NIICD TDFM-9000 Radio Operator’s Guide 

October 1, 2018

Basic TDFM-9000 Information

• TDFM-9000 series radio’s keys, buttons and option configurations are highly dependent on how 

they are configured by the Codeplug Manager. A Codeplug determines how the radio will 

operate, what keys and buttons do what, what frequencies are available and how they can be 

used. As such, these instructions only apply to TDFM-9000 series radios using a NIICD created 

Codeplug.

• A TDFM-9000 radio can have up to six radio modules (bands). Modules with information on the 

screen have a radio module installed. Blank modules have no radio module and are inactive.

• Each radio module can operate on up to three different frequency bands. The user may be 

locked out from accessing non-VHF-FM frequency bands. 

• All NIICD supported radio modules operate on VHF-FM.

• All radio modules can support up to 3,000 different channels.

• Channels in each radio module are divided up into “Zones”. Users cannot add zones.

• All regions have at least one Zone. Additional Zones include: Air-Ground, FPP-Analog and

FPP-P25 digital.

• Only the two Front Panel Programmable (FPP) zones can have new frequencies loaded into 

them via direct entry. All other Zones are locked out from user editing.

• NIICD supported radio modules come pre-loaded with frequencies from across the country.

• National Flight Following (NFF – 168.6500 & 110.9 RT/TX), Air Guard (AG – 168.6250 &

110.9 TX) and Smokejumper Air/Ground (SMKJ A/G – 168.5500) are in all zones as channels 1, 2

and 3 respectively.

• The last radio module is dedicated to Air Guard. It has only two channels: 1 – Air Guard 

(168.6250 & 110.9 TX) and 2 – Air Guard RtTt (168.6250 & 110.9 RX/TX).

• There are three user selectable keys to save channels: (2/F2), (3/F3) and (#/F4).
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Index

Abbreviations & Definitions 8

Brightness Adjustment 8

Changing Channels 3

Changing Zones 3

Channel Presets (F Keys) 7

CTCSS Tones (i.e. TPL) (FPP) 4

Function (FUNC) Key 6

Home Key 3

Menu Softkeys 3

Module Select Softkeys 2

Multiple Private Line (MPL) 5

Power Knob 2

Programming New Channels (FPP) 3

Scan List Creation 5

Scanning 5

Sidetone Adjustment 7

Squelch Open/Close (F Keys) 7

Transmitter Power Setting 5

Viewing Channel Information (FPP) 3

Volume Adjustment (POWER knob) 2

Keys and Functions

Module Select Softkeys (six keys to the left of the display screen)

• The box indicates that that module can be edited and programmed information viewed.

• Single transmitter line installations: The box indicates that module is set to transmit.

• Dual transmitter line installations: User 1 box is yellow. User 2 box is blue.

• Pressing the Module Select Softkey a second time mutes that module and an “X” appears.

POWER knob

• Turn Radio on/off Push & hold POWER knob

• Adjust Volume Briefly press POWER knob until “Vol – xx” is displayed in the lower right

corner of the screen then rotate POWER knob.

• Change Channel Briefly press POWER knob until “Chan – xxx” is displayed in the lower right

corner of the screen then rotate POWER knob.

Note: The TDFM-9000 can be configured to power on and off when power is applied to the 

radio. In this instance the POWER knob only controls volume and channel changes.
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Change Channels

1. Press the Module Select Softkey to place a box around the desired module.

Then

2. Briefly press the POWER knob until “Chan-xxx” appears in the lower right corner of the display.

3. Turn the POWER knob until the desired channel is shown.

Or

2. Press the (5/UP) or (8/DN) keys.

Or

2. Press the Chan Menu Softkey on the display.

3. Rotate the POWER knob until outline box highlights the desired channel.

4. Press the Sel Menu Softkey on the display.

HOME key

• Returns display to the HOME screen from wherever the radio is currently at.

Menu Softkeys (three keys to the right of the (HOME) key)

• Selects function on display immediately above that Menu Softkey. Up to three Menu

Softkey functions are displayed at any one time.

Note: While on the home screen, the (5/UP) and (8/DN) keys step through all available 

Menu Softkey selections.

o Zone Allows operator to change between preloaded zones.

1. Press Module Select Softkey to place a box around the desired

module.

2. Press Zone Menu Softkey.

3. Rotate POWER knob, (5/UP) or (8/DN) keys to move curser to 

desired Zone.

4. Press the Sel Menu Softkey to accept change.

5. Press the Exit Menu Softkey to abandon changing Zones.

o FPP Front Panel Programmability. Allows viewing/editing channel information.

VIEWING

1. Press Module Select Softkey to place a box around the desired 

module.

2. Change to desired channel.

3. Press FPP Menu Softkey.

4. Press Module Select Softkey to place a box around the information

to be viewed.

5. Press Module Select Softkey again to toggle between RX and TX

settings.

6. Press (HOME) to return to main screen.
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EDITING

Only Zone “FPP Anlg” permits loading analog channels and “FPP P25” permits 

loading P25 digital channels. There are 20 channels available to program in 

each FPP zone.

1. Press Module Select Softkey to place a box around the desired 

module.

2. Change Zone to “FPP xxx”. FPP are the only Zones that can be edited.

3. Change to desired channel. There are 20 channels available for editing.

4. Press Module Select Softkey to place a box around the desired 

information. If only changing TX information press Module Select

Softkey again until TX is displayed.

5. Slowly enter desired changes then press the OK Menu Softkey.

• Freq Direct frequency editing. Press Module Select Freq Softkey

to toggle between Rx and Tx frequencies.

• TPL Tones – Press Module Select TPL Softkey to toggle between

Rx and Tx tones. Rotate POWER knob to select desired tone

then press the OK Menu Softkey.

• DPL Digital analog tones. Seldom used. Press Module Select DPL

Softkey to toggle between Rx and Tx. Rotate POWER knob

to select desired tone then press the OK Menu Softkey.

• NAC P25 digital. Only editable on “FPP P25” Zone. Press Module

Select NAC Softkey to toggle between Rx NAC, Tx NAC and

Tlkgrp ID (talkgroup).

 Press 123 Menu Softkey to type numbers.

 Press ABC Menu Softkey to type letters.

A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, D = 4, E = 5, F = 6

 Press Corr Menu Softkey to backup cursor.

 Press OK Menu Softkey to accept changes.

• RX Mode Preset

• Zone Name Press the Module Select Softkey to toggle between

Zone Name and Chan Name. 

DO NOT CHANGE ZONE NAME

1. Press Module Select Softkey until “Chan Name” is 

displayed.

2. Rotate POWER knob to change the flashing character. 

All available characters appear one after the other: 

Capitals, lower case, numbers & special characters then 

it repeats.

3. Press Corr Menu Softkey to backup cursor.

4. Press Next Menu Softkey to move to the next 

character.

5. Press OK Menu Softkey to save information.

o Chan Allows operator to change selected radio’s channel.

1. Rotate POWER knob, (5/UP) or (8/DN) keys to move channel 

curser.

2. Press the Sel Menu Softkey to accept change.

3. Press the Exit Menu Softkey to abandon changing Zones.
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o MPL Multiple Private Line (multiple tone selection). Not available on all channels.

Some channels (mostly in R5 SZ) show MPL in their title. The MPL Menu

Softkey is available on these channels.

1. Press Module Select Softkey to place a box around the desired 

module.

2. Change to a channel with MPL in its title.

3. Press the (5/UP) or (8/DN) keys until MPL is displayed in the 

lower left corner of the screen.

4. Press the MPL Menu Softkey.

5. Rotate POWER knob, (5/UP) or (8/DN) keys to move curser to 

desired Tone. Only the below tones are available for MPL.

Tone 1-110.9 Tone 9-100.0

Tone 2-123.0 Tone 10-107.2

Tone 3-131.8 Tone 11-114.8

Tone 4-136.5 Tone 12-127.3

Tone 5-146.2 Tone 13-141.3

Tone 6-156.7 Tone 14-151.4

Tone 7-167.9 Tone 15-162.2

Tone 8-103.5 Tone 16-192.8

6. Press the Sel Menu Softkey to accept change.

o ScnL Loads channels into the module’s scan list. Scan may not be available on all

channels. There are 10 channel slots per module for the module’s scan list.

1. Press Module Select Softkey to place a box around the desired 

module.

2. Press the (5/UP) or (8/DN) keys until ScnL is displayed in the 

lower left corner of the screen.

3. Press the ScnL Menu Softkey.

4. Rotate POWER knob, (5/UP) or (8/DN) keys to move curser to 

desired channel.

5. Press the below Menu Softkey corresponding to desired operation.

o Sel – Adds highlighted channel to scan list. A “Z” appears to the 

right of the channel’s name. Pressing Sel again and a “P” 

appears indicating that this channel has priority.

o Del – Removed highlighted channel from scan list.

o Rcl – Rotates through all channels in the radio’s scan list.

Note: A tone is audible if no channels are loaded into the modules 

scan list.

o Scan Starts scan on selected radio using operator enabled channel list. Not available

on all channels.

• Press the Scan Menu Softkey to enable/disable scan. A “Z” appears 

on every channel in that Zone indicating scan is active whether or not 

those channels are part of the scan list.

Note: A tone is audible if no channels are loaded into the radios scan list and 

“Empty List” is displayed. Press the Scan Menu Softkey again to remove

the tone.

o Pwr Press PWR Menu Softkey to toggle between “H” High TX power (6 watts)

and “L” Low TX power (1 watt).
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o Info Radio Info

Note: This information takes several seconds to load. Be patient.

• Displays firmware versions loaded into the radio.

IP Info

• Displays radio IP information

Control Map (VHF-FM modules)

• Displays settings for “Side” Buttons

o Upper Side Button – Monitor (1/F1)

o Middle Side Button – MS 1 (2/F2)

o Bottom Side Button – MS 2 (3/F3)

o Data Button – Blank

o Orange Button – MS 3 (#/F4)

o Rotary – Channel Select

o 2-Position Switch selections – Blank

o 3-Position Switch selections – Blank

o Keypad selections – Unprogrammed

FUNC key

• Configures basic radio settings. ONLY EDIT SIDETONE. DO NOT EDIT ANY OTHER FUCNTION.

1. Press the (FUNC) key.

2. Press the Next Softkey.

3. Press the Module Select Configuration Menu Softkey.

4. Continue pressing the Next Softkey until reaching the desired function.

Function Default Description

o Knob Default Channel User able to edit the Channel or Volume setting

(via pressing the POWER knob) after radio

boots up.

o Volume/Channel Mode Both Either Vol & Chan are available to edit (via

pressing the POWER knob) or only where the

above Knob Default setting has been set to.

o Num Lock Mode Disabled Keypad keys set to a numeric keypad.

o Recall Mode Disabled Recall of Zone & Chan available on POWER

knob.

o Backlighting (Radio) 28 VDC Voltage of faceplate backlighting. DO NOT EDIT.

o F1-F4 Keys Normal Normal or Channels

Normal

• 1/F1 Key – Opens module squelch.

• 2/F2 Key – User selectable channel preset.

• 3/F3 Key – User selectable channel preset.

• #/F4 Key – User selectable channel preset.

Channels

• All four “F” keys are user selectable channel 

keys. (No key available to open radio squelch).

o Dual User Mode Disabled Only used when two users (i.e. pilot & co-pilot)

can individually control the radio.

o Always On Mode Disabled Radio powers on & off with avionics buss.

Using this option runs a risk of creating errors

In the radio.
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Note: Enabling the CSQ, ESW and TSW functions clutter the screen.

o CSQ Indicator Disabled Toggles CSQ indicator.

o H/L Power Indicator Enabled Toggles Hi/Lo indicator.

o ESW Indicator Disabled Toggles ESW indicator (not used).

o TSW Indicator Disabled Toggles TSW indicator (not used).

o Sidetone (x) 29 (default) for all installed modules

o Squelch Blinking (x) Enabled for all installed modules

o Num Lock Tmr Revert 03 Disabled when above Num Lock Mode is

disabled. Time when Num Lock reverts back to

where the Knob Default setting is set to.

o ADM Tmr 00 Automatic Daylight Mode. Brightens the 

display in direct sunlight when the 6/BRT

key is pressed. Seconds on:

• 00 = Momentary

• 11 = 1 second

• 21 = 2 seconds and so on until

• 101 = 10 seconds

o RFM (x) Text Color White Changes the color of the radio modules display

color.

Mode Key

• Disabled

1/F1 Key

• Non-trunked radios (typical):

o Opens squelch on the highlighted module.

o Pressing (1/F1) for 2 seconds (beep heard) keeps squelch open until (1/F1)

pressed again.

• Trunked radios:

o Site Disp/Search

2/F2 Key

• Saved channels can be recalled no matter which Zone you are on (by module).

1. Press Module Select Softkey to place a box around the desired module.

2. Change to desired Zone and channel you want saved.

3. Press & hold (2/F2) key to load selected Zone & channel into (2/F2) quick access.

3/F3 Key

• Saved channels can be recalled no matter which Zone you are on (by module).

1. Press Module Select Softkey to place a box around the desired module.

2. Change to desired Zone and channel you want saved.

3. Press & hold 3/F3 key to load selected Zone & channel into 3/F3 quick access.

#/F4 Key

• Saved channels can be recalled no matter which Zone you are on (by module).

1. Press Module Select Softkey to place a box around the desired module.

2. Change to desired Zone and channel you want saved.

3. Press & hold (#/F4) key to load selected Zone & channel into (#/F4) quick access.
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4/MUP Key

• Preset channel up

5/UP Key

• Toggles up through next grouping of Menu Softkeys. Three Menu Softkeys per group maximum.

6/BRT Key

• Display brightness up

• When the display dimmer is at its highest level (31) and you press and hold the (6/BRT) key 

the display will become fully bright. This helps when glare is making the screen difficult to read. 

See the (FUNC) key ADM Tmr setting.

7/MDN Key

• Preset channel down

8/DN Key

• Toggles down through next group of Menu Softkeys. Three Menu Softkeys per group maximum.

9/DIM Key

• Display brightness down

0/ESW Key

• Disabled except in programming mode

*/TSW Key

• Disabled except in programming mode

Abbreviations & Definitions

Analog Old school radio signals. These are the first type of voice signals used.

Band Used interchangeably with Module. A module can be capable of two or three 

frequency bands: VHF-FM (136 to 174 MHz), UHF Lo (380 to 470 MHz), UHF Hi (450 to 

520 MHz) and 700/800 (764 to 870 MHz). Bands may or may not be active.

Codeplug A file used on Motorola radios. Technisonic uses Motorola radio modules in their

TDFM-9000 series radios. This file literally determines how a radio will operate and is 

very complex. Codeplugs determine which keys do what, in what order, frequencies, 

how they are used, how they are organized, etc.

Combined Mode A radio installation function. Where a radio has a single set of wires for receive, 

transmit PTT and microphone combining all radio module signals together. See 

Individual Band.

CPS Motorola’s Customer Programming Software. The APX CPS software is used to 

program the TDFM-9000 series radios. APX CPS is a highly complex program available 

only by subscription.

CTCSS Continuous Tone Controlled Squelch System (i.e. analog tones).
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Decimal Commonly used numbers. The term is typically used when discussing NAC and 

Talkgroup codes.

Direct Similar to Talkaround. Using one frequency for both receive and transmit.

DPL Digital Private Line. Analog digital tones. Motorola calls them DPL while most others 

call them DCS. These are not P25 digital tones. DPL/DCS tones are seldom used.

Dual User The radio can be configured where two users (i.e. pilot and co-pilot) can separately 

control the radio.

ESW Two position ergo switch. A Motorola feature not enabled in the NIICD Codeplug.

F Keys Special function keys. NIICD has configured the codeplug where F1 is open squelch 

and F2, F3 and F4 are user selectable channel presets.

FPP Front Panel Programmability. The ability to edit channel information.

FUNC Function. Activates radio configuration options. 

Hex Sixteen possible characters in a single space. Normally 10 characters can use a single 

space but when the letters A, B, C, D, E and F are used more information can be 

packed into a smaller area. The term is used when discussing NAC and Talkgroup 

codes.

HOME Resets radio to the “Home” screen.

Individual Band A radio installation function. Where a radio has multiple sets of wires for receive, 

transmit PTT and microphone. Each radio module’s signals are an individual set. See 

Combined Mode.

Module A radio “module” inside the TDFM-9000. Up to six radio modules can be installed. 

Each module can receive, transmit and store up to 3,000 channels while being 

independent of all other modules.

Monitor Open squelch on analog channels and listen to traffic on that receiver. Typically this 

generates noise used to set the module’s volume level.

MPL Multiple Private Line (i.e. multiple tones). The ability to use several tones on the same 

channel.

NAC Network Access Code. A function of P25 digital with 4,096 combinations. Similar to 

analog CTCSS tones but in a digital format.

P25 Project 25 digital. Our VHF-FM radio signals are either P25 or analog.

PTT Push-to-talk. Transmitting on a radio.

PWR Power. A softkey selection that toggles a modules transmitter power from “H” (6 

watts) to “L” (1 watt).

Softkey A key with multiple functions depending on the radio’s current settings

Talkaround Bypassing the settings in a duplex (two) frequency channel so it becomes simplex (one 

frequency). Typically the tone assigned to the receiver is used on the transmitter.

Talkgroup Talkgroup code. A function of P25 digital and a sub-function of NAC with 65,536

combinations. There is no analog equivalent.

Tlkgrp See Talkgroup.
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TPL Tone Private Line. Analog tones. Motorola calls them TPL while most others call them 

CTCSS or simply Tones.

TSW Three position toggle switch. A Motorola feature not enabled in the NIICD Codeplug.

Zone A group of channels. Zones can have from one to hundreds of channels in them. 

Zones are a convenient way to organize channels into similar groups.