Motorola CM200/300

[KE9GK]

Looking for a bit more info on these radios from those that have used them in the field as I have not yet had the opportunity to play with any myself.

I am looking at using a bunch of these units as tone remoted VHF control bases durring a future upgrade of a local PD's "back room" electronics. They will be replacing a bunch of 50 watt DC controlled MSR2000's. I guess what this post really boils down to is that I need to know if I should go hunting for decent used GM300's or sell the PD on less expensive "NEW" radios. If anyone has "cost conscious" suggestions for other /\/\ units to use in this capacity I welcome them as well, however they need to have mode steering capabilities via tone remote as we are somewhat limited as far as resources go on the OP positions!

So here are my questions:

- Are these radios of the same quality as a Maxtrac/GM300 series for use in the above application?

- Do all the radios (including the 4 channel) have the 16 or 20 pin acc connectors?

- Are the accessory connectors the same pinout as a Maxtrac / CDM / LCS series (makes tone remoting easier - existing cables)

- Do these radios support mode steering via the ACC connector with a TNA200 adapter or similar?

Thanks

[Rayjk110]

Well it's been in my experience that the GM300 has more sensitive receive, at least. I have connected and used a CM300 on a TNA200 to a Comtegra, but didn't use mode steering for that application.

They're OK radios, kinda like a CDM but in a much smaller package.

[Mikey]

I don't know if CM200/300 offers Mode Steering , but the CDM750/1250 Does and in my opinion is more of a comparison with the GM300. I have used several CDM750's with Tone remote adapters as control stations without any problems.


Mikey

[Al]

I'm using CM300s with GaiTronics TRAs with no problems in base station operation.
I would beware of being *too* cost-sensitive in a public safety application - replacing continuous duty MSRs with intermittent/light duty GM300s or CM300s probably should not be considered. Also, the GMs are not capable of narrowband operation on a per channel basis but you probably already knew that.

[KE9GK]

Thanks everyone for your input thus far. Believe me when I say that a CM300 is a major step up from what is in that room already....perhaps I'll post B4 and after pix at a later date..it is the most hamsexxy PSAP I have ever seen! None of these radios will be used in a "primary" continuous duty fassion...they will be utilized for mutual aid only (ie. simplex DPW channel base, Point to Point base replacing a 45watt Maxtrac, MARC / WISPERN base <--which is where I need the mode steering.

I am assuming from all the responses that these have the same maxtrac/radius 16 pin configuration?

[Al]

The basic functions(hook, PTT, ext mic audio, gnd, etc.) are the same as the Maxtracs. The others you will have to program(i.e. channel steering bits) to be like the Maxtracs.

[wkr518]

if going with CM200/300 be sure your local Moto Dealer knows about the Buy6 get 1 free on these Radius mobiles.
Maybe save a little money while getting what you want.

[KE9GK]

Thanks All for your input on this...

I think its going to be CDM's for the more utilized units...and CM's for the ones that are going to just be sitting around in RX mode for 98% of the time.

Final question I need a concrete answer on...and I'll leave this post alone...

Does anyone know if these things (CM200 and 300) support mode steering via TRA?

[jackhackett]

Does anyone know if these things (CM200 and 300) support mode steering via TRA?

Yes. Like Al said, you'll have to go into the accessory connector settings and set the pins to do it, several of the pins have the option of being set as mode select inputs.

[KE9GK]

GREAT!!

Thanks to all for your input!

[d119]

A CM2/300 is a step up from an MSR? OK...

You realize that if you replace the power supplies in those MSR 2000's with Astron Switching supplies (or Duracomm or whomever), you can count on getting another 10-15 years of service out of them.

The MSR 2000 is a bulletproof radio, no question. Only thing I've ever had to replace on them were the power supplies.

[tvsjr]

I wasn't going to say anything, but... yeah. From an MSR2000 to a CM300? Or even a CDM-series? Neither the CM nor the CDM are designed to be base station radios... moving from nice purpose-built MSRs to a stack of mobiles is certainly not going to do anything to reduce the Hamsexy Level of the facility.

Why use CDMs for some and CMs for others? I'd say the CM is as capable a radio as the CDM... neither one is a continuous-duty radio and thus should not be used on primary dispatch/ops channels.

If you must have something new, why not consider MTR2000s in a base station configuration or (uh-oh, blasphemy...) Kenwood TKR-750s?

[john9912]

A CM2/300 is a step up from an MSR? OK...

You realize that if you replace the power supplies in those MSR 2000's with Astron Switching supplies (or Duracomm or whomever), you can count on getting another 10-15 years of service out of them.

The MSR 2000 is a bulletproof radio, no question. Only thing I've ever had to replace on them were the power supplies.

MSR2000s would only be good for 4 more years of gov't use as they are not designed for narrowband operations. It may be possible to modify the units to comply with narrowband, but would require tuning, and probably filters to limit bandwidth.

[d119]

A CM2/300 is a step up from an MSR? OK...

You realize that if you replace the power supplies in those MSR 2000's with Astron Switching supplies (or Duracomm or whomever), you can count on getting another 10-15 years of service out of them.

The MSR 2000 is a bulletproof radio, no question. Only thing I've ever had to replace on them were the power supplies.

MSR2000s would only be good for 4 more years of gov't use as they are not designed for narrowband operations. It may be possible to modify the units to comply with narrowband, but would require tuning, and probably filters to limit bandwidth.

http://www.com-spec.com/narrow.htm Communications Specialists will sell you the narrowbanding kit (CF-MITREK) for $25 each. 'nuff said.

It's a travesty and step backwards to replace those stations with mobiles. You'll never get the ruggedness and duty out of mobiles that you will out of an MSR 2000.

Like I said. Replace the power supplies with rack mounted switching units, take the MSR's out of their cabinets and rack mount them, and when the time comes, install the narrowband kits and you're done. Rack mounting them will fix the hamsexiness issue, it'll make them nice and neat.

[KE9GK]

OK.....everyone calm down a bit......

I am very much aware of how decent the MSR line is.....In fact my personal repeater is one!! That being said, every PSAP in this county is on the 800 mhz trunked system with the exception of 2.....this being one of them. Eventually they will have to convert...but they don't want to at this point...and their VHF PD/FD repeaters (one MSR and one MSF) are not having any issues to force that hand yet. I realize that the CM/CDM line isn't continuous duty rated....but neither are the MCS2000 800 meg control bases that all the other PSAPS use for their console resources. (Yes I know the quality is better)

Also, let me restate that the duty cycle of these are going to be 98% RX and 2% TX. These are not going to be used as the "primary" PD/FD control bases....thats what the astro spectra consolettes are for! These are just mutual aid radios for channels like...MARC...IFERN....WISPERN....POINT....DPW....nothing misson critical that is going to see a lot of talk time. I cant justify Quantars, MTR's, or MSF's knowing that the end is near for good ol' VHF....that would be a foolish waste of $ on their part....but they do need these resources NOW to be able to talk outside their little island...and they need multi freq. radios with tone mode steering to compensate for only 12 channel command plus consoles....this is the least expensive yet still reliable way to go (and they are narrow band and synthesized)! No one would like to have a room full of of cool high tier equipment to install and maintain more than me....but for a 6 mile X 6 mile township....it just doesnt pay!

PS. There is no way that I could make this more HAMSEXXY than it already is....lets just say for example....70' of tower + 20' of 4 bay (x2) = Not a polyphaser anywhere on the feedline to the equipment..ANYWHERE!! Believe me....this overhaul (even with the cheap radios) will be a step up...if u could only see what is wrong and in need of correction!!!

[Kevin59]

Regarding the mode steering question, I don't have a manual in front of me now, but I believe the CM200/300 will have a binary logic steering input. The CM200 will select all four modes with two lines, the CM300, 16 modes with four lines.

Kevin