Overall I find that it has a good feel, seems very well built, and performs quite well. It is slightly smaller than an HT1000 and a little bigger than an HT1250. It has the FNB-V69LI battery (7.4v 2400 mAh lithium-ion) and it lasted about 36 hours on a charge, scanning mostly, some transmitting and about 10 hours on page.
Programming:
The software does it's job, it's fairly straight forward. It does seem to be picky about too long of file names, but I'm not sure this is the software or something to do with my computer (WinXP). It just closed a couple of times when I used Save As and added what I had changed to the end of the file name. I switched to using a date_revision# naming method now.
The 2-Tone paging options only allow you to use standard codes/tones, which covers everything EXCEPT the old Federal Signal tones. Our ambulance uses a Federal tone set (i have no idea why) so I couldn't put those tones in it, but discovered that a Reach group C and a Motorola Group 11 tones worked (both about 10 Hz off). It only does a single 2-tone per channel, 10 different pairs radio wide, and group call off of either tone 1 or tone 2.
If you have more than 16 channels per group, then you have to have a channel up button. You also can have the 16 position selector knob select groups then have a channel up and channel down button. You can assign a button for the set mode which lets you change/select squelch, scan list type, beep, bell, light, lock mode, current group, scan, dual watch, talk-around, encryption, minimum volume, and beep volume. Button below the PTT (monitor by default) shares it's function with the speaker-mic button in the same place. All the buttons can be changed in the software, the button below the PTT doesn't seem to lock when in lock mode though so this should be considered when selecting a function for it.
My only complaints are the lack independent control of the beeping for functions and paging and the paging beep sound. To have it beep at you for a page, you have to have beeps on, which means it beeps when you push a button, move the selector, turn it on. Anything except PTT makes it beep. I believe this could be changed with a software and/or firmware update (theres many different beep sounds the radio can make for various things.). Firmware version is 1.33 here. It is a radio though so my pager can be used for what its made for.
The field programming is just like described in another post here, but I will add that shorting the 2 pins and holding a couple of buttons isn't the handiest thing to do. Talked to the tech we bought them from and he had talked to the district rep about that. He wasn't sure if the 2 pins could be shorted all the time, but if they can then just something simple in the cap that covers the connector when not in use should make for a simple programming key.
Rumor is that vertex has a identical looking model that has been approved by the Forest Service that programs off of the front keypad that will be available soon.
As the snow is here, I'm sure the true test will come soon. Radios skipping down the icy roads, water running off of the roof into the pocket your radio is in.
It is the season.More to come I'm sure. Feel free to ask or suggest anything.
Tom
LoL I'm not the only one saying it there though.