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XPR7550 antenna socket - FM / IS radio has ground connection???

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g8tzl2004

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The "standard" XPR7550 radio does not have a ground connection so you cannot connect an external antenna :(

However, I read somewhere that the XPR7350 "Factory Mutual" / IS radios which are used in hazardous environments uses an SMA antenna socket which has a ground connection..in Europe these are the "blue" radios.

Is this true?

If so, is it possible to fit the FM / IS XPR7350 SMA antenna assembly into an XPR7550 so that you can connect an external antenna to an XPR7550?

Search on PMAD4132 for the wideband VHF antenna for the DP4800 ATEX/ IEC EX radio - the Euro / Australian equivalent of the IS/FM version of the XPR7550.
 
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N4KVE

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I used to wonder about this too, & originally was disappointed the 7550 did not come with the common SMA socket. However, there are so many local DMR repeaters here in South Florida, I've never had the need to use an external antenna, plus I installed a mobile radio in my car. It seems the blue 7550IS is twice the price of the 7550, so it has become a non issue. Both the normal length, & stubby antennas work extremely well on my 7550, & 3500, so that's no reason to change. At this point, if I was told the IS socket was $5, & the swap was simple, I wouldn't even bother with it. GARY
 
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g8tzl2004

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I wonder who at Motorola thought it was a good idea to use the "no ground" stud antenna socket for the standard XPR7550 and an SMA for the IS version. It must make manufacturing more difficult. In fact having the lightweight "service" antenna connector on the standard XPR7550 as well as the stud is probably more complicated than just a simple SMA...maybe Moto makes more money by selling the service cable :)
 
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N4KVE

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g8tzl2004 said:
maybe Moto makes more money by selling the service cable :)
Click to expand...
They get hundred's for the cable. That same connector was used on the MX, Saber, & others. Maybe for some reason they decided to go back to that style. Who knows what corporate America decides? After working for GM for almost 30 years, I could bore you for hours with questions like "why did they do that"? After making reliable window regulators for decades, they went to a new wire design with a 80% failure rate. Who are we to question them? LOL.
 
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