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.