Motorola XU2600 Business 2-Way Radio

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best and Better than the Rest !
Review: This is a very interesting radio. It replaces and way exceeds the now obsolete M-series Motorola Mu24cvs 4 channel radios. The M-series radios were so good that the XTN would have go a bit to beat them. Beat them it does.

A few points: These new radios are six (6) channels selecting from a library of 56 internal frequencies whereas the M radios were only four (4) channels selecting from a library of 8 internal frequencies. The XTN radios also can use the digital (DPL) privacy or private line codes that were not available to the M series. The XTN radios are compatible with the M series and they do work well together. Battery life is double for the XTN units: nearly 16 hours use before recharging. The old M series radios barely did 6 hours. The output power is a solid and full 2 real watts something sadly one never finds on the M series radios after only a little use. Those old guys only test out at about 1.4 watts average on the bench. The VOX really works on the newer XTN's and was pretty poor on the M series. Also VOX will work with the internal radio mic if desired which is a plus not found on the M series. The charging systems are way advanced over the M series systems and the batteries are amazing and last seemingly forever.

The bottom line is the XU2600 is one of the best UHF small business radios Motorola makes. They are nearly impossible to kill by dropping unlike the M series. The XTN radios produce a killer receive volume level making them useful in the nosiest environments; they also speak in a low whisper so very clearly. The transmit audio is truly great and the operating range is tops with the new compression and transmission algorithms. Side by side no M series radio of the same wattage talks nearly as far.

About the only things we find on the down side is that the antenna cannot be removed, so an external antenna impossible, and the volume control knob can be knocked off with the right accidental bump.

These radios are not toys and operate on assigned business frequencies/ A valid FCC license must be obtained prior to use. The license can be applied for online at the FCC website but it is way better to simply pay a frequency coordination company to do this complex work for you.