New MotoTRBO Ion

[jelimoore]

MOTOTRBO Ion Smart Radio - Motorola Solutions - Europe, Middle East and Africa

Access critical voice and instant broadband data on a tough device with the MOTOTRBO Ion smart radio with full touch display and data connectivity

www.motorolasolutions.com

Thoughts? Looks a little dinky imo. Interested to see if the Android side has any extended management features (a la Zebra MX) or if users will be reliant on an external MDM solution.

 

[triptolemus]

It sure does look like it began its life as an APX NEXT prototype.

 

[ndp]

Looks like the same top display as the current APX.

 

[PSEhub]

Motorola has still not made it clear what happens after 5 years.

Also still have not gotten confirmation how often the device must hand shake with Motorola servers/Radio Central to continue operating fully.


If you are looking at these, make sure to get the RadioCentral batch programming add-on, its a very small additional cost and there is no telling what it might be later on.

ONLY 1 YEAR of RadioCentral "Batch Programming" is included, while 5 years of the basic/useless programming is included.

For a very small additional cost you may as well get the 5 years of real RadioCentral.


It will be interesting to see what REAL WORLD battery life is like, but I have a feeling lots will be wishing they had the higher capacity option.

 

[romanrobles]

Looks like the same top display as the current APX.

The APX NEXT top Display is quite different - and it has the angled volume knob which I really like.

 

[ndp]

I always thought the ergonomics of the APX, particularly the XE, were really good. Not sure why they don't copy them over to the TRBO stuff. You can take design elements and still have it not be a "mission critical" device.

 

[Phil]

I'm curious to see if Motorola will offer FPP and AES encryption licenses. Discreet enquiries to the Australian distribution chain indicate that FPP will not be offered in Oz.

I would also like to see the availability of an Android API or library that would allow for development of apps that can actually control the radio...

Dealer expects the retail price to be between $2700 AUD and $3000 AUD here for the basic radio...

 

[Phil]

A quick perusal of the North American datasheet rings two alarm bells: There is no indication of conventional narrowband FM support hinting that this may be a DMR only product, and the supported LTE frequency bands do not include B1, B3, B8 or B28. Hopefully, the international model will have a cellular modem that addresses the Australian market.

The documentation is also light on details regarding feature licensing. I expect recurring subscription licensing for cloud based features, but if Moto adopts the same model for on-radio features, then my interest level for this product will be low...

 

[xpr8300]

According to the FCC-ID search, it is certified for 11K0F3E from 400-512 MHz (4.8 Watts).
Crazy that it does LTE on 3.5 GHz. I guess thats if someone sets up a private network.

It shows LTE FDD on LTE 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, 20. 28 and TDD on 38,39,40,41. It also apparently is WCDMA and HSDPA compatible. I find that odd.

FCC ID AZ489FT7133 Body worn 2-way portable radio by Motorola Solutions, Inc.

FCC ID application submitted by Motorola Solutions, Inc. for Body worn 2-way portable radio for FCC ID AZ489FT7133. Approved Frequencies, User Manuals, Photos, and Wireless Reports.

fccid.io

MOTOTRBO ION

www.globalcertificationforum.org

 

[Phil]

Correction: The EMEA model datasheet shows support for LTE B1, B3, B5, B7, B8, B28 and B40 which will cover all Australian carriers...

 

[PSEhub]

I always thought the ergonomics of the APX, particularly the XE, were really good. Not sure why they don't copy them over to the TRBO stuff. You can take design elements and still have it not be a "mission critical" device.

With a two way portable radio, there is a finite number of things you can cripple on the hardware side before its not a radio anymore.

So Motorola is limited to crippling what they can, the button sizes, rf connector, housing shape. Their options are limited, so they have to differentiate somehow.

Or do they???

Motorola has SO MANY RADIOS, especially when you count the TETRA models, partial keypad xpr7550e in Europe, and the scrunched mini xpr7550e. Then you have ATEX and CSA models, IS models, Hazloc and Div 1 models, coyote brown models, 900 splits that can't be that high volume.

Kenwood has 2 or 3 radios

Harris has 3 or 4 radios

Tait has 1 radio

Icom has 0.75 radio

Relm has 0.5 radio



In a perfect world, Motorola could crank out an apx8000 with 900mhz and LTE and bigger LCD, bribe UL to give it every possible certification, and cancel all other products, and just differentiate through software licensing

It would probably cost the same or less than the incredible laundry list of model #s, especially thorn-in-the-side low volume non-sense.

Who buys an XPR7380e?

 

[SwissMoto]

I'm curious to see if Motorola will offer FPP and AES encryption licenses. Discreet enquiries to the Australian distribution chain indicate that FPP will not be offered in Oz.

I would also like to see the availability of an Android API or library that would allow for development of apps that can actually control the radio...

Dealer expects the retail price to be between $2700 AUD and $3000 AUD here for the basic radio...

AES Encryption is available for EMEA customers (ca. EUR 300)

 

[gMan1971]

With a two way portable radio, there is a finite number of things you can cripple on the hardware side before its not a radio anymore.

So Motorola is limited to crippling what they can, the button sizes, rf connector, housing shape. Their options are limited, so they have to differentiate somehow.

Or do they???

Motorola has SO MANY RADIOS, especially when you count the TETRA models, partial keypad xpr7550e in Europe, and the scrunched mini xpr7550e. Then you have ATEX and CSA models, IS models, Hazloc and Div 1 models, coyote brown models, 900 splits that can't be that high volume.

Kenwood has 2 or 3 radios

Harris has 3 or 4 radios

Tait has 1 radio

Icom has 0.75 radio

Relm has 0.5 radio



In a perfect world, Motorola could crank out an apx8000 with 900mhz and LTE and bigger LCD, bribe UL to give it every possible certification, and cancel all other products, and just differentiate through software licensing

It would probably cost the same or less than the incredible laundry list of model #s, especially thorn-in-the-side low volume non-sense.

Who buys an XPR7380e?

Well, there might be a ton of models, but the internals are mostly shared. The 7350e, 7550e, etc the mini 7550e, etc... all share the same building blocks AFAIK, I've rehoused enough radios already to know all the base components are the same, its just a different case and different firmware... making a new case is probably not very difficult when you have the injection molding manufacturing down.

G.

 

[phonebuff]

Still waiting for the order to process and no ship date yet -- But came across this today and since I need an LTE SIM for it anyway this might work to enable the device to replace a cell phone -

One Talk Desktop App

Learn what One Talk from Verizon is and how it helps businesses stay more connected than ever. Explore features and devices available with One Talk from Verizon.

www.verizon.com

• Mobile App

Employees who use their own smartphones or tablets (bring your own device, or BYOD) for business can access One Talk’s business-grade features directly on their devices with the One Talk app

 

[Mars]

I was offered one of these at dealer cost. I had to pass it up for the following reasons:

- BOLT antenna connector. Motorola can take that bolt and put it up their metaphorical Uranus. Whatever senior RF/design engineer who approved this should be executed.

- No programming support with CPS. Cloud only? I am positive Motorola will go out of business on the LMR side of things within five years or less. What happens when they go tits up? How do I program my radio if I don't have access their server?

- No AES as a standard option. It should be free when spending $3000~ on this POS radio.

- Back to the cloud: Why would anyone in their right mind upload their key/RAS/LEK data to Motorola's cloud? Anyone with admin access can read your system particulars.

- So I drop nearly $3000 on this thing. What do I gain as a new feature/function, which I can't already do with my XPR7550e? No, the barcode and LTE crap is not a factor as I am not aware of any customer who would purchase the Ion for those functions. Smartphones can already accomplish those tasks.

- Did I mention the BOLT antenna connector? Yes. I wanted to stress this. What a piece of crap design. We would make fun of any CCR that was designed with a BOLT for an antenna, so why aren't we rightfully calling out Motorola for this nonsense? Any attempt to justify that BOLT connector is no different than Jeremy Dewitte trying to convince Dr. Phil/A Judge/The Public that he's not a whacker. Yes he is, and yes this BOLT is HORRIFIC ENGINEERING. If the radio is not intended to utilize an external antenna/RF adapter, then permanently weld the antenna to the radio and be done with it.

This is another POS that can go in the same drawer as the Motorola Saber Si and XTS3500. Sad this is likely the last MOTOTRBO radio Motorola will release before they file for bankruptcy.

 

[phonebuff]

Sorry, the BOLT can not be welded since there is supposed to be a VHF and 8/9 version with different antennas

The Radio Central solution appears to be nothing much more than a kludge of Radio Manager and Wave Admin with out the Device Programmer component. Any dealer could probably have done a similar offering by placing a Radio Manager install in an AWS instance .

This device is years late, but still pushed out the door in a way to rushed and unfinished manner in my opinion. Still I have a few customers that will use it verses having to carry both an XPR-7000e and Sonim XP8. The latter for access to things like mapping apps and data collection tools. the earlier to know when lunch is ready.

---------------------

 

[gMan1971]

Yep, I think Mars summed it up rather nicely. Boy, these two months without Mars... the forum was not the same...

Totally, no CPS programming is like WTF?

Maybe there is a reason why you need to upload your stuff to the cloud.... someone wants to make sure you're are protected, your safety is their priority... etc etc...

I honestly think they should've build a souped up SL7550, with anything BUT android, (so you don't get tracked, and then bombarded with Ads about Motorola radios everywhere you go), The touch screen IMO, is probably the worst thing when you're trying to do something and use the radio... like, say shoveling snow with thick gloves, -18 outside... Now, don't get me wrong: its totally freaking cool, a radio with a giant touchscreen, but cool and useful are, usually, mutually exclusive.

Its surprising b/c Motorola HQ is located in Illinois, and its snows there... maybe the top brass don't clear their own snow anymore? b/c using a touch screen with gloves is cumbersome at best. Then a giant flat piece of glass, think of the toasted bread with butter and jello, when it drops to the floor, it always lands on the carpet with the butter and jello side down... and a giant glass screen? the same thing... it always falls and gets smashed...

Oh well...

G.

 

[zsneese]

The touch screen IMO, is probably the worst thing when you're trying to do something and use the radio... like, say shoveling snow with thick gloves, -18 outside... Now, don't get me wrong: its totally freaking cool, a radio with a giant touchscreen, but cool and useful are, usually, mutually exclusive.

Probably designed by the same engineer that thought putting a touchscreen on the APX Next XE was a good idea. Those idiots have clearly have no idea how firefighters are or even the rest of public safety. Most of our guys can't even figure out a Model 1.5 much less a full blown smart radio. Couple that with a touchscreen in a job where bulky gloves are required it is pointless. There's an old saying that says "If you give a firefighter a rubber mallet and an anvil, they'll probably end up breaking the anvil in a day". I wonder what the depot will charge for a screen replacement on either of these radios.

 

[phonebuff]

The ION, Evolve and APX Next devices are being designed by the teams that see PTToC as the future, if not current direction for devices and MSI is not alone here. The ION is here early to try and head off the Sonim invasion (See Disney Orlando for an Example), it will be interesting to see what they do with it when M2021.01 is announced because right now it seems to be an LMR radio and Android phone tied together with an Elastic band.

There's an old saying that says "If you give a firefighter a rubber mallet and an anvil, they'll probably end up breaking the anvil in a day".

Never took me that long to break the anvil back in the day -- But I like the "100 years of history unimpeded by progress." quote better.. Got my butt chewed once for stopping to pack up on a paint store fire.

 

[ndp]

Motorola has said that they consulted with firefighters and rode with fire departments when developing the APX NEXT XE. They have to be lying through their teeth. There's no way in hell any actual firefighter looked at that NEXT XE and said "yes, I think it would be great to carry a massive Android phone and trust my life to it on the fireground". There is no reason they couldn't have made improvements to the 8000XE. It's a great radio in terms of physical layout and ergonomics. Fix all the stupid crap like the halve-assed features and firmware bugs. Make the CPS so it doesn't require a computer who's price parallels that of the radio to program it. These are things that are not hard. The hardware of the APX is a solid foundation. Just need to make those tweaks. But it's clear they want to push the industry in a certain way. Instead of paying 150 mil up front for the system, let's charge the customer out the ass on a per-subscriber monthly basis to use the subscribers they own, and to program them too. It's just absurd.

About the fire service. One of my favorite things at the FDNY museum (highly recommend a visit) is the exhibit about steam pumpers. The guys at the time wanted to stick with the bucket brigades - not because they were better (obviously they weren't), but instead because the department was a "traditions-bound organization". 150 years later and the parallels are still there. It is neat to see the sentiments start to change some and new technology make it's way in. UAV systems, augmented reality, iPads/tablets/etc, miniaturizing TICs, etc. are just some of the things that are really exciting to see.

That being said, I still have a bunch of these on my various laptops/tablets/bottles...