Nate, C'mon, lighten up! The reason why Motorola added new pins around the outside of the 16-pin numbering plan is to ensure that programming and test cables already being sold would not become instantly obsolete. It would annoy me greatly if Motorola required me to have two incompatible cables, one for the CDM series and another for earlier models. I am grateful that the engineers figured out a way to use existing cables on both old and new models.
Now, to answer your question about what is on the outside pins, one of the extra pins is used for boot control logic that is unique to the CDM series, for flashing the firmware. It seems like a good idea to use a "new" pin for this purpose, so that existing cables retain the same numbering plan. Can you imagine the frustration of Motorola radios users who are trying to figure out if signal ground is still on pin 7 or on pin 9- or is it now called pin 5? Don't worry about plugging a 16-pin connector in wrong, because there is a positioning key that prevents mating unless the 16-socket plug is centered on the 20 pin jack. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -----Original Message----- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nate Duehr Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 11:16 AM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Motorola CDM1250 COS Bob M. wrote: > I understand and agree with all that, but is there a 20-pin connector available, and if so, what's the part number? Someone might want to make their own cable for a CDM some day and make it idiot-proof. Reading along here, I wonder what's on those "outside" pins. It would be interesting to "map" a misaligned connector, both directions, and see just how much damage could be done to the CDM by doing that... using nothing but Moto approved devices (like the RICK someone mentioned). Sounds like Moto got LAZY on their engineering by just adding more pins "around" the others, unless someone wants to map out all the combinations and prove me wrong in that sentiment. (GRIN) They "probably" should have re-designed the connector, but you know how it goes... cheap, fast, done right... pick any two. Nate WY0X
