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CDM1550 Separation Kit Not Working

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BlueDevil

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WA
I am installing a brand new separation kit on a Motorola CDM1550 VHF radio. The radio works fine without the separation kit however with the kit installed the radio does not power up at all. I have tried and confirmed that all the ribbon cables are good by swapping them out between the head and the base radio unit.

WORKING PICS
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d0a326411f350f22530294a02bf4fb1d.jpg


NOT WORKING PICS:
bee52f103d2ff900106819ba009a9ada.jpg

0672c0ed6b6daa265766928fd6ab04f2.jpg


Thoughts? Suggestions? Advice?




Cheers,

Brandon
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
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I don't have one in front of me to double check, but I have installed several of these without issue.

At first look, it looks like you have the ribbon cable upside down on the radio adapter side. On the radio "guts" side, you can see the black dot that should match up with a ø on the radio body. The front adapter plate (black plastic part with the RJ connector on the front) should have a similar ø on the circuit board. Make sure the black dot on the ribbon cable is on the correct side.
 

SteveC0625

Order of the Golden Dino since 1972
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Northville, NY (Fulton County)
I am installing a brand new separation kit on a Motorola CDM1550 VHF radio. The radio works fine without the separation kit however with the kit installed the radio does not power up at all. I have tried and confirmed that all the ribbon cables are good by swapping them out between the head and the base radio unit.
If it's not a ribbon cable problem, I think the next thing to check is the 10 wire cable between the head and the body of the radio. It's possible that one or more lines are either shorted or open. You can use a CAT-5 or CAT-6 LAN cable in place of the Motorola cable to test out that. (If this turns out to be the problem, drop me a note. I have the connectors and crimping dies needed to repair it.)
 

BlueDevil

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Location
WA
Well I swapped out a few of the ribbon cables and made sure they were oriented properly according to the black dots and it's working. Not sure what exactly the problem was but it is working so I will take it!

Thanks!!!


Cheers,

Brandon
 

BlueDevil

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May 5, 2010
Messages
783
Location
WA
I did find out that I had to remove the separation kit in order to program the radio. For whatever reason I was unable to program (read or write) the radio with the separation kit in place.


Cheers,

Brandon
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
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Messages
25,697
Location
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I did find out that I had to remove the separation kit in order to program the radio. For whatever reason I was unable to program (read or write) the radio with the separation kit in place.


Cheers,

Brandon

This seems to be a hit or miss issue with CDM's. I've heard others having the same issues, but I've got several of my own and a few at work that have never had this problem.
Doesn't seem to be an OEM vs. after market cable/rib issue. I've always used a OEM RIB and a homemade cable.

You can make a 16 pin cable and plug into the rear of the RF deck and program that way. Would be easier than disassembling the radio every time you want to make a change.
 
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