Motorola

We talk about radios that operate on 900 MHz frequencies. We’ll learn how they work, the pros and cons of using these radios, and who can legally use them. We’ll also take some of your comments and questions from our blog and our forum.
Intro :00
Billboard 1:07

900 MHz Digital Radios 1:22
Not long ago we received a comment from someone who said that a certain series of Motorola business radios were intended for business use only and they were not allowed or legal for use by consumers. Since radios in question operate on 900 MHz frequencies, is he correct? What exactly is a 900MHz radio?

Questions and Answers 22:43
Comments and questions from our blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum. Check out and join the forum! It's free!

Wrap up and Close 26:09
Send in your comments and questions for Danny, Anthony and Rick to show[at]buytwowayradios.com. Feedback on this and other topics will be read by the hosts and included in future episodes of the show. If we read your comment about this episode on a future episode, we may send you a free t-shirt or some swag! Visit us at www.twowayradioshow.com!

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Some manufacturers of consumer FRS walkie talkies market their products based on the range in miles. We are often asked about the actual wattage of these radios, because these manufacturers don't usually include this information on their products. There is an obvious reason for this. It isn't impressive. In fact, if they did so, many consumers may be somewhat disappointed, because the wattage on these products is usually on the low end, often much lower than the maximum allowable wattage for FRS. In many cases, it doesn't even approach the >maximum allowed on the low power 467 MHz FRS frequencies, and that's when the radio is operating at high power!

It's even more ironic when you consider that, until the Part 95 Reform of 2017, Most of these were FRS and GMRS hybrid radios that were often assumed to operate at the maximum wattage allowed on GMRS handhelds. The maximum allowable power on GMRS channels at the time was 5 watts. The power output for the GMRS, and hence the overall range, was actually very weak on nearly all of these models, which is why many licensed GMRS users preferred business radios over the consumer models.

The Great Reform changed all that. In 2017 the FCC separated the FRS/GMRS hybrids, allowing the channels previously reserved for GMRS to be shared with FRS as well, and while the seven 467 MHz FRS channels remained at one-half watt (0.5W) max, it raised the maximum allowable wattage on the now fifteen 462 MHz FRS channels to 2 watts.

This was welcome news to almost all users, since it encouraged manufacturers to make dedicated GMRS radios with higher wattage, and gave FRS users more power and greater range. In essence, what the reform did was re-classify hybrid "bubble pack" radios that were under 2 watts as license-free FRS radios. With the exception of a couple of Midland handheld radios that were above 2 watts, nearly all of the hybrid radios were well under that 2 watt limit, and therefore became FRS radios.

So, the manufacturers could now sell all of these hybrid radios, which previously required a license to operate on the GMRS channels, as FRS only radios that were "license-free". One would think that this would provide more opportunity and innovation with the introduction of 2 watt FRS radios, since that became the new limit. But that's not what happened, at least, not right away. With the exception of Wouxun, which jumped right on this one with the full 2 watt KG-805F FRS radio, a majority of the manufacturers chose to stick with their current lineup and simply re-label them all as FRS.

One of these manufacturers was Motorola. Although they did apply wattage changes to a few models, for the most part it was business as usual. Their Talkabout line is a prime example of how low the power can go on the high power setting. And Motorola is not the only one. Other bubble pack manufacturers did the same.

Many consumers mistakenly assume that because it is an FRS radio advertised at 35 miles range or more, it operates at the full 2 watts. But that's not quite accurate. And this is why we receive queries and complaints that their Motorola, Cobra or Uniden radios can't make it a couple of miles, or sometimes even a couple of city blocks. It's because these radios are not a full 2 watts, and some are only capable of operating at a fraction of what the FCC allows. A few are not much more powerful than the little walkie talkies sold as toys.

Yet, you'll often find them in use in some mom and pop retail stores, restaurants, schools and churches.

Just how powerful aren't they? The chart below lists some popular Motorola Talkabout radios, their advertised range and their actual wattage, according to the official documentation on file at the FCC.

It is important to note that a few of the radios listed in the following chart have "inverted" wattages, meaning that 467 MHz channels may actually have higher wattage than the 462 MHz channels! Strange, indeed.

Motorola Talkabout Wattage Comparison
Model	FCC ID	Range*	Adjustable Power	Low Wattage	Max Wattage
T100	AZ489FT4930	16 Miles		0.19W	0.2W**
T107	AZ489FT4930	16 Miles		0.19W	0.2W**
T200	AZ489FT4928	20 Miles		0.411W	0.47W**
T260	AZ489FT4929	25 Miles		0.4W	0.8W
T265	AZ489FT4929	25 Miles		0.4W	0.8W
T280	AZ489FT4929	25 Miles		0.4W	0.8W
T400	AZ489FT4924	35 Miles		0.48W	1.71W
T402	AZ489FT4924	35 Miles		0.48W	1.71W
T460	AZ489FT4924	35 Miles		0.48W	1.71W
T465	AZ489FT4924	35 Miles		0.48W	1.71W
T480	AZ489FT4925	35 Miles		0.37W	1.39W
T600	AZ489FT4927	35 Miles	✔	0.4W	1.3W
T605	AZ489FT4927	35 Miles	✔	0.4W	1.3W
T800	AZ489FT4947	35 Miles	✔	0.4W	0.75W

*Motorola advertises FRS/GMRS radio range in miles, however your actual range may vary as it depends on a number of variables. For more information watch our short video Radio 101 - The Truth About FRS/GMRS Two Way Radio Range.
**The "low power" 467 MHz channels have the higher wattage.

The Motorola CLS1410 is one of the most popular business radios we carry at Buy Two Way Radios, and one of the most prevalent on-site business radios on the market, period. From small restaurants and grocery stores to big box retailers, the CLS1410 is almost a de facto standard for businesses. Their small, distinct form factor is easy to spot, if you are looking closely the next time you go shopping, you will most likely find one in the hand of a clerk or clipped to the side of a staffer.

Due to component shortages and logistics issues stemming largely from the recent pandemic, this little portable handheld radio was seriously backordered at Motorola for many months. But not anymore. Today we are pleased to announce that the Motorola CLS1410 is back and Buy Two Way Radios has them in stock for immediate delivery!

The Motorola CLS1410 has 4 channels and 1 watt of power, providing coverage for up to 200,000 square feet or 15 floors. You can select from 56 UHF business frequencies with 121 private line codes. It features channel scan, hands-free VOX mode, and a vibrating alert.

Compact, light weight, and simple to operate, the Motorola CLS1410 is designed specifically for instant communications between your staff and management with little to no training and no learning curve. It's great for restaurants, retail, schools, event coordination, and other environments where employees need fast two way comms without complicated operation.

We have them here at our warehouse and ready to ship for $199.00 per unit Give us a call at 1-800-584-1445 or click here to order. Unfortunately we also received guidance from Motorola that the CLS1410 will be in extremely short supply until the 2nd quarter of 2023, so this could be our last shipment for 5-8 MONTHS. If you've been waiting on this model, get your order in NOW.

Earlier this year, Motorola ran a really cool promotional campaign on its business radios. We're excited to announce that its back until the end of the 2021!

Although they call it a "rebate", it's not a cash back offer like their promotions in the past. It's more of a free radio offer instead. The way it works is this. Buy 6 analog CLS, CLPe, RM or RD series Motorola on-site business radios and get one free radio of the same series. Buy 6 DLR series or DTR600 digital radios, get a free radio plus either a bonus radio or free Motorola CB300-D 900MHz Indoor Callbox. This is a very good deal that is not to be missed, especially if you're a retailer, as the callbox alone is a great asset to have when communicating with employees or customers curbside.

This offer is valid on up to 60 radios purchased. Add up the free radios and/or callboxes on that deal and your savings could be substantial. This promotion runs through December 31, 2021 and is valid only in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Other restrictions may apply. For details, download the official Motorola Prepare For the Future Today flyer. To take advantage of this offer, buy the Motorola radios of your choice from Buy Two Way Radios, then visit MotorolaSolutionsRadioRewards.com to redeem your rebate directly from Motorola.

The table below lists all the models included in this promotion.

UPDATE: This offer has been extended to May 31, 2021!

Waiting for the next big promotion on Motorola business radios? Here it is! Called Digital Is Calling, This latest offer runs February 1 through May 31, 2021.

Now, this one is a little different from many of their rebate and free add-on offers in the past. Yes there is a free radio in the deal, but there's a twist, and here's how it works. When you buy 6 analog CLS, CLP, RM or RD series Motorola on-site business radios, you get one free radio of the same series purchased. And here's the twist. When you buy 6 DLR series or DTR600 digital radios, you get a free radio plus your choice of either a free bonus radio or free Motorola CB300-D 900MHz Indoor Callbox!

Yes, that's right. Motorola has a 900MHz digital callbox. It's fully compatible with their DLR and DTR series radios, and you can get a free one when you buy six of those radios. It's a different kind of promotion, and considering all the potential uses for callboxes these days, we think it's kind of cool.

This offer is valid on up to 60 radios purchased. Add up the free radios and/or callboxes on that deal and your savings could be substantial.

This promotion runs through May 31, 2021 and is valid only in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Other restrictions may apply. For details, download the official Motorola Digital Is Calling flyer. To qualify for the rebate, purchase the Motorola radios of your choice from Buy Two Way Radios, then visit MotorolaSolutionsRadioRewards.com to redeem your rebate directly from Motorola.

The table below lists all the qualifying models for this offer.

Motorola is kicking off the fall season with one of their biggest rebate promotions ever on their business radios. Beginning September 1, when you buy 6 Motorola on-site business radios, you get your choice of one free audio accessory per radio! Plus, when you buy 12 radios, you get a free multi-unit charger (MUC) to boot! This offer is valid for up to 60 radios, potentially saving you thousands!

Exactly how much you save depends on the models purchased and how many you buy, but the money your company or organization can potentially save on these quality Motorola products can be quite substantial. Not to mention, having a speaker mic or earpiece for each unit allows all of your employees or team members who are assigned with these radios to also have their own audio accessory for better radio hygiene, and at no extra cost!

This promotion runs through December 31, 2020 and is valid only in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Other restrictions may apply. For details, download the official Motorola Get Back to Work Safely flyer. To qualify for the rebate, purchase the Motorola radios of your choice from Buy Two Way Radios, then visit MotorolaSolutionsRadioRewards.com to redeem your rebate directly from Motorola.

Take advantage of this promo now and Get Back To Work Safely!

*Multi-Unit Charger. Type and model of charger varies depending on the model series of the radios.

Motorola just released new firmware and software for their DTR600 and DTR700 900MHz digital two way radios. The update includes a bug fix and a tweak to an existing feature in the radio settings.

The bug fix resolves an issue that causes the display to freeze. When this issue occurs, the display will freeze, but the radio is otherwise still operational. It can receive and transmit calls and will also power off, however the screen will be locked up.

The feature tweak is a change to the programming software for Enable Profile ID under the Profile ID Number information. On the DTR600, the Enable Profile ID to Change Pin Code is set to Enabled by default from the factory. This change applies to the DTR600 only and does not apply to the DTR700.

According to Motorola, the DTR600 and DTR700 can be updated from radios with the original factory settings or those with the phase 1/2 patch installed. The radio should update successfully no matter which version was previously installed.

Important Note: This update should only be applied if you are already experiencing these issues. If you are using the DTR600 or DTR700 radios with default factory settings, the update should not be necessary.

The firmware updates the DTR600 and DTR700 to version R01.02.02, Codeplug Version: R01.02.01 and Keypad Version: R01.02.00.

The update files are now available as listed below.

• Firmware: DTR_NA_UpdateTool_R01.02.exe
• Software: Business_Radio_CPS_NA_R08.02.exe
• Instructions: DTR600 and DTR700 Update Steps

One of the questions we get asked most often is "How hard is it to program the settings I need into the Motorola DLR radios?" While we realize this can seem confusing to novice radio users, Motorola does offer a free CPS (customer programming software) that will make this process much easier. In this article, we will be giving you some tips on how to use this software to meet your needs. These same steps apply for both the DLR1020 and DLR1060 models.

First, you will need to download the programming software from the DLR page at MotorolaSolutions.com. As already mentioned, this is a free download. Second, you will need to purchase the Motorola DLR series programming cable. Once you have these two things, you are ready to begin programming your Motorola DLR radios!

The programming cable will communicate with your radio via the drop-in charger tray. Plug one end of the cable into your USB port on your computer, and the other end into the power connector on the back your charger. Make sure the radio is secure in the charger tray and turned ON. Also, be sure that the switch on the programming cable is set to the position marked Digital.

At this point you should be able to access your programming software. Run the application, choose RADIO in the top column and select "DLR" as your radio type. If you would like to view the current settings of  your radio, click the option Read Radio. This will upload the current settings of the radio to the application. If you would like to begin customizing your radio based on the default settings, you can click New Profile.

The screen that comes up will now give you the options to change your basic settings. These settings include options for setting the microphone gain, turning voice prompts on or off, setting volume levels, audible beeps, and selecting your "home" channel, just to name a few. This screen also has several options that you can choose to become part of your Advanced Settings, discussed in the next two paragraphs.

In the top center of your screen, you will see a button labeled Switch to ADVANCED. These advanced settings offer several options, but the most commonly used is the Direct Call feature. This will give you the option to select and call an individual radio in your fleet, instead of transmitting to an entire group.

This feature comes in handy when you want to have private conversations. For instance, if two supervisors need to discuss something privately, without employees hearing them, they would use Direct Call. In order to enable the Direct Call feature in your Basic Menu options, you need to first upload the unique “private” identification (12 digit) number of each radio. Click on the Switch to ADVANCED button. Under Privates (Advanced) tab, click Add for CPS to upload the radio ID. You can customize the radio ID name under the Name column. Once a radio ID is uploaded, the CPS will give the option to enable Direct Call. Customize your PROFILE ID Number for any 4 digit number different from “0000” to differentiate your radios in a radio fleet.

Once you have changed all the settings, click Write to radio in order to program your radio with the new settings. The CPS will display a window confirming the writing (programming of your radio) is successful. You can also save your profile at any time in order to use the same settings when programming other radios by clicking on Save to profile. This will save the profile to the current default path in your computer. To specify a different path to save the profile, click on the Save As button.

Your DLR radios are now programmed to your preferred settings, and you are ready to use them as needed! If you have any questions concerning the programming, please feel free to give us a call at 1-800-584-1445, and one of our experts will be happy to assist. We thank you for choosing Buy Two Way Radios!

As we've mentioned in previous articles, podcasts and videos, the Motorola DLR1020 and DLR1060 radios can be great assets for many different types of businesses. In this article, we will note some of the many pros, as well as the few cons, that these radios have.

One of the biggest pros of the Motorola DLR series radios is that they operate on 900 MHz digital frequencies. This feature is beneficial in several ways. First, consider the level of privacy that these frequencies offer. The 900 MHz frequencies are much less common than standard UHF or VHF frequencies, and the FHSS "frequency hopping" method used by these radios allows you to completely eliminate any chance of unwanted interference from neighboring two-way radio users.

Second, these 900 MHz radios do not require any type of FCC licensing. This saves you hundreds of dollars in licensing fees and allows you to use the radios as-is, "out of the box", with minimal, if any, programming required.

Third, because the DLR series radios are digital, the sound quality is impeccable. You will find that there is no background static or "white noise" like you may experience with normal analog radios.

Another major plus is the ultra-compact size of the Motorola DLR radios. They are very small and incredibly lightweight, making them practical for use in almost any situation. Even with their small size and light weight, these units offer military-grade specs for durability and resistance against dust, water, vibration, shock, and extreme temperature variations. Like many of the other Motorola onsite business radios, the DLR radios have antimicrobial housings to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria.

With all the  pros, there are also a few cons. One disadvantage of the Motorola DLR radios is their low power. The transmit power of radios that operate on this 900 MHz band is limited to 1 watt by the FCC. This means they are not practical for very large industrial job sites. Also, the FHSS frequency hopping technology will not work with typical repeaters, limiting the possibility of extending their range.

Perhaps the biggest con would be the lack of cross-compatibility with an existing fleet of two-way radios operating on standard business frequencies. Based on their rather unique frequency hopping capabilites and the fact that they operate on 900 MHz frequencies instead of the UHF or VHF business bands, they are not universally compatible with other digital radios. Also, most companies still tend to use analog radios, which these digital units will not communicate with at all. The Motorola DLR technology is cross-compatible with only one other line of radios, the Motorola DTR series.

On the plus side, if you happen to already have Motorola DTR series radios such as the DTR600 or DTR700, the DLR line will work with them and will be a much sleeker, smaller, more affordable option.

With all this being said, the pros of the Motorola DLR1020 and DLR1060 radios far outweigh the cons, and tend to be an excellent option for almost any on-site business use!

The Motorola DLR series radios are an excellent choice for businesses that want a high-quality digital radio with excellent privacy features. These radios also operate on 900 MHz digital frequencies, which means they can be used legally without applying for an FCC license!

The DLR series radios are ultra-compact, lightweight, and offer crystal-clear communication. They also use FHSS "frequency hopping" technology, which gives you a much higher degree of privacy from outside interference generated by neighboring businesses that may also be using these radios. Built to military-grade specifications for shock, dust, and water resistance, the Motorola DLR series radios are very versatile, and a great addition for almost any type of business.

If you've decided the DLR series is right for you, your next task is to decide on a model. This series offers two options: the DLR1020 and the DLR1060. What are the differences between these two radios? Well, there are really only two, and for the most part, the model you choose depends on how many channels you need.

The DLR1020 is the base model in the DLR series, and offers 2 channels. For most small, single location retailers and mom-and-pop type stores with simple operations and just a few employees, this is likely all you really need. The DLR1020 is priced at $209.00.

For larger restaurants, retail operations, and businesses that need more channel groups, the DLR1060 model supports up to 6 channels. This allows you to assign a dedicated channel to different departments, such as front clerks, stock clerks, managers and maintenance personnel. The DLR1060 is priced $10 more than the DLR1020, at $219.00.

Other than the number of channels and the price, there is no difference between these models.

Need more than 6 channels? Move up to the Motorola DTR series!