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Reviews For: Motorola XTS 5000

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Hand-held

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Review Summary For : Motorola XTS 5000
Reviews: 10MSRP: 4,400
Description:
The XTS 5000 family of ASTRO digital portable two-way radios deliver sophisticated features -- signaling schemes, encryption, analog/digital compatibility, conventional and trunking capability. Check your flashcode to see what options are installed.


Large PTT button
Angled On/Off volume knob
Orange emergency button
Illuminated 16-position, top-mounted rotary knob
2-position concentric switch
3-position toggle switch
Programmable monitor button
2 programmable side buttons
Transmit/Receive LED indicator
Up to 850 channels (on Model II and Model III radios - only 48 on Model I)
Dial from prestored lists
Programmable softkeys for easy access to radio functions
Backit keypad
- 2 x 3 navigational keys (on Models II and III)
Large display
- 4 lines and 12 characters
- Status icons including battery (with impress batteries) and power indicator
- Signal strenght display on Trunked Systems only
4 x 3 DTMF (on Model III only)
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.motorola.com/governmentandenterprise/northamerica/en-us/public/functions/browseproduct/transnavone.aspx?navigationpath=id_803i/id_1388i#id_1670i
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00105
KD0DUJ Rating: 2022-08-16
Excellent radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My ex-wife got 2 XTS5000 model 3s 1 for her and one for myself with the XTVA and the main thing that I like is that they are robust radios
KN4IMX Rating: 2018-02-16
Amazing radio!!!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I two of these radios, a VHF M1 and 7/800 MHz M2. Both of these radios have served me well, and have never let me down. The mic audio is superb, and the speaker projects the other station's audio wonderfully. I recommend this radio to anyone who needs a good, solid radio for ham radio or any other uses you may have for it!
W4TF Rating: 2010-10-18
GREAT radio!!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I love this ht! It has great tx/rx, selectivity, etc... If you buy one, I would suggest you look for options Q52 AND Q53 for front panel programing ability.

The only (slight) negatives I can think of is that this radio is not light at all..but I prefer the sturdy feel. Secondly, it is not cheap, but you really do get a grreat radio for the $ spent.
KK9H Rating: 2010-08-31
A solid, commercial grade Motorola radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
As stated in the title, this is a solid, commercial grade, industrial radio. I have the VHF model and our group has an APCO 25 repeater to use it with. The repeater operates either in FM or digital mode depending on which mode you transmit up to it. The XTS-5000 is very flexible in how you can set it up. Using it is a joy, but it's heavy. Both FM and APCO 25 sound great from it and in true commercial style there is plenty of audio. Did I say that it is heavy? Anyhow, I really like how I have the different features programmed in mine and I enjoy using it in both digital and FM modes. Obviously, they are very expensive, but they are among the very best HTs to be had based on what they were designed to do.
W2WP Rating: 2010-07-19
Best HT I've owned Time Owned: more than 12 months.
With prices dropping on these now is the time to pick up IMHO one of the best HT's on the market. (I would suggest one that has all matching tags just in case you do ever need service.)

There is nothing negative I can think of on this radio. TX/RX audio is great. You can get an Impres 4100 mAh battery that lasts forever It actually charges to almost 4300). Of course the FPP is a must have option (Q52/Q53) and make sure you have the latest (or as close as possible) Host & DSP versions.

You will not be sorry owning this radio.
N4KVE Rating: 2010-07-05
BEST MOTOROLA YET Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just got one of these, & it's the best Motorola radio yet. I've had XTS3000's Astro Sabers, Jedi's, STX's, MT1000's etc, but this is just the best. Why? You can enter the freq's, offsets, PL tones, Nac codes, ch names, & just about everything else from the keypad. FPP rocks! No laptop needed unless you want to change the function of a button or switch, menu item, or a scan list. TX audio is great, & so is RX. Also, all my 3000 accessories fit, so all I needed was the radio. Prices have been falling since the APX line is out. This radio is GREAT! GARY N4KVE
KD8NFT Rating: 2010-06-01
XTS 5000 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Great Radio!!! I have a VHF, check the flash code when you buy it. You will want one that can do FPP if you don't get that option it's hard finding someone to program the radio for you.
W2NJS Rating: 2009-11-09
Some more details about the radio. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Since the original reviews for the XTS5000 were written there have been some updates to the radio's system that should be mentioned. The current "big thing" is the FPP feature which has presented some problems due to interactions with various levels of firmware in the radios. The two flashcode items required to do FPP are Q52 and Q53. If you have both you can do FPP with any version of firmware and CPS. However, if your radio has only Q52 then you're limited to nothing higher than version 9 for firmware and CPS. Not that there's anything wrong with version 9 stuff, it's just older, and so-called upgrades/improvements in later versions have no real effect on ham operations. (What happens if you have only Q52 but not Q53 as well with firmware/software higher than 9 is that you LOSE the FPP capability when you go to use the FPP function.)

One other thing that was not mentioned in previous reviews is the radio's ability (if the feature has been included in your radio's flashcode) to do P25/digital comms. As more and more P25 ham repeaters come into existence this very nice, quiet, and reliable means of communicating will see much more activity. A standard analog FM repeater will not repeat a digital signal so a special Motorola repeater, called a Quantar, is required. P25 also works very well on simplex and, being an "open sky" (meaning it's available to everyone) protocol is perfectly legal on the hambands.
WCHIJA Rating: 2008-05-08
Awesome! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use this radio for work and play. It's 6 watts of VHF power and it's advanced design makes this radio a winner in the areas of actual tx and rx. The 4000mah lion battery lets you talk all day. Programming is a pain, however you can establish an account with Motorola to purchase the software. Somer versions of the radio are front pannel programmable and most functions can be programmed in via the key pad. It is not as flexible as my VX-7R, but for VHF work it is great.
KD5KAK Rating: 2006-04-19
SWEET! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Best radio I have ever owned. It's the top of the line radio that Motorola offers now, and it's great. The display is very easy to read (Upper AND lower case! - and a clock!), the radio "boots" up quick (unlike the XTS3000), and is very feature filled (or can be). The buttons and knobs are easy to push/turn with gloves or anything else, but don't get hit or changed unintentionally usually. Downside - the radio does need to be programmed my a dealer, or by using expensive CPS software. My VHF radio of choice is this XTS5000.