The most useful gadget in a Bond film is often the least glamorous. In The World Is Not Enough, Bond reaches for an ordinary professional two-way radio, and our sources identify it as a Motorola from the HT1250 and GP380 family. The Motorola HT1250 is a working tool of the kind used by security teams, event crews and site managers, and it is easy to find second-hand.
In the film
Pierce Brosnan’s Bond uses the radio in The World Is Not Enough (1999) to contact Charles Robinson: “Bond to Robinson, do you copy?” Robinson replies that Elektra has got away with M. The radio itself is only a prop in a tense moment, which is how a real one would be used.
The model is not certain. Our sources narrow it to a Motorola with a full keypad and a long thin antenna and say it is the GP338, the GP380 or the HT1250 AAH25SDH9AA6AN. The three look alike, so we list the HT1250 and treat the match as close rather than exact.
The details
Full keypad and display. The AAH25SDH9AA6AN is described by dealers as the full-keypad version with a display, which sets it apart from the plainer models in the same family.
UHF, 450-512MHz. Dealer listings give the band as UHF 450-512MHz at up to 4W. That is the part to match to your use, because radios on different bands will not talk to each other.
Kit. A standard package, as one dealer lists it, includes a battery, a rapid charger, an antenna, a belt clip and a two-year warranty. Second-hand radios often arrive without some of these, and a worn battery is the usual weakness.
Discontinued. The HT1250 is no longer a current model. One US dealer names the XPR3500e and XPR7550e as the closest current replacements, which tells you where the maker has moved on to.
Owning it now
A radio is a thing you either use or display. If you want to use one, remember that transmitting on a licensed band needs the right licence in your country, and these radios are usually programmed for a specific frequency by a dealer. That is a task for a professional, not a weekend.
If you want it as a Bond object, a good second-hand example is enough. Look for a clean display, intact keypad and a battery that holds charge, and ask whether it has been reset. On a desk or a shelf it is an honest, slightly dated piece of working equipment, more convincing than any toy.
Be realistic. It is not the radio you give someone as a gift unless they already know why they want it.
Specifications
| Maker | Motorola |
|---|---|
| Model | HT1250 AAH25SDH9AA6AN (GP338 or GP380 also possible) |
| Version | Full keypad with display |
| Band | UHF 450-512MHz, up to 4W (dealer listings) |
| Status | Discontinued; found second-hand |
| RRP | Not applicable (second-hand only) |
The maker’s user guide is on Motorola Solutions’ site.
Questions
What radio does Bond use in The World Is Not Enough?
Our sources point to a Motorola two-way radio of the HT1250, GP380 or GP338 type, with a full keypad and long thin antenna. We list the HT1250 as the closest match.
Is the Motorola HT1250 still made?
No. It is discontinued, and one US dealer suggests the XPR3500e or XPR7550e as current equivalents.
Can I use a second-hand HT1250 straight away?
Not usually. It needs to be programmed for the right frequencies, and you need to be licensed to use them where you live.
More gadgets are in the gadgets and electronics collection, and the films are listed on the films page.
