Portable Radio

[reils49]

Our issue portable radio's are crap, and I've been thinking of buying my own for about a year. The other day, I was responding to a fight in progress at one of our local flea bag motels and when I got out of the car, my radio fell off my belt and stayed on the driver seat. Needless to say, when a suspect began resisting and backup hadn't arrived yet, I had no radio. So now I'm on the market for a portable, and was wondering what everyone else carries. I don't want anything fancy, just reliable and simple to use.

[Jim1648]

Motorola. If you post some more details we might be able to post a specific model or two.

[Dingo990]

Do you need a UHF or VHF, digital or not? Ect

We use the Motorola XTS 2500 in 700mhz, though a 1500 seems to work just as well (I don't use the screen and all the other do-dads). They are crystal clear (though it's either all or nothing) They run well over $1200 each.

If you are looking for an older non P25 radios, I've always liked the Motorola HT1000. Pretty reliable, though range leaves something to be desired. Get them pretty cheap on ebay

[Blizz]

Yes, UHF, VHF or Digital would help.

If it's UHF, I have a Motorola MT2000 I could probably get to you pretty cheap.

I currently use a Kenwood TK-390 (UHF) and have no real complaints about it. I wasn't a big Kenwood fan at first, but I'm warming up to them.

[reils49]

I'll have to check.

[phillydog07]

Do you need a UHF or VHF, digital or not? Ect

We use the Motorola XTS 2500 in 700mhz, though a 1500 seems to work just as well (I don't use the screen and all the other do-dads). They are crystal clear (though it's either all or nothing) They run well over $1200 each.

If you are looking for an older non P25 radios, I've always liked the Motorola HT1000. Pretty reliable, though range leaves something to be desired. Get them pretty cheap on ebay

Personally, using the 1500 myself, I would go with the 2500. Unless you are able to memorize all 45 or so channels, it's nice having the screen to display the name of the channel in the event that you need to go to a channel that you don't use on a regular basis.

[SCSU74]

We use Motorola XTS5000 and I've never had a problem with it. Has 20 channels for each side of town; Main air, pic, talk 1, talk 2, then a bunch of random other channels for swat, events and whatnot

[KenW.]

Our Motorolas have to be office-owned to use the trunked UHF system. They have 16 zones of 16 channels each that cover our area, cities, counties, state, event channels, ops channels, and MORE.

[Dingo990]

Personally, using the 1500 myself, I would go with the 2500. Unless you are able to memorize all 45 or so channels, it's nice having the screen to display the name of the channel in the event that you need to go to a channel that you don't use on a regular basis.

I definitely can see that point. My PD regularly only uses five channels (Dispatch primary, dispatch secondary, our car to car and car to car channels for bordering PDs that we work closely with). But we do have dozens of channels programmed into the radios (everything from state stuff to TAC to other cities dispatch, ect)

With all that in mind, I've only had to hit up the other freqs maybe once or twice. So if I was spending my money, I'd go cheap and just carry a list.

But you did make a valid point.

[reils49]

I did a little research, and I guess I'm looking for a VHF radio. I don't really need alot of channels: county 911, Troop, car to car, and inter-agency.

[Jper]

Motorola makes different frequency splits for their radios. If you could specify one of the frequencies for the channels you specified that would be great.

I recommend purchasing a Motorola XTS 3000 model 3 (keypad and screen) radio. You can usually find them without P25/encryption for less than $500.

If that's too expensive, you should look into purchasing a Motorola HT1250:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Motorola-VHF-HT1250-Portable-w-charger-/150606473095?pt=2_Way_Radios_FRS&hash=item2310d86787

[Resq14]

fwiw: I prefer the Kenwood TK-2180 to the /\/\ HT1250.

[halfacop]

my radio fell off my belt and stayed on the driver seat. Needless to say, when a suspect began resisting and backup hadn't arrived yet, I had no radio. .

Sounds like a Radio Holster Issue to me....

Not saying the radios may not suck - but the fact it was not on your belt when needed as nothing to do with the operation of the radio as it is the retention of the holster it was in.....

[reils49]

Sounds like a Radio Holster Issue to me....

Not saying the radios may not suck - but the fact it was not on your belt when needed as nothing to do with the operation of the radio as it is the retention of the holster it was in.....

Radio holster??? what would that be Not only are our radios from the 80's we don't have enough holsters to go with them......so I use a busted radio clip.

[reils49]

I recommend purchasing a Motorola XTS 3000 model 3 (keypad and screen) radio. You can usually find them without P25/encryption for less than $500.

If that's too expensive, you should look into purchasing a Motorola HT1250:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Motorola-VHF-HT1...item2310d86787

I looked at a used Motorola for about $400, I can't remember the model #, but it looked similar.

fwiw: I prefer the Kenwood TK-2180 to the /\/\ HT1250.

The local dealer gave me some brochures for Kenwood TK-2170 and 2160's. They look like nice radio's but they want some serious cash.