Motorola RMU2080d 2-Way 8CH Display UHF Business Radio

The d in RMU2080d is the display. Motorola gives this model an eight-character alphanumeric screen, four programmable buttons where the rest of the series has two, and the same separate channel selector knob.

The screen is what makes channel aliasing worth having. Each channel can be given a name a crew actually recognizes, so the radio reads Loading Dock rather than Channel 3. On the non-display models Motorola solves the same problem with spoken channel announcements, which works, but a supervisor reassigning channels mid-shift would rather read a list than listen to one.

Everything under the screen is standard RM Series: eight channels on 450 to 470 MHz at 12.5 kHz, 2 watts high and 1 watt low, up to 250,000 square feet or 20 floors of coverage subject to terrain and conditions, and up to 15 hours on a charge with battery save on. Because it has a channel selector knob, channel position 8 arrives configured from the factory for NOAA Weather Radio, with weather alert monitoring available.

The display costs a little weight. Motorola lists this model at 9 oz (256 g) with the standard Li-Ion battery against 8.6 oz for the RMU2080, in the same 4.5 by 2.2 by 1.6 in body. Sealing is IP55 and the radio is tested to Military Standard 810 C through G. The antimicrobial housing coating carries Motorola's own caveat that it does not protect users against bacteria, viruses or other disease organisms.

Supplied as the standard RM package: radio, Li-Ion battery, holster with swivel belt clip, drop-in charging tray with power supply and the user guide.

Who it is for

The RMU2080d is the RM series UHF radio for a supervisor or a site that names its channels: the display shows a channel alias, and four programmable buttons replace the two on the non-display models. 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: 9 oz (256 g) with the standard Li-Ion battery; 9.1 oz (259 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: RMU2080d. The rest of the RM series: RMU2040 (four-channel UHF), RMU2080 (eight-channel UHF), RMV2080 (eight-channel VHF), RMM2050 (five-channel MURS, licence-free). See CMI's RM series collection, Motorola collection and business radio collection.