So I decided to 'hop' on the Motorola 900 meg ISM FHSS bandwagon about a month or so ago. I purchased a new Motorola DTR700. For $25 more you can get the programming cable which isn't "required' -- but it IS 'required' -- sort of. I also found DLR1060s on an auction for a very good value. I got (2) for just over $100 complete with battery. Since I already own the DTR700 charging base, I can charge the battery in that charger; however, due to the DLR size difference, I cannot use it as a base charger. I was able to find a DLR base charger for cheap -- this is also required for programming. So I now own (3) FHSS radios.
At any rate, the DLR 1060s are those ugly, round PTT button radios you can find at various retail outlets. I've heard the Costco d-c's (distribution centers) use them. FedEx uses them. Michaels use them. I've also heard managers and maintenance staff at an assisted-living facility using FHSS.
So these radios are digital. They are also un-monitorable by scanners as they use a proprietary frequency-hopping scheme. They ARE monitorable however. (More on this in a moment.)
After playing with these radios, I've come to a few conclusions.
1. These are pretty neat radios. They're very slim and small. Easily fit into a pocket. They have a lot of simple accessories to use.
2. If you program them (even at a basic level) they CAN be made secure and are unmonitorable.
3. These are digital and have those benefits; however, these do not have the optional benefits of noise-cancelling, etc. The audio sounds slightly improved on the DTR models. The audio on the DLR model is quite impressive for such a small radio.
4. Motorola clearly wanted these to be like a "bubble-pack" FRS radio -- but for businesses. They really didn't want companies REQUIRED to purchase any additional software, licenses, etc. They just wanted them to be used 'out-of-the-box.'
So, the key to these radios is what Motorola calls the PROFILE ID. For all intents and purposes, this is directly equivalent to a P25 NAC or access code. It's a REQUIRED element to transmit and receive. Motorola decided to (smartly?) set the default ID to 0000. This is good and bad. The good is that it makes it easy -- and no programming is required from the business side. The bad is that well, the default code is 0000. This is what makes it easy to monitor -- IF you have a DLR/DTR radio set to PROFILE ID 0000. ;o)
BTW, each radio has a fixed RID (RADIO ID) set by Motorola. AFAIK, this value is not modifiable.
As far as "channel" layout, the DLR/DTR come with (6) channels already configured. The neat thing is that there's nothing else that needs to be done. The radios can be used right out of the box -- if the business doesn't mind the little security issue of using a default setting. (Anyone who has used computer networking hardware knows about the problems with 'default' settings.)
The channels are essentially talkgroups -- just like on MotoTRBO or P25. My radios came preset with (6) preset channels. I can simply change channels on the fly.
One other interesting aspect to these radios: unlike other commercial transceivers, you cannot just simply transmit using one radio pushing the PTT. In order to transmit, the radio first scans the band looking for other receivers. In that fraction of a second, if there are no other receivers -- the PTT call will fail. If there IS a working radio, then it opens up that receiver and lets the audio through.
For bunnery purposes, this is valuable. If you're in a random location and need to know if anyone is using FHSS then just press the PTT button. The radio will answer this question for you. There's on caveat though. Yes, it MUST be using the same PROFILE ID. A funny side-note. I went up to a hilltop and sat up there for several minutes. Not hearing anything on my DTR700, I started playing with it and accidentally pressed the PTT. I didn't get the fail message. WTF? I then realized the above statement. There was another radio that my DTR700 detected -- so it unlocked the PTT. After several minutes, I managed to receive a couple of broken messages. Likely coming from downtown Seattle -- a few miles away.
Programming can make a difference however. By default, the FHSS radios do not "scan" the talkgroups. Also, the DTR700 radio can support up to 10 channels. The DLR1060 only 6 channels. The DLR1020 only 2 channels. The DTR700 is nice because it has a normal, side-mounted PTT button and also a color display. It looks like a very thin MotoTRBO radio. (The antenna is also removable.)
After programming my DTR700, I can now SCAN all 10 channels. My radio does this by default. I also have set my DTR700 to allow me to set the PROFILE ID on the fly. This is convenient for obvious reasons. The DLR radios do not support this feature.
Doing FHSS bunnery on your own is very easy. I would consider buying a DLR1060 used from an auction site. You can get one for $50-ish. Ideally, try to find a complete kit. The base charger is required for programming. The programming cable can be ordered from Amazon for around $25. You can download the CPS from Motorola's website directly. You'll likely need to modify the PROFILE ID back to 0000. Then just drive around town.
Oh and you can buy used DTR600 or DTR700 on various auction sites. They run for 150-300 depending on condition. Just make sure they're working radios.
You never know what you might hear!
PS. The extra feature of the color display is that you can see the RID (and channel) of the transmitting user. On the DLR radios this is not possible. So with the DTR radios you can definitely track users -- to a point.
One request: if you purchase a used DLR radio then please let me know what the PROFILE ID value was set to BEFORE you changed it back to the default of 0000.
Cheers!
This is not from me, but here's a sample video:
https://youtu.be/GMR9SVL6-RI
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
