Yes it is updated.
This is actually radios that can do digital voice transmission. Majority of radio in the HAM world is analog.
Digital voice is ofcourse way more clearer and don't degrade as distance is further.

For my Motorola, the protocol is DMR/Mototrbo. There are also other hams that are using P25 protocol but those radio is way more expensive for me to afford lol.

For some reason, using Motorola in the HAM community is like.... frowned upon or something. Everytime I try to talk about Motorola or Mototrbo or something they will always be like... "those are for commercial" etc. lol Dunno lah. Just my little rant.

For me, I think Motorola has the best quality hardware in the market currently. HAM pretty much tends to go into HAM products like Yaesu, Icom etc.

Granted, Motorola products are not designed for HAM. It is the HAM that discovers it is the best and starts buying it.
I just really hope HAM could be more open towards digital communications as it is superior.
Currently jealous at Penang HAMs as they have a Mototrbo DMR-MARC repeater there.

1. That depends on the class of emission.







2. Chances are, HAM transmission are the ones who are going to interfere with your RC plane transmission since your transmission is weaker compared to 5 watt or 40 watt.