Tag Archives: hamradio

Motorola MOTOTRBO XPR7550 Portable Radio Review

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VA3XPR Motorola MOTOTRBO XPR7550 DMR Digital Mobile Radio Portable HT amateur ham Toronto

Motorola MOTOTRBO XPR7550 DMR Portable Radio

REVIEW DATE: June 16, 2013
REVIEWED BY: Don Trynor, VA3XFT

SUMMARY

The XPR7550 is one latest additions to Motorola’s MOTOTRBO line of Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) TDMA radios, featuring best in class audio, integrated GPS, a multicolour LCD display, plus much more. This is a excellent single band radio for amateur radio use on the 2m and 70cm bands, as it is feature rich, durable and likely to more than satisfy even the most demanding user. At the time of this review, the “ham friendly” pricing for a new XPR7550 from a Motorola dealer was $700US.

EDITORS’ RATING
Excellent


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On-Air Hangout

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VA3XPR analog FM repeater Toronto hang out on air net Ontario ham radio amateur

Anyone wanna hang out on the radio for a bit on May 29th @ 8:00pm? We are hams after all and we need reasons to use our beloved equipment!

This will be come as you may, leave when you want, whatever goes event. Got a technical question? Want to meet up with others to chit chat? Need a radio test? This will be the perfect time.

Please note that this is not a net and we will simply pass the conversation around to anyone that joins in.

Cheers!

Don, VA3XFT

VA3XPR Launches Improved Analog FM Repeater

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VA3XPR analog FM repeater Toronto Ontario ham amateur radio Motorola MOTOTRBO XPR8400 UHF

The VA3XPR repeater duo, featuring Motorola MOTOTRBO XPR8400 commercial grade hardware. Shown is the analog FM repeater on the top and the digital DMR repeater on the bottom.

Great news, Toronto! The VA3XPR analog FM repeater is back on the air after a hardware failure on April 19, 2013, which rendered it inoperative. The new analog FM repeater, which is a Motorola XPR8400, is a 100% duty cycle commercial grade repeater, that will offer a number of benefits over the previous unit:

  • Improved receive sensitivity, allowing it to hear weaker signals than before, thereby extending it’s usable range;
  • Improved audio quality, making for crystal clear conversations.

Since this new repeater uses Motorola’s latest repeater technology, it is capable of being remotely programmed and monitored over the Internet, allowing a great deal of flexibility for on-going maintenance.

“This is a welcomed addition to the St. Jamestown community”, said Don Trynor, VA3XFT, the repeater’s sponsor. “By having a high quality, commercial grade repeater, amateur radio operators in St. Jamestown and adjacent neighbourhoods will have a reliable means to communicate with one another and Toronto will have a reliable means of communication in the downtown area in the event of an emergency or natural disaster” Trynor added.

As always, the VA3XPR repeater is open for all amateur radio operators to use and any activities that help the local community, promote education & learning or the growth of amateur radio are highly encouraged.

To access the VA3XPR analog FM repeater, enter the following details into your FM radio:

Frequency: 441.950 MHz
Offset: +5.0 MHz
PL Tone: 100.0 Hz

For more information about the analog FM repeater, please check out the Analog FM Repeater Page.

DMR Coverage Expands in Toronto

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VE3URU Chris VE3BNI Toronto Ballantrae amateur radio repeater DMR Mototrbo Motorola VA3XPR

Toronto just got larger folks! As on May 22, 2013, a new Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) repeater came on the air under the call sign VE3URU from the community of Ballantrae, ON, which is about 25 km north of the City of Toronto. This new repeater, which is owned by Chris Gaylor, VE3BNI, will improve DMR coverage in the north end of Toronto and also, extend DMR coverage to areas north of Barrie, ON. In addition the VE3URU DMR repeater will be linked via it’s local talkgroup with VE3BNI in Milton and VA3XPR in Toronto, thereby increasing the local talkgroup coverage area in the greater Toronto area.

To access the VE3URU DMR repeater, enter the following details into your DMR radio:

Frequency: 443.3875 MHz
Offset: +5.0 MHz
Colour Code: 1

For more information about DMR, please check out the VA3XPR Digital DMR Repeater Page.

VA3XPR Supports The 2013 Walk So Kids Can Talk

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Kids Help Phone VA3XPR 2013 Walk So Kids Can Talk Toronto amateur radio ham repeater

The VA3XPR repeater sponsor, Don, VA3XFT, is supporting the 2013 Walk so Kids Can Talk fundraiser for the Kids Help Phone, Canada’s only toll-free, 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous phone counseling, web counseling and referral service for children and youth. Walk so Kids Can Talk is Canada’s largest walk in support of child and youth mental health and well-being. Funds raised by Walk participants go to help kids in over 2,500 communities across Canada.

All cash donations to the VA3XPR repeater received over the past 12 months will be donated to the Kids Help Phone. If you enjoy using the VA3XPR repeater, then please consider a pledge so that kids have a place to turn when they need someone.

Pledge Button v2