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CDM1550 Control Head Unresponsive

BlueDevil

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May 5, 2010
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I have a like new Motorola CDM1550 that the Control Head has become unresponsive. It will no longer allow me to use any of the buttons on the control head. The radio powers up fine and broadcasts audio, it will also transmit without any issues. The radio powers on to whatever channel you have in the number 1 slot. This radio is pretty new to me as I just recently got it. The Professional Series CPS is not new to me. Is there a chance that this is a programming issue or is this completely a hardware issue?
 

BlueDevil

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May 5, 2010
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Yes, the radio reads and writes just fine. Everything about the radio is operating normally with the exception of being able to use the buttons on the control head.
 

mmckenna

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I have a like new Motorola CDM1550 that the Control Head has become unresponsive. It will no longer allow me to use any of the buttons on the control head.

At what point did it become 'unresponsive'? Was this a used radio that you purchased that never worked right? Was this a radio that worked fine and then suddenly stopped working?

Check the flex cable to make sure it isn't loose.
Get the service manual and start checking voltages. There are various circuits in these radios that use different voltages, and it's possible one of the voltage regulators has failed.
 

BlueDevil

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I bought this radio in “used” condition however it was like new. I’m not sure it was ever put into use/service. It worked perfectly when I got it. It still does with the exception of the buttons on the control head. I am not sure if it is related at all but it did have some sort of add-on installed in it. I’m not entirely sure what it was. The solder connection broke on one of the wires. See picture attached. Around that same time (roughly) I noticed the front buttons were no longer working. However, I didn’t notice it immediately as this radio is apart of a project that I have been intermittently working on.
 

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BlueDevil

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The black wire was connected to a chip at the area circled in red. The chip broke off with the wire and then fell off the wire. The black wire is no longer connected. However, the add-on device is no long apart of the system. The red wire is still attached but doesn’t go anywhere.

I have double, triple checked the ribbon cables and have swapped them out with two others I have on hand. All of them are like new with no signs of damage or compromise.
 

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mmckenna

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That chip that fell off was a chip resistor that had to do with the keypad on the front.
Manual says it's a 130KΩ chip resistor. About 10¢. But installing it takes the right tools.
 
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