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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>In the document, the photos of the V-S radios are IDENTICAL to the Motorla XPR series. Of course, Vertex-Standard IS a part of the Big M family… <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I was introduced to MT this summer at Field Day and had an HT in hand within a week! I also had the opportunity to show it to Fr. APRS – Bob the first week of July when I visited him. At that point I was just starting to scratch the surface of what DMR (digital mobile radio) can do.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>We run a worldwide net every Saturday morning at 1700z which is also available as a live internet feed (see <a href="http://www.trbo.net">www.trbo.net</a> for connection info) and get participation from all over the world. There is also an EchoLink connection to the DCI network which can be accessed by anyone wishing to try it out. Look for WB0VHB-L in the EchoLink listing and give it a try sometime!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Presently the various networks do not allow the use of the full capabilities of the XPR-series radios as the data load becomes pretty serious quickly with radios beaconing their status and GPS data. They DO allow the text messaging, though. I look for this to change as more clubs become involved with DMR especially in public service event usage.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>The downside is that the major software packages out there are incredibly expensive although you can download and run them for 90 days free of charge, fully functional. I am working with one of the vendors to encourage them to off “amateur friendly” pricing but the current commercial prices exceed $2,000. I have no doubt that somebody will eventually purchase the development package from Motorola and begin writing an amateur radio platform which puts the full functionality of the MotoTrbo radios to use!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>It’s important to remember that APRS has been a watershed moment in amateur radio whose idea has spread to other services and developers – once again, amateur radio leading the way!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Prices on MotoTrbo radios are affordable and real bargains can be found on Ebay. The XPR-8300 repeater my partner and I purchased came to us for $1200. New price on them is more than double that figure. The 8300 has been discontinued and replaced by the XPR-8400. The MT-3000 repeater is also MotoTrbo capable but gets very pricey.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I bought my HT for $300.00 as a refurb. New retail price is around $750. (Mine is an XPR-6500, no GPS – model also discontinued as the GPS engine only adds about $50 to the cost of the radio and was very little additional manufacturing cost so Big M dropped the non-GPS line).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Here are the Motorola models that are DMR (MotoTrbo) ready:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>HT’s: XPR-6300 (VHF or UHF models, no display, no GPS), XPR-6350 (same as 6300 but WITH GPS), XPR-6500 (adds display, no GPS), XPR-6550 (display AND GPS). If the model number ends in 80 then it’s a 800-900 MHz model.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>MOBILES: See HT’s for descriptions but model numbering scheme is identical… XPR-4300 (see 6300), 4350, 4500, 4550. The 4580 is the 800-900 MHz model.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>REPEATERS: XPR-8300 (discontinued but still available through dealers and on the used market), XPR-8400, MT-3000 (Cadillac model)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>All repeaters are capable of IPSC (internet protocol site connect) and can be linked via the internet. The TrboNet software allows for the use of multiple repeaters by software connection through itself (as does SmartPTT).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Mike, WB6WUI, out on the west coast – as well as several others - is working with porting APRS data out from MotoTrbo.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>All in all, it’s pretty exciting stuff to play with, folks! Give it a try!!! I’m open for questions… If you live in one of the areas where there is MotoTrbo activity (Chicagoland is a hotbed!) there are people that have radios they will loan out for folks to try so don’t hesitate to contact the folks active on MotoTrbo and get a little on-air demo!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>73 de Jim, KU0G<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>