Hello 2-Way Radio Forum,
I have a question that I’m hoping you can help me with.
My Synagogue has 5 MR305R units for the security Team. We need a couple of additional units and I was wondering if there was an upgraded model that is compatible with the talkabout (channel programming) but slimmer in form factor. I have a lot going on on my belt as it is and the bulky clip on the talkabout isn’t working for me. Is there a better unit (even more of a Profesional unit that PD uses) that has a strong belt clip and isn’t as bulky as the talkabout models?
Thanks
Danny
The MR350R is a standard FRS/GMRS radio, so it should be compatible with other FRS/GMRS radios right out of the box. If you are searching for durability, there are other radios available that may suffice. There are a few smaller and slimmer radios as well, such as the Cobra microTALK CXR925, but keep in mind that with FRS/GMRS, the wattage on these radios will vary.
Professional or business radios are more rugged and are programmable, however they require a business license to operate on an assigned frequency. If you want license free and professional and you will be operating indoors, a 900MHz business radio such as the Motorola DLR1020 or DLR1060 may work. It’s license free, quite compact, yet durable. The DTR410 or DTR550 digital radios may work for you as well, although these are considerably larger and bulkier than the Talkabout radios you currently use.
A lot depends on whether you are operating indoors, outdoors, or a combination of both, what area you need to cover, how many channels you need and whether you simply want to add a couple of radios to your existing fleet or are willing to migrate to another radio service.
If you only want to add to your existing fleet of FRS/GMRS radios, you may be limited somewhat to consumer radios, as radios used by businesses and the PD are generally not type accepted to operate on those frequencies.
We discussed the use of radios in churches on an episode of our podcast. It may help you research what you need.
The Two Way Radio Show Podcast TWRS-25 - Radios at Church
If I can add to the EXCELLENT advice from Rick, I would strongly support his suggestion you consider changing your whole fleet over the DLR1020 or DLR1060 radios.
http://www.buytwowayradios.com/products/motorola/motorola-dlr-1060.aspx
Unless you have a need to tie in to other GMRS or FRS radios, the Motorola DTR/DLR radios are high-quality business-class radios that will provide many hours of battery life and will survive drops to concrete and even some rain. They cannot be monitored by anyone else on consumer-level scanners, and the only radio who can monitor them is another DTR or DLR radio. (And with many thousands of possible channel IDs available, that is not likely to happen.)
The DLR is particularly compact and unobtrusive.
They would fit your needs exactly. It would mean changing your whole fleet, plus new accessories, but you can now access a WIDE range of professional-class headsets and accessories that are much higher quality and more durable than the more consumer-oriented FRS/GMRS radios.
So if you just want the cheapest solution, any FRS radio will work. (The frequencies are common among all FRS/GMRS radios, and the frequency numbers are consistent among most manufacturers.) But if your budget allows, a fleet of DLR radios will be compact, durable, industrial-quality and very private.
I have used the DTRs for years and buytwowayradios graciously sent me a sample of the new DLR radio. (My reviews are on this forum and on their web site.) I am now a HUGE fan of them. You don’t have the same ability to call up individual radios as you do with the DTR, but I almost never use that feature anyway. If I didn’t have a fleet of DTRs, I would definitely go with the DLRs.