Search found 56 matches
- Wed Oct 07, 2015 8:45 am
- Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
- Topic: 2002 Chevy Blazer dual CDM install
- Replies: 8
- Views: 10712
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...
- Tue Sep 29, 2015 6:58 am
- Forum: Radio Programming
- Topic: Windows 10 & ASTRO 25 CPS
- Replies: 10
- Views: 6450
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 ...
- 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: 3054
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...
- Tue Sep 01, 2015 6:54 am
- Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
- Topic: Stealth VHF mobile antenna examples
- Replies: 11
- Views: 12585
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...
- Tue Jul 21, 2015 10:34 am
- Forum: Vehicle Warning Equipment Discussion
- Topic: Comm Center and Chevy Cruze Install
- Replies: 3
- Views: 7572
Re: Comm Center and Chevy Cruze Install
Very nice, like the rack of XTL5k's. And that the scanner backlight matches too.
- 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: 2683
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.
- 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: 7244
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...
- Wed Apr 15, 2015 6:45 am
- Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
- Topic: Radio permanently on charger to monitor
- Replies: 18
- Views: 4060
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...
- Mon Apr 06, 2015 6:57 am
- Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
- Topic: DMR rick reapeters
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2070
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.
- Mon Apr 06, 2015 6:52 am
- Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
- Topic: Returned Power / SWR
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4045
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...
- Tue Feb 24, 2015 6:51 am
- Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
- Topic: Motorola Solutions considering being sold
- Replies: 9
- Views: 2870
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...
- Wed Feb 11, 2015 7:03 am
- Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
- Topic: CDM 1550LS
- Replies: 12
- Views: 3224
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 ...
- 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: 12608
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...
- Mon Feb 09, 2015 6:40 am
- Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
- Topic: Motorola Solutions considering being sold
- Replies: 9
- Views: 2870
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...
- Fri Jan 30, 2015 2:21 pm
- Forum: Radio Programming
- Topic: CDM1250s that are not NB capable
- Replies: 5
- Views: 3333
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...
- Fri Jan 30, 2015 2:17 pm
- Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
- Topic: CDM1550 Question
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2107
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...
- 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: 8965
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...
- 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: 6459
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.
There were some newer documents on how to update that were date Dec 2014.
- Fri Jan 23, 2015 12:48 pm
- Forum: Legacy Batboard Motorola ASTRO (VSELP/IMBE/AMBE) Equipment Forum
- Topic: Li-ion
- Replies: 7
- Views: 11104
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...
- Tue Jan 20, 2015 6:44 am
- Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
- Topic: Coverage loss due to Narrow Banding
- Replies: 18
- Views: 5366
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...
- Mon Jan 19, 2015 8:30 am
- Forum: Test Equipment & RF Equipment Alignment
- Topic: Aeroflex 3920 freq shifts with mic on
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2296
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...
- 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: 8998
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...
- 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: 2457
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...
- Mon Jan 19, 2015 8:04 am
- Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
- Topic: XTVA Remote Mounting
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2951
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 ...
- Mon Jan 19, 2015 8:01 am
- Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
- Topic: CDM Remote Mic & Speaker
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1495
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...
- Tue Jan 13, 2015 8:02 am
- Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
- Topic: Feedline suggestions for deployable repeater
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4557
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, ...
- 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: 2695
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.
- Tue Jan 13, 2015 7:43 am
- Forum: Test Equipment & RF Equipment Alignment
- Topic: HP8920A locking up
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2092
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...
- Tue Jan 13, 2015 7:38 am
- Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
- Topic: 2012 Super Duty crew cab install under rear seat?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 11809
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.)
- Tue Jan 13, 2015 7:29 am
- Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
- Topic: Weather proof Polyphaser?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 3633
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...
- 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: 9637
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...
- 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: 11524
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 ...
- Tue Jan 13, 2015 6:52 am
- Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
- Topic: XPR5550 frozen on power up
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1351
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...
- 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: 2816
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...
- Tue Jan 13, 2015 6:43 am
- Forum: Computer/Technical Assistance
- Topic: Panasonic CF-29 with strange display problem
- Replies: 2
- Views: 6649
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.
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:42 pm
- Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
- Topic: Laird Technologies - 142-160 Phantom Antenna
- Replies: 4
- Views: 8428
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...
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:35 pm
- Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
- Topic: Low profile uhf Antennas
- Replies: 6
- Views: 9656
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...
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:29 pm
- Forum: Radio Programming
- Topic: Astro Saber lll programming
- Replies: 10
- Views: 4356
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.
- 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: 13947
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...
- 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: 3519
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...
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:56 pm
- Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
- Topic: Motorola Oddballs through the years
- Replies: 308
- Views: 263333
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...
- 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: 3365
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...
- Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:55 am
- Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
- Topic: 2012 Dodge 1500 Hemi Coil Whine
- Replies: 5
- Views: 4289
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...
- Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:52 am
- Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
- Topic: GPS vehicle antenna?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 5890
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. ...
- 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: 5117
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...
- Fri May 30, 2014 6:51 am
- Forum: Radio Programming
- Topic: Getting around the narrowband issue with Trbo CPS
- Replies: 6
- Views: 3260
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 ...
- Fri May 30, 2014 6:41 am
- Forum: Test Equipment & RF Equipment Alignment
- Topic: Aeroflex 3550 demod audio?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2277
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...
- Fri May 30, 2014 6:36 am
- Forum: Test Equipment & RF Equipment Alignment
- Topic: A suggestion to all you Aeroflex users....
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2701
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...
- Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:56 am
- Forum: Radio Programming
- Topic: CDM1250VHF-1250UHF Repeater interface cable
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1506
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...
- Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:08 am
- Forum: Computer/Technical Assistance
- Topic: MW520 as replacement for car stereo
- Replies: 7
- Views: 11402
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...