels, 1 Village channel
future
XTS1500 model 1.5 display 800mhz Digital P25 Trunking portables
XTL1500 800mhz Digital P25 trunking mobiles
2 main dispatch channels
5-7 talk groups for zones
3 800mhz conventional (non digital) fire ground channels
a few XTL2500 dual control head set ups
Our mutual aid radios range from VHF conventional to 800 non digital radios.
Wow, going from 1960s band tech, to 2000s!!
wkr518
Member
wkr518
Member
@ParkPiggy
It was a looong drawn out process in the works since.......hmmm....Clintons first term as President.
Glad to see it finally happening. Standing in southernmost corner of county on a Portable and talking to another Portable up North 48 miles away is priceless. benefits of voted/multicasted,digital system I guess
Well worth the wait. A NO Digital Fireground, even better. Cherry on top!
It was a looong drawn out process in the works since.......hmmm....Clintons first term as President.
Glad to see it finally happening. Standing in southernmost corner of county on a Portable and talking to another Portable up North 48 miles away is priceless. benefits of voted/multicasted,digital system I guess
Well worth the wait. A NO Digital Fireground, even better. Cherry on top!
RBRONKEMA GHTFD
Member
ParkPiggy said:
Lol thats what I figure too but any facility in the state you go to, you hear the same thing.
calebsheltonmed23
Member
My FD uses Kenwood mobiles for the rigs, and they issued us Maxon's that are not 12.5 capable. We have Motorola, Kenwood, and another radio (can't remember what) for portables. I don't even know if Maxon is in business anymore, but my mobile kinda sucks. The volume will cut in and out if it's any where BUT on wide open. Other than it works good, and the Kenwood mobiles are great!! They have a lot of features and a shit ton of channels (I don't know the model, never looked, but they are remote head! :crazy: )
We use a 800mhz EDACS system, portables are LPE-200.
We also have Ericsson mobiles, an older model.
Govt says we will migrate on a P25 network, but I don't think it's happening soon. Thing is, the radios won't work in 50% of the places we go, and we have to call dispatch with (our own) cell phones all the time. Keep in mind we're the largest EMS dept in Canada, serving 2.5 million people and responding to over 375,000 calls a year.
We also have Ericsson mobiles, an older model.
Govt says we will migrate on a P25 network, but I don't think it's happening soon. Thing is, the radios won't work in 50% of the places we go, and we have to call dispatch with (our own) cell phones all the time. Keep in mind we're the largest EMS dept in Canada, serving 2.5 million people and responding to over 375,000 calls a year.
We use the XTS2500 and the xtl2500 mobile all Motorola. We just ordered 2 APX6000. I am still hoping Motorola comes out with the apx5000 soon. Our biggest issue is size and Motorola has yet to make a small p25 digital radio like a EX600 size. I would only buy Motorola.
apso1857
New Member
We also have the Motorola XTS 2500 for all of our full time deputies. We have a few EF Johnsons (dont know model #) for the part timers. The EF's barely ever work.
BTW, since our department has not issued mobiles that work on the 700mhz band, any suggestions for our trunking system? Quite a few of us would like to buy our own.
BTW, since our department has not issued mobiles that work on the 700mhz band, any suggestions for our trunking system? Quite a few of us would like to buy our own.
