Motorola Cuts 3,000 more employees

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 11:19 am

Says Chris Galvin "we're still in the middle of restructuring"

3 years ago Motorola had 150,000 employes, now down to 90,000

Cell phone sales lower than expected this year yet again.

Monty · Post by **Monty** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 12:45 pm

Hi:

Well ?

Once a " Great " Company , in 1998, now just a good one
in 2003

Another 3-4 Years, who knows....

One thing for sure !_______My customers are becoming
very tired of dealing with the Monkeys ! The frezze dried
bananas are just not doing the job.

MS

Wed Apr 16, 2003 4:44 pm

Hate to say it boys & girls,

But don't be suprised if the next big up and comer is (Dare I day it?? Dare! Dare!) Kenwood. We just picked up the line last year at my full time job and I have to say that they have been outselling Mother /\/\ 2 to 1!

They make a good product, they do things that only the older Motorola stuff like the Syntor 9000s can do (wide band low band, multi chassis, single head, etc), and they're a WHOLE lot less expensive than Moto. (Oh yeah, customer & dealer support are INCREDIBLE, not to mention CHEAP RSS!)

Hell, when the pro series portables came out, there were six software upgrades/revisions in as many months. Motorola's mind frame these days is "put it out there and we'll fix the problems as they arise".

I personally don't think that making the local cop or fireman a guiena pig to field test your new product line is the best way to generate repeat customers. Then, when they do have a decent radio, they go and discontinue it. (Maxtrac, MT-1000) (Guess they were'nt selling enough parts for them!)

Yep, I think the days of the Motorola that your father and grandfather used are gone forever. They say competition is good. I say, let the competition begin for a new king!

Dave Mac · Post by **Dave Mac** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 6:35 pm

Reading the above post reminds me of something my Motorola account rep used to tell me whenever I questioned some of his pricing:

"Mac, You can buy better but you can't pay more".

But I still kept buying them.

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 7:32 pm

Beg to differ. At a Fire College a couple of years ago, a Kenwood fan came to our booth raving about how great Kenwood was. When I told him Kenwood wasn't as rugged as Motorola, he puffed up and stated "yes they were". I then threw my HT1250 across the room where it hit the wall and bounced across the floor. I walked over picked it up and talked to dispatch just fine. Then I said "now throw your Kenwood". His reply......."I don't think so".... I WIN!!!!! He walked away grumbling.........

Batman · Post by **Batman** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 8:09 pm

looks like moto's evil deeds and outragously screwed up business practices are coming back to haunt them.

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 9:01 pm

Charlie wrote:Beg to differ. At a Fire College a couple of years ago, a Kenwood fan came to our booth raving about how great Kenwood was. When I told him Kenwood wasn't as rugged as Motorola, he puffed up and stated "yes they were". I then threw my HT1250 across the room where it hit the wall and bounced across the floor. I walked over picked it up and talked to dispatch just fine. Then I said "now throw your Kenwood". His reply......."I don't think so".... " I WIN!!!!!" was my reply......... He walked away grumbling.........

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Thu Apr 24, 2003 7:58 pm

I couldn't agree more with Chuck's comments. Time for someone to stick the fork in Motorola and tell them they're done. Real shame. I'm a big fan of their older stuff but the new line just ain't cutting it.

Threeshot223 · Post by **Threeshot223** » Fri Apr 25, 2003 4:04 pm

Charlie wrote:
Beg to differ. At a Fire College a couple of years ago, a Kenwood fan came to our booth raving about how great Kenwood was. When I told him Kenwood wasn't as rugged as Motorola, he puffed up and stated "yes they were". I then threw my HT1250 across the room where it hit the wall and bounced across the floor. I walked over picked it up and talked to dispatch just fine. Then I said "now throw your Kenwood". His reply......."I don't think so".... " I WIN!!!!!" was my reply......... He walked away grumbling.........

Well, it ain't Kenwood, but, before I purchased my GE MP-A, I read about it (using GE manuals that were free for download).
Then, when I got it, I programmed it (with the freely-available GE RSS, and the low-cost RIB box, which, even though it is not a GE box, has never had a compatibility problem.)

After programming it, I used it for a while, before I wanted to remove the channel knob limiter plate. This I did, sucessfully (using the MP-A service manual I got free for download). Oh, did I mention that I was able to program my MP-A within an hour, on my P3 733mhz PC?

One day, I was on a 1-story roof at the airport. I bent down to look at something, my radio slips out of the holster (stupid me, forgot to strap it in), the PS mic catches for a sec, and *shwoop!* off the roof it goes!

All the radio needed was a new battery.

RidgeRunner · Post by **RidgeRunner** » Fri Apr 25, 2003 5:33 pm

Charlie wrote:Beg to differ. At a Fire College a couple of years ago, a Kenwood fan came to our booth raving about how great Kenwood was. When I told him Kenwood wasn't as rugged as Motorola, he puffed up and stated "yes they were". I then threw my HT1250 across the room where it hit the wall and bounced across the floor. I walked over picked it up and talked to dispatch just fine. Then I said "now throw your Kenwood". His reply......."I don't think so".... I WIN!!!!! He walked away grumbling.........

Haha if that was me I would of laughed and said haha your the dumb turd who just intentionaly damaged your radio. Just because you can throw it against a wall and talk to dispatch just fine doenst mean much. I have seen people throw/drop all kinds radios...sure they work fine, but eventually they come in for a problem related to impact damage.

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » Fri Apr 25, 2003 7:12 pm

RidgeRunner wrote:
Charlie wrote:Beg to differ. At a Fire College a couple of years ago, a Kenwood fan came to our booth raving about how great Kenwood was. When I told him Kenwood wasn't as rugged as Motorola, he puffed up and stated "yes they were". I then threw my HT1250 across the room where it hit the wall and bounced across the floor. I walked over picked it up and talked to dispatch just fine. Then I said "now throw your Kenwood". His reply......."I don't think so".... I WIN!!!!! He walked away grumbling.........
Haha if that was me I would of laughed and said haha your the dumb turd who just intentionaly damaged your radio. Just because you can throw it against a wall and talk to dispatch just fine doenst mean much. I have seen people throw/drop all kinds radios...sure they work fine, but eventually they come in for a problem related to impact damage.

And if it was you (hypothetically speaking of course) I would have replied, "You, not having seen the factory where these babies are made and not having seen the equipment used to drop test the radio's, and not having a clue on how well the Motorola HT1250 is made as compared to the "cheap Kenwood" need I go on.......by the way...three years later the same HT1250 is still working fine. and also by the way I work on these radios every day...HT's and Kenwoods so don't insult my intelligence, I don't know you and didn't insult yours.

RidgeRunner · Post by **RidgeRunner** » Sat Apr 26, 2003 5:41 am

nope havent seen any of it dont have a clue what your talking...drop testing....??? whats that....boy I sure got put in my place.

EKLB · Post by **EKLB** » Sat Apr 26, 2003 7:24 am

I wouldnt say you were put in your place.

Id say we all made it clear where we stood as to our opinions .

And i do respect everybodys seperate opinions but i too am dead against the New Crap M is putting out.

Drop test = yes been there seen it done / but also seen it done with other comparably built radios too.

Id like to see how many HT750/1250/1550 portables that would actualy take the throw test against the wall like M reps did at a county fair for a week put up against say a P200 .

Id be willing to bet the P200 would win hands down.

And i will say this= at least the P200 radio worked without much problems from the factory.( You dont seem to enjoy that when it comes to the CDM/HT750/1250/1550) Otherwise you wouldnt see so many postings about its problems ect.

Me ill go back to smoke signals versus a visar or cdm or ht 1250 type ect.

And yes im still fond of Motorolas more reliable radios which by the way are a little older than the newer crap being put out now.

FLEX CIRCUITRY= TROUBLE IN TIME AND IT DOES SHOW UP.

Why is this ? = because they are good radios/ i dont think so guys/gals.

Motorola doesnt seem to be able to put out a truly tested working radio and sends them out into the field for service techs to mess around trying to come up with the fix for them. (Screw Motorola and her/his new way of developing junk.)

Bottom line= when it comes to my customers and there needs /I will make damb sure the equipment will be good reliable non troublesome types because its me the supplier that they blame due to Motorolas junk.

And i am well respected and my services are in big demand due to the happy end users i have on my systems telling others.

I have about all the repeaters/towers i care to operate at the moment and cant handle the reqeusts for additional customers without hiring another tech to keep up with it.

And i have a waiting list of people on other systems that want to switch to my services should one of mine leave.

In the 17 years or so i have had very few leave and when they did leave it was usualy due to cell phone/retired /or his bussines went bankrupt.

Only one has left because he was offered what he thought was a better system/deal and he has asked to return= yes ill probably move him to the top of the list since he was a good customer and probably will be even better now that he has been on the other side of the fence and doesnt care for it.

And i have seen the repair depot= ok =if your into portable standup deviders you see in cheap offices ect.

At least thats what stuck in my mind when i visited the repair depot in mt. pleasant several years back.

Yes the repair techs seemed to be well above my experience so the area around them is not a good representation of their abilities but then again neither is the factory (modern as it may be) that M builds new junk in as in the CDM ect a fair example.

NO intentions of attacking anyone or there opinions = so please do not take offense as non was intended.

But thats my dollars worth and i believe its well spent/period !

EKLB

Batman · Post by **Batman** » Sat Apr 26, 2003 8:35 pm

Monty,

Where on their site do you find the manuals and software downloads?

Threeshot223 wrote:
Charlie wrote:
Beg to differ. At a Fire College a couple of years ago, a Kenwood fan came to our booth raving about how great Kenwood was. When I told him Kenwood wasn't as rugged as Motorola, he puffed up and stated "yes they were". I then threw my HT1250 across the room where it hit the wall and bounced across the floor. I walked over picked it up and talked to dispatch just fine. Then I said "now throw your Kenwood". His reply......."I don't think so".... " I WIN!!!!!" was my reply......... He walked away grumbling.........
Well, it ain't Kenwood, but, before I purchased my GE MP-A, I read about it (using GE manuals that were free for download).
Then, when I got it, I programmed it (with the freely-available GE RSS, and the low-cost RIB box, which, even though it is not a GE box, has never had a compatibility problem.)

After programming it, I used it for a while, before I wanted to remove the channel knob limiter plate. This I did, sucessfully (using the MP-A service manual I got free for download). Oh, did I mention that I was able to program my MP-A within an hour, on my P3 733mhz PC?

One day, I was on a 1-story roof at the airport. I bent down to look at something, my radio slips out of the holster (stupid me, forgot to strap it in), the PS mic catches for a sec, and *shwoop!* off the roof it goes!

All the radio needed was a new battery.

Threeshot223 · Post by **Threeshot223** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 8:16 am

Batman:
if you're looking for GE manuals and info then you want to go to http://www.radtek.ws. Then click on GE/Ericcson, then go to manuals. There's all kinds of manuals and the release notes in .pdf format.

Hope this helps!

ASTROMODAT · Post by **ASTROMODAT** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 7:45 pm

Kenwood is fine for the old fashioned/antiquated analog FM smoke signals market, but they have ZIP in terms of P25, which is where the Public Safety market is. Perhaps Motorola is leaving the krap and bones to the Rice Rocket folks, while they continue to grab 100% of the more lucrative big city Public Safety P25 high end market. Leave the junk radios to the old Mom & Pop PDs and hick towns.

Larry

Cowthief · Post by **Cowthief** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 7:00 am

Hello.

The entire state of Texas must be ma&pa, cuz the state gave up on trunking/APCO25.
The only slight problem? our former governor is now the president.
I do not fully agree with everything he does, but when it comes to radio, his ideas and mine mesh very well, thank you.
/\/\ has made some really great radios in the past, the point being, the new stuff is not the greatest, good, but could be better.
RSS is a joke, and support is, well?

ASTROMODAT · Post by **ASTROMODAT** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 12:33 pm

In my opinion, a lot of the complaints I see regarding Motorola RSS leads me to believe that these are problems that individuals have with their hobby use radio, such as Hams. Yes, Motorola RSS is not conducive to Hams using their software. Usually, these cases involve some sort of strange/exotic use (like being able to monitor trunked systems without affiliating, something probably not required by the intended users). But, if you have 1,000 or 5,000 radios in a large police dept, once you have your programming set and stabilized, the RSS is designed to allow for thousands of radios to be programmed, and all are alike. Also, the reality is that these radios, as used in their intended environment, will likely not have any re-programming for many years, probably only ONCE in their lifetime (when they are new).

Motorola RSS works very well for its intended, mass usage design. No, it does not work that easily for individual Ham radio operator use of typically highly unusual programming parameters for a single radio, something it was never marketed to accomodate.

Hams should use rice rockets----that's what they are designed to do.

Larry

Cowthief · Post by **Cowthief** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 2:00 pm

Hello.

Both the city of San Antonio, Texas, and Harris county, Texas, will tell you, RSS sucks.
San Antonio has had such a large issue with dynamic reprogramming that this is no longer done.
Harris county was told the system is so bad that it is not even figured in the plans for the upcoming superbowl.
Radios get "lost" in the system, then when you connect them to RSS, something bad happens, and the computers were provided by /\/\ as part of the contract.
San Antonio has never formally approved the smartnet system, Harris county now runs a 2 radio plan, the one that works, and the,,,,,.
Texas department of public safety has shut down its Austin, TX trunking system, replaced it with VHF, what the rest of the state runs.
The director of homeland security, Mr. Ridge, hates smartnet.
George W. Bush thinks very little of trunking, has told secret service to quit playing with the toys, get a radio that you can talk on.
When you look at video of navy 1, check out the antennas on the crawford ranch.
If you want to find out what Bush is up to,
http://www.maxpages.com/frequencies/Air_Force_1
The white house has for several years now, an open door policy when it comes to communications, you can even get a QSL card for AF1.
The government, like any large user of radios, has motorola, lots of them.
I just think it is sad when you see secret service agents with french built radios.

Motorola Cuts 3,000 more employees

Motorola Cuts 3,000 more employees

Motorola Layoffs

Motorola Radios

Kenwood

Re: Kenwood

Re: Kenwood

Re: Kenwood

heh

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