AEA CP-100 Modem
Made in the mid 80's, the AEA CP-100 like the CP-1, is rich in features with additional enhancements such as improved filtering and data detection. The CP-100 uses two 4-pole active filters for demodulation and an XR-2206 dual tone generator for Audio Frequency Shift Keying (AFSK). Want to know more? Download the manual! (1.86MB) A CP-100 sells for about $15 at hamfests.   Pictures of CP-100

What's on this page
Like the CP-1 page, there is a lot of content here as well. Much of the information here is found on the CP-1 page as well because both models are much alike. The contents are: Download AEA CP-100 manual with schematic, mention of additional features of the CP-100, programs for the CP-100, Adding RS-232 for use with a PC, more modifications, and additional pictures of the CP-100 inside and out.

More readable CP-100 schematic
 Download CP-100 bigger / better looking schematic (588K GIF)
As of Feb. 19th, 2007 a bigger, more readable for the most part, schematic for the CP-100 is available for download. The one supplied in the user manual is very tiny, probably blurry, and much unreadable. It was scanned at 300dpi so it will be huge. It's suggested that you don't print it out as it will become dinky again. Make sure what ever image viewer you use, has the 'fit to screen' option turned off. Yes you will have to scroll around to see what you are looking for. Thanks goes to '3d' in Maimi for the better print. 3d is still working on another improved copy for us.

AEA CP-100 additional features over the CP-1

• User manual gives good details on the inner workings of the CP-100.
• Improved filtering over the model CP-1
• Built in monitor speaker you can switch in and or out.
• Baud switch - allows you to copy 300 baud data.
• Shift/mode switch - 425Hz and 850Hz selections have been added. Transmits 425 and 850 as well!
• Squelch control has been brought to the front of the unit. A L.E.D. indicates when unit is squelched.
• Powered by 12 Volts DC. (CP-1 required 12-16VAC)
• Connections for Frequency Shift Keying (FSK). For radios with FSK modes.

My first experience with an AEA CP-100
Right away I noticed how much narrower the CP-100 filtering is compared to the CP-1. And of course it's obvious as well by looking at the oscilloscope output. The "Footballs" are quite narrow.

If you are intrested in 300 baud packet, you are in for a rough ride. Even with the added switch for 300 baud operation, which the CP-1 does not have, (but can be modified) copy is difficult on HF. The real problem is that no one is ever on the same frequency. Being 10Hz off frequency or so, the CP-100 may not copy due to the super narrow filtering. If you intend to do 300 baud packet, I recommend using an XR-2211 tone decoder IC to bypass the CP-100 demodulator altogether. The XR-2211 can lock onto tones about 30Hz either side of center frequency. I installed one in my CP-1 with a toggle switch that selects between XR-2211 and CP-1 demodulator. It works very well. See the CP-100 modifications page for construction and installation of the XR2211 demodulator.

Like the CP-1, The CP-100 seems to require a lot of audio input. Using an audio transformer that can be purchased from Radio Shack will greatly reduce the required amount of audio input needed. I installed one inside my CP-1. See the CP-100 modifications page about the audio transformer.

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Programs for use with the CP-100
These units are data modulators and demodulators with some filtering. They are not TNC's. Special programs are needed for operation. Typical DOS programs that work great with the CP-100 are:

• BayCom - Packet - Free
• Eskay Packet ( SP ) - Free
• HamComm - RTTY, AMTOR, CW - Free
• Terman ( AN-93 ) - RTTY, AMTOR, PACTOR - Free
• BMK MULTY - RTTY, AMTOR, PACTOR, CW, FAX - Expensive, Y2K bug!

And there are other programs out there. Note: Baycom and SP are packet programs. Both programs are capable of 300 and 1200 baud operation. The AEA CP-100 (and CP-1) would only be able to handle the 300 baud.

Why are there no Windows based modem programs for the AEA CP-100?
There are serial port timing issues with the non-syncronized data arriving from the modem. There have been modem programs for Windows in the past but never worked right. The DOS programs do not use the TXD and RXD lines of the serial port for data which cause the timing problem. Instead other serial data lines that do not have to be synchronized as such are used to send and receive the data to and from the modem. A chart on my RS-232 for the CP-100 page shows where these DOS modem programs expect to see data on a PC serial port. Luckily, they are all the same serial pins for each program!

What to do if you have a non-DOS system
Windows 95 and 98 are DOS based and you can exit out of windows to DOS or just boot to DOS to use a DOS modem program. However Windows XP, NT, and Linux are not DOS based. So what to do? Dust off your old DOS boot disk, and copy the modem program onto it. I have a boot disk that has several modem programs on it with disk space left over. Pop the disk in the floppy drive and turn the computer on. You now have a DOS system.

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Upgrading the CP-100 for RS-232 communications with a PC ( RS-232 option )
You see a lot more CP-100's with factory RS-232 installed than you do with the CP-1. However to reduce cost, some CP-100's did not come with built in RS-232 serial port communications from the factory. You will need to check to see if you need to upgrade the CP-100 to RS-232 signal level for a PC. It's not difficult or expensive depending on the route you choose to do so. Before doing anything you will need to open up the CP-100 and see if the RS-232 option is already installed. Ready to see if you need to upgrade the CP-100 to RS-232?

Tips, tricks and modifications for the CP-100
While I have not had the pleasure of modifying a CP-100, except to install RS-232, I do recommend some modifications that did benefit my CP-1 and will do the same for the AEA CP-100. The modifications suggested are: Toggle transmit data polarity, making 300 baud packet reception bearable with a CP-100 using the XR-2211 tone decoder for demodulation, and adding a transformer to reduce the required audio input level. The mods are found on the tips, tricks, and modifications page for the CP-100.

Other modifications
Making a serial cable for the CP-100 or CP-1, and adding RS-232 to the CP-100 for use with a PC can be found on the TTL to RS-232 upgrade page for the CP-100.

Views of the CP-100 Inside and Out
The CP-100 Picture page has additional pictures of the rear, displaying its many connectors as well as a picture of the whole circuit board. There is an additional picture showing the RS-232 board I made using an LTC1383 TTL to RS-232 transceiver IC including how I mounted the DB-25 connector to the circuit board.

Technical Data

Download CP-100 instruction manual with schematic 1.68MB PDF

Download CP-100 bigger / better looking schematic 588K GIF

How to make a TTL to RS-232 interface for the CP-100

CP-100 tips, tricks, and modifications

DOS programs for the AEA-CP-100

Oscilloscope Tuning
	The AEA CP-100 and CP-1 has Oscilloscope output for accurate tuning. My favorite feature!

Advanced Electronic Applications ( AEA ) is out of business
I thought everyone knew, but I guess not from the E-Mails I have been getting. AEA went out of business years ago. Or rather they got bought out by "Timewave". You can bet they don't support the AEA CP-1 OR CP-100 anymore.

Notice...
You are encouraged to check all of the pages on this web site for the information you seek, starting at the main page. Each page is possibly related to another. The information on each page is "as-is", try at your own risk, and so on. We can help you out some what, as time permits. Try to stay on topic. Please, do not ask to "engineer" or "re-engineer" a design to suit your special project. We do not sell parts or kits of any kind. All said, we are open to any suggestions on adding more material, as long as it is on topic with a particular web page of the Technicothica web site. An example of things that are not "on topic" are: Support for APRS, EMWIN, TNC's and sound card stuff.    ~Thanks!