Motorola SL300 VHF 2-3 W 99-Channel Display Two-Way Business Radio

The SL300 is Motorola's slim portable, designed to be worn without showing. A stubby antenna and a curved body keep it flat against the wearer rather than snagging or bulging, which is the whole reason a front of house or retail site chooses it over a conventional radio.

Key specifications

• Color: Black.
• Use: Slim, discreet professional communication for hospitality, retail, facilities and mobile teams.
• Frequency: VHF 136–174 MHz.
• Channel capacity: 99 channels on this display model.
• Operating modes: Analog FM and MOTOTRBO DMR digital.
• Coverage: Site-dependent and affected by terrain, buildings, antenna, programming and repeater design.

This model carries 99 channels on 136 to 174 MHz. The Active View display uses a matrix that stays readable rather than a fixed icon set, and channel fast toggle moves through the list quickly.

Motorola specifies a 2,300 mAh Li-Ion pack giving up to 14 hours digital and 11.8 hours analog on this display model at a 5/5/90 duty cycle, with the note that observed runtime varies. The radio measures 4.95 x 2.17 x 0.87 inches and weighs 5.96 oz (168.9 g) with battery.

Channel fast toggle lets a user scroll ten channels at a time, which is what makes a 99 channel radio usable by hand rather than only through programming software.

Who it is for

The SL300 is for people who have to carry a radio all day without it showing or snagging: front of house, retail, hospitality, schools and event staff. At under an inch thick it rides in a pocket or purse, and the side volume control, dedicated power button, prominent push-to-talk and top channel toggle are laid out for one hand. It works on analog and DMR digital channels at the same time, so it drops into an existing analog fleet and keeps working as the site moves to digital. This SKU is the VHF 99-channel display model, with the Active View display, a matrix of LEDs behind the housing that shows radio information, and channel fast toggle to move through the list ten channels at a time. VHF suits open outdoor areas; read UHF vs VHF two-way radios if the band is still open, and analog vs digital two-way radios for what digital changes.

Size, weight and battery

• Size: 4.95 x 2.17 x 0.87 in (125.7 x 55.0 x 22.0 mm).
• Weight: 5.96 oz (168.9 g) with battery.
• Battery: 2300 mAh Li-Ion; Motorola rates this display model at 14 hours digital or 11.8 hours analog on a 5/5/90 duty cycle with the transmitter in high power, and notes that observed runtime varies.
• Power and band: 3 W digital or 2 W analog high power with Range Max, 1 W low, on VHF 136 to 174 MHz; 12.5 kHz channel spacing (25 kHz is not available in the United States). Motorola rates the 3 W digital radio with Range Max as equivalent in communication performance to most 4 W digital radios.
• Channels: 99 channels on this display model.
• Protection: IP54 for dust and water; MIL-STD 810C, D, E, F and G; operating temperature -30 C to +60 C; proven in Motorola's Accelerated Life Test against a simulated five years of hard service.

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: M14. Motorola's SL300 data sheet names these accessories, and these two are on CMI's site: the PMLN7189 swivel earpiece with in-line microphone and push-to-talk and the PMLN7158 1-wire surveillance kit with in-line microphone and push-to-talk. The PMNN4468 2300 mAh battery, the PMLN7109 single-unit and PMLN7101 six-pocket chargers, the stubby antennas and the carry accessories are not listed online; ask CMI by part number.

Part number

CMI part number: SL300-V-SC-99. The same band with 2 channels and no display is the Motorola SL300 VHF 2-3 W 2-Channel Non-Display Two-Way Business Radio. See CMI's Motorola collection and business radio collection.