Motorola RDX Series Portable Radios Review

Motorola is one of the nation's leaders in communications systems, and one of their newest lines of portable radios is the Motorola RDX Series.  With many improvements over previous Motorola models and features that its competitors do not have, the RDX Series has become very popular with users.

One of the key features of the RDX radios that appeals to first responders is their durability.  They are military spec approved for shock, dust, vibration and the intrusion of salt, fog and water.  According to Russ Nelbert of Astra Communications, an official Motorola dealer, "What Motorola does to test these radios to bring them up to the mil spec approval is we actually put them in chambers, and for example we'll put them in an enclosed chamber and we rotate the radio on every axis, at the same time spraying water at it at 35 mph.  We leave it in that chamber for 15 minutes.  It has to come out totally dry."

The RDX series of radios also improves audio quality.  They boast a 2000 mW audio output chip, as opposed to a 500 mW output chip, which is standard among all other radios, according to Nelbert. It is available in multiple configurations from a 2 watt radio to a 4 watt - 16 channel radio.  It is repeater compatible and can connect to multiple headsets if needed.

The Motorola RDX radios use lithium ion batteries, which give them a longer battery life than other models.  One charge can last between 14 and 22 hours.  Motorola also offers an optional battery pack that uses 5 AA alkaline batteries, giving first responders an alternative method of keeping their radios powered when in an emergency situation where a power source is not available for charging.  The radios can last for 32 hours using the alkaline batteries, and underscoring the importance of this to first responders, Nelbert says, "When some of the others out there are dead in the water, so to speak, due to lack of charge, we keep going, and that's an important feature."

One of the features that firefighters and paramedics tend to enjoy about the Motorola RDX Series radios is their compact size.  These radios are approximately 20% lighter than other radios, making them easier to carry.

For more information on the Motorola RDX Series portable radios, visit www.motorola.com/rdx.