Storno Private Mobile Radio (PMR) Communication Systems

Page Updated 9 Nov. 2004

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Taking a look at the development of PMR from the earliest valve sets through to microprocessor controlled trunked radio systems.

The Stornophone VHF mobile transceiver was available in either the 70-88 MHz or 152-174 MHz frequency ranges (OK, if you want to be historically authentic it should have been Mc/s).

With a 6 or 12V DC supply, 4 channels, 12W max. transmitter power, 50 kHz channel spacing, this 14 valve 1950's design used a mechanical vibrator based power supply to generate the 275V transmitter supply voltage rail. As well as positive or negative ground supply capabilitiy, another of the novel options that you don't find on today's sets was a 100V DC shaver socket on the control box!

Viscount (CQM19/CQM39/CQM69)

The Stornophone V and Viscount series were hybrid valve and transistorised design for the 68-88, 136-174 and 420-470 MHz bands.

With 10W transmitter power, 50 or 25 kHz channel spacing on VHF and 5W, 50kHz at UHF, the Viscount was available with up to 8 channels. Extensive use of transistors in the power supply, audio and receiver circuitry gave improved performance for reduced current consumption

The original 'pocket set'. The CQP500 series was a fully transistorised, modular, portable transceiver available with 3 channels of 0.5 and later 1W transmitter power at VHF or 2 channels, 300mW at UHF.

The classic Storno 600 series was the mainstay throughout the 1970's, with it's 'bombproof' reliability and total design flexibility it was available in numerous versions including mobiles with local and remote control head, transportables and the famous finned grey box design of the CQF600 base station.

The CQM700 series mobile saw the introduction of integrated circuits in the audio, r.f. and control circuitry. Suitable for simple single channel systems to advanced synthesized scanning applications.

A major step forward in portable design, the CQP800 series equipment used plug in thick film modules allowing easy replacement of all major parts. The extendable modular design allowed for small 2 channel radios expandable up to 12 channels with optional selective tone signalling equipment.

Designed for durability and versatility the CQM900 was a processor controlled radio with remote control head adaptable to a variety of systems applications. Available with options for a built in duplexer, either using crystals or the 256 channel synthesiser, the sturdy and reliable CQM900 used the same module design found in the CQF9000 base station series. Special versions were also developed for the Scandanavian NMT450 and UK PRT4 public radiophone services.

The CQM5000 series mobile took advantage of the development of improved manufacturing techniques to provide a radio in the small standard DIN sized format that was cost effective but capable. Early 1 to 6 channel crystal controlled versions were later supplemented by 12 channel synthesized variants.

Introduced as 'the radio with only one moving part' (which was the PTT button), the CQP4000 series portables with their membrane keypads, frequency synthesisers and PROM personality programming took portables into the the microprocessor age. From the early Mk.1 two channel sets with the colourful keypad to the later Mk.2 version they also supported system applications including the trunked Storno Phonenet 2200 and Starnet MPT1327 systems.

The CQF9000 base station carried on the traditions of the earlier CQF600 series and although 19" rack mount systems became the norm, the wall mounted cabinet never looked out of place with it's more modern black box styling.

The CQM5000 S99 or Toneswitching 2 was a development of the standard CQM5000 chassis with microprocessor control logic supporting up to 100 channels with advanced tone or binary signalling capabilies.

The CQM6000, undoubtably the most versatile radio Storno produced. With frequency agile wideband RF design, processor controlled tone and binary signalling, 99 conventional channels as standard, high and low transmit power, 16 character alphanumeric display, the list goes on and with tailored software packages ranging from conventional radio to MPT1327 trunked subscriber, it's no surprise many of these sets are still in active service today.

The CQP8000 was the Storno branded version of the Motorola HT800 or Radius P210. Available with 2, 8 or 16 channels with transmit powers of 2W or 5W at VHF and 2W or 4W at UHF.

The CQM5500 was the Storno branded version of the Motorola MC-micro or Radius M110. Available in versions of varying complexity from 2 channel with button & LED display through to 99 channel or trunked versions with LCD and full keypad.

The CP1000 was also branded as the Motorola HTX and was a development of the CQP8000 used for advanced systems including MPT1327 trunking.

The CQP7000 radio is probably much better known as the Motorola MX3000 (full keypad version) but was also available rebranded under the Storno label in Europe. Special versions were available which were compatible with Storno Phonenet 2200 trunked infrastructure.


	Page Updated 9 Nov. 2004 Join the Storno discussion forum		Private Mobile Radio Taking a look at the development of PMR from the earliest valve sets through to microprocessor controlled trunked radio systems.

			Stornophone 33 (CQM13/CQM33) The Stornophone VHF mobile transceiver was available in either the 70-88 MHz or 152-174 MHz frequency ranges (OK, if you want to be historically authentic it should have been Mc/s). With a 6 or 12V DC supply, 4 channels, 12W max. transmitter power, 50 kHz channel spacing, this 14 valve 1950's design used a mechanical vibrator based power supply to generate the 275V transmitter supply voltage rail. As well as positive or negative ground supply capabilitiy, another of the novel options that you don't find on today's sets was a 100V DC shaver socket on the control box!

			Viscount (CQM19/CQM39/CQM69) The Stornophone V and Viscount series were hybrid valve and transistorised design for the 68-88, 136-174 and 420-470 MHz bands. With 10W transmitter power, 50 or 25 kHz channel spacing on VHF and 5W, 50kHz at UHF, the Viscount was available with up to 8 channels. Extensive use of transistors in the power supply, audio and receiver circuitry gave improved performance for reduced current consumption

			Stornophone 500 The original 'pocket set'. The CQP500 series was a fully transistorised, modular, portable transceiver available with 3 channels of 0.5 and later 1W transmitter power at VHF or 2 channels, 300mW at UHF.

			Stornophone 600 series The classic Storno 600 series was the mainstay throughout the 1970's, with it's 'bombproof' reliability and total design flexibility it was available in numerous versions including mobiles with local and remote control head, transportables and the famous finned grey box design of the CQF600 base station.

			Stornophone 700 The CQM700 series mobile saw the introduction of integrated circuits in the audio, r.f. and control circuitry. Suitable for simple single channel systems to advanced synthesized scanning applications.

			Stornophone 800 A major step forward in portable design, the CQP800 series equipment used plug in thick film modules allowing easy replacement of all major parts. The extendable modular design allowed for small 2 channel radios expandable up to 12 channels with optional selective tone signalling equipment.

			Stornophone 900 Designed for durability and versatility the CQM900 was a processor controlled radio with remote control head adaptable to a variety of systems applications. Available with options for a built in duplexer, either using crystals or the 256 channel synthesiser, the sturdy and reliable CQM900 used the same module design found in the CQF9000 base station series. Special versions were also developed for the Scandanavian NMT450 and UK PRT4 public radiophone services.

			Stornophone 5000 The CQM5000 series mobile took advantage of the development of improved manufacturing techniques to provide a radio in the small standard DIN sized format that was cost effective but capable. Early 1 to 6 channel crystal controlled versions were later supplemented by 12 channel synthesized variants.

			Stornophone 4000 Introduced as 'the radio with only one moving part' (which was the PTT button), the CQP4000 series portables with their membrane keypads, frequency synthesisers and PROM personality programming took portables into the the microprocessor age. From the early Mk.1 two channel sets with the colourful keypad to the later Mk.2 version they also supported system applications including the trunked Storno Phonenet 2200 and Starnet MPT1327 systems.

			Stornophone 9000 The CQF9000 base station carried on the traditions of the earlier CQF600 series and although 19" rack mount systems became the norm, the wall mounted cabinet never looked out of place with it's more modern black box styling.

			CQM5000 Toneswitch II The CQM5000 S99 or Toneswitching 2 was a development of the standard CQM5000 chassis with microprocessor control logic supporting up to 100 channels with advanced tone or binary signalling capabilies.

			Stornophone 6000 The CQM6000, undoubtably the most versatile radio Storno produced. With frequency agile wideband RF design, processor controlled tone and binary signalling, 99 conventional channels as standard, high and low transmit power, 16 character alphanumeric display, the list goes on and with tailored software packages ranging from conventional radio to MPT1327 trunked subscriber, it's no surprise many of these sets are still in active service today.

			Stornophone 8000 The CQP8000 was the Storno branded version of the Motorola HT800 or Radius P210. Available with 2, 8 or 16 channels with transmit powers of 2W or 5W at VHF and 2W or 4W at UHF.

			Stornophone 5500 The CQM5500 was the Storno branded version of the Motorola MC-micro or Radius M110. Available in versions of varying complexity from 2 channel with button & LED display through to 99 channel or trunked versions with LCD and full keypad.

			Storno CP1000 The CP1000 was also branded as the Motorola HTX and was a development of the CQP8000 used for advanced systems including MPT1327 trunking.

			Stornophone 7000 The CQP7000 radio is probably much better known as the Motorola MX3000 (full keypad version) but was also available rebranded under the Storno label in Europe. Special versions were available which were compatible with Storno Phonenet 2200 trunked infrastructure.