Motorola CDM Programming

[t1spice]

Geez where did you buy it from?
With Prime shipping, have it by Thursday morning

K2NEC - I ordered it off E-bay - I looked on Amazon but I'm in Canada and did not see that in my search - would have been better for sure... I ended up borrowing one for my project since this one was going to take such a long time... I'm about to give a general update as to how I made out. Thanks for the info

 

[t1spice]

Update -borrowed a programming cable that plugs USB and no rib required - used 6.12.05 on my windows 10 64 bit - and we have lift off! read and write no issues now - thank you everyone for you help and guidance! I have my CDM(s) done now onto my next challenge trying to read and write to a Kenwood TK-7180 - i may be switching over to the Kenwood help desk forms later lol - thanks again folks.

 

[nhfdcadet]

just out of curiosity, any chance the radio you are trying to program has a remote head?

 

[t1spice]

just out of curiosity, any chance the radio you are trying to program has a remote head?

both the kenwood and the cdm(s) are not remote head

 

[nhfdcadet]

both the kenwood and the cdm(s) are not remote head

ah, I only ask because I have had cables which were not fans of remote heads, however I was able to plug directly into the chassis of the radio and program them that way

 

[ExConrailChris]

Let me get kinda off topic here. I have a CDM1550LS radio. I'm using CPS 6.12.09 software and purchased a usb cable from EBay which works perfectly. My issue is in the programming of a "scan" list. Since the HELP files won't open I'm lost as to get my radio programmed to scan, or where to scan,etc.. any help?

 

[mmckenna]

I'm using CPS 6.12.09 software and purchased a usb cable from EBay which works perfectly.

One of the issues with downloading bootlegged software off the internet is that it doesn't include the help files. Purchasing legal copies of software from Motorola fixes that.

But, yeah, some don't want to do that, I get it.

Repeater-Builder.com will have what you need regarding documentation:

The Motorola CDM Mobile Radio Index page

Also, depending on how the radio is programmed, the microphone will need to be 'hung up' on a metal microphone clip to allow scan to work correctly. That can be changed in programming, but often gets overlooked and stumps people.

 

[ExConrailChris]

Ok thank you.

 

[JoshuaHufford]

You also have to assign each personality (channel) to a group (I think that is what it is called? The proper term escapes me right now if it isn't group.)

Each group is like a bank, if you don't assign each personality to a group it won't scan either, took me a while to figure that one out.

If I'm using the incorrect term someone please correct me.

 

[ExConrailChris]

Thanks. I'll have to sit and play around with it Wednesday/

 

[mmckenna]

(I think that is what it is called? The proper term escapes me right now if it isn't group.)

Scan list.

 

[SteveC0625]

A personality must be assigned to a ZONE to be active in the radio.

Those personalities that you wish to scan must be assigned to a SCAN LIST. In creating a scan list, it is common practice to use the drop-down to assign <SELECTED> as the first item in a scan list.

You can have multiple zones and scan lists in the 1250 and 1550 but that takes some planning and experience in programming these radios to do properly. I suggest that one start simply with one zone, one scan list, and just a few personalities.

 

[JoshuaHufford]

A personality must be assigned to a ZONE to be active in the radio.

Those personalities that you wish to scan must be assigned to a SCAN LIST. In creating a scan list, it is common practice to use the drop-down to assign <SELECTED> as the first item in a scan list.

You can have multiple zones and scan lists in the 1250 and 1550 but that takes some planning and experience in programming these radios to do properly. I suggest that one start simply with one zone, one scan list, and just a few personalities.

Zone! That is what I was trying to think of!

 

[Giddyuptd]

First and most important READ the radio FIRST and save that "code plug" to an archive. Before making ANY CHANGES.

If the radio does not read you know there IS a problem

The dammed RIB box has known problems with RS232 levels. The USB to Serial adapters do not work well.

Not really sure WIN 10 works well with the "older" radio software.

For xts line motorola at one time recommended the iogear guc232A for usb to serial. Never had issue back then but as time evolved it became useless for it to have.