Motorola Radius M1225

[RCM]

All the love here for the M1225 has convinced me. So I made an offer on one. This morning, my offer was accepted.

 

What's the easiest and cheapest way to program this puppy?

[Hans]

I got unexpectedly busy this afternoon and evening. I have a moment to post.

 

RE: M1225

The USB cable plugs into the microphone port on the front.

AFAIK, the CPS version depends on the software version of the radio.

I am not sure there is a 64 bit version of the CPS but, again, I believe the CPS version used depends on the firmware/software/last CPS used on the radio. All I've used is a 16/32 bit version.

Our M1225 radios all program up with the BlueMax49ers USB to RJ-45 cable and the CPS we got with our first used M1225.

Our software runs on Windows XP. The machine is not handy at the moment so I cannot find the CPS version yet.

In the past, CPS for the radio was available through Motorola's software system under discontinued radios. The account was free and the software was free.

Of course, there are other sources for the software. (That's far enough to post here, I think.)

[Hans]

Get a hold of BlueMax49ers to buy a USB cable and all should become clear. The highest Windows I used for CPS was XP but some might have used more recent Windows versions.

 

https://www.ebay.com/str/bluemax49ers/

[RCM]

Thanks, Hans!

[RCM]

Hans, once I have the cable where do I find the software? It's beginning to look like getting set up to program this radio will cost more than the radio itself. Unlike Kenwood, where the cable is cheap and the software is free.

[Hans]

I'm not sure if rules permit me to discuss it much here. Want me to PM you my email address?

 

I hear tell that the CPS for the M1225 might be free from Motorola with a signed-up free account.

[Hans]

Or we can talk on the telephone. Your choice.

[pantherpaw9]

The M1225 is the radio I have been looking at as well.  I would love to find out about the programming as well.  I take it the CHIRP software won't work from reading your previous comments.  Actually, I was looking to buy 2 of these radios, one for the truck, and one for the radio shack.  If I like this radio and I'm able to get set up to program it Ok, then I will likely buy more of these for my dads truck and my two son's vehicles as well.

[WRAF213]

You'll have to find a copy of Motorola RSS for M1225 (not terribly hard to do) but that's definitely not the hard part. RSS doesn't run on modern hardware; for the MT2000 I used Win95's DOS mode on a Pentium without issues. I'm not sure how the M1225 software runs on later computers. Virtualization may be an option but RSS needs Microsoft DOS to work. A 16550-based serial port is highly preferred, I don't know how well the USB ones work; computers of the right vintage for RSS usually have onboard 16550 serial.

 

You can find a CDM1250 or CDM1550 for around the same price -- they're newer, have displays, will cover both GMRS and 70cm, and a larger channel capacity.

[pantherpaw9]

You'll have to find a copy of Motorola RSS for M1225 (not terribly hard to do) but that's definitely not the hard part. RSS doesn't run on modern hardware; for the MT2000 I used Win95's DOS mode on a Pentium without issues. I'm not sure how the M1225 software runs on later computers. Virtualization may be an option but RSS needs Microsoft DOS to work. A 16550-based serial port is highly preferred, I don't know how well the USB ones work; computers of the right vintage for RSS usually have onboard 16550 serial.

 

You can find a CDM1250 or CDM1550 for around the same price -- they're newer, have displays, will cover both GMRS and 70cm, and a larger channel capacity.

 

I take it these CDM varieties will program on a 64 bit modern USB based computer more easily?  Also, do these varieties meet the part 95 legal operation criteria?  If they do, then maybe I would like to check these out.  I just want something thats inexpensive, easy to program, has 40 watts of power, and is legal to operate on GMRS frequencies.  

[RCM]

I'm not sure if rules permit me to discuss it much here. Want me to PM you my email address?

 

I hear tell that the CPS for the M1225 might be free from Motorola with a signed-up free account.

Email would be great, thanks!

[n4gix]

CDM1250 will program just fine on either 32bit Win95 or Win XP "DOS Box" using the USB cable. I programmed two of them for a portable repeater I built and sold several years ago.

[pantherpaw9]

CDM1225 will program just fine on either 32bit Win95 or Win XP "DOS Box" using the USB cable. I programmed two of them for a portable repeater I built and sold several years ago.

 

I noticed the programming cable for the CDM1225 on ebay looks to have a CAT5 type data plug on one end, and a USB on the other, but I did not see anywhere on the radio photos (back side) where this cable would plug into a CDM1225.  The CDM1225 seems to have a 20 pin port in the back.  Does the programming cable plug into the front where the mic plugs in??

[RCM]

I noticed the programming cable for the CDM1225 on ebay looks to have a CAT5 type data plug on one end, and a USB on the other, but I did not see anywhere on the radio photos (back side) where this cable would plug into a CDM1225.  The CDM1225 seems to have a 20 pin port in the back.  Does the programming cable plug into the front where the mic plugs in??

Yes, I think so.

[Hans]

Oh, and AFAIK, the M1225 is Part 95. It's been a while since I looked but I specifically remember it being so before which is one of the reasons I picked them.

[SteveC7010]

CDM1225 will program just fine on either 32bit Win95 or Win XP "DOS Box" using the USB cable. I programmed two of them for a portable repeater I built and sold several years ago.

 

The M1225 and the CDM750/1250/1550 are completely different families of radios. The M1225 programs fine on Win 7 32 bit or older platforms provided you are using Version 4.0 which is a Windows program. Version 3.2 and older are true RSS and will not run on anything newer than Win98.

[SteveC7010]

Oh, and AFAIK, the M1225 is Part 95. It's been a while since I looked but I specifically remember it being so before which is one of the reasons I picked them.

 

The entire 1225 family (mobile/base, repeater, and portable) are all Part 95 certified.

[SteveC7010]

I noticed the programming cable for the CDM1225 on ebay looks to have a CAT5 type data plug on one end, and a USB on the other, but I did not see anywhere on the radio photos (back side) where this cable would plug into a CDM1225.  The CDM1225 seems to have a 20 pin port in the back.  Does the programming cable plug into the front where the mic plugs in??

 

Please stop mixing up the 1225 family and the CDMs. They are very different radios, but they do have some common features. They both have the 20 pin accessory port in the back and a mic connector on the front panel. On the M1225, the mic connector is an 8 pin RJ45. The CDM mobiles have a 10 pin RJ50. The extra two pins are for a CDM specific DTMF mic. Both families can use the 8 pin RJ45 mics, however, which allows the use of a wide variety of Motorola mics on either radios.

 

Both families of radios program with the same programming cables. I prefer the serial version because it plugs into my Panasonic CF29 Toughbook. I have both aftermarket cables and the Motorola "ribless" serial cable. There is also a USB version of the programming cable, and that will also do both families of radios.

 

And they do plug into the mic connector on both families.

 

The USB cable is not a simple USB to RJ45 cable. There is a USB to TTL serial module in the cable. You are much better off purchasing one that uses the FDTI chip. There are problems with the Prolific chips that can be totally avoided by purchasing FDTI

[pantherpaw9]

Please stop mixing up the 1225 family and the CDMs. They are very different radios, but they do have some common features. They both have the 20 pin accessory port in the back and a mic connector on the front panel. On the M1225, the mic connector is an 8 pin RJ45. The CDM mobiles have a 10 pin RJ50. The extra two pins are for a CDM specific DTMF mic. Both families can use the 8 pin RJ45 mics, however, which allows the use of a wide variety of Motorola mics on either radios.

 

Both families of radios program with the same programming cables. I prefer the serial version because it plugs into my Panasonic CF29 Toughbook. I have both aftermarket cables and the Motorola "ribless" serial cable. There is also a USB version of the programming cable, and that will also do both families of radios.

 

And they do plug into the mic connector on both families.

 

The USB cable is not a simple USB to RJ45 cable. There is a USB to TTL serial module in the cable. You are much better off purchasing one that uses the FDTI chip. There are problems with the Prolific chips that can be totally avoided by purchasing FDTI

 

 

Well obviously I meant M1225, and the answer I was looking for might have read more like this: 

 

"Yes David, the radio is programmed by plugging the RJwhatever cable you saw on ebay into the front of the radio in the mic port, not the back.  The 20 pin port on the back of the radio is for bla bla bla"...and isn't used for programming."

 

Or maybe something like this:  "No David, (as you suspected) the cable you saw on Ebay that looks like it has an RJwhatever plug on it, won't work, the cable you need must be a 20 pin plug that goes into the back port.  You can't program the radio from the front mic port."

[SteveC7010]

Well obviously I meant M1225, and the answer I was looking for might have read more like this:

 

"Yes David, the radio is programmed by plugging the RJwhatever cable you saw on ebay into the front of the radio in the mic port, not the back. The 20 pin port on the back of the radio is for bla bla bla"...and isn't used for programming."

 

Or maybe something like this: "No David, (as you suspected) the cable you saw on Ebay that looks like it has an RJwhatever plug on it, won't work, the cable you need must be a 20 pin plug that goes into the back port. You can't program the radio from the front mic port."

Well, I’ll be sure not to offer any more accurate and factual answers to any of your questions.

 

And just so you don’t forget, this is open forum, so the answers to questions you ask are not always going to conform to what you think they should be. Sometimes you are just plain wrong and other times they are not what you want to hear. Either way, live with it.

 

I might get a time out from mods, but they’ll also note that I have never steered anyone wrong here, and I’ve never been rude or demeaning in any discussion. If you are this easily offended, we’ve all been forewarned.

[pantherpaw9]

Well, I’ll be sure not to offer any more accurate and factual answers to any of your questions.

 

And just so you don’t forget, this is open forum, so the answers to questions you ask are not always going to conform to what you think they should be. Sometimes you are just plain wrong and other times they are not what you want to hear. Either way, live with it.

 

I might get a time out from mods, but they’ll also note that I have never steered anyone wrong here, and I’ve never been rude or demeaning in any discussion. If you are this easily offended, we’ve all been forewarned.

Good grief, I simply thought your response was not an answer to the question that I was asking and I was just trying to clarify what my question actually was with a little snarky humor. I thought you were being a bit kirt by suggesting I “stop mixing up the names” when in fact I am new here and simply didn’t know about the other radio names. You were so quick to jump on me for misspelling the model number of the radio, that you simply mis-understood my question altogether. So you are the one who is being rude to me sir. Good day to you

[PastorGary]

Members of the Moderation Staff have noted the 'discussion' - we are leaving things intact as-is  (for now)  however, we trust that this disagreement or misunderstanding is now resolved and no further outbursts will be placed here.

 

We must all remember that this Forum is made up of persons from all areas of the US and word usage and regional phrases may not be the same in all locations. Let's all be a bit more tolerant and understanding. We are all here to share and to learn and if there are any disagreements, please use the Private Messaging feature here in the Forum to calmly discuss any details that may be unclear between individuals.

 

Thank you for your cooperation.

[Hans]

The entire 1225 family (mobile/base, repeater, and portable) are all Part 95 certified.

Thanks for verifying that. It's difficult for me to keep things straight some days.

[RCM]

Got the M1225 programmed and working. I can see why they're popular!

It is programmed with 19 channels and talkaround.

[Elkhunter521]

Wow, are the thought police active here or what? I stopped addressing gun forums because people would get crazy. CHILL OUT!

 

I can start talking about radio controlled AR-15s if you really want excitement.

[berkinet]

...I can start talking about radio controlled AR-15s if you really want excitement.

I suppose that was an attempt at cynical humor. If it was, I have to say I found it distinctly unfunny.