I worked for Harris for many years, and I loved the Unity mobile. Quick points: 1) The frequency range is 136-174 Mhz on VHF, and 380-520 Mhz on UHF, plus the 700-800 Mhz bands. Output power is 50 watts on V/U, 30 watts on 700 Mhz, and 35 watts on 800 Mhz. Yes, the radio can operate on the 33 -48 Mhz band, but that requires an additional external module which is about the size of the Unity radio itself. And as with any radio installation, ANTENNA IS EVERYTHING ! Always use the best coax and antenna you can get your hands on, and check SWR before putting the mobile in service. 2) Any unused CAN bus port must have a terminator plugged in for stable operation. 3) The larger touch-screen head is the one to use if you can get it. Much easier to read it all lighting conditions, and it has the divots along the lower edge where you can reach down and find the presets without having to look. 4) The Unity mobile drifts in frequency over time, and it usually drifts low. Once it gets around 3 Khz off frequency it will no longer hold a channel when transmitting on a trunk system. Frequency adjustment is a very easy task with TerraTerm plugged into the serial port on the back of the radio. Instructions are in the service manual, but we had a typed-out cheat sheet for rapid use in the field. Basically you type a command to put the radio into test mode, read the TXCO soft pot setting, change it, save it and cycle power. Then transmit into the service monitor and read the frequency again, and repeat as necessary until the frequency is within spec. Very easy once you get the hang of it. For maintenance in the field at customer locations, we made a test program that had channel banks for the high, mid and low sections of each band. Frequency was always tested first (always on the highest possible frequency) and adjusted as needed, followed by testing of the receive sensitivity and transmit power on the test channels. 5) It's best to use a genuine TNC connector on your antenna coax to screw directly into the radio for maximum reliability. (Not an adapter) 6) If you can find a Maintenance Manual, it should have the manufacturer's part number for the DC power port listed in the back. The description will say something like "similar to Molex XXX." That's the part number you actually need. In my opinion, the Unity mobile was the best radio that Harris (and their previous incarnations) has made so far. As of this writing (December of 2024) the Unity mobile is still showing to be supported at the factory in Lynchburg, VA, with a flat rate repair cost of $1200 for the radio itself, and $600 for the head. The "replacement" for the Unity was the XL-200 mobile which has a smaller screen. The earlier versions also had an issue where they didn't actually turn all the way off and would run car batteries down. This may have been fixed by now.
Yes, I love this content. I would be interested in an older analog version of the quad-band unit, provided it has a vfo accessible on the face or control head, or easy programming. I'm retired now but I've been using radios and the various services for decades. Got into ham recently and trying to make use of it monitoring all the civilian radio services during emergencies to provide local EMCOMM for radios people tend to have lying around (FRS/GMRS/MURS/Marine/ham & CB). Would love to set up a mobile version of my shack. Any recommendations?
You might try Digi Key or Mouser electronics for those power connectors. They appear to be AMP Circular power connectors. What encryption options are there for these radios? What might Harris charge for software to program these units and does the software do "wide band" for Amateur use or is that special order with proof of license? Quad band is a bit overkill but Triband without the 700-800 option would be desirable. Still have a good supply of TNC connectors ( threaded N Connectors) left over from the cellular days in the eighties. Would you consider programming of these radios a bit easier than the XTL 5000 series radios?
I worked for Harris for many years, and I loved the Unity mobile. Quick points:
1) The frequency range is 136-174 Mhz on VHF, and 380-520 Mhz on UHF, plus the 700-800 Mhz bands. Output power is 50 watts on V/U, 30 watts on 700 Mhz, and 35 watts on 800 Mhz. Yes, the radio can operate on the 33 -48 Mhz band, but that requires an additional external module which is about the size of the Unity radio itself. And as with any radio installation, ANTENNA IS EVERYTHING ! Always use the best coax and antenna you can get your hands on, and check SWR before putting the mobile in service.
2) Any unused CAN bus port must have a terminator plugged in for stable operation.
3) The larger touch-screen head is the one to use if you can get it. Much easier to read it all lighting conditions, and it has the divots along the lower edge where you can reach down and find the presets without having to look.
4) The Unity mobile drifts in frequency over time, and it usually drifts low. Once it gets around 3 Khz off frequency it will no longer hold a channel when transmitting on a trunk system. Frequency adjustment is a very easy task with TerraTerm plugged into the serial port on the back of the radio. Instructions are in the service manual, but we had a typed-out cheat sheet for rapid use in the field.
Basically you type a command to put the radio into test mode, read the TXCO soft pot setting, change it, save it and cycle power. Then transmit into the service monitor and read the frequency again, and repeat as necessary until the frequency is within spec. Very easy once you get the hang of it.
For maintenance in the field at customer locations, we made a test program that had channel banks for the high, mid and low sections of each band. Frequency was always tested first (always on the highest possible frequency) and adjusted as needed, followed by testing of the receive sensitivity and transmit power on the test channels.
5) It's best to use a genuine TNC connector on your antenna coax to screw directly into the radio for maximum reliability. (Not an adapter)
6) If you can find a Maintenance Manual, it should have the manufacturer's part number for the DC power port listed in the back. The description will say something like "similar to Molex XXX." That's the part number you actually need.
In my opinion, the Unity mobile was the best radio that Harris (and their previous incarnations) has made so far. As of this writing (December of 2024) the Unity mobile is still showing to be supported at the factory in Lynchburg, VA, with a flat rate repair cost of $1200 for the radio itself, and $600 for the head.
The "replacement" for the Unity was the XL-200 mobile which has a smaller screen. The earlier versions also had an issue where they didn't actually turn all the way off and would run car batteries down. This may have been fixed by now.
Great units, easy to program
Yes, I love this content. I would be interested in an older analog version of the quad-band unit, provided it has a vfo accessible on the face or control head, or easy programming. I'm retired now but I've been using radios and the various services for decades. Got into ham recently and trying to make use of it monitoring all the civilian radio services during emergencies to provide local EMCOMM for radios people tend to have lying around (FRS/GMRS/MURS/Marine/ham & CB). Would love to set up a mobile version of my shack. Any recommendations?
Our State just put in a Harris L3 system statewide. 51 million dollor contract. Started in 2019 and just this December is in full operation
do you mind me asking what state? We have noting but problems with our county system.
Wonder on the low band portion if you could get onto 10 meter fm repeaters. That would be another selling point of this radio to me.
You might try Digi Key or Mouser electronics for those power connectors. They appear to be AMP Circular power connectors.
What encryption options are there for these radios? What might Harris charge for software to program these units and does the software do "wide band" for Amateur use or is that special order with proof of license? Quad band is a bit overkill but Triband without the 700-800 option would be desirable. Still have a good supply of TNC connectors ( threaded N Connectors) left over from the cellular days in the eighties. Would you consider programming of these radios a bit easier than the XTL 5000 series radios?
Three D printing might be a solution for the connector.
This would be the perfect CB radio for Elon Musk (CB radio with the right price for him....😊😊😊)