Motorola T9500XLR 25-Mile 2-Way Radio Pair by Motorola
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Digital camera reviews of Motorola T9500XLR 25-Mile 2-Way Radio Pair
Digital camera Review: Test of Motorola T9500XLR 2 Way Radios
Summary: 3 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
We have been testing these T9500XLR 2 way radios from Motorola for 2 weeks now from my law office in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. This review is based on those tests. Bottom line is we award 3 stars.
I start with range. The longest range we could get for these units in downtown Louisville was just over 2 miles. Anything over 2 miles and the transmission quality was seriously degraded (breaking up, etc). To get the 2 mile range downtown we used 1 of the GMRS (not FRS) channels. Channels 1 thru 14 are FRS (Family Radio Service) channels and you will never get any serious range on an FRS channel as federal law limits broadcast power on those channels (1 thru 14) to just 1/2 watt. No FCC license is required to use an FRS channel. The GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) channels are channels 15 thru 22. The units use their maximum broadcast power on these GMRS channels, which do require an FCC license to use (yes I have one, they cost $85 for a 5 year license). We got our maximum range using GMRS channel 16, with interferance code 52 and QT (Quiet Technology) turned on. Another trick with these units is that you must press the transmit (PTT) button down from the top not the bottom to get max range (this push to talk button is actually a rocker switch, and if you push it from bottom you are telling the unit to use low power to save batteries, pushing from top tells the unit to use high power). Although all manufacturers overstate range on these types of products, I suspect that many of the range complaints in other reviews actually result from users not knowing the tricks to get maximum range (e.g., use a GMRS channel, not an FRS channel, have QT on, push talk button from top not bottom, and have both units keyed to the same interference code (codes higher than 38 are digital, we used 52).
We were actually impressed to get slightly over a 2 mile range in downtown Louisville as most other units we have tested over the years have gotten only 2 to 4 blocks. We are pleased with the range given the environment (multiple skyscrapers, metal buildings etc).
We were not pleased with the speaker quality. We found it average, not as bad as some other reviewers, but certainly nothing to brag about. The units do have an earphone jack and we recommend you use it if in normal to noisey environments. Battery life between charges is close to what Motorola claims.
Two things we did not like are the fragile (cheap plastic) nature of these things and the belt clips. Drop one on a sidewalk and you can probably kiss it goodbye. As for belt clips, we had difficulty once on getting them unfastened. I would recommend these for purchase not because they are great, but because they are better than over half we have tested over the years. For communication between office buildings a few blocks apart these are your answer. There are better and worse units available.
Digital camera Review: They are OK
Summary: 3 Stars
I have purchased Motorola 2-way radios in the past to use in our place of business. Because it was time to replace the radios, I read the reviews and purchased these.
The biggest problem I have with the radios is the lack of clarity. It is very difficult to understand what anyone says.
They hold a charge nicely, and seem to be sturdy, but if you can't understand what someone says, they don't seem to stand up to the hype.
Digital camera Review: Turn down you volumn
Summary: 5 Stars
Used the Motorola two-way radios on a 2000 mile road trip - great communications with day long battery life and swapping in AA Batteries did not decrease range of quality of transmissions. Great radios - a good buy at a great price.Digital camera Review: Very Poor Audio. Design Flaw Has Voice "cut out"
Summary: 2 Stars
WARNING! DO NOT BUY THESE RADIOS!!!
I have alot of experience with two way radios. I live and work in the mountains of Montana and I know the limits and quirks of most types and brands of 2-way radios. I've had no less than a dozen or so models going all the way back to when Uniden had the top of the line with the 5 mile rangers. Anyway, I feel pretty confident that these radios have a serious design flaw whith the symptom of a sporadic cutout of the voice while talking. Its slight but very noticable with regular use. I feel personally that it may be a frequency thing but can't be certain. In addition, the sound of the audio is HORRIBLE! I was willing to overlook the sound quality in exchange for range but it simply isn't worth it. The sound is so bad that it strikes me that maybe Motorola should recall this product. It a serious dissapointment from a company who's name typically means quality. These may be the worst radio's I have ever owned. Sorry folks, this pair of radios are not worth the box they're shipped in.
Digital camera Review: Very disapointed!
Summary: 2 Stars
The Motorola 9500 was strongly recommended. However the set that I received turned out to be a piece of junk. Very poor voice clarity and quality. We depend on our talkabouts for car to car close range communications and boat to boat line of sight communication both of which were very poor, to the point of just not using them, which put us in a very unsafe position at times. I did call Motorola and was informed that I was past the warranty time and they would do nothing. My recommendation is to buy a set of Midland 900 or 950s and have a quality set of communicators.