TOPIC: XTL or not to XTL

Batwing Laboratories Forum Index - System Infrastructure and Related
Equipment
Author Message
______________________________
Pj
Moderator
Joined: 09 Sep 2001
Posts: 1504
Location: We saw lots of snow this year on the first try
Posted: 18 Dec 2003 21:42 Post subject: XTL or not to XTL
Coming down to crunch time, I am sorta split between ordering the next
five radio's. Right now we have 6 Astro Spectra's that are only 6
months old. VHF IMBE with DVP-XL. That's about it. Our final order
would be 5 more (maybe a couple on top of that) mobiles as we go
digital in the next few months.

Seeing that the Astro Spectra line is about 10 years old now, and the
XTL5000's are a new product, I want to go to the XTL's. The pricing is
suppose to be the same. 99% of radio repair/install is done by the
local MSS, however I have become more involved into day to day ops of
this. I like the idea of having one radio for all, but at the same
time, I wouldn't mind having the newer equipement that will be
supported longer than the AS. I really don't want to have to carry two
sets of cables, two CPS's, etc etc.

I think I am going to have the ASpectra's ordered, but what have you
guys done in this situation?
_________________
NTFD
WLPD
__________________________________________________ _____________
KG6EAQ
Joined: 14 Jan 2002
Posts: 1235
Location: Chatsworth, CA 91311
Posted: 19 Dec 2003 01:22 Post subject:
I'd go with the XTL's. With a fleet that small you probably don't
upgrade radios often. Get them now while you can. What's another CPS
on the laptop? Is the programming cable really going to be that
cumbersome? Might as well get the newer stuff, and then in a few years
you have the money again you upgrade the other five and your fleet is
the same again.
_________________
-Robert F.
KG6EAQ
__________________________________________________ ___________
motisking
Joined: 10 May 2002
Posts: 111
Location: Los Angeles California
Posted: 19 Dec 2003 01:58 Post subject:
Hope this makes the decision easier.

The XTL will not ba available in VHF till December 2004.

__________________________________________________ ______________
KG6EAQ
Joined: 14 Jan 2002
Posts: 1235
Location: Chatsworth, CA 91311
Posted: 19 Dec 2003 02:19 Post subject:
motisking wrote:
The XTL will not ba available in VHF till December
2004.


LOL! Well that solves THAT problem!
_________________
-Robert F.
KG6EAQ
__________________________________________________ __________________

ASTROMODAT
Joined: 05 Nov 2002
Posts: 877

Posted: 19 Dec 2003 02:31 Post subject:
motisking, I have NO IDEA what you are talking about!! The XTL5000
mobile has been available in VHF for several months now (136 - 174
MHZ). It has all the same options as does the UHF and 800 MHz
XTL5000s, and it is available in both Conventional and Trunked on VHF.

PJ, given the $4,000-$5,000 price of a new radio, that's well over
$20,000 for 5 radios, so why swet the $95 for the programming cable? I
wouldn't let that color your decision in any way. Taking the long
view, the ASTRO Spectra (and even the ASTRO Spectra Plus) will not be
around much longer, while the XTL series is new. Consider long term
Motorola parts and repair support . The XTL price is virtually the
same as the older radios.

Larry
__________________________________________________ _______________
batdude
Joined: 04 Oct 2001
Posts: 674
Posted: 19 Dec 2003 02:44 Post subject: uh.....

i have not seen the catalog sheet yet - but is DVP-XL offered AT ALL
on the XTL line since it was disco'd a while back???
doug
__________________________________________________ ___________
ASTROMODAT
Joined: 05 Nov 2002
Posts: 877
Posted: 19 Dec 2003 03:36 Post subject:
Yes, DVP-XL is available on the XTL5000.

G159 UCM hardware @ $150, plus W797 DVP-XL algorythm @ $487, for a
total of $637.

Larry