Basic Freq Programing for CM300?

[Saal]

Greetings from Texas! I've got a small issue and need some advice. We found 16 brand new Motorola CM300 VHF while doing inventory. They've been given to me to program for around our facility. I've got the programming cable, CPS 5.17, and a trusty ol' Sony VOI laptop with XP - I'm almost dangerous.

After opening the CPS with CM300 slaved. The GUI seems simple enough, but I'm not understanding how to program frequencies? This interface is very different from CHIRP(Baofeng) and some of the other equipment I deal with. Is there a PDF or reference guide for this software? All I'm trying to do is program 4 DoD approved freq's for use internally around our complex between some golf carts and a couple of trucks - a quick guide or link will appreciated.

 

[gewecke]

Greetings from Texas! I've got a small issue and need some advice. We found 16 brand new Motorola CM300 VHF while doing inventory. They've been given to me to program for around our facility. I've got the programming cable, CPS 5.17, and a trusty ol' Sony VOI laptop with XP - I'm almost dangerous.

After opening the CPS with CM300 slaved. The GUI seems simple enough, but I'm not understanding how to program frequencies? This interface is very different from CHIRP(Baofeng) and some of the other equipment I deal with. Is there a PDF or reference guide for this software? All I'm trying to do is program 4 DoD approved freq's for use internally around our complex between some golf carts and a couple of trucks - a quick guide or link will appreciated.

Cm300's mounted on a golf cart are not a good idea. For instance, do you have a plan for antennas mounted to what's usually a fiberglas body & canopy? Also are you sure the electrical systems are 13.8 vdc ? Also, what about licensing? 73, n9zas

 

[Saal]

Thanks for the reply. We're thinking of mounting them in Pelican 1660 cases and they will have self contained dc power sources. Also, looking at Intrinsic safety (IS) issues with deploying them. As far as the license? I'm personally going through the process of ARRL for a basic HAM license. But our current assigned freq's and radios are for underground use only and for a DoD project, in a DoD facility, on DoD land.

So, do you know a reference for freq programing with CPS? I could really use the help.

 

[firefive76]

Greetings from Texas! I've got a small issue and need some advice. We found 16 brand new Motorola CM300 VHF while doing inventory. They've been given to me to program for around our facility. I've got the programming cable, CPS 5.17, and a trusty ol' Sony VOI laptop with XP - I'm almost dangerous.

After opening the CPS with CM300 slaved. The GUI seems simple enough, but I'm not understanding how to program frequencies? This interface is very different from CHIRP(Baofeng) and some of the other equipment I deal with. Is there a PDF or reference guide for this software? All I'm trying to do is program 4 DoD approved freq's for use internally around our complex between some golf carts and a couple of trucks - a quick guide or link will appreciated.

In the tree on the left side of the screen, open "conventional personalities." All of the transmit/rec freq, PL/DPL, etc are in there. To view everything, click "view" at the top of the screen and change it from basic to expert.

 

[Saal]

Thanks! I'll try it this afternoon.

Saal

 

[Project25_MASTR]

CM300s and PM400 were my favorite of the analog only radios. Full PL changing on the fly...reliable software that runs in both a 32 bit and 64 bit architecture.

Oh, if you want to use it on the ham bands...you need to find CPS 05.16 before you try and write with 05.17. 05.17 and 05.18 are forced narrowband while 05.16 is select-able. I don't know if you can still get the EID for wideband operation on the later two versions.

 

[Saal]

The freq's I've been reserved are 4 from 151 - 166mhz. I've got CPS 5.17 but still not understanding the Motorola language or organization of their software. Conventional Personalities are frequency control lists? But I only see a single receive and a transmit freq you can assign to "Pers1". This section of the software also references a drop down list for "Scan List" - what list? If you go to Scan List it prompts you to select Pers1 -4 - I'm in CPS Purgatory....ugh. My 24 Baofengs set up in about 20mins using CHIRP. This software doesn't appear to be very intuitive, unless I'm missing something....theirs got to be a tutorial for this stuff. I was on Motorola's web site, but didn't see anything.

If anyone has screenies of what I'm suppose to be doing feel free.

 

[SteveC0625]

The freq's I've been reserved are 4 from 151 - 166mhz. I've got CPS 5.17 but still not understanding the Motorola language or organization of their software. Conventional Personalities are frequency control lists? But I only see a single receive and a transmit freq you can assign to "Pers1". This section of the software also references a drop down list for "Scan List" - what list? If you go to Scan List it prompts you to select Pers1 -4 - I'm in CPS Purgatory....ugh. My 24 Baofengs set up in about 20mins using CHIRP. This software doesn't appear to be very intuitive, unless I'm missing something....theirs got to be a tutorial for this stuff. I was on Motorola's web site, but didn't see anything.

If anyone has screenies of what I'm suppose to be doing feel free.

In the tree, click on Conventional Personalities. There is one button and only one button on that screen. It reads Add Conventional Personality There is nothing else on that screen. It should be fairly easy to figure out.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

The personality (called mode in older software) is the channel options. Frequency, power, tones, talk around and signaling. Selecting the personality in the tree and pressing F2 will let you rename (this is the displayed alias).


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[SteveC0625]

CM300s and PM400 were my favorite of the analog only radios. Full PL changing on the fly...reliable software that runs in both a 32 bit and 64 bit architecture.

Oh, if you want to use it on the ham bands...you need to find CPS 05.16 before you try and write with 05.17. 05.17 and 05.18 are forced narrowband while 05.16 is select-able. I don't know if you can still get the EID for wideband operation on the later two versions.

The CP200XLS and PR400 portables are just as flexible. I've got 20 of the CP200XLS in service in the local ambulance squad and they're holding up nicely.

I got the WB EID when it first came out, and recently just ordered 4 more so that I can run the CPS on several different PC's. They are still available for the Commercial Series and the Professional Series.

The Commercial Series was a nice product line. I was sorry to see it go.

 

[Saal]

I really appreciate the help on this. I've got the freq issue kind-of fixed. But now I can't program beyond 162.00 in Conv Pers. If I type 166.** for RX and copy to TX it defaults both fields to 162.00.Thoughts? Anyone have the same issue?

 

[Saal]

I really appreciate the help on this. I've got the freq issue kind-of fixed. But now I can't program beyond 162.00 in Conv Pers. If I type 166.** for RX and copy to TX it defaults both fields to 162.00.Thoughts? Anyone have the same issue?

Apparently there's two flavors of CM300 VHF and I've got the 136-162mhz..meh, can't complain since they were free to begin with.

 

[motomeso]

Just throw some LPI frequencies in it.

 

[radioman2001]

quote"We're thinking of mounting them in Pelican 1660 cases and they will have self contained dc power sources.

We do the same, I have built a number of what we call post radio's (FDNY term) for our Fire Brigade since VHF portables have limited range in our tunnels and in Grand Central Terminal. Early ones used lead acid gel cells, the newer ones now use LiFe batteries, a bit lighter. A note to the builder, you need to have a sufficient ground plane or the unit will lock up in transmit. I had our tin knockers make a sheet metal plate that covers the entire interior. The battery is mounted on the interior cover with a sheet metal bracket that is also attached the the larger ground plane. Also you need to insulate the antenna to prevent some one from recieving a RF burn while transmitting.

The programming is a bit different than the CDM but as described above not that difficult.

 

[Saal]

quote"We're thinking of mounting them in Pelican 1660 cases and they will have self contained dc power sources.

We do the same, I have built a number of what we call post radio's (FDNY term) for our Fire Brigade since VHF portables have limited range in our tunnels and in Grand Central Terminal. Early ones used lead acid gel cells, the newer ones now use LiFe batteries, a bit lighter. A note to the builder, you need to have a sufficient ground plane or the unit will lock up in transmit. I had our tin knockers make a sheet metal plate that covers the entire interior. The battery is mounted on the interior cover with a sheet metal bracket that is also attached the the larger ground plane. Also you need to insulate the antenna to prevent some one from recieving a RF burn while transmitting.

The programming is a bit different than the CDM but as described above not that difficult.

I'll mention the grounding to my guy - thanks. By the way, we do collaborative MSHA training with our local fire department Technical Emergency Response Training (TERT) teams too. We happen to run into these CM300's, so we figured we'd do some sub-t commo experimenting with them and some other radios. RX and TX is brutal for us due to the concrete and turns underground. If anything we'll probably rig them as repeaters at junctions to help with LOS problems. VHF does appear to not be working out very well so far - I keep picking up Walmart employee bleed over - weird.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

I'll mention the grounding to my guy - thanks. By the way, we do collaborative MSHA training with our local fire department Technical Emergency Response Training (TERT) teams too. We happen to run into these CM300's, so we figured we'd do some sub-t commo experimenting with them and some other radios. RX and TX is brutal for us due to the concrete and turns underground. If anything we'll probably rig them as repeaters at junctions to help with LOS problems. VHF does appear to not be working out very well so far - I keep picking up Walmart employee bleed over - weird.

What is your PL set to?


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[Saal]

What is your PL set to?


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W5PKY, I'll plug in my laptop when I get to work and find out.

Thanks for the asker - helps me learn.

 

[Saal]

There were two choices - DPL and TPL. I toggled DPL and CPS auto assigned "23" to my frequencies.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

There were two choices - DPL and TPL. I toggled DPL and CPS auto assigned "23" to my frequencies.

That is just the default DPL tone. If you use the PL/DPL make sure whatever you use matches both the receive and transmit side of the radios. I'd change your tone to a higher number and uncheck the HUB defeats PL option in the general settings tab near the top of the tree. That should filter out any noise you are hearing from walmart.

 

[Saal]

I'll plug in CPS at lunch and see what happens - thanks! I was picking up WalMart and some pawn shops, but hopefully this will give my group some privacy and negate any OPSEC issues above ground.