Bob Dengler wrote: > At 4/24/2007 05:17 PM, you wrote: >> I don't know. Like any other radio gear it depends on the brand, model, >> and how badly the seller wants to sell I guess. Motorola isn't the only >> maker offering P25 digital audio capable radios (we'll assume CAI/IMBE >> compatible). Icom, Kenwood, and others are also offering rigs and surplus >> stuff pops up at the most unexpected times. >> Gary > > What would be far more interesting to me would be for one of the ham > manufacturers to offer a P25 user radio. How much would adding the vocoder > add to the cost of a current analog FM model? If it's comparable in price > to Icom's DStar radios (which are substantially more than their analog > counterparts - roughly double the cost), it just might be worth it. > > Something to add to my wish list of radio features to deliver to the reps. > at Dayton, along with better IMD performance & split CTCSS tone. > > Bob NO6B
I agree. But there really isn't a huge difference in price between the D-Star radios and some of the P25 radios. People hear the $4k-5k tag, and don't get that that's the top of the line Motorola XTS-5000 with all the bells and whistles. $1-2K is easily obtainable for a PS grade radio. Putting an IMBE vocder and P25 firmware into a ham grade radio should bring it down to $500-1K (still more then I can spend, but it's closer, and a LOT cheaper the nmost of those overblown HF junkers out there. $3,000? Not in this world!) -- Jim Barbour WD8CHL
