Search found 56 matches

by nukedude
Wed Oct 07, 2015 8:45 am
Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
Topic: 2002 Chevy Blazer dual CDM install
Replies: 8
Views: 10454

Re: 2002 Chevy Blazer dual CDM install

Very nice installation. The S-10's are tough little trucks too. I like how the CDM heads take that space in between the dash and the console. Looks very well done. Thank you for posting. May use this for some of the fleet here.....lots of municipalities still use Blazers as department vehicles in my...
by nukedude
Tue Sep 29, 2015 6:58 am
Forum: Radio Programming
Topic: Windows 10 & ASTRO 25 CPS
Replies: 10
Views: 6394

Re: Windows 10 & ASTRO 25 CPS

There has been a lag in radio CPS support anytime a new operating system comes out. I have just become accustomed to keeping a slightly older computer available as a radio programmer. Then I keep this computer away form the internet and updates. Right now I support radios that use version of DOS as ...
by nukedude
Tue Sep 01, 2015 7:03 am
Forum: Radio Programming
Topic: CDM Series, Windows 7, Radio doesn't re-boot after write.
Replies: 4
Views: 3043

Re: CDM Series, Windows 7, Radio doesn't re-boot after write.

Thank you for posting, makes me feel better knowing that also. I have some CDM1250 and 1550's and stopped hearing that second beep. That first time is scary if you are waiting for the second beep and reboot. It also made me dust off an older computer running XP and make it a dedicated radio programm...
by nukedude
Tue Sep 01, 2015 6:54 am
Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
Topic: Stealth VHF mobile antenna examples
Replies: 11
Views: 12308

Re: Stealth VHF mobile antenna examples

I bought them both at Tessco.com a few years back, the Antennex UHF Phantom antenna and VHF "soup" can style that is tunable and 1 MHz range. The VHF was a total failure, the UHF has worked very well. For VHF I just use a small "whisker" style NMO mount antenna, Laird Technologie...
by nukedude
Tue Jul 21, 2015 10:34 am
Forum: Vehicle Warning Equipment Discussion
Topic: Comm Center and Chevy Cruze Install
Replies: 3
Views: 7392

Re: Comm Center and Chevy Cruze Install

Very nice, like the rack of XTL5k's. And that the scanner backlight matches too.
by nukedude
Tue Jul 21, 2015 10:23 am
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: Goodbye Moto: How Chicago's Greatest Tech Company Fell To Earth
Replies: 6
Views: 2651

Re: Goodbye Moto: How Chicago's Greatest Tech Company Fell To Earth

Wow, passing this on to co-workers. I remember many of the high points and their low point recently too. Thank you for sharing this.
by nukedude
Wed Apr 15, 2015 6:50 am
Forum: MotoTRBO Portables and Mobiles (4xxx/6xxx) 1.0 Series Subscribers
Topic: XPR 4550 heat
Replies: 2
Views: 7049

Re: XPR 4550 heat

I have two stacked in a small service truck. They were right up against each other, they were both warm to the touch.....mostly monitoring. (One UHF and one VHF.) I then put about a half radio thickness space between them and they are a lot cooler now. They are a warm running radio, and compared the...
by nukedude
Wed Apr 15, 2015 6:45 am
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: Radio permanently on charger to monitor
Replies: 18
Views: 4007

Re: Radio permanently on charger to monitor

Those are good ideas. I'm just in cheap mode right now and didn't want to buy anything; just use what I have on hand. Also, needed a radio with MDC decode to mute as much as possible the MDC sequence as it is used on the frequency I'm monitoring. (Can't stand MDC...) In that case, stick with Plan A...
by nukedude
Mon Apr 06, 2015 6:57 am
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: DMR rick reapeters
Replies: 4
Views: 2054

Re: DMR rick reapeters

Thank you for posting, some co-workers of mine had the same question. We are migrating from CDM-1250's to XPR-4550 mobiles. Small repeaters made inside of Pelican boxes using a RICK and power supply.
by nukedude
Mon Apr 06, 2015 6:52 am
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Returned Power / SWR
Replies: 9
Views: 4014

Re: Returned Power / SWR

That's about 1.6:1, or about 5% loss of that 100 watts. So it isn't too bad, depending one cable length, connectors/adapters and all. With that Bird 43 you may be using more adapters than will be in the hardline normally, so you may actually be better than that anyway. Not really significant. Before...
by nukedude
Tue Feb 24, 2015 6:51 am
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: Motorola Solutions considering being sold
Replies: 9
Views: 2856

Re: Motorola Solutions considering being sold

I will give Motorola credit for putting the R&D out there for many products. Then there is the integrated circuits that are installed or used in many more products not badged as Motorola. But any company can lose their way. They are so far off these days, it forced me to go Harris and Thales for...
by nukedude
Wed Feb 11, 2015 7:03 am
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: CDM 1550LS
Replies: 12
Views: 3170

Re: CDM 1550LS

Two 16 channels versions here as well. But I bought them knowing that, they allowed me to upgrade an older GR300 repeater. It had the old 130, 2 channel radios in it that were not narrow-band capable. In my case, 16 channels and a bargain price were the reason I bought them. However, the seller was ...
by nukedude
Wed Feb 11, 2015 6:56 am
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: Radio Shack Closing - Remaining Electronic Parts Sources?
Replies: 26
Views: 12422

Re: Radio Shack Closing - Remaining Electronic Parts Sources

In the surrounding area of Seattle, there is Fry's Electronics in Renton. Then there is Vetco in Bellevue. I have yet to see any clearance sales in the area Radio Shack stores, or even signs saying they are closing. My work had some items in end products, noise filters that came from Radio Shack. Th...
by nukedude
Mon Feb 09, 2015 6:40 am
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: Motorola Solutions considering being sold
Replies: 9
Views: 2856

Re: Motorola Solutions considering being sold

This makes me think it is time to go Kenwood. With the sell off of Symbol, and moving of most of their technical support, it just isn't worth the hassle of staying with Motorola. I have not been to Schaumburg in 6-7 years though, so have not seen first hand how bad it is. Everything I own Motorola w...
by nukedude
Fri Jan 30, 2015 2:21 pm
Forum: Radio Programming
Topic: CDM1250s that are not NB capable
Replies: 5
Views: 3315

Re: CDM1250s that are not NB capable

About a hundred here and they all do 12.5 kHz. Dozen older 1550's also. Now I have seen where wide-band was no longer allowed, until "narrow/wide band training" is done and CPS is cleared again for it. Whole "Entitlement ID" mess with some MotoTrbo and PR1500's that needed CPS mo...
by nukedude
Fri Jan 30, 2015 2:17 pm
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: CDM1550 Question
Replies: 8
Views: 2078

Re: CDM!%%) QUESTION

+1. I use a stack of CDM1550LS+ radios in my truck. UHF and VHF. When one of mine was acting up, the connector for positive main power was vibrating loose. Ignition sense power was still tight. Mine was UHF, but the CDM series is flakey. Mine are the older models wit less memory. Great for the few c...
by nukedude
Mon Jan 26, 2015 7:00 am
Forum: MotoTRBO Portables and Mobiles (4xxx/6xxx) 1.0 Series Subscribers
Topic: XPR HT UHF Antenna Question
Replies: 6
Views: 8680

Re: XPR HT UHF Antenna Question

I did testing with XPR6550 radios. It is a big difference for them as well. The 3.5 inch stubby is for the mic hanging off a lapel and the 5.5 is expected to be on the radio itself. Stick to the 5.5 on the radio. The 3.5 inch doesn't work well on the radio. (Does make it a lot easier to carry though...
by nukedude
Mon Jan 26, 2015 6:57 am
Forum: MotoTRBO Portables and Mobiles (4xxx/6xxx) 1.0 Series Subscribers
Topic: Firmware for XPR6550
Replies: 1
Views: 6250

Re: Firmware for XPR6550

If I was reading it correctly on Motorola's site, conventional firmware is up to R01.12.13 as of 12 Sept. 2014, and Connect Plus is R1.5.2 as of 29 Oct 2014.
There were some newer documents on how to update that were date Dec 2014.
by nukedude
Fri Jan 23, 2015 12:48 pm
Forum: Legacy Batboard Motorola ASTRO (VSELP/IMBE/AMBE) Equipment Forum
Topic: Li-ion
Replies: 7
Views: 10863

Re: Li-ion

I have been contemplating this, since all of my Saber batteries are starting to wear out. Only one of my batteries that fit my vehicle adapter (due to length) still work. The plan was to use a power resister to try to shed some of that excess voltage and see if it still kept the heat down. If I brea...
by nukedude
Tue Jan 20, 2015 6:44 am
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Coverage loss due to Narrow Banding
Replies: 18
Views: 5320

Re: Coverage loss due to Narrow Banding

My experience was very similar to the ones right above. My previous employer had engineers that said they would lose 50% coverage, have to buy a bunch of repeaters and go digital on hardware. Since several of us had rotated to this company right out of the military, we had been digital and narrow-ba...
by nukedude
Mon Jan 19, 2015 8:30 am
Forum: Test Equipment & RF Equipment Alignment
Topic: Aeroflex 3920 freq shifts with mic on
Replies: 4
Views: 2261

Re: Aeroflex 3920 freq shifts with mic on

My work had two Aeroflex 3500A test sets that would do that as well. They would also drift when testing radios. Sometimes they would get stuck in Transmit test and would not change to Receiver test. A manufacturing defect was found in both units, they tried to charge us for the repair, and eventuall...
by nukedude
Mon Jan 19, 2015 8:25 am
Forum: ASTRO Experimental - How to do things a little out of the box
Topic: Need to know how to hack ASTRO 25 CPS for Wide Band
Replies: 2
Views: 8766

Re: Need to know how to hack ASTRO 25 CPS for Wide Band

The only way I have been able to keep wideband capability on any of my Motorola equipment is to go through their "training" Powerpoint, get it logged onto my account and then add the "Entitlement ID" to my CPS software. This was for MotoTrbo CPS. For PR1500 handhelds, it required...
by nukedude
Mon Jan 19, 2015 8:15 am
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: High SWR during extreme cold/poor rpt coverage
Replies: 3
Views: 2432

Re: High SWR during extreme cold/poor rpt coverage

I have also seen some of the cheaper connectors (even ones bought through Tessco) where moisture and temperature would cause problems like this. Have a good and solid connection at each end of the coax, using dielectric grease in fittings used in very cold outdoor locations, and making sure drip loo...
by nukedude
Mon Jan 19, 2015 8:04 am
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: XTVA Remote Mounting
Replies: 10
Views: 2898

Re: XTVA Remote Mounting

I used to have one mounted to the back of the console. Allowed me to remove the radio easier and kept everything close. Newer vehicles have a lot less room in them, the XTVA is in a box in the garage right now, awaiting its next install. Some cars have lower consoles now too, so the XTVA might be a ...
by nukedude
Mon Jan 19, 2015 8:01 am
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: CDM Remote Mic & Speaker
Replies: 4
Views: 1484

Re: CDM Remote Mic & Speaker

+1 for mre1032's items. I have used his cables and cross band repeater interface units for Motorola radios many times over the years. Prices are very economical and it has allowed my work to use CDM1250's for many things we never would have even though of. We have also extended our CDM1250's for use...
by nukedude
Tue Jan 13, 2015 8:02 am
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Feedline suggestions for deployable repeater
Replies: 11
Views: 4497

Re: Feedline suggestions for deployable repeater

Where I work, we have portable repeaters (using CDM1250's) and have used 50 foot lengths of RG-213, RG-58, LMR-400 and LMR-240 depending on who built them and which part of the country. Each region pretty much used what they had on hand cable and connector wise. The ones that have held up the best, ...
by nukedude
Tue Jan 13, 2015 7:52 am
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Help with CW ID programming a Zetron ZR-340
Replies: 4
Views: 2672

Re: Help with CW ID programming a Zetron ZR-340

There have been many revision to this piece of hardware since 1994. Zetron Tech Support at 425-820-6363. That might be your best bet.
by nukedude
Tue Jan 13, 2015 7:43 am
Forum: Test Equipment & RF Equipment Alignment
Topic: HP8920A locking up
Replies: 2
Views: 2065

Re: HP8920A locking up

This happened to several my last employer had. Be sure to replace all of the power supply caps. Initially we only replaced the ones that were noticeably bad. The fix lasted a few power cycles. After all caps in the power supply were replaced, the 8920's work perfectly. We had the smoke from the powe...
by nukedude
Tue Jan 13, 2015 7:38 am
Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
Topic: 2012 Super Duty crew cab install under rear seat?
Replies: 9
Views: 11567

Re: 2012 Super Duty crew cab install under rear seat?

That APX looks really nice in there. Did you have to extend the power cord to get them to the battery, or was there some place else to tap power? (I know some PPV have power ran back there already.)
by nukedude
Tue Jan 13, 2015 7:29 am
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Weather proof Polyphaser?
Replies: 9
Views: 3607

Re: Weather proof Polyphaser?

One site I worked at used Polyphasers inside of a stainless steel box. A bank of lightening arresters was mounted inside in a row, some with UHF and some with N connectors. Then each one was ground to a bus bar and that bar grounded to a copper ground ring around the tower. The stainless steel box h...
by nukedude
Tue Jan 13, 2015 7:18 am
Forum: Converting Motorola Equipment to 900MHz Amateur
Topic: 900 MHz XTL5000 question: Wide Band capable?
Replies: 5
Views: 9413

Re: 900 MHz XTL5000 question: Wide Band capable?

Might be worth a call to Motorola. I had a bunch of VHF and UHF MotoTrbo radios that were locked down to narrowband in CPS. I had to go through the Motorola "narrowband training" Powerpoint presentation. And then get Entitlement ID's for the CPS. When I entered this into each computer, the...
by nukedude
Tue Jan 13, 2015 7:06 am
Forum: MotoTRBO Portables and Mobiles (4xxx/6xxx) 1.0 Series Subscribers
Topic: TRBO CPS 11 Not Compatible with Windows XP?
Replies: 10
Views: 11272

Re: TRBO CPS 11 Not Compatible with Windows XP?

This caused a lot of problems in my last job. When I told my employers that all of our XP computers were going to need to be replaced/upgraded to remain compatible with Motorola CPS, they all balked at me. Started a new job 5 months ago, and yesterday, they call me and ask if Motorola has ceased XP ...
by nukedude
Tue Jan 13, 2015 6:52 am
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: XPR5550 frozen on power up
Replies: 3
Views: 1341

Re: XPR5550 frozen on power up

Will it let you go through any menus on the front panel display? Pressing "OK" then up and down arrows? It very well could be mismatch in software between the remote head and the radio if you can't get anything past the "Motorola" screen. If you bought this from a dealer, I would...
by nukedude
Tue Jan 13, 2015 6:47 am
Forum: Test Equipment & RF Equipment Alignment
Topic: Project on Radio Test Equipment Calibration - Help needed!
Replies: 5
Views: 2785

Re: Project on Radio Test Equipment Calibration - Help neede

I used to go to a company called EML, and Davis Innotek, they both got out of the calibration business in the Pacific Northwest. Now everything gets sent to the mfr. Using and Aeroflex 3500A mostly these days. It goes back to Aeroflex for calibration. The Motorola and General Dynamics test sets go t...
by nukedude
Tue Jan 13, 2015 6:43 am
Forum: Computer/Technical Assistance
Topic: Panasonic CF-29 with strange display problem
Replies: 2
Views: 6447

Re: Panasonic CF-29 with strange display problem

Mine began doing this before the main motherboard failed. Took some work on eBay to find a donor board, but luckily the CF-29 is a common model.
by nukedude
Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:42 pm
Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
Topic: Laird Technologies - 142-160 Phantom Antenna
Replies: 4
Views: 8255

Re: Laird Technologies - 142-160 Phantom Antenna

My work tried to use those for one specific frequency in that band. This was for use on RHIB vessels operating on the water. We gave them a solid 6x8 foot ground plane, well connected and sealed NMO connector and did not skimp on cable or connectors. They worked for about a year. Then the SWR was so...
by nukedude
Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:35 pm
Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
Topic: Low profile uhf Antennas
Replies: 6
Views: 9465

Re: Low profile uhf Antennas

For 450-470 MHz, I have used the older Antennex UHF Phantom antenna, what is now badged as a Laird. It has worked well for 5 years now on a trunk lip mounted NMO on the right edge of my trunk. This has given it a reasonable amount of metal for a ground plane. The Laird VHF "whisker" antenn...
by nukedude
Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:29 pm
Forum: Radio Programming
Topic: Astro Saber lll programming
Replies: 10
Views: 4323

Re: Astro Saber lll programming

The only USB to serial DB9 adapter I have had good success with, connected to a Motorola radio, is the KeySpan brand adapter. These also work on an Apple computer running Windows as well.
by nukedude
Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:16 pm
Forum: Motorola Digital Radio Compatability
Topic: Type III AES encryption and Harris APCO P25 option
Replies: 6
Views: 13705

Re: Type III AES encryption and Harris APCO P25 option

I have used all of the equipment involved, but used a SKL device to load comsec into the PRC-152's. When loading from an SKL to PRC-152, you select the page on the SKL and then have the channel selected on the PRC-152. And from what I hear from others, the PRC-152A has a slightly different menu as w...
by nukedude
Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:02 pm
Forum: MotoTRBO Portables and Mobiles (4xxx/6xxx) 1.0 Series Subscribers
Topic: Help with XPR6550 firmware downloads
Replies: 3
Views: 3478

Re: Help with XPR6550 firmware downloads

I also had to contact Motorola technical support, since the files were not showing. I could get to the MotoTRBO area, but since my account was not correctly affiliated for some reason, it would not show she the actual files. A few minutes later, I could drill down to them and see them. The account i...
by nukedude
Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:56 pm
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: Motorola Oddballs through the years
Replies: 308
Views: 260483

Re: Motorola Oddballs through the years

I have been told by several people that my MW300 mobile data terminal is an oddball also. Lots of people know about the MW520 and 800/900 series computers used by public safety and fire departments. It was sold to me as new old stock coming from Israel and running WinCE 2.12. It isn't much of a comp...
by nukedude
Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:47 pm
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: CDM1250 / CDM750 loosing filtering of vehicle line noise
Replies: 12
Views: 3310

Re: CDM1250 / CDM750 loosing filtering of vehicle line noise

+1 on the loose screws. I have also noticed this on the CDM1550's. I added very small lock washers under mine to keep them tight. Where I work, the CDM-1250's are mounted in trucks, on small vessels and mobile comm suites. I just thought it was from being in a mobile environment though. So I check s...
by nukedude
Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:55 am
Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
Topic: 2012 Dodge 1500 Hemi Coil Whine
Replies: 5
Views: 4209

Re: 2012 Dodge 1500 Hemi Coil Whine

This has also been known to happen on: Pontiacs, Impalas and other vehicles with high voltage coil packs as well. I once had to troubleshoot a fleet of Impalas that all had this problem, it took some convincing to the maintenance crew that this was not a radio problem. They had to see it for themsel...
by nukedude
Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:52 am
Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
Topic: GPS vehicle antenna?
Replies: 11
Views: 5801

Re: GPS vehicle antenna?

I can vouch for the Larson ones as well. However the white ones will tend to turn yellow over time. But they do work reliably. After they turn yellow and unsightly on company vehicles, I tend to use them on higher profile rigs where they are not seen as much, and also on small vessels in the fleet. ...
by nukedude
Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:48 am
Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
Topic: To spring or not to spring a Larson NMO antenna?
Replies: 7
Views: 4980

Re: To spring or not to spring a Larson NMO antenna?

Unless it is going on the roof of a fire truck or high profile vehicle, the spring is not needed. If you can drive through parking garages and not have the antennas hit something, then the spring is not needed. Where I work, we have hundreds of 1/4 whips for VHF and UHF in use. The very few that hav...
by nukedude
Fri May 30, 2014 6:51 am
Forum: Radio Programming
Topic: Getting around the narrowband issue with Trbo CPS
Replies: 6
Views: 3250

Re: Getting around the narrowband issue with Trbo CPS

I had some drama getting the "Entitlement ID" (EID) for some XPR6550's that were narrow band only from the factory. Where I work, we still use some VHF Marine channels on our radios, working on ships. So I had to go through the "training" through the Motorola online site and get ...
by nukedude
Fri May 30, 2014 6:41 am
Forum: Test Equipment & RF Equipment Alignment
Topic: Aeroflex 3550 demod audio?
Replies: 4
Views: 2236

Re: Aeroflex 3550 demod audio?

Will do the same as well. (Contact the company via mail to let them know about the lack of useful information in the manual.) Use 3550 test sets where I work as well. And the manual is lacking. 7 units in use and many of them sit for months since the end users do not know how to use them. I like how...
by nukedude
Fri May 30, 2014 6:36 am
Forum: Test Equipment & RF Equipment Alignment
Topic: A suggestion to all you Aeroflex users....
Replies: 5
Views: 2667

Re: A suggestion to all you Aeroflex users....

Missed IWCE this year.....glad that Aeroflex made an effort. I did notice that Aeroflex is entering an agreement with Cobham. Cobham makes many of the satcom units we use on ships where I work. So hopefully this will help customer service. Cobham has been very good to us end users/installers over th...
by nukedude
Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:56 am
Forum: Radio Programming
Topic: CDM1250VHF-1250UHF Repeater interface cable
Replies: 1
Views: 1498

Re: CDM1250VHF-1250UHF Repeater interface cable

The company I work for has made many VHF to UHF repeaters with CDM-1250's. However, we use the Motorola repeater interface box instead. The duplexor box from eBay, is it smaller than a cigarette pack, with two pots to adjust? We use some of those for in band repeating where we do not need a duplexer...
by nukedude
Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:08 am
Forum: Computer/Technical Assistance
Topic: MW520 as replacement for car stereo
Replies: 7
Views: 11138

Re: MW520 as replacement for car stereo

I had the idea of using this for car stereo and video as well. Mine is the F5207A running Windows XP Pro SP2, and it is still a bit slow on video. Looks cool, and does work, but video is low resolution and choppy at times. Audio into the cars stereo sounds good though through and aux input. Going to...

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