CommandPlus tone termination panels

[firedog359]

Hello everyone, I will say right up front,I am not a radio tech.I am just a Firefighter who loves old radios and consoles.I have a CommandPlus console that will control up to 12 radios and 16 freq's per radio.If I wanted to hook more than one radio up,do I have to have a tone termination panel for each radio? Thanks.

[Jim202]

Hello everyone, I will say right up front,I am not a radio tech.I am just a Firefighter who loves old radios and consoles.I have a CommandPlus console that will control up to 12 radios and 16 freq's per radio.If I wanted to hook more than one radio up,do I have to have a tone termination panel for each radio? Thanks.

If the console is set up for tone control, then yes, you need a tone termination panel for each radio.

With that said, bear in mind that not all radios can be remotely channel changed. Even if the tone remote panel has the multi channel ability, the radio it connects to may only have single or dual channel external steering connections.

The Motorola consolette radios can be multi channel changed by tone control. Even the new APX consolettes can do this. But the radio software for the remote control is a very big pain in the lower part of the body to program. Motorola also has this strange thing about channels 3 and 4 being swapped with channels 7 and 8 in these radios. Found that out many years ago working on one of them. Went to key up channel 3 on the toner remote and the radio went to channel 7. Keyed up channel 7 and the radio went to channel 3. Another fine design job by the Motorola team.

Jim

[Bill_G]

+1 to what Jim said.

You need a term for every radio, though some may have one built in (like the consolette, Quantars, MTR2000/3000). That also means a separate phone line between the console and every term panel (one for every radio). Might be 4 wire. Might be 2 wire. Depends on how you configure it.

If you want that 16 channel capability, you definitely need a true base station capable of it (like the consolette, Quantars, MTR2000/3000). Most mobiles do not have external channel select lines, and those that do (like the CDM), generally require a specialized term panel, not a generic one.

The CommandPlus is also capable of Local control. They call it E&M in their literature. It gives you basic Push-to-talk, let-go-to-listen capability. Generally done with five wires - PTT, RX HI, MIC HI, Monitor, and ground. Very limited wire length between the console and the radio - generally well under 1000ft. But, it does allow control of a standard mobile radio if it has an accessory connector that allows it (like the Maxtrac, CDM, etc).

The CommandPlus is a pretty good buttons and LEDS product. Very easy to operate, but does require some experience to set up. Their installation manual is complete enough to guide you through it.

[CPIComm]

+2 to other replies.

Each radio needs it's own term panel and make sure that the radio has channel select/steering lines to change channels on the accessory jack. Most radios do, but there are a few that dont have the capability.

[firedog359]

Thanks to everyone for all of the info.I am basically just looking at hooking up a couple of GM300's. 1 in the 136-174 range for my county channels and 1 in the 450-470 range for my work channels.My console has 12 channels with DC cards for 8 and the phone line interface.I actually use it for my phone in my home office.I just like collecting and displaying radios and consoles and just want to hook a couple of radios up to show how it's used.

[Jim202]

Thanks to everyone for all of the info.I am basically just looking at hooking up a couple of GM300's. 1 in the 136-174 range for my county channels and 1 in the 450-470 range for my work channels.My console has 12 channels with DC cards for 8 and the phone line interface.I actually use it for my phone in my home office.I just like collecting and displaying radios and consoles and just want to hook a couple of radios up to show how it's used.

You didn't say you had DC cards in the console. Those went out of style many many years ago. But you can still buy the radio end termination panels using DC control. This is what you will need for each radio your looking to control.

We all assumed that you were talking about tone control. You originally said you had tone control cards in the console. See what we get for assuming the facts and you forgetting to tell us.

Jim

[Bill_G]

Yep. DC control is a completely different critter.

[firedog359]

I understand the difference between DC and tone control.My board has DC cards installed as options on 8 of the 12 channels but in the software there is an option to choose DC or Tone control for each channel setup.I am not sure but I think that Tone control can be used even if a DC option board is installed simply by choosing that option in the software.