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Reviews For: Motorola XPR 5550 Mototrbo/Analog FM mobile radio

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Base/Mobile (non hand-held)

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Review Summary For : Motorola XPR 5550 Mototrbo/Analog FM mobile radio
Reviews: 5MSRP: 650
Description:
VHF and UHF single band radios capable of Mototrbo and Analog FM operation.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.motorolasolutions.com/US-EN/Business+Product+and+Services/Two-Way+Radios+and+Pagers+-+Business/Mobile+Radio/Wide+Area+Communications/XPR+5550
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0055
N4DXB Rating: 2016-01-20
DMR made easy Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have had this in my car for the last 7 months. Replaced the mic and the faceplate with the PMLN7131 - Motorola MotoTRBO HHCH Handheld Control Head Kit, and that is all that is in the passenger compartment while the radio body is in the trunk. Like an old brick cellphone, the HHCH has all the functionality of the faceplate. Very convenient. Good audio quality, easy to read display, good solid feel. Just wish there was more World Wide activity on DMR.
NC5P Rating: 2015-08-11
Great DMR Radio Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is the radio I talk on the most. Good audio quality and doesn't get real hot when transmitting a lot (parly due to TDMA of course.) I added the desk microphone and really like using it. I got mine used on ebay, updated the firmware, and programmed it. I quickly found that the programming others did on theirs (that I copied) didn't suit my home use. So I created my own zone the way I operate and so am happy. I don't have to change repeaters since I'm not moving about the area. Software is $259 and includes 3 years of CPS and radio firmware updates, but will work on as many different radios as you have. You need to take the "class" to get the free wideband entitlement key if you want to use it on analog repeaters.
N4KVE Rating: 2014-10-17
GREAT RADIO! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently picked up a UHF XPR5550 from a friend who needed quick cash. Having owned 2 XPR4550's, I was familiar with the radio. The 5550 has a nice color display, & a few other options the 4550 doesn't have, but to me they both work equally as well. To anyone who has neither, & wants their 1st DMR radio, I'd get the 4550 & save the difference for other things. They are both excellent radios.
WB0YLE Rating: 2014-07-11
Excellent, Commercial-Quality DMR/Analog Radio Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Moving into new technologies is always a challenge; when the migration requires a step change in thinking, it's even harder for us hams, strangely enough, to let go of old new ways of doing things and try to push the envelope.

No doubt that digital modes, due to their more efficient use of spectrum space, ability to snap on new features (messaging, presence, APRS, GPS integration, etc), and flexibility adds to the confusion.

Well, I'm here to say that after making the jump to the DMR world (based on an international standard, 2 slot TDMA, supported by more than one vendor) through the installation and use of the XPR5550, and the growing population of DMR (or Mototrbo, a trademark of Motorola, used only as an identifier, etc) repeaters, it's done everything I've asked of it, and more, and is a fixture in the mobile and base setups.

Plusses:

Audio Quality: You will think the fellow on the other end of the QSO is sitting next to you. Seriously. It's that good. In both directions.

Ease of Operation: Using the licensed programming software, the radio is set up as you want it set up. YOU say what the buttons do. Not the other way around.

Specifications: on a professional (HP/Agilent) service monitor, it exceeds the published specs in terms of sensitivity, power output, distortion, and IM. It does what the paper says it does.

Physical Build: It's a commercial radio. Made by Motorola. Say no more. You want a Yugo, you pay Yugo prices. You want a radio that will stand up to ham-fisted abuse? Here's your rig. It was meant to be used by non-trained personnel. But you pay for the quality.

Flexibility: See Ease of operation above. The software needs getting used to, meant for radio shops to program fleets of them. Not for single users, so, there is a learning (and re-learning) curve if you don't do it every day.

Support: DMR-MARC (www.dmr-marc.com) is the worldwide group, there are mailing lists, and your local trbo repeater cluster.

Modes: DMR and analog, narrow band, but wideband (25KHz entitlement key is free) capable. UHF works from 403-470 MHz and meets spec across that band. So, you don't loose access to the analog systems in your area, while giving you access to the DMR network(s). 1000 channels and up to 256 zones. Multiple scan lists (mixed analog/DMR). Quick (pre-formatted) and ad-hoc text messaging. Simplex (analog and digital). Part 90 approved, so can also go on commercial (if licensed) or GMRS (ditto).

Cons:

Price: with options, DTMF mic, separation kit...it's not cheap. Again, you get what you pay for.

Programing: You need to purchase (don't ask for someone to make a copy...Motorola is retentive about going after people who pirate software...ok?) a license of the CPS for 265.00 for a three-year right to use/update service. It's not cheap. But, if you have a group, one copy can work with multiple radios, so you can spread the cost over x number of users.

If you're thinking of moving into the next internationally-supported, multiple manufacturer standard (Moto, Hytera, Harris, Connect Systems, Baofeng, etc) radio, and want the top shelf, you will not go wrong with selecting this rig.

Check out the dmr-marc site for ham-friendly dealers...and heed the advice. You will NOT be disappointed for what you get for the price you pay.


K3TD Rating: 2014-03-15
superb performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have the 40 watt UHF 5550 mobile that covers 403-470 MHz. Performance has been superb on both amateur Mototrbo and analog FM systems. My radio has the optional remote mount kit and RMN5127 IMPRES keypad microphone. TX and RX audio have been excellent on Mototrbo and analog systems. Programming requires Mototrbo CPS and programming cable which are available for a fee directly from Motorola. US Amateurs can also receive an Entitlement ID for the CPS which allows 25 kHz operation on amateur analog frequencies. Programming is straightforward once you get used to DMR programming requirements. There is plenty of help online via the MOTOTRBO yahoo group and other web sites such as the DMR-MARC and DCI group sites.