XPR-8400 internal pictures

[Viper1-6]

Hi all.

Local comm company is quoting XPR-8400 repeaters with LMR-400 for the repeater antenna. They are also suggesting the VHF link radios(proposing XPR-4500 series to link to the existing site) can be run in digital, and be used to link the repeaters once they go full digital down the road.

This is for adding a couple of sites to improve existing coverage. We will be analogue for a while to come. Going digital is a couple of years out, as subscriber equipment can be purchase over time.

I am trying to steer the organization, and trying to push them towards SLR-5700 series.

Any internal photos would help, as I just do not believe the XPR-8400 will stand up over time, especially given the poor performance of the XPR-8300 repeaters. They will be in unseated shelters and the outside temperatures can vary from -40 to +30 degrees Celsius.

 

[kc2obw]

They are going to use LMR-400 from the repeater to antenna???. Using LMR-400 on a repeater application will give you de-sense issues. The XPR8400 is nothing more then two mobiles with the tx radio having bigger heat sink. According to the spec sheet the repeater should operate fine in those temperatures.

There are plenty of xpr8400's in use at ham sites on the DMR-Marc system, I know a few had PA issues and once they were repaired by moto they haven't had issues sense.

 

[Viper1-6]

They are going to use LMR-400 from the repeater to antenna???.

Yup! That is what the one company replied with in their quote! It is only going about 20-25m from repeater to antenna, but still, for the price difference, I am pressing for minimum LDF4-50.

Using LMR-400 on a repeater application will give you de-sense issues.

Oh I know, I have built a bunch of repeaters, and LMR-400 should never be used in this type of application

The XPR8400 is nothing more then two mobiles with the tx radio having bigger heat sink. According to the spec sheet the repeater should operate fine in those temperatures.

It's what I figured, BUT I want them to see that it is 2 mobiles in a box and that the SLR-5000 series repeater, being purpose built to be a repeater is a better solution.

There are plenty of xpr8400's in use at ham sites on the DMR-Marc system, I know a few had PA issues and once they were repaired by moto they haven't had issues sense.

Trying to avoid the likelihood of needing to send the repeater in to be repaired because the PA failed. IMHO a repeater should not have a PA failure unless there is issues with the duplexer/feedline/antenna. A 50w repeater should be able to go 24/7 forever @ 50w with out burning up. IMHO if there is any question as to whether it can, it is not the right equipment. I know of an old GE repeater that was dead keyed for YEARS and did not even get overly warm to the touch before it was shut off.

Better to put in a repeater, designed from the ground up to be a repeater, than a cobbled together box with a couple of mobiles in it with a bigger heat sink.

An external PA is not an option due to extra cost.

Frankly I would rather them stay analogue, and invest in Codan, but they don't have Codan kind of money. Trying to make a small-ish budget go as far as possible. With the best equipment possible.

 

[Astro Spectra]

Is the SLR really that much more expensive than the XPR? I just bought four and I didn't think so. While there's not much wrong with the '8400 the '5700 is a much better machine for the money.

 

[duggerd]

XPR8400, UHF1, External Photos, High Power:
View attachment XPR8400_UHF1_HP_extPhoto_v2.pdf

XPR8400, UHF1, Internal Photos, High Power:
View attachment XPR8400_UHF1_HP_intPhoto_v2.pdf

SLR5700, UHF, External Photos:
View attachment SLR5700_extPhoto_v2.pdf

SLR5700, UHF, Internal Photos:
View attachment SLR5700intPhoto_v2.pdf

Edit: Oops, just noticed the comment you made about these repeaters being VHF. I attached the documents for UHF repeaters, but the VHF and UHF models look pretty much identical inside. I can post the VHF versions if you want.

 

[kc2obw]

Is the SLR really that much more expensive than the XPR? I just bought four and I didn't think so. While there's not much wrong with the '8400 the '5700 is a much better machine for the money.

The 8300/8400's are not bad repeaters as long as they are not in a high RF noise environment.

 

[Viper1-6]

XPR8400, UHF1, External Photos, High Power:
View attachment 8775

XPR8400, UHF1, Internal Photos, High Power:
View attachment 8776

SLR5700, UHF, External Photos:
View attachment 8771

SLR5700, UHF, Internal Photos:
View attachment 8772

Edit: Oops, just noticed the comment you made about these repeaters being VHF. I attached the documents for UHF repeaters, but the VHF and UHF models look pretty much identical inside. I can post the VHF versions if you want.

UHF is ok. I just want to show the differences between the two. Thanks for posting them. Hopefully they will help influence the decision makers.

 

[Viper1-6]

Edit: Oops, just noticed the comment you made about these repeaters being VHF. I attached the documents for UHF repeaters, but the VHF and UHF models look pretty much identical inside. I can post the VHF versions if you want.

Note, Attachments removed for my reply.

I did not even think to search the FCC approval for pictures. I will keep this in mind when looking for internal photos in the future.

I did Google, and after three or four pages gave up.

Sorry to ask you to do what I could have easily done myself.

 

[Viper1-6]

The 8300/8400's are not bad repeaters as long as they are not in a high RF noise environment.

While the two repeaters being added will not be in a high noise environment, the upgrade to the existing one will be multi coupled to two other repeaters co-located at a 800/1900MHz HSPA/800MHz iDEN/700MHz trunk site.

 

[Astro Spectra]

You're putting effort into trying to differentiate the machines, if you're seeing a big price difference then maybe you should talk to a different dealer.

 

[Viper1-6]

You're putting effort into trying to differentiate the machines, if you're seeing a big price difference then maybe you should talk to a different dealer.

It may end up happening anyway.

Really, I want to show buying the repeater, designed to be a repeater, is money better spent than buying a cobbled together box with a couple of mobile radios and a bigger heat sink. Price is important. Longevity of the equipment is even more important.

 

[moetorola]

This is a question for the group not the OP necessarily. I try to stay out of threads that I don't consider myself somewhat of expert level. As my forte is p25 networks. Maybe I miss understood the OP.

They are also suggesting the VHF link radios(proposing XPR-4500 series to link to the existing site) can be run in digital, and be used to link the repeaters once they go full digital down the road.

"and be used to link the repeaters once they go full digital down the road."


Would this not defeat the purpose of IP site connect, IMO. And not sound very good.?

 

[Viper1-6]

This is a question for the group not the OP necessarily, I try to stay out of threads that I don't consider myself somewhat of an expert level. As my forte is p25 networks. Maybe I miss understood the OP.




"and be used to link the repeaters once they go full digital down the road."


Would this not defeat the purpose of IP site connect, IMO. And not sound very good.?

Honestly, I think this was the salesman talking out his ass. I just was doing a double check. I agree it would defeat the purpose of IPSC.

 

[com501]

For a new installation, at this point, I wouldn't even quote a customer an 8400. I suspect the 8400 will be removed from the pricebook very shortly.