Welcome to your go-to support hub for Motorola CLS Series two-way radios!

Explore our user manuals, easy setup guides, troubleshooting tips, and accessory recommendations below to keep your radios working perfectly and your team seamlessly connected.

Motorola CLS1110 two-way radio

Start here

The three things people call us about

If you are here for one specific thing, it is almost always one of these.

How do I get into programming mode?

Hold Push to Talk and MON together for three seconds while turning the radio on. The radio beeps, PROG appears, and the channel number blinks. Full programming steps →

The radio will not charge.

Swap in a known-good charged battery first. If that fixes it, the battery was the fault. If it does not, the radio may need replacing or submitting for warranty. More troubleshooting →

Our radios cannot hear each other.

The frequency and the interference eliminator code must match on every radio, and on the CLS1410 so must the channel. Check the code before you check anything else. Frequency and code charts →

Task 2

What do the buttons and display icons do?

The CLS has six controls. Everything on the radio is done with these.

Control What it does
Volume knob (top) Turns the radio on and off, and adjusts volume. Clockwise for on and louder, counterclockwise for off and quieter.
Push to Talk (large side button) Transmits while held. Also exits a menu or programming mode.
Call button (bell icon, side) Transmits your selected call tone to alert the group before you speak.
MON (monitor) Hold to listen to the raw frequency and check whether the channel is clear. On the CLS1410, a short press starts and stops scan.
MENU Scrolls through menu settings. Hold for three seconds to lock or unlock the keypad.
+ and − Change channels on the CLS1410, and change values inside menus and programming mode.

Reading the display

The LCD is small and every icon earns its place. Reading left to right and top to bottom, you'll see the signal strength and channel busy indicator, the battery meter, the current channel number in large type, the interference eliminator code indicator, the programming mode indicator, and the scan indicator on the CLS1410.

On the right side of the display you'll find the VibraCall alert indicator, the frequency and interference eliminator code readout, the keypad lock icon, the frequency indicator, and the microphone gain and VOX indicators on the CLS1410.

The light on top tells you as much as the screen

  • Blinks once every three seconds — the radio is on and idle.
  • Blinks once per second — there is activity on your frequency.
  • Solid red — you are transmitting.

When your radio is actually receiving a transmission that matches both your frequency and your code, the display shows a signal strength reading from 1 (weakest) to 6 (strongest). That is the fastest way to tell someone is drifting out of range before they drop off entirely.

Locking the keypad. Press and hold MENU for three seconds; the lock icon appears. Hold MENU for three seconds again to unlock. Worth doing on radios that live in an apron pocket or on a belt, where the + and − buttons get bumped and staff end up on different channels without realizing it.
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Task 3

How do I program a Motorola CLS1110 or CLS1410?

Programming mode changes the channel, operating frequency, interference eliminator code, call tone, microphone gain and — on the CLS1410 — the number of available channels and the scan list. No computer or cable required for any of it.

  1. Enter programming mode

    Press and hold Push to Talk and MON together for three seconds while turning the radio on. The radio beeps, PROG appears on the display, the channel number blinks, and the frequency (FREQ) and code (CODE) readouts alternate.

  2. Move through the settings with MON

    Each press of MON advances you to the next setting in the sequence. The + and − buttons change the value.

  3. Save and exit

    Press and hold Push to Talk at any point to save and exit. Then repeat on every radio in the fleet so all of them match.

What you want to change How to get there Models
Channel The first setting after you enter programming mode. The channel number blinks; press + or − to select it. CLS1410 only
Operating frequency Press MON until FREQ displays and the frequency number blinks, then press + or − to pick one of the 56 frequencies. Both
Interference eliminator code Press MON until CODE displays and the code number blinks, then press + or − to select a code from 0–121. Both
Number of available channels Press MON until the channel count displays and blinks, then press + or −. Settings for channels you hide are retained. CLS1410 only
Call tone / VibraCall Press MON until the call tone setting displays, then press + or − to hear and choose a tone. Tone 4 turns VibraCall on. Both (VibraCall CLS1410 only)
Microphone gain Press MON until the microphone gain setting displays, then press + or −: 1 is high sensitivity for quiet rooms, 2 is medium (the default), 3 is low for loud environments. Both
Scan list Press MON until the scan list displays with the channel number blinking, select the channel with + or −, then press MON to include or exclude it. CLS1410 only
The rule that catches most people. For two CLS radios to hear each other, the frequency and the interference eliminator code must match on both — and on the CLS1410, so must the channel. Two radios on frequency 2 with different codes will sit there silently, each convinced the other is broken. If a new radio can't hear the rest of the fleet, check the code first.
Accessory plugged in? You cannot enter programming mode while a VOX accessory is connected. Unplug the earpiece or headset first.

Can CLS radios be programmed with a computer?

Yes. Everything above can be done by hand on the radio itself, which is how most small fleets are set up. For larger deployments, Motorola's Customer Programming Software plus the programming cable lets you configure frequencies, codes and scan lists on a PC and push identical settings across every radio.

If you're deploying more than a handful of radios, the faster route for most teams is cloning through the multi-unit charger — no software required.

Buying from us? Send your channel plan and we'll program the whole fleet before it ships, so the radios arrive matched and ready.
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Task 4

Motorola CLS troubleshooting

Start at the top. The first two cover most calls.

Message not received

Confirm every radio has the same channel, frequency and interference eliminator code. Verify the radio isn't sitting in scan mode (CLS1410). Move location — obstructions and vehicle interiors cut range.

Hearing other conversations on your channel

Another business is on your frequency. Change the frequency, or the code, on all of your radios.

No power

Recharge or replace the lithium-ion battery.

Message not transmitted

Make sure Push to Talk is fully pressed. Verify the transmit light comes on while you speak. Recharge, replace or reseat the battery.

Poor audio quality

Bandwidth mismatch. Other radios communicating with CLS radios should be set to 12.5 kHz where possible.

Limited talk range

Steel and concrete structures, heavy foliage and vehicles all reduce range. Wearing the radio in a pocket or on a belt reduces it further — move the radio and look for clearer line of sight.

Heavy static or interference

The radios are too close together — they need to be at least five feet apart. Or they're too far apart, or obstructed.

Keypad locked

Hold MENU for three seconds to unlock.

Low battery warning with a new battery

Verify the radio is set to the correct battery type. Extreme operating temperatures also shorten battery life.

Charger light doesn't come on

Reseat the radio or battery. Clean the battery and charger contacts. Check that the transformer's charging pin is fully inserted into the drop-in charger.

Can't activate VOX (CLS1410)

The feature isn't set, sensitivity is set to off, or the accessory doesn't support VOX.

Can't enter programming mode

Unplug any audio accessory and try again.

Cleaning and care

Clean the exterior with a soft damp cloth only. Don't immerse the radio in water and don't use alcohol or cleaning solutions on it. If a radio does get submerged, turn it off immediately, remove the battery, dry it with a soft cloth, and leave it until it is completely dry before using it again.

Still stuck? Call 1-888-925-5982 or E-Mail Service@TechWholesale.com. We support every radio we sell for the life of the radio, at no charge.
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Task 5

Cloning settings and restoring factory defaults

Cloning copies a source radio's settings to a target radio using the 56531 multi-unit charger. It is the fastest way to bring new radios into an existing fleet — no cable, no software, and no power required, though both radios need charged batteries.

  1. Put the source radio into programming mode

    Hold Push to Talk and MON for three seconds while turning it on. The radio beeps and displays PROG.

  2. Seat both radios in paired pockets

    Place the source radio in one of the charging pockets. Turn the target radio on and place it in the pocket paired with the source radio's pocket. The six pockets form three pairs, indicated by the three pairs of charging status LEDs.

  3. Hold MON on the source radio

    It transmits its settings to the target radio. A P (pass) or F (fail) displays on the source radio. On success, the target radio lights up all of its feature icons.

  4. Power cycle the target, then repeat or exit

    Turn the target radio off and back on before using it. To clone another radio, repeat the seating and MON steps. To exit, hold Push to Talk on the source radio until PROG disappears.

You can clone one radio at a time. A multi-channel radio can clone to a single-channel radio, but only the first channel copies across.

Restoring factory defaults

If a radio has been passed around long enough that nobody knows what's on it, resetting is usually the quickest answer. Turn the radio on while holding Push to Talk and MON for three seconds.

The manual lists this same button combination for entering programming mode, so watch the display: if you land on the blinking PROG screen, you're in programming mode rather than reset. Either way, the table below tells you what a factory-fresh radio should be set to, so you can confirm it by hand in under a minute.

Setting CLS1110 default CLS1410 default
Channel 1 frequency Frequency 2 Frequency 2
Channel 2 frequency Not available Frequency 8
Channel 3 frequency Not available Frequency 5
Channel 4 frequency Not available Frequency 6
Interference eliminator code 1 1
Call tone / VibraCall Off (0) Off (0)
VOX Not available Off (0)
Microphone gain 2 (medium) 2 (medium)
Because both models default to frequency 2 with code 1, a brand new CLS1110 and a brand new CLS1410 will talk to each other straight out of the box on channel 1 with no setup at all.

Hidden power-on settings

A few settings aren't in the menu at all — they're toggled by holding a button while you turn the radio on. These solve complaints like "the radio beeps every time someone touches it" and "there's a lag before I hear anyone."

Setting Hold while turning the radio on Default
Keypad tones on/off
Silences the beep on every button press
On
End-of-transmission tone on/off
Sends a tone when you release Push to Talk — the audible equivalent of saying "over"
+ Off
Battery save mode on/off
Turning it off shortens the delay between a transmission arriving and audio playing, at a cost of roughly 20% battery life
Push to Talk + MON + − On
Restore factory defaults Push to Talk + MON
If keypad tones are off and the end-of-transmission tone is on, you won't hear the tone yourself — but the radios receiving you will.
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Task 6

How do scan, VOX and VibraCall work on the CLS1410?

These three features are the whole difference between the CLS1410 and the CLS1110, beyond channel count.

Scanning — up to four channels

  • Press MON briefly to start. The scan icon appears and the radio cycles through the channels.
  • When it detects activity it stops there and displays that channel number. You can reply on it by pressing Push to Talk within five seconds — no channel change needed.
  • After five seconds of silence, scanning resumes.
  • Press MON briefly again to stop.

Two tips make scan usable on a busy floor. Scan advance: if the radio lands on a conversation you don't need, press MON to jump to the next active channel. Nuisance delete: press and hold MON to drop that channel from the scan list temporarily — it returns the next time you use scan.

Worth knowing. If you press Push to Talk while scanning rather than while stopped on a channel, the radio transmits on the channel you were on before you started scanning — not the one you were listening to.

VOX hands-free operation

VOX lets the CLS1410 transmit when you speak, with no button press, using a compatible audio accessory.

  1. Turn the radio off, open the accessory cover, plug the accessory firmly into the accessory jack, then turn the radio back on.
  2. The VOX indicator appears.
  3. If it's blinking and this is your first setup, set the sensitivity: press MENU until the VOX sensitivity setting displays, then use + or − to choose off, low, medium or high.
  4. Lower the volume before putting the earpiece in.

To disable VOX, press Push to Talk or remove the accessory. Expect a short delay between when you start speaking and when the radio actually transmits — start with a half-second pause before your first word so the beginning of your sentence isn't clipped.

VibraCall silent alert

Select call tone 4 in programming mode and the radio vibrates briefly when it receives a call tone, provided it hasn't transmitted or received in the last 30 seconds. The VibraCall icon shows on the display when it's active.

It's the reason the CLS1410 turns up so often in hotels, theaters, funeral homes and hospital wings — anywhere a chirping radio in a quiet room is a problem.

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Task 7

How long does the CLS battery last, and how do I charge it?

The CLS ships with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery rated at 14 hours on Motorola's 5/5/90 duty cycle — 5% of the time transmitting, 5% receiving and 90% on standby.

What 14 hours means in practice

That duty cycle is a realistic pattern for most retail, restaurant and hotel shifts. A supervisor who transmits constantly will see less; a stockroom radio that mostly listens will see more.

Charging

Place the drop-in charger on a flat surface, plug the power cord into the charger and then into an AC outlet, turn the radio off, and drop it in the front charging pocket. The radio fits in the charger with the holster still on.

  • A full charge takes roughly two to six hours, and the radio charges faster switched off than on.
  • The charging LED is solid red while charging, solid green when complete.
  • The drop-in charger will also charge a spare battery sequentially — the spare doesn't begin charging until the radio's battery is full.
  • For battery longevity, avoid leaving a radio on the charger for extended periods after it's already full. Charging over a weekend is fine.

Reading the battery meter

3 bars 100%–85% remaining
2 bars 85%–25% remaining
1 bar 25%–10% remaining
Blinking Final 10%
The two-bar band covers a lot of ground, which is why fleets running long shifts tend to standardize on end-of-shift docking rather than watching the meter. Running more than four or five radios? The 56531 six-unit charger solves charging and storage in one piece of hardware — and it's the same charger you need for cloning.
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Task 8

Frequency and interference eliminator code charts

The display shows a frequency number from 1 to 56, not the actual megahertz value. This is the full mapping from the user guide — what you need when matching CLS radios to an existing fleet, filing an FCC license application, or answering a facilities manager who wants to know exactly what's transmitting in their building. Every CLS frequency is 12.5 kHz narrowband.

All 56 CLS frequencies

No. MHz No. MHz No. MHz No. MHz
1 464.5000 15 461.1875 29 462.9125 43 466.2625
2 464.5500 16 461.2125 30 464.4875 44 466.2875
3 467.7625 17 461.2375 31 464.5125 45 466.3125
4 467.8125 18 461.2625 32 464.5375 46 466.3375
5 467.8500 19 461.2875 33 464.5625 47 466.3625
6 467.8750 20 461.3125 34 466.0375 48 467.7875
7 467.9000 21 461.3375 35 466.0625 49 467.8375
8 467.9250 22 461.3625 36 466.0875 50 467.8625
9 461.0375 23 462.7625 37 466.1125 51 467.8875
10 461.0625 24 462.7875 38 466.1375 52 467.9125
11 461.0875 25 462.8125 39 466.1625 53 469.4875
12 461.1125 26 462.8375 40 466.1875 54 469.5125
13 461.1375 27 462.8625 41 466.2125 55 469.5375
14 461.1625 28 462.8875 42 466.2375 56 469.5625
Replacing older Spirit GT Series radios? The first eight CLS frequencies and the 38 analog interference eliminator codes are compatible with Spirit GT, so the two can run side by side during a changeover.

What interference eliminator codes actually do

Also known as privacy codes, PL codes, CTCSS, DPL or DCS, these are a filter, not encryption. Your radio still transmits on the same frequency as everyone else; the code simply tells your radio to stay silent unless the incoming transmission carries a matching sub-audible tone.

It keeps another business on the same frequency out of your earpiece, but it does not make your conversation private. Anyone scanning that frequency without a code set can hear you.

  • Code 0 — carrier squelch. Disables filtering and lets you hear everything on the frequency.
  • Codes 1–38 — analog CTCSS tones.
  • Codes 39–121 — digital DPL codes.

Analog codes 1–38 (CTCSS, in Hz)

Code Hz Code Hz Code Hz Code Hz
1 67.0 11 97.4 21 136.5 31 192.8
2 71.9 12 100.0 22 141.3 32 203.5
3 74.4 13 103.5 23 146.2 33 210.7
4 77.0 14 107.2 24 151.4 34 218.1
5 79.7 15 110.9 25 156.7 35 225.7
6 82.5 16 114.8 26 162.2 36 233.6
7 85.4 17 118.8 27 167.9 37 241.8
8 88.5 18 123.0 28 173.8 38 250.3
9 91.5 19 127.3 29 179.9
10 94.8 20 131.8 30 186.2

Digital codes 39–121 (DPL)

Code DPL Code DPL Code DPL Code DPL
39 023 60 143 81 315 102 532
40 025 61 152 82 331 103 546
41 026 62 155 83 343 104 565
42 031 63 156 84 346 105 606
43 032 64 162 85 351 106 612
44 043 65 165 86 364 107 624
45 047 66 172 87 365 108 627
46 051 67 174 88 371 109 631
47 054 68 205 89 411 110 632
48 065 69 223 90 412 111 654
49 071 70 226 91 413 112 662
50 072 71 243 92 423 113 664
51 073 72 244 93 431 114 703
52 074 73 245 94 432 115 712
53 114 74 251 95 445 116 723
54 115 75 261 96 464 117 731
55 116 76 263 97 465 118 732
56 125 77 265 98 466 119 734
57 131 78 271 99 503 120 743
58 132 79 306 100 506 121 754
59 134 80 311 101 516
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Task 9

CLS1110 vs CLS1410: which one do I actually have?

The two radios are physically identical, so the fastest way to tell them apart is the display. A CLS1110 shows channel 1 and nothing changes when you press + or −. A CLS1410 cycles through channels 1 to 4.

Which one suits your team

Beyond channel count, the CLS1410 adds scan across those four channels, VOX hands-free operation with a compatible accessory, and VibraCall silent vibrating alerts. Everything else — the 1-watt transmitter, 56 frequencies, 121 codes, 200,000 square feet of indoor coverage, 14-hour battery, MIL-STD-810 durability and every accessory — is the same on both.

In practice the deciding question isn't budget, it's whether your teams need to talk past each other. A single restaurant floor or a small retail store runs fine on one shared channel. The moment you have a receiving crew, a sales floor and a manager who all need separate conversations, one channel becomes a traffic jam and the CLS1410 pays for itself in a week.

Specification CLS1110 CLS1410
Frequency range UHF 459.5–469.5 MHz UHF 459.5–469.5 MHz
Channel capacity 1 4
Selectable frequencies 56 56
Channel bandwidth 12.5 kHz 12.5 kHz
RF power output 1.0 watt 1.0 watt
Analog PL (CTCSS) codes 38 38
Digital DPL codes 83 83
Indoor coverage Up to 200,000 sq ft / 18,580 sq m Up to 200,000 sq ft / 18,580 sq m
Multi-level coverage Up to 15 floors Up to 15 floors
Battery life (5/5/90 duty cycle) 14 hours 14 hours
Dimensions (H × W × D) 4.1" × 2.0" × 1.1" 4.1" × 2.0" × 1.1"
Weight Less than 5 oz Less than 5 oz
Scan Yes (up to 4 channels)
VOX hands-free Yes, with compatible accessory
VibraCall vibrating alert Yes (call tone 4)

Transmitter and receiver specifications

RF output (conducted into 50 ohms) 1.0 watt
Frequency stability Less than 2.0 ppm
Spurs and harmonics Less than −45 dBc
FM hum and noise @ 12.5 kHz −40 dB
Modulation limiting @ 12.5 kHz ± 2.5 kHz
Adjacent channel power 60 dBc
Audio frequency response (0.3–3.0 kHz) +1 to −3 dB
Transmit audio distortion Less than 2%
Receiver sensitivity (12 dB SINAD) −122 dBm (0.18 uV)
Adjacent channel selectivity @ 12.5 kHz 65 dB
Intermodulation rejection 60 dB
Spurious response rejection (blocking 1 MHz) 85 dB
Audio output at less than 5% distortion 0.5 W @ 8 ohms
FCC designation AZ489FT4860
Industry Canada designation 109U-89FT4860

How durable is the CLS Series?

CLS radios are tested to Military Standard 810 revisions C, D, E, F and G across 11 categories, including shock, vibration, high and low temperature, temperature shock, solar radiation, rain, humidity, dust and low pressure.

The radios are rated for a five-foot drop to concrete. Operating temperature is −30°C to +60°C and storage temperature is −40°C to +85°C.

The housings are polycarbonate with built-in anti-microbial properties that inhibit bacteria and mold growth on the radio surface — a detail that matters in food service and healthcare.

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Also useful

Accessories and FCC licensing

Every CLS accessory works with both the CLS1110 and the CLS1410, so a mixed fleet only needs one accessory inventory. These are the part numbers in the Motorola documentation — useful when reordering something that arrived with the original radios years ago.

HKLN4604

Swivel earpiece

Discreet listening for front-of-house staff.

PMNN4497A

Rechargeable Li-Ion battery

Spare or replacement battery.

56531

Multi-unit charger

Charges six radios or batteries. Also does cloning.

HCLN4013A

Swivel belt holster

Replacement for the holster in the box.

The full current range, including drop-in chargers, high-capacity batteries and multi-unit chargers, is on our Motorola CLS accessories page.

Do Motorola CLS radios require an FCC license?

Technically yes — but a license is not required to purchase radios. The CLS Series operates on business-exclusive frequencies regulated under FCC Part 90. That licensing requirement is exactly what makes the frequencies business-exclusive: it's why a CLS fleet isn't competing with every consumer walkie-talkie in the shopping center, and it's a practical difference between the CLS and an FRS radio.

Applications are filed on FCC Form 601 (schedules D and H) with remittance form 159; the FCC bundles the forms and instructions as document 000601. Licenses run a ten-year term and cover your organization rather than individual radios, so one license typically covers a whole fleet. Before you apply you'll need to know which frequencies you intend to operate on — which is what the frequency chart above is for.

If licensing is the part that's holding up a purchase, contact us. We walk customers through it regularly and it's a shorter conversation than most people expect.
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Frequently asked

Motorola CLS Series FAQ

Will a CLS1110 talk to a CLS1410?

Yes. Both models ship set to frequency 2 with interference eliminator code 1, so a new CLS1110 and a new CLS1410 communicate on channel 1 with no setup. To keep them talking after you reprogram anything, the frequency and the code have to match on both radios.

Can a CLS radio talk to a Motorola Talkabout or other FRS walkie-talkie?

No. The CLS operates on licensed Part 90 business frequencies between 461 and 469.5 MHz. Consumer FRS radios operate on a different set of shared public frequencies under Part 95. The two cannot communicate, and that separation is the point — it's what keeps your staff off the same channel as everyone else in the building.

What's the difference between a channel and a frequency?

A frequency is one of the 56 actual radio frequencies the CLS can transmit on. A channel is a saved slot on the radio that holds a frequency plus an interference eliminator code. The CLS1110 has one slot; the CLS1410 has four. That's why a one-channel radio still gives you 56 frequencies to choose from — you're just choosing one at a time.

Why can I hear another business on my radio?

Someone nearby is on the same frequency. Interference eliminator codes reduce what you hear from them. The fix is to move your fleet to a different frequency from the chart above, changing every radio so they stay in sync.

How far will a CLS radio actually reach?

Motorola rates the CLS at up to 200,000 square feet indoors or up to 15 floors in a multi-level building. Outdoor mileage claims vary widely between listings because outdoor range depends entirely on terrain and obstructions. The indoor figure is the number to plan around, and a 1-watt radio in a steel-and-concrete building will fall short of it — check for line of sight before assuming a radio is faulty.

Is the CLS Series waterproof?

No. CLS radios are dust-protected and splash-resistant and are tested to MIL-STD-810 revisions C through G, including a five-foot drop to concrete, but they are not rated for immersion. A radio that goes into water should be turned off, have its battery removed, and be dried completely before it's used again.

How do I turn off the beeping on a CLS radio?

Hold the − button while turning the radio on. That toggles keypad tones, which are on by default. If the beep you're hearing comes at the end of someone's transmission rather than on button presses, that's the end-of-transmission tone, toggled by holding + while turning the radio on.

How many radios can share one channel?

There's no hard limit — a channel is a shared party line, and every radio set to the same frequency and code hears every transmission. The practical limit is conversational: once more than about eight to ten people need to talk regularly, the channel gets congested and it's time to split departments onto separate channels with the CLS1410.

What's the difference between a two-way radio and a walkie-talkie?

Nothing technically — they're the same device. "Walkie-talkie" is the everyday term, more often associated with consumer FRS radios, while "two-way radio" is the term used in commercial and licensed contexts. A Motorola CLS1410 is accurately described by both.

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Getting help with your CLS radios

Tech Wholesale has been an authorized Motorola dealer since 1997, and CLS radios have been part of that catalog for most of it. If you're adding radios to an existing fleet and don't know what frequencies you're currently on, or you're not sure the CLS is right for your building, talk to us before you order. That conversation takes a few minutes and it prevents the most common and most expensive mistake we see: buying on price alone and discovering the coverage gaps after deployment.