Batboard

Ok, After several hours I've come to the conclusion I need the experts:

Currently we have Motorola GM-300's as our base station radios, they are set-up in the console mode, where they will receive an emergency signal from the mobile and hand-held units. Once the signal is sent, the base radio beebs shows EE and the mdc ID number of the radio sending the emergency signal, they have the external switch to clear the emergency.

We are slowly and I mean slowly converting over to a console set-up eventually installing a MC2500 console and having that console control the four seperate base staions. Prior to the Console set-up we are slowly switching over to the newer CDM1250 as our base station radios where currently they will act as individual base staion radios just as we have now until we purchase all the other hardware needed to switch over to a complete console set-up.

The problem I have been having is in the programming software for the CDM is that it doesnt seem to have "console set-up" as the GM300 did and I cant figure out a way to program it to receive emergency signals where we will see and hear the emergency signal and clear it through the external switch.

I'm hoping we didnt buy the wrong radio and maybe its just outdated software or I'm missing something, so any and all help will be appreciated, heres what we have:

Model #: AAM25RKD9AA2AN

Firmware Ver: R05.05.17

CPS Ver: R06.01.00

What unit are yoy wanting to decode and acknowledge the MDC emergency? The mobile or the deskset?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the CDM1250 will not decode MDC emergency. The CDM1550 will.

When you eventually get the MC2500, that will decode Emergency as well.

RF Guy, I want to decode and acknowlege mdc emergency on the deskset, which is actualy a CDM1250 just playing a differant role so to speak.

HumHead, its not all that of bad news if I think what your telling me is correct if we kept the cdm1250's and put up with them not decoding emergency while were using them as stand alone base stations, then when we eventually connect them to a MC2500 that unit (the MC2500) will decode the emergency signal, is this correct.

Also what I didnt realize until today is that all the other channels revert back to our main channel when an emergency button is depressed so in reality I would only need one CDM1550 to decode emergency, correct? if I wanted to go this route is there anything I should be aware of like firmware or ls model or anything like that or is it a standard feature in all of CDM1550's?

I think you have a good understanding of it.

You need the CDM1550 for standalone decode/acknowledge of MDC emergencies.
You can use the MC2500 on a CDM1250 where the MC2500 does the decode/acknowledge of MDC emergencies.

As for CDM1550 firmware/versions, if it is a new unit, there are no issues. It can be set to decode/acknowledge of MDC emergencies in the programming.

You need the external button to clear the emergencies (just like the GM300).

I know that the HT1550s enabled MDC Emergency Decode somewhere around firmware version R05.08.03. I seem to recall that the CDM1550s had it even before that, although I'm not sure just where they started. In any case, a unit updated with current firmware should do the job for you.

If you only need to decode MDC Emergency on one channel, then you are correct in thinking that you would only need to upgrade one radio.

As RFguy pointed out, emergency reset requires an external reset button, at least in theory. Someone (I think it was Wavetar?) posted a brilliant suggestion to program one of the front panel buttons for Auxiliary Output operation, and then jumper that pin to the emergency reset pin on the accessory connector, thereby giving yourself a front panel reset button.

I'm assuming that you probably already know this but, when you upgrade to the MC2500 you will also need tone remote adapters for each of the radios.

When setting up the radios for remote control, be sure to disable DOS (Data Operated Squelch). It can be more than a little frustrating when your receive radio mutes the MDC data, rather than passing it on to the console.

RF & Hum thanks for the help, one last question does the CPS software for the CDM1250 work with the CDM1550 or does it have its own?

I did look back and found the post about confirguring one of the accsy switches to act as an emergency reset, very ingenious, if we end up switching to a 1550 I may be asking more questions in regards to this configuration.

In regards to the MC2500 set-up, yes I was looking at the Gai-Tronics ITA2000A to do the job, any feedback on this brand or model either way? and once all the hardware is obtained I'm sure to have a few more questions.

The Professional Series CPS package will program the CDM750, CDM1250, CDM1550, HT750, HT1250, HT1550, EX500, and EX600.

I've used the Gai-Tronics adapters in a number of installations and have not encountered any real problems with them.

The Gai-tronics units are what Motorola stamps & sells as their own, so using them won't be a problem.

Todd