Kenwood NX-5300 Demo 

I love that screen. Kenwood makes some great products.

You need to adjust the audio profile to meet the 1 watt in either digital or analog and user likings. The defaults the nx won't cut it. Motorola by default kicks the audio profile to full 1 watt use in analog or digital and flat.

I have a 7000xe and a ton of other units all different brands ham and professional. I'm a Firefighter and work EMS. Aside from my Engineering main job. I almost ahve all the Licenses I like $1500-2000 finished for my NX-5200-K3 and I've got $3200 put in it now. When I bought mine it was a brick. I have the AES&DES encryption card in. My VHF5200 reaches. Farther than my APX 7000XE. I tested in the same spot so it would be fair. I've been a Motorola fan forever but when I took the housing off of the 7000 I saw how poorly they made the 7000. Maybe for y'all it doesn't matter but I'm actually using it in house fires etc where it's a lifeline. The Kenwood is built like a brick shit house. And anybody that says it's not good. I know you haven't activated the licenses. I have trucking and conventional both open DMR/p25/NXDN. I only like a few but. It's my primary unit now and I have my 7000 just because it's a dual band and I collect every brand possible. This is a bias review. When all I see is Motorola you will never give an accurate review.

that's why I cannot wait to get rid of that stupid Astro saber 800 radio don't like it don't need it since it's not flashed to do the trunking that I wanted to do

Keep in mind, the programming software must be obtained from dealer and price varies depending who you are. You'll get a quote request first. After once you get the cps you have register with their server to use it. Digital modes for the 5300 nx series do not come default you gotta buy them extra. Only analog and nxdn come default on the nx series. Dmr and p25 you gotta buy the modes seperate. Quotes vary again depending who you are, agency etc. Software can only work on one pc at one time and each time it is Uninstalled the install must be re registered online over the server before it works. Just heads up. I've seen them deny people also with the nx series cps.