Need to inventory iDEN Radios... need some infomation

[fullmetal297]

As you all probably know, Sprint has replaced all their Iden cabinet with more eco-friendly and smaller cabinets. I work for a recycling company (will not state the name so please don't ask) and I need to inventory the radio units. I need more information on two models: the T5417A and T5939A. I'm no expert in Telecommunications and does Motora offer any support or information. Any details of their functionality and value would be much appreciated.

[E_tron]

Those devices looks like Cellular base station gear. In the USA, your market is very limited as there are very few (only one from my count) IDEN operators: SouthernLINC. They are probably not interested, it appears they are going after GSM these days anyway.

There might be a market for them internationally if there are some IDEN operators in 3rd world countries.

Unfortunately, IDEN is pretty much at the end of the line. It's low capacity, dismal data service abilities, and Sprints abandonment of the last significant IDEN network = End of Life.

[fullmetal297]

Those devices looks like Cellular base station gear. In the USA, your market is very limited as there are very few (only one from my count) IDEN operators: SouthernLINC. They are probably not interested, it appears they are going after GSM these days anyway.

There might be a market for them internationally if there are some IDEN operators in 3rd world countries.

Unfortunately, IDEN is pretty much at the end of the line. It's low capacity, dismal data service abilities, and Sprints abandonment of the last significant IDEN network = End of Life.

The salesman that is in charge of selling the equipment says he is looking at 7 different companies in the US who he claims are still using Iden and he is shooting for them, so hearing this is quite surprising to me. Do you think it's worth the time to invest in selling them or a pointless endeavor?

[NGeorge]

The salesman that is in charge of selling the equipment says he is looking at 7 different companies in the US who he claims are still using Iden and he is shooting for them, so hearing this is quite surprising to me. Do you think it's worth the time to invest in selling them or a pointless endeavor?

There probably are 7 *tiny* companies in the US... Aside from SouthernLinc I know of is AirPeak in Southern California and ARINC which operates at the international airports to provide PTT services.

There are 5 listed on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integra...work#Operators

There's also AirTel in Canada...

Thing is, aside from SouthernLinc, I can't see any of these smaller companies buying enough equipment to make it worth your while, unless one of them really wants to go on an expansion tear.

[fullmetal297]

We have 240 cabinets with these radios units and its taken me 3 days in inventory them in detail. If what you and E_Tron is saying is correct, then I'll have to talk with my boss about it.

[Guest423]

Those devices looks like Cellular base station gear. In the USA, your market is very limited as there are very few (only one from my count) IDEN operators: SouthernLINC. They are probably not interested, it appears they are going after GSM these days anyway.

There might be a market for them internationally if there are some IDEN operators in 3rd world countries.

Unfortunately, IDEN is pretty much at the end of the line. It's low capacity, dismal data service abilities, and Sprints abandonment of the last significant IDEN network = End of Life.

SoutherLINC is still running a full service iDEN only network in their service footprint with no plans of moving towards any other tech.. The only GSM service they utilize is on the XT626, and that is using T-Mobile's GSM/UMTS network for roaming and high speed data..

[n2jtx]

Do they look something like these? These used to be installed at my church:

[Morphling27]

SoutherLINC is still running a full service iDEN only network in their service footprint with no plans of moving towards any other tech.. The only GSM service they utilize is on the XT626, and that is using T-Mobile's GSM/UMTS network for roaming and high speed data..

Also, isn't SouthernLINC basically the power companies' personal network and they happen to just sell plans to consumers too?

[hwertz]

That's what I read about SouthernLinc. But, Sprint started providing communications along train lines. Both expanded service beyond their beginnings.

Other purchasers of iden are probably not selling to the public but rather run private iden networks.

Sent from my SCH-I405 using HowardForums

[Guest423]

Also, isn't SouthernLINC basically the power companies' personal network and they happen to just sell plans to consumers too?

Yea it's SouthernCompany utilities, they built it to have reliable communications between power workers on the front line and just resell to mainly public safety and businesses for direct connect. It's the ONLY reliable DC solution we have down here, and us southerners love walkie talkie.

Besides it was the only reliable network during storms here..

[fullmetal297]

Do they look something like these? These used to be installed at my church:

Yeah they look exactly like them

[Morphling27]

Yea it's SouthernCompany utilities, they built it to have reliable communications between power workers on the front line and just resell to mainly public safety and businesses for direct connect. It's the ONLY reliable DC solution we have down here, and us southerners love walkie talkie.

Besides it was the only reliable network during storms here..

I don't doubt it. I didn't know walkie talkie was important there. I only knew a handful of people who used Nextel regularly with the ptt. My old security job at the Hilton had a bunch of nextel phones, but it was very silly, as we had our own walkie talkies with repeaters throughout the property that worked way better than a nextel phone.

[SDC_01]

I don't doubt it. I didn't know walkie talkie was important there. I only knew a handful of people who used Nextel regularly with the ptt. My old security job at the Hilton had a bunch of nextel phones, but it was very silly, as we had our own walkie talkies with repeaters throughout the property that worked way better than a nextel phone.

Maybe your in-building Hilton WT's (walkie talkies) worked better because if the in-building antennas, but as soon as you get a block away, I'm guessing your Hilton WTs lost signal. The point of Nextel was its nationwide & multi-country coverage. I'm betting your Hilton WTs in the US had a little trouble connecting to the Hiltons in say, Canada or Peru, much less connecting with them in under a second ;-)

Had Hilton chosen to, they could have paid to have Nextel install in-building iDEN antennas, then your one Nextel phone could be just as effective in-building as the Hilton WTs, as well as PTT across the US, a decent amount in Canada, and many of the Latin American countries. All with one small, handy device that could also make full-duplex voice calls and text. Personally, I'd much rather carry a single, multi-talented device than two not-as-capable devices. Nextel phones (and now, albeit to a lesser degree, Sprint Direct Connect phones), filled that need extremely well.

[Morphling27]

Maybe your in-building Hilton WT's (walkie talkies) worked better because if the in-building antennas, but as soon as you get a block away, I'm guessing your Hilton WTs lost signal. The point of Nextel was its nationwide & multi-country coverage. I'm betting your Hilton WTs in the US had a little trouble connecting to the Hiltons in say, Canada or Peru, much less connecting with them in under a second ;-)

Had Hilton chosen to, they could have paid to have Nextel install in-building iDEN antennas, then your one Nextel phone could be just as effective in-building as the Hilton WTs, as well as PTT across the US, a decent amount in Canada, and many of the Latin American countries. All with one small, handy device that could also make full-duplex voice calls and text. Personally, I'd much rather carry a single, multi-talented device than two not-as-capable devices. Nextel phones (and now, albeit to a lesser degree, Sprint Direct Connect phones), filled that need extremely well.

I had a boost phone for a couple of years and did use the Nextels at work when I'd leave - I don't doubt how good PTT was. I just found it silly the Hilton wasted a bunch of money on the Nextel and walkie talkies when one or the other would have worked - we didn't need both and given the walkie talkie had repeaters, it worked very well compared to the standard iDen network for the city.

[MTS2000]

SoutherLINC is still running a full service iDEN only network in their service footprint with no plans of moving towards any other tech.. The only GSM service they utilize is on the XT626, and that is using T-Mobile's GSM/UMTS network for roaming and high speed data..

Actually SoCo's long term plans is to migrate to TETRA by 2015/2016. Several utilities in Georgia are already deploying TETRA networks on the UHF (450-470MHz) band right now (Cobb EMC is one in Metro Atlanta). TETRA is very similar in structure to iDEN except it is an ETSI standard, recently approved for use in the USA. SoCo knows the writing is on the wall, they first deployed iDEN on their existing 800MHz Motorola type II analog trunking channels back in 1994, back then analog trunking was king but it had severe capacity limitations.

They can easily sell their 800MHz ESMR licenses to recoup some of the costs, they already have the needed UHF part 90 licenses to construct their TETRA network, and at a board of directors meeting in 2012 it was approved and a project manager assigned. UHF requires fewer sites, and is free from any interference issues with public safety (around here public safety abandoned UHF channels for 700/800MHz years ago), and can get greater coverage with fewer sites.

So, to the OP who is sitting on the iDEN antiques, sell them while you can as fast as you can. You may have to go international with it, iDEN is still heavily used in central and South America, and in Israel (MIRS). Motorola Solutions (not Mobility) provides support for iDEN products, and word on the street is they will be ending support for all of it within the next 24 months. iDEN is going the way of their past LMR trunking systems like Privacy Plus, Smartnet, Startsite, etc.

They are being replaced with TETRA (large scale) and MotoTRBO (smaller scale) LMR technologies.