Motorola "Mini" Waris Radios??

[losangelescop]

I am of course talking about the Motorola EX500 and EX600, lol. How good are they, and how do they compare to their bigger "siblings" the Motorola HT750's and HT1250's? Tried searching the forums but couldn't find much strangely...my internet has been messin up lately, maybe thats to blame for my crummy search results Thx in advance pplz, y'all r always a good help!

[bellersley]

Honey, I shrunk the waris!

I've used the VHF EX-series before and they're (from what I can tell) identical to the HT1250 and what not. The audio isn't quite as good, but I would probably blame that on the smaller speaker. Aside from that, they seem to be pretty much the same. I can't imagine the EX series would be all that rugged, but they aren't really marketed for that kind of thing. A few of the hotels around here use them for security and what not as they're fairly low key radios. I would place them in the same group as the Visar which is to say, if you need small they're the answer, but if you want design and durability, stay away!

[alex]

They should be much better in the durability realm than visars ever were. I would probably not drop them in that category, but I wouldn't consider it along the same lines as a genesis radio in the durability war. This is at least what I've heard. I haven't bumped in to any "S" split ones, which would be more useful than the "R" or VHF one's floating around.

-Alex

[losangelescop]

Honey, I shrunk the waris!

Hahaha, so very true!

Keep the opinions rolling people, I'm very interested in what everyone has to say on these, I have a small fleet of Waris (regular, not "mini") radios, and they never have seemed to serve me as well as I would expect a very very over-the-top priced Motorola to serve me...(in the areas of talk range, features and durability)

A little off topic here (forgive me admins ) but I was feeling rather adventurous lately (lol) and was considering getting a Kenwood ProTalk TK-3200. Anyone ever used one? How good, or how do they compare to Motorola's stuff (excluding the obviously lower wattage on the Kenwood)

Thx agen pplz!

[Andre]

I noticed this last weekend that NASCAR Officials are starting to carry EX-600s, they still have a bunch of HT1250s and CP200s. But the more important officials carry a EX-600, with a surveillance kit. So the front speaker audio is not so paramount.

[Jason]

Other than the notably different (IMHO crappier) audio than predecessors such as the visar, ht1000, etc, they seem to perform well, and just as good as the newer HT1250's. All of my experience with the 500 or 600 is UHF.

Make sure you have keypad lock programmed for your users, the keypads get bumped ALOT.

[escomm]

The biggest drawback of the EX series is the distinct lack of a belt clip carrying solution. It's either a plastic holster or carrying case

[losangelescop]

The biggest drawback of the EX series is the distinct lack of a belt clip carrying solution. It's either a plastic holster or carrying case

agreed totally.

keep those opinions coming pplz!

[4n6inv]

When I was the director of security at one of the Atlanta malls; my assistant and I had EX-500's and the officers had HT-750's. We were on a 4 channel 451.??? conventional system. I thought they were great. Yeah; there was a little difference in audio, but not unless you're splitting hairs. Range performance was the same or better with the four inch stuubby as the 750's. I used mine with a secret service style wrist mic and earphone, and mingled in the crowds. And yes; mine did see it's fair share of fights and held up quite well, aside from a little scuffing. I used the plastic holster and it was useless in a fight. Radio always went flying - attached by the teathers on my EAR and wrist! Once, the fight was so violent that the radio actually got ripped free of the surviellance kit and flew off the third story of our paking deck onto the asphalt below. I was sure it was a gonner, but when I removed the audio adapter from the accessory port; it worked like a champ and only suffered a "corner ding" like most radios end up with anyway. For that type of application; I give it at least a two thumbs up.

Jim

[losangelescop]

I used the plastic holster and it was useless in a fight. Radio always went flying - attached by the teathers on my EAR and wrist! Once, the fight was so violent that the radio actually got ripped free of the surviellance kit and flew off the third story of our paking deck onto the asphalt below. I was sure it was a gonner, but when I removed the audio adapter from the accessory port; it worked like a champ and only suffered a "corner ding" like most radios end up with anyway.

You're right about the plastic belt holster - well I wouldn't know off hand but I get the same problems when running with my Waris belt clips and RSM clips...so annoying. And I gotta say...WOW! I wouldn't think any Waris/"Mini Waris" radio let alone any other radio could survive that kind of a fall!...well, except maybe for a Jedi or Saber

Nic.

[ve3nsv]

I have seen a fair bit of EX-500 and EX-600's come in for service where the screws that hold the main board to the chassis had fallen out and shorted out on the board.

This created symptoms such as no PTT and one that acted as though it was programmed for busy channel lock-out.

Anybody else seen this? Affects close to 85% of the EX series radios we see for repairs. I was thinking of opening a GCC on it but haven't seen others complain.

[4n6inv]

WOW! I wouldn't think any Waris/"Mini Waris" radio let alone any other radio could survive that kind of a fall!...well, except maybe for a Jedi or Saber

Incidentally; in the same fight with a meth influenced subject; one of the local police officers lost his MTS2000 handie and speaker mic over the same side of the deck and landed about 12 feet from mine. His radio case was wasted - several cracks and a broken display, but the radio itself; survived. My hunch is that mine did better because of the lower mass on impact.

BTW; the Taser had NO impact on this guy, who weighed all of 110lbs. It took me, two of my officers and six off-duty PD to contain and subdue this guy. I earned two broken fingers, and one of my guys broke his wrist. All of us - PD included, looked like a hat full of smashed assholes when all was done.

[losangelescop]

BTW; the Taser had NO impact on this guy, who weighed all of 110lbs. It took me, two of my officers and six off-duty PD to contain and subdue this guy. I earned two broken fingers, and one of my guys broke his wrist. All of us - PD included, looked like a hat full of smashed assholes when all was done.

Sounds like a tough day at the job! Hope all of you healed up good! I heard once a story of a cop somewhere in the USA being very pissed off at a criminal while in a foot pursuit, and couldnt catch the criminal, so he pulled his Saber out of the swivel case and hurled it at the guys head as he was running, hit the guy in the back of the head, knocked him out and he fell forward and hit the pavement very hard, and of course the cop then picked up the radio and it still worked like a charm, so he called EMS...apparently the criminal died a couple days later in hospital of bleeding on the brain from the two hard knocks to the head (not sure if that story is true or not, who knows???)...y'all shoulda tried that out on your drugged-up guy However, on second thought I doubt that woulda worked if the taser did nothing shame that, woulda been a fun and easy way to get em with minimal damage to urself and the other LEO's although I'm sure you wouldn't want him to die of brain bleeds either! haha

I'm surprised at hearing how good these Mini Motos actually hold up, just by looking at the EX500/EX600 I wouldn't think its a tough or well performing thing due to the appearance and size...guess u learn something new every day!

Nic

[HumHead]

...(not sure if that story is true or not, who knows???)...

It's true. It was NYPD. If memory serves, the officer did time for manslaughter as a result of using deadly force against an unarmed fleeing perp.

Back to the original question, I would second all of the above opinions about the EX series- Good performance, marginally worse audio, and the clip is a royal pain. (at least it doesn't crack like the old Visar design).

[Rayjk110]

Ah yes, the "Minnow" series portables. I've used both and they're OK - just like others have stated. The ones I used, my friend had actually professionally drilled a small clip on the back as an alternative to using the lame plastic holster or leather/vynl case. I think they were actually made to replace the Visar series, no?

[losangelescop]

It's true. It was NYPD. If memory serves, the officer did time for manslaughter as a result of using deadly force against an unarmed fleeing perp.

I thought it was an NYPD cop! I just didn't wanna say it incase I had the info wrong...never heard the part about him doing time tho....poor guy, I know how he feels towards moronic criminals

[wavetar]

The EX series is everything the Visar was supposed to be, but sadly wasn't. No serious design flaws like the Visar had, and comparable performance to the HT units. All the customers I know who've tried them, likes them.

Todd

[craig]

We have 7 ex600xls radios ina fleet of 27 portables. The system is vhf conventional and we use encryption during tactical incidents. I have also personally owned the ex600 vhf and ex500 s split UHF. All of the radios have been superb with no problems at all. Yea, the plastic clips are useless but plain clothes officers and administrators use the radios and appreciate their portability. The only criticism of the ex series that I have is that they don't have provisions for option boards. As a result, the encryption modules had to be soldered in instead of plug and play. The boards work well in the radios but required professional installation.

[pwrhockey]

I have a VHF ex600xls and a R split UHF ex600xls and they work as well for me (fire/ems) as my ht1250 and ht1000. Like everyone said though the belt clip thing is a problem but i use my vhf 600 for EMS and leave the ht1250 at the firehouse so it works out for me.