It gets scary when the manuals weigh more than the radio. I have an out of the box SDR radio up and running right now (don't ask what one, it ain't supposed to be here), the complexity of just the software (and the fact I have to run Windows) is a bit tiring. I actually had someone over here to figure out the controls on the radio, it baffled him too. The performance is good, not great but good and my next SDR will not be a out of the box radio with it geared toward taking advantage of the technology.
All the companies I've ever work for have only use the highest quality radios and antennas that they can find at a garage sale. No need to tune them, just throw them in the truck and they work perfect. On a good day I can reach about 4 blocks but most of the time I can reach anywhere from 5 to 6 truck lengths in front and behind me. I don't know what my bosses secret is. I guess he just knows where the best garage sales are to buy 1970s 23 channel radios.
I have been involved with Motorola product since about 1982 or so, my first Moto radio was a Mocom 70, and then a Maxar 80, I been programing radios since the Mostar trunked radios, I actually have an old XT PC for programing some of the older stuff. The newer digital radios I have to drop by a friend of mine to program I dont have the software for them. I like the TYT radio but it is certainly not heavy duty by my opinion. Looking into an ICOM trying to decide if I like the format.
They are definitely good radios. I have a friend that works for a communication company here in town. and while back a farmer traded in a bunch of his older Motorola mobile radios for the new digital line. My friend reprogrammed one for me with several of the 2 meter repeaters, in it, and gave it to me. You got to love the old heavy snake killing microphone.
