new, small and clever…

Motorola SL300 radioForget the old brick shaped radios.

This radio is small and lightweight. Motorola offers the SL300 portable radio. Available in either UHF or VHF band splits with 2-99 channel capability. This is a digital/analog radio in the Mototrbo line of radios. It is ultra-slim being less than an inch thick, 4.95″H x 2.17″W x 0.87″D.  In a modern twist this radio features a shatterproof Active View display with LEDs which shine through the housing to give the user radio information.

Motorola describes the SL300 this way: “Designed for easy and intuitive use, the SL300 has a side volume control, dedicated power button, prominent push-to-talk button, and top toggle channel switch to enable quick one-hand access. Channel “fast toggle” allows users to scroll through 10 channels at a time.” We think this cleverly designed radio is destined to be widely popular amount radio users who are looking for a small, discrete, lightweight radio which can be stowed in a pocket or purse.

While it isn’t for every industry, there are many places where a small discreet radio is exactly the radio needed. Give us a call here at Delmmar Communications to find out the current price and availability of this model, 800-872-2627.

~cl

2-way radio models, 2-way radio news

radio vs cell continued…

Motorola CP200 radio and cellphoneWe often are asked by friends, family and clients about the status of 2-way radio in a world where everyone seems to be carrying their own personal communications device, a cell phone. Here are some thoughts of those in this industry concerning this subject.

Most people would admit they could not function without their smart phone, the computer attached to your hip.

But in reality, as a communications device, a cell phone is still a device for making a phone call to another person. You dial a number, let it ring, wait for an answer, hope to talk to the person you are calling, possibly leaving a voice message. The process takes at least a minute of your time or more just to connect. And following this routine, you may end up having a conversation for several minutes.

When using a two-way radio you simply press the push-to-talk (PTT) button and instantly speak to your group (or one-to-one depending on your radio system). You can give a brief message or instruction, receive an immediate response and finish your task accordingly. The entire process typically takes a few seconds. It is fast and efficient, saving time and money. In the realm of public safety and businesses such as construction, it can save lives. In addition, radios are highly effective in high noise environments, built rugged for long-term use, offer an intuitive one-touch user interface, and feature a battery designed to do a full day’s work.

Nearly all business models of two-way radios are repairable and have replacement battery packs available. The life expectancy of a two-way radios is up to 10 years, with many exceeding this mark.  Computing the cost of purchasing a typical business 2-way radio (Motorola CP200d) over 10 years including replacement batteries every two years and 1-2 repairs, it would calculate to under $12/month to own/operate the radio. Much less than the overall cost of cellular for the same time period.

Cellular devices are by nature fragile. The majority are too lightweight for work environments. Battery packs are often non-replaceable.  If you talk to those in the cellular industry, you will find the life expectancy of a phone is about two years. At the 2-year mark, the cell carriers are ready to make a deal with you where you can get the next model “free” or inexpensively to keep you as a client. The industry is reliant upon the monthly fees we all pay. We’ll let you do the math on what a maintaining a cell phone will cost you over the course of 10 years.

Radio communication is instantaneous with the simple use of a PTT button. The person needing information receives it quickly. Requests for assistance are heard by everyone monitoring the frequency. This is essential in many industries and especially in public safety. Radios designed for public safety can also have other features such as an emergency button or a mandown feature where the radio will notify dispatch of an officer who is no longer vertical. In construction when giving instructions to a crane operator PTT radio technology is the quickest form of communication.  Think about restaurant hostesses or retail clerks communicating with others on their team. This type of communication is done more efficiently using a radio versus a cell phone. It would be hard to imagine the public safety or business world without 2-way radios.

And up to now we haven’t mentioned the downside of using a cellular device instead of a radio, things such as surfing the web, playing games, making personal calls, just aren’t a problem when businesses use two-way radios for their onsite communications. So when choosing between using your smart phone and 2-way radios, you can see where the two devices differ both in features and overall long term cost. Both have their place where they can work to the best advantage. It’s up to you as a business person to choose your communications device wisely.

What will the future bring… expect a new generation of radios with smartphone capabilities. Stay tuned.

If you have questions, give us a call here at Delmmar Communications, 800-872-2627. We are happy to help.

~cl

2-way radio models, batteries for 2-way radios, radio tips, radio vs cell phone

a humorous arrival…

at the radio repair center

Rubber Chicken You never know what might ride along to the radio repair center with the two way radios. This week we opened up a box to find this rubber chicken (and a handful of other novelties) along with several Motorola MagOne BPR40 two-way radios for repair. And just in case you were wondering why a customer would have a rubber chicken… they are in the novelty business. They use radios aka push-to-talk (PTT) technology to communicate. From time-to-time them and another West Coast client will send us a little surprise in the box. We’ve received plastic spiders, switchblade combs, stickers, magnets, finger puppets, and an ostrich puppet, just to name a few. It definitely adds a little humor to the day and a smile to everyone’s face.

Rubber ChickenThe novelty company’s handy little BPR40 radios have been repaired and are on their way back across the country to California. We kept the chicken.  He has found a temporary home in a drawer at the radio check-in desk. I’m sure we’ll come up with a humorous use for the plucked fellow. According to Wikipedia: A rubber chicken was customarily kept behind Johnny Carson’s desk on NBC’s The Tonight Show as a comedic talisman, as it was believed that “A rubber chicken always gets a laugh.”

It definitely got a laugh here. (Thank you Scott.)

 

If you have questions about 2-way radio repair give us a call here at Delmmar Communications, 800-872-2627. We are happy to help.

~cl

2-way radio models, radio repair

new year, new digital radio…

The newest radio to come along is the Motorola CP200d. It is part of the widely touted MOTOTRBO digital/analog line of radios. Trbo radios are a great transitional radio into the digital world. You can add them into your fleet as an analog radio to match your existing radios, and then one day when you are ready they can be upgraded or reprogrammed to be digital. Or even be digital or analog on a per channel basis. Much like the existing Motorola CP200 radio, the “d” model is available in either VHF or UHF and has 16 channels.

The CP200d is available from Motorola Channel Partners (a fancy way of saying authorized dealers) in two versions:
1. Analog only model, upgradeable later to digital (call for upgrade cost).
2. Digital/Analog model. Straight out of the box the radio has both features.

The advantages of digital are much like you would have experience when changing to a digital cellphone a few years ago, 40% longer battery life, clearer transmissions, and a small to moderate increase in range. Good news is the radio uses the same batteries and chargers as the standard CP200. Some audio accessories will be backwards compatible such as the PMMN4013 remote speaker mic. Many other audio accessories are available for the digital models. Watch for the digital symbol to be on the accessory to insure good functionality with the digital radio.

The analog model is priced pretty much the same as the standard longstanding CP200 radio. The digital version of the CP200d is $50 higher. Also new on the scene are the CM200d, CM300d, and XPR2500d mobiles.

The standard CP200 you have known for several years is no longer available. We will continue to repair this model at the radio repair center as long as parts are available.

If you have questions give us a call here at Delmmar Communciations, 800-872-2627. We are always happy to help.

Have a great 2014!

cl

2-way radio models, 2-way radio news, batteries for 2-way radios, radio accessories & batteries

about CP200d batteries

Motorola NNTN4497 batteryThe Motorola CP200d radio has come with 3 different battery types over the past few years. The CP200, CP200-XLS, and newer digital CP200d come with the NNTN4497 Li-Ion 2250 mAH battery. You can expect this battery to give you a good full work day of 12-14 hours. Life expectancy is approx. 18-24 months. Li-Ion is less likely to suffer from the memory effect which is common to the NiCd chemistry of batteries. It is the preference battery by most users.

The current NNTN4497 Li-Ion battery and the earlier NNTN4851 NiMH batteries need to use the fast rate charger to properly charge their battery packs. The fast rate charger is easy to differentiate from the trickle charger. The fast rate charging tray has outlines of several batteries depicted on the bottom of it, while the trickle charger has only one outline of a battery.

Some radio users received the trickle (slow rate) charger with their early model CP200 or CP150 radios. This slow charger is only useful for charging one chemistry of battery, the NiCd NNTN4496. Older model CP200 radios can be upgraded to use the more current Li-Ion NNTN4497 battery with a fast rate charger with no modification needed to the radio. You would simply need to purchase the Li-Ion battery and a fast rate charger. (The slow rate charger is no longer available. But not to worry, the NNTN4496 NiCd battery will charge just fine on the newer fast rate charger.)

Very similar to the original CP200 is a nearly identical PR400 radio. The PR400 radio uses the same accessories. When new the PR400 portable came with a slim Li-Ion 1600 mAH battery NNTN4970, which will also fit the CP200 radio.

The single unit and multi-unit fast rate drop-in chargers for the CP200d radios will accommodate any of the above mentioned battery types. The charger features a convenient insert which can be removed and turned around to fit the size of battery being used. This same insert has vertical rails which guide the battery into place, and will hold a battery alone or a battery attached to a radio in place during charging.

TIP: Always have your radio turned off when on the charger. And only charge your battery when it is 80% or more depleted. This will help you achieve a long full life from your batteries.

Motorola battery date codeMost batteries will last approx. 2 years (or 3 years if you treat them really well). Use the manufacturers date code to determine the age of your battery. On a Motorola brand battery the first digit(s) are the year and the last two digits are the week of the year.  Example: 1611 would be 2016, the 11th week, and 611 could also be the same date (or if very old it could be 2006, the 11th week). Keep in mind using an old battery for an extended period of time can eventually lead to the radio making a trip to the radio repair center. It is wise to replace your 2-way radio batteries every 2-3 years. This will help keep your radio in tip top shape.

If you have questions give us a call here at Delmmar Communications, 800-872-2627. We are always happy to help.

~cl

2-way radio models, batteries for 2-way radios, radio tips

construction grade radio

CP200 and CP150 portable radios

Hardworking, durable, tough, will take a drop, these are all phrases we hear when people are talking about the CP200. It is the best choice in the mid-tier of Motorola radios. It is an all around construction grade radio. It is the replacement radio for the SP50, P110 and P1225 radios in the former Radius Division, now Commercial Series for Motorola. It durable 40-hour a week working radio, has a full two year factory warranty, and comes equipped with both a long-life Li-Ion Battery and a Fast Rate Desktop Charger.

Flat rate radio repair is available for the CP200 after it is out of warranty. Includes parts, labor and return shipping.

Note: The CP200 radio has been replaced by the CP200d, which is available in digital or analog only models.

If you have questions give us a call here at Delmmar Communications, 800-872-2627. We are happy to help.

2-way radio models