Motorola CB200 Call Box

The CB200 is an analog call box: a fixed station that puts a radio call button on a wall, so a customer at a service desk, a driver at a gate or a worker at a machine can reach the radio fleet without carrying a radio.

Key specifications

• Color: Black housing; the customer-facing graphic overlay is customizable.
• Use: Fixed customer-assistance and service call box for retail and other on-site locations.
• Frequency: CB200-M uses MURS 151–154 MHz; CB200-U uses UHF 452–470 MHz. Confirm the required model with CMI.
• Channel capacity: 1 channel.
• Maximum published coverage: Up to 130,000 square feet in retail environments.

The specification that makes it practical is the power. It runs on AA batteries at 4.0 V, and Motorola publishes a battery life of one year based on an average of seven uses per day. That means no wiring and no outlet at the mounting point, which is usually the whole reason a call box is chosen over a fixed radio.

It is a single-channel device operating on 151 to 154 MHz or 452 to 470 MHz depending on model, with channel bandwidths of 11.25 and 20 kHz on the VHF band and 12.5 and 25 kHz on UHF, the 25 kHz option being Canada only. Motorola gives range coverage of up to 130,000 square feet in retail coverage.

It measures 7.5 by 4.3 by 1.2 in and weighs 454 g (1 lb) with the standard alkaline batteries fitted.

Who it is for

Motorola's CB series call boxes let a customer reach staff with one push of a button and hear at once that help is on the way. The CB200 is the analog model, in two versions: the CB200-M on MURS 151 to 154 MHz and the CB200-U on UHF 452 to 470 MHz, each a single channel with 38 PL and 83 DPL codes so it can be set to an existing radio fleet's channel. It runs on six AA batteries, which Motorola rates for a year at an average of seven uses a day, so it mounts anywhere without wiring. Which version a site needs depends on the radios it already runs; CMI confirms the model at order. For the digital 900 MHz CB300-D, which the same sheet covers, ask CMI.

Size, power and range

• Size: 7.5 x 4.3 x 1.2 in (190 x 110 x 30 mm).
• Weight: 454 g (1 lb) with standard alkaline batteries.
• Power: 6 AA batteries, 4.0 V operating voltage, rated battery life 1 year at an average of 7 uses per day.
• Transmitter: 345 mW on MURS, 300 mW on UHF; frequency stability plus or minus 2.0 ppm (MURS) or 2.5 ppm (UHF).
• Channel: 1 channel; bandwidth 11.25 or 20 kHz on MURS, 12.5 or 25 kHz on UHF (25 kHz Canada only); 38 PL and 83 DPL codes.
• Range: Motorola quotes coverage of up to 130,000 square feet in a retail environment.
• Operating temperature: -22 F to 140 F (-30 C to +60 C); storage -40 C to +80 C.

Licence

The CB200-M operates on MURS, the Multi-Use Radio Service, which needs no FCC licence. The CB200-U operates on licensed UHF business frequencies and needs an FCC business radio licence (Part 90) on the fleet it joins; CMI can point you at the process when you order.

Part number

CMI part number: CB200; the band (MURS or UHF) is confirmed with CMI at order. See CMI's Motorola collection, two-way radio collection and business radio collection.