We have found that some of our customers have a hard time trying to decide which consumer FRS/GMRS radio is right for them. In this post I will be providing a brief comparison between two of our more popular models, the Motorola MS350R and the Midland GXT1000VP4.

First things first, let's talk about wattage and expected range. When it comes to range, Midland tends to be in a league of its own, offering a full 5 watts of transmit power with the GXT1000 radios. This extra wattage will come in handy when needing to communicate over long distances. In a typical urban setting, the typical range is usually 2 miles or less with the Midland radios, but could possibly reach much longer distances when in open areas or with direct line of sight. The MS350R from Motorola offers 1.5 watts of transmit power, which should still provide sufficient range in most situations.

Another thing to keep in mind is the feature set that each model has and how it may suit your needs in a two way radio. Both of these models will include features such as rechargeable batteries (with the capability of using AA alkaline batteries as a backup source), privacy codes, NOAA weather channels, scan mode and vibrate alert.

Some features that are different between the two models: The Motorola MS350R is fully waterproof and even submersible, while the Midland GXT1000 is only water resistant. The Motorola MS350R is repeater capable while the Midland GXT1000 is not (repeater capability would be a plus if you are within range of a GMRS repeater, as this would greatly increase your range). The MS350R also comes with a built-in LED flashlight for emergency situations, a feature the GXT1000 does not have. However, the Midland GXT1000 does offer one feature that is pretty unique, and that is the "Direct Call" feature. This feature allows you to single out a specific radio when using a group of radios and have a private conversation between only those two users.

Both of these models are top-of-the-line consumer radios, and you really cannot go wrong with either one, but hopefully this comparison will help you make the choice to best suit your needs. If you have any questions about these models or any of our other products, please feel free to contact our sales staff and they will be more than happy to help!

We discuss how two way radios are used in your local neighborhood. We also review the Motorola MJ270R two way radio.

Intro :00
Billboard 1:17

Topic Discussion 1:31
we talk about using two way radios in your neighborhood. We discuss how radios can be used for various neighborhood activities, important features to consider when purchasing radios for use around the neighborhood and recommend some specific makes and models of two way radios for neighborhood use. Radios discussed include the Midland GXT760VP4, Motorola MJ270R, MR350R, MH230R, MH230TPR and Cobra MicroTalk CXR925 two way radios. For more information about using two way radios in your neighborhood read Two Way Radios For Neighborhoods.

Commercial Break 18:00
buytwowayradios.com 1:00

Product Review 18:58
Today we review the Motorola Talkabout MJ270R Two Way Radio.

Questions and Answers 22:59
Questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum. The Two Way Radio Show is now on Stitcher! Listen to us on your iPhone, Android Phone, BlackBerry and WebOS phones. Find it in your app store or at stitcher.com.

Wrap up and Close 28:05
Send in your comments and questions for Danny, Anthony and Rick to show@buytwowayradios.com. Feedback on this and other topics will be read by the hosts and included in future episodes of the show. Visit us at www.twowayradioshow.com!

© 2012 Cricket Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.

Motorola is in the process of updating the RDX two way radio series to be fully compliant with the FCC's 2013 narrowband changes, and today we received our first updated model: the Motorola RDU2080d. By June 1st, we expect the entire line to be fully updated to "narrowband ready".

What's New In The Narrowband Ready Version

The most noticeable change with this new version is the packaging. The box has gotten a little smaller, and is now green and white with a bold "NARROWBAND READY" stamp. As far as the radio itself, the only obvious change is that the model number on the front is now printed in green instead of white.

The actual radio hardware didn't change. Like practically all radios made in the last decade, the RDX series radios have been technically narrowband compliant since they were first released. What's new is that the certain frequencies built into the radio were previously being defaulted to 25 KHz channel spacing (wideband), and now all built-in frequencies will be defaulted to 12.5 KHz spacing (narrowband).

How This Update Will Affect Your Radios

If you are buying Motorola RDX series radios for the first time, all of your radios will be "Narrowband Ready" and will work great. If you have existing RDX series radios and will be mixing them with the new "Narrowband Ready" models, we recommend that you make a settings change on the older two way radios. The new models will talk to the old models right out of the box (unless you've changed the default settings), and most likely you won't notice any difference. To get the most optimal clarity when communicating between the new and older radios, however, the settings on the older radios need to be changed to default to narrowband.

Updating Your Existing Radios For Narrowband

The following channels were setup for wideband by default and will need to be changed for optimal audio quality with the new "Narrowband Ready" radios. This only applies if you are using your radios on default frequencies/channels.

RDU2020 - Both channels 1 and 2 are wideband by default.
RDU2080d - Channels 1, 2, 3, and 4 are wideband by default.
RDU4100 - All 10 channels are wideband by default.
RDU4160d - All 16 channels are wideband by default.
RDV2020 - Both channels 1 and 2 are wideband by default.
RDV2080d - Channels 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 are wideband by default (all channels except 5).
RDV5100 - All 10 channels are wideband by default.

The easiest way to update your existing radios is to download the RDX series programming software and purchase an RDX series programming cable. This cable will allow you to connect the radio to your PC and easily change the bandwidth options.

Another option is to clone the settings from the new radio to your older radios. If you already have a 6 radio multi-charger then you have everything you need to do this. If you do not have a multi-charger, you will need an RDX series cloning cable to connect the charger bases of the radios.

If your RDX series radio has a display (RDU2080d, RDV2080d, and RDU4160d) then you can adjust bandwidth directly through the radio using the following steps:

1. With the radio OFF, hold down the PTT and SB1 buttons while turning the radio on. (SB1 is the round button just below the PTT button on the side.) Continue to hold down the buttons until the radio beeps. A "PROG" icon on the display confirms you are in programming mode.
2. Use the + / - keys to select the channel you need to adjust.
3. Press MENU until the display shows "Rx BW HI" (HI will be flashing.)
4. Press the - (minus) key and the flashing HI will change to a flashing "LO"
5. Press and hold the PTT button until you hear a short beep. This returns you to the channel selection prompt of programming mode.
6. To make the same change for a different channel, return to step 2.
7. To save settings and exit programming mode, press and hold the PTT button again until you hear a short beep.

To see a demonstration of these steps, check out the following video:

For an in-depth discussion on the FCC's new narrowbanding requirement, listen to The Two Way Radio Show Ep. 12 - The Migration to Narrowband.

As always, if you have any questions about this update or need help updating your radios do not hesitate to contact us.

If you find yourself having to change radio settings every time a new radio is added to your fleet, you can probably save yourself a lot of time by learning how to clone your Motorola RDX radios. The cloning process simply copies the settings from one two way radio to another, and can be done in 3 ways.

NOTE: For cloning to work successfully, the radios must be the same model number.

Cloning Using a Multi-Charger

If you already have a Motorola RLN6309 RDX multi-charger, then you're in great shape! The RLN6309 has built-in support for cloning, and the process couldn't be simpler.

1. Be sure both the Source and Target radios have charged batteries. The multi-charger does not need to be connected to a power source.
2. Place the Target radio (the radio that needs to have settings updated) in Pocket 1 on the charger and turn the radio ON. (Pocket 1 is on the far left when you are facing the Motorola logo).
3. On the Source radio (the radio to copy from), hold down the PTT and SB2 buttons while turning on the radio. Continue to hold these buttons down until a tone is heard (around 3 seconds). (SB2 is the bottom button on the left side of the radio.)
4. Place the Source radio in Pocket 2 of the multi-charger.
5. Press and release SB1 on the Source radio to initiate cloning. A chirp sound confirms cloning was successful, a bonk sound is heard if cloning was not successful.
6. Turn both radios OFF and then ON to exit cloning mode.

Radio to Radio Cloning Using a Cloning Cable

You can also clone two Motorola RDX series radios by purchasing a Motorola RLN6303 Cloning Cable. The RLN6303 allows you to connect two chargers together, and allows for radio to radio cloning.

Before getting started, be sure that you have a fully charged battery in each radio. Also, please note that the chargers will not need to be connected to a power outlet.

1. Unplug any power or USB cables from the chargers and connect them using the cloning cable.
2. Place the Target radio (the radio that needs to have settings updated) in one of the chargers and turn the radio ON.
3. On the Source radio (the radio to copy from), hold down the PTT and SB2 buttons while turning on the radio. Continue to hold these buttons down until a tone is heard (around 3 seconds). (SB2 is the bottom button on the left side of the radio.)
4. Place the Source radio in the empty charger.
5. Press and release SB1 on the Source radio to initiate cloning. A chirp sound confirms cloning was successful, a bonk sound is heard if cloning was not successful.
6. Turn both radios OFF and then ON to exit cloning mode.

Radio Cloning Using Programming Software

You can also use the Motorola RDX programming software to essentially copy the settings from one radio to another.

1. Download the Motorola CPS software and purchase a programming cable (instructions here).
2. Connect a radio charger to the PC using the programming cable and launch the software.
3. Turn Source radio (the radio to copy from) ON and place it in the charger.
4. In the software, click the "Read Radio" button on the toolbar. This downloads the configuration from the radio.
5. Turn Target radio (the radio that needs to have settings updated) ON and place it in the charger.
6. In the software, click the "Write Radio" button on the toolbar. This uploads the configuration that was previously read to the new radio.

These instructions apply to all two way radios that are part of the Motorola RDX series. Models include RDU2020, RDV2020, RDU2080d, RDV2080d, RDU4100, RDV5100, and the RDU4160d.

If your business has a large fleet of Motorola RDX two way radios or has to adjust the radio settings every time a new radio is added, you can save a considerable amount of time by using the RDX series programming software. This software makes it incredibly easy to adjust the settings of a radio. You can also save a profile, and when you add a new two way radio you simply need to open the saved profile and click a toolbar button to write the profile to the new radio. Much simpler than using the radio's menu, especially on models without a display (such as the RDU2020, RDV2020, RDU4100, and RDV5100)! Even if your radio has a display (RDU2080d, RDV2080d, RDU4160d), the programming software still makes the process quicker and saves time.

The software itself is free and the latest version can always be downloaded directly from Motorola's web site at http://www.motorolasolutions.com/rdx. You will, however, need a programming cable: the Motorola RKN4155. This cable connects to the port on the back of the radio charger, and then into a USB port on your PC. Unfortunately, this cable is proprietary, meaning a standard USB cable will not work.

Only a few days remain before the end of our Kenwood rebate promotion!

Kenwood currently offers a super rebate on the purchase of select Kenwood radios from Buy Two Way Radios that can save your company or organization a lot of money and keep your operation under budget!

Kenwood rebate offer: Purchase a minimum of six Kenwood TK-2300V4P or TK-3300U4P radios and you will qualify for a $30 rebate per radio! (maximum 48 radios). This special promotion from Kenwood can save you up to $1,440!

To redeem your rebate, visit the Kenwood ProTalk Rebate Center and follow the instructions. This offer is fulfilled by the Kenwood directly, so the rebate will be mailed to you after Kenwood receives your rebate form. The Kenwood $30 Rebate offer expires April 30, 2012, so if you want to take advantage of it, the best time to do so is now.

NOTE: Rebates must be postmarked on or before May 8, 2012.

Read the Kenwood promotional flyer for full details.

As you probably already know, the new FCC Narrowband regulations take effect January 1, 2013. Unfortunately, older paging systems currently operate on 25KHz wideband. This means that these legacy paging systems, which are still widely used in a number of fields, will no longer be legal to operate.

Fortunately, Icom has come to the rescue. Icom recently updated the firmware on their IC-F50V/F60V business two way radios and added a new feature - a powerful paging function! This new firmware allows the F50V and F60V radios to be programmed with the popular Fire/EMS paging function, combining both a radio and pager into one handy communications device. When activated, the paging feature utilizes a vibration/audible tone alert much like traditional pagers use. Listen to an audio sample of the paging alert in action.

Programming the radios for the paging feature with the new firmware installed will also require a new version of the programming software. Older programming software will not program the paging function. Not to worry. Simply give us a call at 1-800-584-1445 and we can arrange to both update the firmware and program your radios for a nominal fee. Better yet, if you purchased your Icom IC-F50V or IC-F60V radios from us at Buy Two Way Radios, we'll do it free!

We discuss how two way radios are used in the retail industry. We also review the BlackBox Plus business two way radio.

Intro :00
Billboard 1:11

Topic Discussion 1:27
We talk about two way radios in retail. We discuss how they are used in the retail industry, the types of radios used and recommend some specific makes and models of two way radios for retailers. Radios discussed include the Motorola CLS1110, Motorola CLS1410, Motorola RDU2020, Kenwood TK-3230, Kenwood TK-3300 and Icom IC-F4011 business two way radios. For more information about two way radios for retail use read Two Way Radios For Retail.

Commercial Break 15:00
buytwowayradios.com 1:00

Product Review 15:58
Today we review the BlackBox Plus Two Way Radio.

Questions and Answers 20:54
Questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum. The Two Way Radio Show is now on Stitcher! Listen to us on your iPhone, Android Phone, BlackBerry and WebOS phones. Find it in your app store or at stitcher.com.

Wrap up and Close 27:30
Send in your comments and questions for Danny, Anthony and Rick to show@buytwowayradios.com. Feedback on this and other topics will be read by the hosts and included in future episodes of the show. Visit us at www.twowayradioshow.com!

© 2012 Cricket Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.