DP1400, NX-1300 & PD405 – Radiotronics UK Blog (2024)

In this week’s article we take a look at some of our most popular affordable two way radios as we compare their features and benefits.

Wewill be taking a look at the Motorola DP1400, Kenwood NX-1300 and Hytera PD405two way radios. Each radio can claim high brand appeal and feature industry standard technology, most importantly all three radios are simply designed and easy to use which offer businesses fuss free communication solutions.

Motorola DP1400

Our first Radio is by Motorola Solutions, the company whichhas been around for a lifetime is the oldest and largest two way radio manufacturer worldwide. The company uses the full reach of its brand power to offer business customers a wide range of radio communications and support.

The DP1400 is an analogue first radio, meaning that it works on a analogue frequency but if you require your radio to work on a digital frequency you can upgrade and programme it to do so. It has use of up to 32 channels perfect for a medium to large business and is supplied with a 1400mAh NiMH battery that can last up to 14 hours of operation.

It’s non display, simple and ergonomic black box design enhances usability making it unlikely to fall out of hands; and is finished with a textured casing for increased grip.

The DP1400 measures (H)128mm x (W)64mm x (D)42mm and weighs 406g, it is the largest radio featured in our study. With an Ingress Protection of IP54, the DP1400 is dust and water resistant and passes an impressive 11 of the MLD-STD 810 environmental tests. These ratings enable the DP1400 to work well in heavy duty environments such as construction sites, farms and warehouses.

The DP1400 uses digital cancelling software to soften background noise, this advanced feature increases audio clarity to when working in loud environments. With VOX enablement the DP1400 has the potential for hands free operation when used with compatible headsets, this features makes it possible to carry out physical work whilst being able to transmit.

The DP1400 offers other advanced features including Lone Worker, this is a simple yet important safety feature whereby the radio creates a call and the radio user has to responded to it – if the call isn’t responded to the radio sends out an alarm to other radios within the fleet to investigate.

Transmit interrupt is another highly useful feature on the DP1400 that enables a high priority transmission to take priority across radio frequency, if required transmit interrupt can override standard priority transmissions. This would enable senior staff make important announcements to the team or call for an evacuation in the event of a incident.

At the time of writing (26/05/2021) theMotorola DP1400 retails on the Radiotronics website from £104.50 Ex VAT and is the cheapest radio featured in the study. Business users may end up buying the DP1400 to start off as an entry level radio but commonly end up using itintheir business for a long time.The reason for this is because it is easy to use,dependable and has an extremely professional performance.

DP1400 Accessories

When purchasing the DP1400 from Radiotronics, please check on our website for a full list of our extensive DP1400 range of accessories. Detailed in the table are a collection of accessories compatible with the DP1400.

Kenwood NX1300

Next up is the Kenwood NX-1300two way radio, Kenwood Communications is a well established Japanesemanufacturing firm who design and produceradio and tele communications. The Kenwood brand has built up a strong following and are leaders within the two way radio market.

The NX-1300is a great example of a mid-tier business radio. It offers customers an easy to operate, affordable radio that is still capable of operating at a high level of performance.

The Kenwood NX-1300 is a UHF only radio, that can work on an analogue or digital frequency. Its non display black box design, is simple yet elegant that offers a contemporary and modern feel. It’s simple design gives radio users an easy to operate two way radio, there’s a PTT for quick communication and two adjustable knobs on the top of the radio for channel selecting and volume adjusting. Weighing 290g and measuring (H)123mm x (W)54mm x (D)33.5mm, the NX-1300 is the middle sized radio featured in the blog and not much heavier than the lightest. The NX-1300offers radio users a smart and easy to carry communication tool, which doesn’t overly strain radio users.

The NX-1300 two way radio offers businesses use of up to 64 channels over 4 zones, which is more than enough for any medium to large business requiring across department communication. The NX-1300 is supplied with a 2000mAh Li Ion battery and can operate up to 14.5 hours when using the 5x5x90 duty cycle.

The NX-1300 has an impressive Ingress Protection of IP55 meaning that it is water and dust resistant. The NX-1300 also passes 5 of the MLD STD 810 environmental tests, meaning that it is built rugged and safe for use within heavy duty areas.

The NX-1300 provides excellent audio quality for radio users, with the Kenwood’s TX/RX audio profile and digital processor users can transmit and receive clearer audio. The NX-1300 has a noise suppressor feature which helps to reduce background noise for better audio clarity, as well as having a microphone type setting whereby users can alter microphone sensitivity depending on the environment. All these features create an enhanced audio ability that enables the NX-1300 to perform well within loud, machine operated and crowded places.

TDMA is an advanced feature on the NX-1300 that enables radio users to split a channel, with TDMA users can have separate communication lines shared by the same channel frequency. This advanced feature enables the NX-1300 to expand its communication potential even more.

The NX-1300 comes with VOX enablement, and like the Motorola radio it can operate hands free if required. This advanced feature is helpful for any job that requires constant use of hands, such as engineering, forklift driving and heavy lifting.

More advanced features such as Lone Worker and Transmit Interrupt are also featured on the NX-1300 radio, these safety features help users carry out their duties with confidence and are valuable functions on any radio.

Currently the KenwoodNX-1300 two way radio retails from £135.00 Ex VAT on the Radiotronics website (26/05/2021),this is the most expensive radio featured in this blog. Nevertheless the NX-1300is stillgreat example of a mid tier business radio as it offers customers an easy to operate, yet high performing radio that is affordable for most businesses.

If a VHF version of this radio is required, the Kenwood NX-1200 has the exact same features as the NX-1300.

NX-1300 Accessories

When purchasing the NX-1300 from Radiotronics, please check on our website for a full list of our extensive NX-1300 range of accessories. Detailed in the table are a collection of accessories compatible with the NX-1300.

Hytera PD405

Our third and final radio is the Hytera PD405, this time we’re travelling to China and looking at a radio from the youngest radio manufacturing giant in our study. Founded in the early 90’s Hytera has earned a huge market stake in radio communications in only a short time, having the ability to keep up with competitive manufacturing and pricing.

Hytera’s PD405 VHF/UHF two way radio can work on an analogue or digital frequency, allowing businesses their choice frequency and the option to start on analogue and switch to digital if they so wish. The PD405 is capable of transmitting across 32 channels which like the Motorola easily enables medium to large businesses the means for proficient communication.

The radio has a clean, slimline design that enables users quick and easy use. The PTT is easily detectable due to its large button size and orange rubber lining, making the PTT stand out both visually and through touch. Weighing 270g and measuring only (H)112mm x (W)54mm x (D)28mm, the PD405 radio is the lightest and smallest radio featured in today’s study and offers radio users an easy to carry, low strain radio that can be carried for a long time without causing much discomfort.

The PD405 comes with a 1500mAh Li Ion battery that can last up to 16 hours of operation, when using the standardise 5x5x90 duty cycle. Ruggedly built to work within more tougher conditions, the PD405 has an IP55 rating making it water and dust resistant as well as passing 5 of the MLD-STD 810 environmental tests.

The advanced VOX enablement feature is included on the PD405, meaning users can transmit through voice activation allowing users the ability to carry out work whilst in communication. Other features such as channel scanning is also included on the PD405 this is a common feature that enable radios to scan for active channels.

As of today (26/05/2021) the PD405 currently retails on the Radiotronics website from £123.90 Ex VAT, the PD405 is affordable for most businesses and offers customers a compact, durable and easy to use radio for a business.

PD405 Accessories

Comparative Table

Check through the table for a more direct comparison between the featured radios.

Note: Prices are correct at the time of publishing (26/05/2021), overtime prices may change.

Please Note: Warranty may be eligible for upgrade, please enquire on the Radiotronics website for more information about exact warranty policies.

Please Note: Battery life is typical for the standardised battery included with the radio, there are options on our website to upgrade to a higher powered battery which will increase operation time.

The results

Collectively all three radios offer businesses easy to operate, affordable yet high performing two way radios, but have we found a winner?

In my opinion, no as each radio are excellent and all offer the users slightly different solutions.

The Motorola DP1400 is the dependable ultra-affordable, ruggedly built radio made to endure in most environments. The DP1400 comes with several advanced features, one that stands out is the Transmit Interruptwhich allows priority transmissionamongst enabled radio users, this feature helps organisations send high priority calls across channels if need arises.

The Kenwood NX-1300 is the elegantly designed mid-tier radio that offers business customers a smart aesthetic with advanced audio capabilities. The inclusion of the advanced VOX enablement feature means that the NX-1300 can be used hands free to aid such jobs as engineering, forklift drivers and heavy lifting.

The Hytera PD405 is a light weight, slimline radio perfect for fast communication. The radio offers a low strain and easy to carry radio solution that would suit many types of businesses as well as customer facing businesses due to its compact and discreet design.

All three radios in this study guarantee efficient radio communication within most businesses’. Each radio offers our customers easy operation, affordable pricing and the means to scale up and transition to a digital frequency perhaps for the first time. All radios are ruggedly built and tough enough to endure operation in tough working environments.

There’s a reason why these radios are some of the most popular on the market today. If you are looking to buy radios for your company or would like to transition to a digital system, these radios offer both analogue and digital channels meaning they are good transitional radios.

For further information please don’t hesitate to call us on 0345 0 955 955 to speak to a member of our sales team, or you can visit the Radiotronics websiteto find out more about any products mentioned in this blog.