Unknown Problem w/ CDM1550

Car 426 · Post by **Car 426** » Tue Jan 01, 2002 5:15 pm

I recently noticed that on occasion, the radio will power down and power up
and resume normal function.

As of yesterday, I noticed that the mode alias would disappear from the
screen, leaving only "H" (high power) and "Z" (scan) on the display.

In this instance, it should have read "CITYWIDE", but the name disappeared
and did not return until I changed channels. The second time it happened, I
keyed up on Citywide (talkaround) on my portable HT1000 and the mobile
received the transmission with no alias, then the alias returned when it
resumed normal scan.

I would like to get this problem repaired prior to the factory warranty
running out.

Any suggestions?

Monty · Post by **Monty** » Tue Jan 01, 2002 5:18 pm

Hi:

Send it to Motorola

At least you will get all the Updates, and
Firmware improvements.

Before warned though.....If you have earlier
Version SW, when you get it back, your RSS may not work anylonger.

MS

Car 426 · Post by **Car 426** » Tue Jan 01, 2002 5:26 pm

What is the latest version out there? I think I am running 6.0 at the moment...didn't even touch the 6.01 version yet.

Monty · Post by **Monty** » Tue Jan 01, 2002 5:33 pm

Hi:

As of 9/01 the latest Version was 6.00.01

I am a bit biased here, since we are being
used as a QC department for Motorola. As
we find new problems and report them, so
does the Revisions is RSS showing up....

Personally, I am getting annoyed at Mototolas newer radios. May have alot
of whistles and bells, but heck, seems
everytime I turn around I am sending CDM /Pro Series back for service.

Soon as they work out all the bugs on the older radios, they will come out with a new
one for us to evaluate.

MS

wazzzzzzzzup · Post by **wazzzzzzzzup** » Tue Jan 01, 2002 8:27 pm

yep, i have a problem with my CDM1550LS mobile in trunked mode, i havent sent it in yet. i will soon, but the LTR data has become uncalibrated over time and it wont access an ltr system much now, i have posted about this in the past. i did call up motorola but they have never heard of my problem before, the several people here that replied to my original post said that it is a common problem with motorola LTR trunked radios. ohwell, i'll play gunea pig radio tester for the motorola QC department HI.. HI..

phantom · Post by **phantom** » Tue Jan 01, 2002 9:25 pm

You may wish to bug Motorola some more. I know one company had to replace about 200 CDM1550LS control heads (where the most of the logic is done) to correct a REALLY big LTR protocol issue. This was done about a year ago. Not sure what version yours is. Not sure which version they had to change either. LTR + CDM = problems.
Hope this helps
PH

metro121 · Post by **metro121** » Wed Jan 02, 2002 5:12 pm

Hey Monty.
Any chance of getting an email adress for the Motorola complaint dept.
What we need is a way to get these complaints and suggestions to the the Motorola and make sure they are heard.
I think most of the complaints are as I have always bitched about.
Lets put as much into the quality as is into the technology.

Car 426 · Post by **Car 426** » Wed Jan 02, 2002 6:06 pm

Bear in mind that my said radio works fine transmitting and receiving all channels, less the display problem and the power problem. Every time I key the mike I get constant raves about how great that radio sounds in comparison to the GM300 in my 95 Crown Vic.

My CDM1550 is a conventional model.

Spoke with radio shop today, they want to send it out to "M" for repair.

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Jan 03, 2002 1:07 am

Is the radio hooked DIRECTLY to the vehicles battery?
Even a slight voltage drop causes the problem you described. Some of these new vehicles have very poor current handeling due to smaller gauge wire to the fuse blocks, ign switch and such.

10-95 · Post by **10-95** » Thu Jan 03, 2002 1:08 am

As for getting your complaints to Motorola, don't worry, several of their design engineers visit this site.

10-95

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Thu Jan 03, 2002 7:35 pm

Look at the part# for the control head (white label on botton side). i belive that it is a GCN6114 or something like it).
If it ends in a "A", there is an update for it.
Most units should still be under the two year warranty.
Send to Motorola for upgrades.

metro121 · Post by **metro121** » Thu Jan 03, 2002 10:29 pm

I am sure that there are quite a few Motorola reps check out this site quite often however my computer does not translate into "I AM SAM, SAM I AM, I LIKE GREEN EGGS AND HAM".
Maybe we should post our complaints in crayon.

Car 426 · Post by **Car 426** » Wed Jan 16, 2002 4:56 pm

Radio and head sent back to dealer in the Boston area, who is sending it out to Motorola for repairs and/or upgrades.

Will update this thread when radio returns.

Thanks.

jim · Post by **jim** » Thu Jan 17, 2002 5:23 am

Send it back to "M"
They have so damn many problems with these radios' firmware. Oh, make sure you have the black/red leads going directly to the battery or junction block and don't shut off with a battery switch.

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Thu Jan 17, 2002 6:29 pm

Well I have had my CDM1550 in my car for about 7months now and no problem. the only thing i have founf is that audio sounds a little funny in the morning after a cold night.
As for power off is only whne it sits in the car on in the cold but my maratrac did that

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Thu Jan 17, 2002 9:18 pm

While everyone is on the subject of the CDM series radios I have "one" for all of ya:

Radio fleet has many maxtracs and gm300, etc..All working fine on a quasi-synch system
The addition of CDM750 radios has not been fun since there are some audio problems.

When "user a" is talking, "others" say that user a's audio is low, or slightly muffled.

This problem does not occur in any way, shape or form with the maxtracs and others.

I did not want to start changing various parameters in the ungodly deep menus before checking here first.

Could it simply be a firmware issue, or could it be the split that is set wrong. The entire system is a few years old so I don't think it's operating on the new split, but could be?? (if so, how come other older radios are OK?)

Also, I was thinking about boosting the mic gain to adjust for the "lack" of oomph in audio but I did not want to sweep the dirt under the rug when I would rather vaccum it, ya know?

ANy ideas guys?
I can get a serial #, & or model # if anyone needs such. Oh, the radios are VHF 4 channel models.

Thanks

Post by **HumHead** » Thu Jan 17, 2002 9:43 pm

From the symptoms you're describing, it sounds like the CDM mobiles may have the "X-Pand" compression option enabled. If the TX radio is compressing, but the RX radio is not expanding, you will likely get exactly the problem you describe.

When programing, check the "advanced" tab under the channel personality. Make sure that compression and expansion fields are both set to "disabled", and that the Emphasis Selection is set to "Emphasis and De-Emphasis".

A second item to check is the bandwidth setting in the personality's Basic tab. If the rest of the radios are programmed for wide-band, and the CDMs are TXing narrow-band, their audio will be -6dB against any of the wide-band radios.

Good luck!

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Fri Jan 18, 2002 8:35 pm

Hey Hum Head, Thanks for the advice. I did not have a chance to do anything today but will on Tuesday and let you & the board know how I make out.

Have a nice weekend all.......