Batboard

I'm looking into CDM-series radios to replace my Maxtracs and Icoms, but before I spend the money, I'd like to pose some Embarrassing Newbie Questions™ and make sure the radio can really do what I want it to.

I'm leaning toward a CDM because I definitely need the remote-head capability. I also would really benefit from more than 64 channels, so it looks like the CDM1550LS+ is a front-runner.

I am, unfortunately, unclear on how the radio organizes conventional channels. Would someone be so kind as to check my homework?

It's my understanding that each of the 16 zones can have 16 conventional channels. So it would follow that a large number of conventional channels would need to be distributed over multiple zones, correct?

It's also my understanding that there is one scan list for each of the 16 available zones, and that each scan list can have 16 channels. Can scan lists pull channels from multiple zones, or only the zone they are linked to? Can multiple zone lists be linked and scanned at one time?

Ideally, what I'd like to do is program the entire AAR band plan (07-97), then from that master pool of frequencies build scan lists. The mode-slaved scan lists in the Maxtracs were *excellent* in that regard. But if I'm following this, it would be impossible to build a scan list that could, for example, scan AAR08 from zone 1 and AAR 64 from zone 4?

At this point, I'm not really looking for a how-to as much as someone to elaborate and tell me if I've got a bead on this, and if I'll be able to configure the radio in a useful way. I need to have a clear enough grasp on the radio setup that I can properly instruct the shop programming it.

Also, does the 1550 actually use the *entire* 136-174 bandsplit? Being able to monitor railroads and use 2-meter with the same rig would be a joy.

Thanks for the help.

You build scan lists that can include any channel from any zone. The trick is knowing which scan list you are scanning when you start start scan. You can make a cdm do almost anything. Yes it will do the whole split. I have a ht1250 that i use for work and the fire dept and 2 meter and have not found anything I couldn't, within reason make it do.

Thanks for the info. Can this list building can be done from the radio's front panel, or is it done during programming?

The CDM will allow scan list editing if programmed to do so. The remote can be a bit problematic, sometimes one of the control heads will power up blank. Also when programming use the rear accessory connector, not one of the microphone connections on the dual head system.

not all cdm1550's can do 160 channels so if you go that rout make shure you stress you want one that can. And the cdm1250's and cdm1550's are not limited to 16ch per zone, you can put all of the channels in one zone if you want. However they are limited to 16ch on scan but you can have multiple scan lists. And not one list per zone, I think the cdm1550's can have up to 16 different scan lists and you can assign any of them to any channel or personality you want to. And yes, the cdm's can do the complete band with no modification