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  The Motorola CDM Series
Mobile Radio Index Page

Compiled from information provided by several people
by Robert Meister WA1MIK (SK)
Maintained by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
   

pix/cdm-montage.jpg

DONATIONS OF INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY PDFs OF MANUALS WE DON'T HAVE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Comments / critiques / suggestions / corrections to this page are welcome.
(Actually any page at this web site)

The CDM-series of mobile radios are great radios… They were introduced in 1999 and were the follow-on series to the MaxTrac / Radius / GM300 product line. The CDMs were the mobile radios in the "Professional Series" product line which also included the HT750, the HT1250, and the HT1550 handhelds and used the same CPS. The code name used in the development of the Professional Series was "Waris" and you will find references to the Waris Series on other web pages. There is a model number decoder below.

Unfortunately all CDM support has been discontinued as of June 2015. Parts are limited, some are no more, like the custom-made (by Murata) surface mount wide band IF filters. Somewhere around 2001-2003 the CDMs were replaced in the sales book by the XPR series and the CM200, CM300 and PR400 series of mobile radios (anybody know the actual XPR or CM introduction date?).

If anyone has additional hints / tricks / gotcha's, manuals or documents on the CDM or Waris radios we'd be happy to post them… You can be credited or anonymous, your choice - please contact the page maintainer listed above.
For example, a step-by-step article on how to recover from the "EEPRM CS ERROR" situation would be useful.
Yet another example would be a step-by-step procedure to stretch the lower limit of the 450-512 MHz "S" range radios down to 440 MHz. without losing receiver sensitivity or transmitter power.
Another would be a step-by-step conversion of the "200 MHz" CDM (which was actually shipped on 217-222 MHz) to cover the amateur FM spectrum at 222-225 MHz.

Anybody have any Service / Repair Notes or Field Service Bulletins to share?

Programming the CDM series:

The CDM radios are programmed by HVN9025 Professional Radio CPS which runs under Windows 95, 98, XP, 7 and 10. That CPS also programs these: CDM750, CDM1250, CDM1550, HT750, HT1250, HT1550, MTX, EX500, EX600, EX600XLS, PRO5150, PRO7150, PRO9150, GP320, GP340, GP360, GP380, GP318, GP338, GP640, GP680, GP1280. The HVN9025 CPS allows selectable wideband or narrowband on a per-channel basis. You want to find and use Revision R06.12.05 (released in December 2011) is the one to look for as it is the last one that allows wide or narrow selection without a wideband entitlement key. It's "out there" on the web. That revision also fixed a number of problems / bugs including the 64‑bit Windows USB problems (it can use COM1-16), and it can be found "out there". We have the 6.12.05 Release Note (25 KB PDF, opens in a new window).

I was told that any later version locks you to the 12.5 KHz unless you have a wideband entitlement key – And the keys are different between Mototurbo (DMR), Professional Series, and Commercial Series (and as of 2024 those keys are no longer available). An email reported that this "feature" bit the sender in the behind when he purchased a radio on eBay that was last programmed with R06.12.09 (the last version). He ended up selling that radio on eBay as he needed wideband and couldn't get a key. I have been told that the only difference between revisions 6.12.05 and the later versions is the forced narrowband, the addition of a few newer model numbers into the internal tables and into the directory that has the sample codeplug files (and those sample files can be copied from the newer versions into your copy of 6.12.05). Unless you really need something in a later release there is no need to go anything newer then 6.12.05.

Your existing RJ-45-style Maxtrac / Radius LRA / GM300 cable (either 9-pin D connector or USB-based) will work just fine for everything except firmware upgrades. Motorola's literature says that you need their 9-pin D-connector to RJ-45 cable (RIB-less) programming cable (model RKN4081C) you don't need to.

If you don't already have a 9-pin D connector to RJ-45 cable or a USB to RJ-45 cable then get this FTDI USB one. FTDI based cables don't need any funny drivers, they just plain work.

When programming a CDM mobile or a HT750 / HT1250HT750 / HT1550 (Waris series) handheld do NOT touch anything until you get the second set of beeps after loading a codeplug. The radio will beep when the programming load is complete, then the radio will reset itself and restart. That restart concludes with another beep. WAIT for that second / post-restart beep! If you start unplugging cables or shut off the power in-between the beeps you stand a good chance of corrupting the radio… This is the voice of experience.
One caution: Do not let the power fail while programming the radio, ESPECIALLY while flashing / loading firmware. The author programs radios with a laptop that is plugged into an AC outlet and has a good battery. The radio is run off of a 12v 7ah battery during programming and flashing.
Second caution: If you have a remote head or dual head environment Moto recommends that you disconnect any dual head kits or remote kits while programming. They say to use a local head only while programming and ESPECIALLY while loading firmware. And you can program the CDM through the accessory jack if you use a RLN4853 adapter (and you can build it). (link opens in a new browser tab) The author knows of a group that has a large number of headless CDMs that are used as receivers, exciters, full duplex links (a pair on each end) and control receivers. Every single one has been programmed through the accessory connector.

The front panel microphone connector (photo) on a CDM is a 10 pin, not the normal 8 pin (but your 8-pin programming cable will work just fine). The 10 pin connector plug body (photo) is the same size / width as the standard 8 pin and at first glance you won't realize that it's a 10 pin connector. The additional 2 pins are only used by the DTMF microphone for the CDM (but it's only a 12 button microphone).

If you do a lot of radio programming, especially away from the workbench, you might want to consider dedicating a laptop to radio programming. I prefer the CF‑30 - CF‑31 series Toughbooks because they are cheap, readily available, Mil-Spec rugged, configurable, repairable and have a 9-pin hardware COM port that always works. I have an article that is linked on the previous page – "Some Thoughts on Radio Programming Computers and Laptops". Note that the article is an opinion piece and my needs are probably different that yours – what works for me may or may not work for you…

Interfaacing:

The interfacing of a CDMis very sililar as to a GM300 or the previous Maxtrac and Radius LRA radios. The CDM accessory connector on the rear of the radio is made by TE-AMP and uses a 20 pin connector body, not 16 like the previous models. The center 16 pins are pretty-much the same, the designer added two pins to the left of the old connector, and two more pins on the right. Your GM300 cable will plug onto the center 16 pins and work just fine - with one exception, pin 15, noted below. The acccessory connector is identified on the schematics as J0501.

Mouser: Connector body: 571-1044221
Component TE-Amp Digikey Mouser Notes
16 Pin Housing 104422-1 104422-1-ND 571-104422-1 Maxtrac, Radius LRA, M10, M120, M130, GM300, R1225
20 Pin Housing 104422-2 104422-2-ND 571-104422-2 CDM series
Female Pin 86016-2 A25989-ND 571-860162 (loose pins) or
571-85969-8-CT (a strip of 100 pins)
I've provided two part numbers for the Mouser pins as sometimes the loose individual pins are out of stock when the strip of 100 pins is available (100 pins is the smallest bulk amount).
Surprisingly Motorola still recommends the HLN9457 16 pin(!) Hardware Kit for the CDM. It includes sixteen connector pins, five 8-inch-long wires with female pins already attached plus an extra housing.
A wide variety of 16- and 20-pin connectors and connector / interfacing kits / cable kits can be purchased from ebay seller "mre1032" (Kurt Meltzer, KC4NX / WB9KNX, Meltzer Radio Engineering).


Pin Description Direction Comments Simple Interface
1 Speaker (-) Output Only Not Programmable.   DO NOT accidentally ground this pin!   Doing so will probably destroy the speaker amplifier (and with the limited CDM parts a replaceement part will probably not be available). Program the minimum speaker level to zero.
2 External Mic Audio Input Only This pin is high-pass filtered (i.e. the incoming PL tone is stripped) and programmable for pre-emphasis or no pre-emphasis. Input impedance is 560 ohms. Depending on the Tuning settings the deviation on this pin can be limited to a max of about 4 KHz. Transmit audio input (default is with emphasis).
3 Digital In #1 Input Only, Active Low Only Fully Programmable, one option is external microphone PTT. PTT (to ground)
4 Digital In #2 Output Only Fully Programmable. Note: this pin is the only one that actively pulls high, and it can handle a small relay coil (don't forget the shunt diode), all the other output pins pull low (to ground).  
5 Flat TX Audio Input Input Only This pin is always flat, is not highpass filtered and is appropriate as a external PL input, DPL input, digital paging data input, LTR digital data input, etc. Input impedance is 560 ohms.
Note: there is NO deviation limiting on this pin. You must use a service monitor to watch the transmit deviation while setting the input level to this pin.
Optional: Connect an external PL encoder (like on a Scom 7330), DPL or paging encoder to this pin.
6 Digital In/Out #3 Input Only Fully Programmable, includes Channel Select  
7 Ground   Ground
8 Digital In/Out #4 Selectable I/O Fully Programmable, includes Channel Select COS out
9 Analog In #5 Special Input, Tri-state Emergency Switch Programmable, however the only options are Null and External Emergency Switch (Input)
This pin is noted in the Moto documentation as "with Wakeup".
See note below.
10 Ignition Sense Special Input Not Programmable, Active High only.
If you use this pin you should fuse it with a 1 amp (or smaller) fuse!
This pin is electrically fragile. See the notes further down on this page.
11 Receive Audio Output Output Only Partially Programmable. This pin can be programmed to output either flat or de-emphasized receive audio. Most users will want de-emphasized mode.
Note that like the CDM, like the prior GM300, Radius and Maxtrac series provides squelch-muted, PL-filtered and de-emphasized "handset audio" on one pin of the microphone jack.
Receive audio output (de-emphasized).
12 Digital In/Out #7 Selectable I/O Fully Programmable, includes Channel Select  
13 Switched Battery +12v out to accessories when the radio is powered on. Not Programmable. This pin can source up to 1 amp (from a dedicated LM2941 regulator inside the radio).
If you use this pin then make sure you fuse it with a 1 amp (or less) fuse!
 
14 Digital In/Out #8 Selectable I/O Fully Programmable, includes Channel Select Optional: CTCSS decode out.
15 RSSI (Received Signal
Strength Indicator)
Analog Voltage Output
zero to 2.4 volts DC
Not Programmable
NOTE: On the Maxtrac / Radius LRA / GM300 series this pin was the speaker and was normally externally jumpered to pin 16!   If you are going to recycle your old Maxtrac or GM300 cable then you need to cut the pin‑15‑to‑16 jumper.
If your controller has an extra analog input connect this to it.
16 Speaker (+) Output Only Treat this pin the same as pin 1 Connect an external speaker (floating!) to pin 1 and 16.
17 BUS (+) Bidirectional Not Programmable to other purposes. You can program the radio through this pin.
18 Boot Control Special Input Not Programmable.   To enter Boot Mode this line must be grounded when the radio is switched on.  
19 Pins 19 and 20 are labeled as NC (No Connection) on some documentation, and "Reserved" on others… But… the Detailed Service Manual shows pn 19 as "UART-RX" and 20 as "UART-TX" on the diagram labeled "Controller T2 Schematic Diagram - I/O". These same signals connect to the controller and I/O chips on the diagram labeled "Controller T2 Schematic Diagram - Controller Overall" and to the UART chip on the "Controller T2 Schematic Diagram - Microprocessor" schematic.  
20

Accessory Connector Notes:
  • Like the Maxtrac / Radius LRA / GM300 series an external loudspeaker can be connected to the Accessory connector pins 1 and 16. The speaker inside the CDM control head is designed to be able to be unplugged when an external speaker is used (but you have to open the head to disconnect it).
  • To have the CDM switch on when DC power is applied just ground pin 9 (i.e. jumper it to pin 7), and program it for Emergency, but do not define the energency condtion. This programming will use the "with Wakeup" feature to force the radio to turn itself on when power is applied. You will want to add a pin7-to-pin 9 on any remotely located radio (like a repeater control receiver) so it powers itself up with power return.
  • Pin 15 used to be a speaker connection on the GM300 and earlier radios. It is now "RSSI" (Received Signal Strength Indicator), an analog output that varies from zero to +2.4 volts DC. If you reuse your old GM300 acccessory cable then the pin 15 to 16 speaker jumper must be cut. The RSSI output is unprotected and is fed from a pin off the SA616 IF integrated circuit. According to the datasheet, it is calibrated and temperature compensated to within 2 dB over an 80 dB of range. The CDM service manual calls this a linear range from ‑120 to ‑55 dBm of input signal.

Articles, Modifications and Other Information:

Some CDM notes from Mike WA6ILQ
CDM Product Line Model Number Decoder   473 KB PDF
This was extracted from the Basic and Detailed service manuals listed below and compiled by Mike WA6ILQ.
If anyone has any of the other region codes he'd appreciate an email.
The CDM-series rear panel Accessory Connector   by Robert W. Meister WA1MIK
Note that the pin numbering is NOT what you would expect… they added 2 pins on each side of the Maxtrac / GM300 16 pin connector…
How to Remove a Motorola UHF CDM 1250/1550 Password   By Dennis Rogers N5VRP   107 KB PDF
Dennis's radio group bought a CDM on eBay and found that it had a password… They got around it. While this prodedure was written about his experience with a CDM 1250 or 1550 this process will work on any Waris family radio… Your page maintainer has successfully used it on a 10 meter HT750 handheld.
Making the CDM-series Radios Operate Out Of Band   by Joel Huntley WA1ZYX (offsite link)
This method requires just some simple hex-editing.
Additional information regarding the above out of band mods   35 kB PDF by James Lawrence NA5RC
Especially important if you are running CPS Revision 6.12.05, which you should be…
Invalid Region Code error?   82 kB PDF by James Lawrence NA5RC
Some CDMs sold on popular auction sites often come from foreign markets and can't be programmed with the standard software distributed in North America. The CPS throws up a big error message. Here's a simple fix using RegEdit (which comes with Windows).

Mounting and Brackets:

The mounting bracket bolts onto the CDM with 10-32 threads. Moto provided thumb screws with their kits. If you provide your own screws you should trim them to about 1/4 inch length - any more risks damage to the electronics inside the radio.
The GLN7324A is the standard mobile bracket. It will not fits low band CDM as the low-band CDMs are high power only and use a larger body and hence use a larger bracket, the RLN4774A.
The RLN4781A is a bracket that mounts a VHF/UHF CDM into a standard auto radio DIN opening. It's widely used in the UK and Europe for mounting the radio into a taxi or shuttle bus dashboard.
The factory tabletop tray for the CDMs is a GLN7326A. It has a front-facing speaker in the bottom, the GLN7318 is the same plastic tray but without the speaker.
Novexcomm sells a dual or single CDM rack mount chassis that is available with or without your choice of a 15 amp 120vAC supply (for low power radios) or a 30 amp 120 / 240v power supply (for high power radios or 240v mains) or no power supply at all. Look at their eBay store. If you want to beat the eBay markup just order direct from their web page. They aren't limited to CDMs, they make their rack mounts with your choice of any brand or model of radio cutouts and can customize it.
Disclosure: your page author has known the owner of Novexcomm (WB6SLC) for 40+ years.

DC Power and Power Supplies:

You don't need a lot of power supply to run a CDM as a control receiver or link receiver… The low power (25 watt) VHF and UHF radios draw about 8 amps on transmit, the high power (45 watt) ones pull about 14 amps, the 60 watt low band radios can draw as much as 18 amps. On receive they draw less than 1/2 amp with the squelch open. Your author knows of a receive-only radio running in the back room at an ambulance company feeding a 24x7 audio logging recorder and running on a 12 volt 3/4 amp wall wart.
Motorola offers multiple DC power cords for the CDM:
  • The HKN4139 (used to be the HKN4137) is the recommended mobile power cable for low power radios. It is 3 meters (about 9.8 feet) long, uses 14 gauge wire and ships with a 15 amp ATO fuse and holder in line.
  • The HKN4191 is the recommended mobile power cable for high power VHF / UHF radios. It is 3 meters (about 9 1/2 feet) long, uses 12 gauge wire and ships with a 20 amp ATO fuse and holder in line.
  • The HKN4192 kit is recommended for higher power radios and longer cable runs. It is 6 meters (about 19 1/2 feet) long, uses 10 gauge wire and ships with a 25 amp ATO fuse / holder in line. You will want to use one of these for the low band 60 watt CDMs.
Astron sells the SL-15SCDM 15 amp desktop radio housing / power supply for the low power CDMs.
Samlex offers two different housing / power supply units for the CDM750, CDM1250 and CDM1550 series: the SEC-1212-CDM (12 amp for the low power CDMs) and the SEC-1223-CDM (23 amp for the high power CDMs).

Manuals, Brochures, Guides, and Other Printed Material:

Motorola CDM Series Product Overview   3.3 MB PDF
This is a sales document produced to go along with the introduction of the CDM mobiles in 1999.
CDM series brochure   1.8 MB PDF
Covers the CDM750, CDM1250, CDM1550, CDM1550LS+ models on low band, VHF, UHF, 200, 700 MHz.   2014 vintage.
CDM Series "MotoTurbo" Product Brochure   542KB PDF
This is the official "Professional Series" mobiles product brochure. Not shown is the CDR700 update to the dual-GM300-based GR300 tabletop repeater or the dual-CDM CDR500 replacement for the wall-mount GR500.   CDR500 External Photo   CDR500 Internal Photo   CDR700 photo 1 and CDR700 photo 2. Both could be configured as in-band repeat, one-way-crossband-repeat or bidirectional-crossband-repeat. The available acccessory modules that fit into the CDR500 or the top slot of the CDR700 are the same as offered in the GR300.
Standardized Display Nomenclature on the CDM1250 and CDM1550 series radios   By Matt Lechliter W6XC   560 KB PDF
The CDM1250 and CDM1550 have a 14 character LCD display. Here's how one system uses it on their repeater and link radios.
CDM and PRO-series Basic Service Manual   3.8 MB PDF
This basic manual covers all CDM and PRO series mobile radios.   6881091C62-E   2012 vintage.
CDM and PRO-series Detailed Service Manual   30.1 MB PDF
This manual covers the Low band, VHF and UHF CDM and PRO series mobile radios.   6881091C63-C   2007 vintage.
CDR500 Wall Mount Repeater & CDR700 Desktop Repeater Service/Programming Manual   1.84 MB PDF   6864110R66-O   2001 vintage.
Moto used dual CDMs to replace the dual GM300s in the GR500 and renamed the box as the CDR500.
Likewise the tabletop GR300 repeater became the CDR700. This manual was the guide to the field upgrade kits.
NOTE: This manual has a lot of info on the interfacing to the CDMs, plus info on the various add-in controllers: the RICK (HLN3333), ZR310, i20R, ZR340,
HPN9005, HKPN4000, HKPN4001 and the HKN9033. It has almost nothing on the internals of the CDM radios.
CDM-series Remote Mount Kit RLN4801 & RLN4802   400 kB PDF   6864110B51-A   2002 vintage.
These kits are the control head extension kits for all CDM-series and some CDM-based GM-series mobile radios.
The RLN4801 is for the CDM750, the RLN4802 is for the CDM1250 and CDM1550 models.
The kits DO NOT include the cable between the head and the radio - that must be ordered separately.
The available cables are 3, 5 and 7 meters long (9.8 feet, 16.4 feet, and 22.9 feet.   Page 3 of the PDF has the information.
CDM750 User Guide   1 MB PDF
Not band specific.   6881091C54-A   2003 vintage.
CDM750 Specification Sheet   145 kB PDF
Low Band, VHF and UHF.   2012 vintage.
CDM1250 User Guide   1.3 MB PDF
Not band specific.   6881091C55-B   2003 vintage.
CDM1250 Specification Sheet   60 kB PDF
Low Band, VHF and UHF.   2006 vintage.
CDM1550 Brochure   607 kB PDF
VHF, UHF, 200 and 700 MHz.   2003 vintage.
CDM1550 User Guide   1.3 MB PDF
Not band specific.
CDM Series Control Station Service and Installation Manual   3.99 MB PDF
This manual covers the Control Station (commercial base station) - a CDM in a box with a power supply.   Not band specific.   6880309N15-A
This manual has a section on interfacing it to the Control Station Interface Module (CISM) - the CDM version of the R.I.C.K and that section was useful in connecting it to a repeater controller.
Low Band CDM1550 Specification Sheet   90 kB PDF
CDM Basic Service manual   6881091C62-E   3.8 MB PDF
CDM Detailed Service manual   6881091C63-C   30.1 MB PDF
"200" MHz CDM1550LS+ User Manual   6864110R13-O  2.85 MB PDF
CDM1550LS+ 200 and 700 MHz Basic Service Manual   (6864110R16 - we don't have a copy yet)
This manual covers both the 200 MHz (model AAM25MHF4DP5AN) and 700 MHz CDM1550 LS+ (model AAM255HF4DP5AN) radios.
The "200" MHz model was the 25 watt 217-222 MHz CDM1550LS+ (model AAM25MHF4DP5AN) radio that was made only in narrowband and 12.5 KHz channel spacing.
They didn't even install the wideband receive parts. It CAN be moved to the 219-225 MHz amateur band, but you will need to acquire wideband surface mount IF filters and swap them, and then do some software / firmware tweaks to move the band edges and enable 20 KHz spacing. Note that Motorola no longer stocks that exact wideband surface-mount filter (made by Murata) but it can be scavenged from a dead VHF or UHF hulk, or you can use a differently packaged but electrically similar unit.
More info in the "Notes" article above.
CDM1550LS+ 200 & 700 MHz Detailed Service Manual   6864110R14-O   55.8 MB PDF
This manual covers the 200 MHz (model AAM25MHF4DP5AN) and 700 MHz CDM1550 LS+ (model AAM255HF4DP5AN) radios.

CDM Accessories:
This is what the spec sheets recommend:

AARMN4025 Standard Compact Microphone     (but your existing Maxtrac / Radius / GM300 microphone will work just fine)
AARMN4026 Enhanced DTMF Keypad Microphone
This 12-button DTMF mic has a 10 pin plug and will not work correctly on anything but a CDM.
AARMN4038 Heavy Duty Microphone
AAREX4617 Telephone Style Handset with Hang-Up Cup
This unit is also compatible with CM200/CM300/PM400 but is not for use with dual control heads.
Includes RLN4756 Handset with Coiled Cord, NTN8378 Hang-up Clip, TRN5502 Mounting Bracket, HLN5549 Mounting Bracket Hardware
HMN3000B Desk Mike for control stations   3 MB PDF
Of course this has been discontinued but was replaced by the RMN5068A.
RSN4001 13 Watt External Loudspeaker
HSN8145 7.5 Watt External Speaker
GLN7324 Standard Low Profile Bracket (VHF/UHF)
This will not work on a low band CDM.
GLN7317 High Profile Mounting Bracket (VHF/UHF)
This will not work on a low band CDM.
RLN4779 Key Lock Mounting Bracket (VHF/UHF)
This will not work on a low band CDM.
CDR500 and CDR700 Accessories   93 kB PDF
The wallmount CDR500 and desktop/tabletop CDR700 prepackaged repeaters were based on dual CDMs. The various items listed in this document are relevant to both the CDM radio and for the CDR500 and the CDR700.
CDM750, CDM1250, CDM1550 Parts Lists and Accessories   381 kB PDF

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Originally this page was part of a combined CDM / CM page which was created 07-Oct-2016 from material on the main Motorola page.
The CM series material was moved to its own page in October of 2021

This web page, this web site, the information presented in and on its pages and in these modifications and conversions is © Copyrighted 1995 and (date of last update) by Kevin Custer W3KKC and multiple originating authors. All Rights Reserved, including that of paper and web publication elsewhere.