Finally available is the long-awaited Connect Systems CS800 Mobile DMR Radio. The CS700 was released in late 2013, and by early 2014, Connect Systems was talking about a mobile radio to match the CS700. I attended the Dayton Hamvention in May of 2014, where Connect Systems had a vendor table to show-off some of their products. They had a signup list for both the CS800 and CS7000, and patrons were told the radios should both be ready by October of that same year. I personally signed up for both, but didn’t have to pay any money – they said this was a “pre-order” list and I would be contacted when the radios became available.
Fast forward to May of 2015, 8 months after their estimated deadline, and the CS800 is finally available to the consumer market. The CS7000 is still vaporware as of the posting of this video.
All in all, the CS800 seems to be a good radio. Connect Systems is good about updating firmware and features in the radio that other radios tend to lack, but the receiver on the CS800, which was one of the issues with the CS700, is still not as good as its competitors. However, if you are willing to deal with a few minor bugs here and there, this radio works well, sounds well, and can now contain up to 65,000 contacts, allowing you to load the entire DMR-MARC database into your radio. So you can always see who is talking!
