Newbie Help: Programming 20 CP110s

[johnathan]

I work in a retail setting where we currently use about 20 XV 2600s in our daily business. We have just been told by the powers that be to add 20 more radios. The vendor recommended to the big boss CP110s, and so that's what we're getting.

We currently have 3 CP110s that we cannot use. Being the resident geek (although I know next to nothing about radios), I've been tasked with getting all soon-to-be-40 radios to play nice together. After reading the manual, I learned that you can't just program a CP110 by pressing a few buttons, like you can on the XV 2600s. Bummer.

I've found very little on this CPS software that I'm supposed to have to program these radios, other than it costs $300. The boss is not currently happy that he was not told about this expense by the dealer, so I'm exploring what our options are. I have not talked to the dealer myself, but will probably be working with them myself, after I figure out what to take to them.

Here are a few questions that I have:

• Can the dealer program these radios for us? Best I can tell, they come dumb. The three that we have do not seem to talk to each other at all.
• If we spring for $300 in software, is it simple enough to use that I can program them myself? I'm pretty confident with fiddling with things, and did program the 20 XV 2600s that we have.
• Is there any chance of getting the dealer to throw it in free with our 20 radio order? Hey, it's worth a shot, maybe...
• Would it be more feasible to have a radio shop program them for us? It's an option, but there are no licensed motorola shops in this area that I can tell.
• What would you do in my situation?

I know this is a lot of questions for a first time poster. I do appreciate any help you can provide me.

Thank you!

-Johnathan

[Tom in D.C.]

Sorry if it sounds harsh but any "dealer" who would try to sell your boss 20 programmable radios without the programming is a person you probably shouldn't be doing business with.
Selling a batch of new radios customarily includes programming. Whether it's "included" in the price or listed as a separate item what you get delivered are radios that are usable as soon as you've charged up the batteries.

The above assumes you do not have a continuing need for frequency changes. If that were the case they you'd be better off buying the software and other things you need to do the programming yourself.

[Bill_G]

I agree. A dealer that sells programmable radios, and doesn't offer to program them, needs a lesson in customer service.

Before you proceed Jonathan, do you know if your store has a valid FCC license? That's something a real dealer takes care of. Don't purchase the CPS and program these radios without having a license in hand. Yes, there are some license free channels available. Again, the dealer should take of this for you.

[johnathan]

Thank you both for the advice. I will definitely see what is up with the dealer not programing the radios. Maybe I can get them to program the three they already sold us too. I just got read into this whole thing recently, so I'm still fact-finding. I don't see any need for changing the frequencies on the radios after the initial programming, as long as we're not stepping on anyone else's toes, or vice-versa.

Also, yes, we are licensed.

[Bill_G]

Excellent. Have license, will talk. I'd have the dealer git it dun even if it's a reasonable added cost.