Motorola RMV2080 Two Way 8 CH VHF NOAA Business Radio

The RMV2080 is the RM Series radio for VHF sites. Motorola specifies it at 150.8 to 160 MHz across eight channels, against the 450 to 470 MHz of the UHF models, and everything else about the radio is the same platform.

Band choice is the decision to get right before anything else, because it cannot be changed later and a VHF radio will not talk to a UHF one. As a rule of thumb VHF suits open ground, yards, farms and outdoor sites, while UHF penetrates steel, concrete and multi-storey interiors better. Anyone adding to an existing fleet should simply match what is already in service.

Eight channels means a selector knob, and the knob brings NOAA Weather Radio on channel position 8 from the factory per Motorola's user guide, tuned across the seven national frequencies from 162.400 to 162.550 MHz with weather alert monitoring available.

Output is 2 watts high and 1 watt low. Motorola quotes up to 250,000 square feet or 20 floors of coverage with the usual qualification about terrain and conditions, and up to 15 hours of run time per charge with battery save on. The VHF model weighs 8.9 oz (252 g) with the standard Li-Ion battery, marginally more than its UHF counterpart, in the same 4.5 by 2.2 by 1.6 in case. Sealing is IP55, testing is to Military Standard 810 C through G, and the operating range is -30 C to +60 C. Motorola's antimicrobial housing coating comes with the company's own note that it does not protect users against bacteria, viruses or other disease organisms.

Package contents are the RM Series standard: radio, Li-Ion battery, holster with swivel belt clip, drop-in charging tray with power supply and the user guide.