CommUSA’s Two Way Radio Blog

Motorola is currently running a couple of cost saving promotions through the end of June. Here are the offers:

Offer 1: Save $25 on each Motorola CP200, PR400, CM200, CM300 and PM400 radios*. Offer valid for up to 50 radios, that’s a savings of $1,250.00. Offer valid until June 30.

Offer 2: Receive a $400 end-user rebate for every 6 MOTOTRBO radios purchased between now and June 20. All MOTOTRBO display and non-display mobiles and portables are eligible. Mix and match available. This offer ends June 20.

Share This

Motorola recently announced that they are discontinuing the Motorola CP100. This two way radio is being replaced by a more versatile, business radio, the Motorola CP110. The CP110 is a dramatic improvement over the CP100.

One of the biggest upgrades to the CP110 is that it has a durable, water proof casing. This has been trend for Motorola two way radios. All the radios (MOTOTRBO, EX560) that have been released in the past year have been water proof. The CP110 also comes with a high capacity lithium ion battery.

Share This

Motorola Expert Series (EX600, EX560XLS and EX600 radios) recently had a battery option discontinued. The JMNN4025_R NiMH 700 mAh Intrinsically Safe FM for the EX series of radios will be cancelled as of 5/26/08.

The replacement is the PMNN4073_A Li-ion 1400 mAh Intrinsically Safe FM for EX500 & EX600XLS. The PMNN4073_A is also the standard option on the EX560XLS.

Share This

We frequently receive questions from two way radio users in regards to FCC licensing. They wonder whether or not they are required to license their radios with the FCC. Technically, every radio used in a business should be licensed with the FCC. The good news is that a simplex, analog license for 5 frequencies is good for 10 years.

Share This

Traditionally, the 2 way radio industry isn’t an industry that you need to follow on a daily basis. In fact, if you were an avid 2 way radio user, and happened to get stuck on a deserted island for a couple of years…you didn’t miss much.

It all changed in 2007. Early in the year, Motorola released the MOTOTRBO two way radio series. The MOTOTRBO is the first digital two way radio system that can operate with traditional analog two way radios. This series is jam packed with innovative features, like text messaging, crystal clear digital audio, and it is water proof. Ultimately, the MOTOTRBO is the platform for all future two way radios, in which everything is digital. The MOTOTRBO allows you to make the transition from analog to digital at your own pace.

In June, Motorola released a second water proof 2 way radio, the EX560. This radio falls in the Expert Series, which is comprised of the EX500 and EX600-XLS. The early reviews have been very favorable. It is small, compact, and has the reliability of a Motorola Expert Series radio.

Sporadically throughout the year, Motorola also released several additions to the IMPRES system, which is Motorola’s category for enhanced products. These included batteries and audio accessories.

Looking forward in 2008, I predict that Motorola will continue to build on the MOTOTRBO series with more IMPRES products. What improvements or new products would you like to see in 2008?

Share This

Motorola announced on Monday that they had acquired controlling interest in Vertex Standard. The purchase price is approximately $108 million. Vertex Standard will continue to sell their products under their current name.

It’s too early to know how it will effect each brands 2-way radio product lines. We’ll post again when we have more to report.

Share This

Do you remember the walkie talkie reference from the infamous 1995 movie, Tommy Boy? Let me refresh your memory:

Tommy: I left a message.
Richard Hayden: A message? What number did you call?
Tommy: Two, four, niner, five, six, seven…
Richard Hayden: I can’t hear you, you’re trailing off and did I catch a niner in there? Were you calling from a walkie talkie?

When you are communicating with a walkie talkie, it is good etiquette to use radio “10 codes”. These are short, easy to use codes to get your message across quickly. Here’s a list of radio codes:

• 10-1 = Receiving poorly
• 10-2 = Receiving well
• 10-3 = Stop transmitting
• 10-4 = Message received
• 10-5 = Relay message to ___
• 10-6 = Busy, please stand by

For the complete list of radio codes, check them out in our “Walkie Talkie 10 codes” page in our Two Way Radio Tips & Resources section. Happy Halloween!

Share This

10. IMPRES™ batteries have a memory chip that stores the batteries usage information. This chip saves radio users time by not requiring them to manually record battery use.

9. The cycle life (number of times the battery is used) is optimized with IMPRES™ batteries, which maximizes talk time.

8. IMPRES™ batteries are “Proven Tough”. This means that they pass Motorola’s rigorious Accelerated Life Testing, which simulates five years of field use in extreme environments.

7. Intelligent charge features: Once a battery is fully charged, it stops charging. Non-IMPRES™ batteries will continue to charge. The main benefit here is that you can store the battery on the charger indefinitely with no fear of over charging.

6. IMPRES™ chargers automatically determine when the battery needs to be reconditioned. No need for expensive reconditioning chargers

5. Reconditioning is based on actual usage of the battery as compared to “guessed” usage.

4. Impres™ 6 bank chargers with display units, show you relevant information; such as:

• Battery charge status
• Time remaining to complete charge
• Serial number and battery chemistry
• Charge capacity and voltage

3. By seeing how much capacity is left in the battery, you can now make informed decisions on when to replace your batteries.

2. IMPRES™ chargers can also charge non-IMPRES™ batteries. This let’s you migrate your battery fleet over to IMPRES™ batteries at your own pace.

1. IMPRES™ batteries come with an additional 6 month extended warranty when used exclusively with Impres chargers.

For more information, check out our video on IMPRES™ smart energy products.

Share This

A couple of posts ago, I wrote that we donated two way radios to the BOMA San Diego work party. Pedro Anaya, Associate Executive Director for the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, recently commented on the BPR 40 radios:

“The radios have made our work at the YMCA much smoother as we are able to better communicate during special events, day camp, and tournament weekends. Our staff is now better connected further improving the quality of our programs.”

We’re glad that our contribution has helped the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA.

In other CommUSA news…

• The San Diego Business Journal and Robert Half® recently announced that we are one of San Diego’s 100 Fastest growing privately held companies.
• Inc.com has informed us that we have earned a place on their inaugural Inc. 5,000 list.
• Our two way radio videos have also received attention, with an article in the San Diego Business Journal.

These awards are a reflection of the customer service and two way radio expertise that we have shown for the past 19 years.

Share This

Motorola has coined the term IMPRES as their exclusive technology for enhanced two way radio products. IMPRES batteries have actually been around for a while now, as they started in 2001 on high tier radios. IMPRES audio accessories, on the other hand, have recently been introduced with the release of the MOTOTRBO two way radio systems. In this post, we will feature on the benefits of IMPRES audio accessories for the MOTOTRBO two way radio systems.

IMPRES audio accessories allow communication between the radio and the audio accessory. This is done through the process of the accessory sending the radio identification, which allows the radio to optimize the output for that specific accessory. The result of this process is that the user has excellent audio performance.

One of the main benefits of IMPRES audio is it doesn’t matter if you are whispering or shouting, you will still have clear audio on both ends of the transmission. This is due to automatic gain control.

And, it doesn’t matter how far you are standing away from the microphone. The audio performance will be the same. The microphone actually picks up the voice and adjusts audio levels. This just like Smart Sound or automatic volume control that Magnavox introduced for televisions back in 1992!

IMPRES audio accessories also have programmable buttons on the accessory. These include emergency activation, battery status, high/low power, one touch call, squelch, scan, etc. The audio connector also meets IP57 submersibility standards. Submersible accessories are great for wet environments and is one of the best features of the MOTORBO two way radio system

For more information on IMPRES audio accessories, check out these portable accessories:

• PMMN4025A - IMPRES Remote Speaker Mic
• RMN5880A - IMPRES Surveillance Kit
• RMN5058A – Lightweight headset

Share This