Motorola RMU2080 Two Way 8 CH UHF NOAA Business Radio

Two things separate the RMU2080 from the four-channel RMU2040: it carries eight channels instead of four, and it has a proper channel selector knob on top. The knob matters more than the channel count on a busy site, because a channel can be changed by feel with the radio still on the belt.

The knob also brings the weather feature with it. Motorola's user guide states that channel position 8 on all RM Series radios with a channel selector knob is configured at the factory for NOAA Weather Radio, which broadcasts continuously from the nearest National Weather Service office on seven national frequencies between 162.400 and 162.550 MHz. With weather alert enabled the radio mutes the routine forecast and listens for a Warning Alarm Tone, then unmutes to pass the warning through even while the radio is set to an ordinary two-way channel. That behavior can be reconfigured or switched off in the programming software.

Radio side: 450 to 470 MHz, 12.5 kHz channels, 2 watts high and 1 watt low, 1500 mW of audio and receiver sensitivity of -122 dBm at 12 dB SINAD. Motorola quotes coverage of up to 250,000 square feet or 20 floors and notes it varies with terrain and conditions. A charge lasts up to 15 hours at a 5/5/90 duty cycle with battery save on.

It is sealed to IP55, tested to Military Standard 810 C through G, rated -30 C to +60 C, and weighs 8.6 oz (244 g) with the standard battery. The housing carries an antimicrobial coating that Motorola is careful to say does not protect users against bacteria, viruses or other disease organisms.

In the box: radio, Li-Ion battery, carry holster with swivel belt clip, drop-in charging tray with power supply and the user guide. Settings copy between RM radios, and between RM and RDX radios, over the HKKN4028 cloning cable or through the multi-unit charger.

Who it is for

The RMU2080 is the eight-channel RM series UHF radio with a channel selector knob, for a site that runs several crews or departments and wants NOAA weather alerts on the same radio. UHF suits buildings and built-up sites; read UHF vs VHF two-way radios if the band choice is still open.

Size, weight and battery

• Size: 4.5 x 2.2 x 1.6 in (115.6 x 57.6 x 40.5 mm) with either battery.
• Weight: 8.6 oz (244 g) with the standard Li-Ion battery; 8.7 oz (247 g) with the high-capacity battery.
• Battery life: up to 15 hours with battery save on, or up to 12 hours without, on the standard 2150 mAh Li-Ion battery at a 5/5/90 duty cycle; a 3200 mAh high-capacity battery is available.
• Power and band: 2 W high and 1 W low on UHF 450 to 470 MHz, 8 channels, 12.5 kHz channel spacing.
• Audio: 1500 mW.
• Coverage: Motorola quotes up to 250,000 square feet or 20 floors, varying with terrain, conditions and the radio model.
• Protection: IP55, tested to Military Standard 810 C through G and to Motorola's accelerated life test simulating up to 5 years of field use; operating temperature -22 F to 140 F (-30 C to +60 C).

Licence

This radio operates on licensed business frequencies. An FCC business radio licence (Part 90) is required to transmit; CMI can point you at the process when you order.

Accessories that fit

CMI connector code: MA. Motorola's RM series user guide lists these as authorised accessories: the HKLN4599 earpiece with PTT and microphone, the HKLN4601 surveillance earpiece, the HKLN4604 swivel earpiece, the HKLN4606 remote speaker microphone, the PMNN4434 standard battery and PMNN4453 3200 mAh high-capacity battery, the HKLN4510 swivel holster, the PMLN6394 single-unit charger kit, the PMLN6384 six-unit multi-unit charger, the HKKN4028 cloning cable and the HKKN4027 programming cable. Motorola also states that RDX series audio accessories can be reused on the RM series.

Part number

CMI part number: RMU2080. The rest of the RM series: RMU2040 (four-channel UHF), RMU2080d (eight-channel UHF with a display), RMV2080 (eight-channel VHF), RMM2050 (five-channel MURS, licence-free). See CMI's RM series collection, Motorola collection and business radio collection.