Theory... HT1000 Meets MTX8000

Post by **alex** » Thu Jan 24, 2002 9:23 pm

Ok. I got to thinking tonight (a dangerous concept). I have an HT1000 VHF, and a MTX8000.

I'm wondering if I can take the RF section of the VHF HT1000, and exchange it with the MTX8000 controler so that I could have a VHF MT2000. In theory, all I would have to do would be to push an MT2000 VHF codeplug for 48 channels into the controler, and hook up the rf deck, and be done with it.

I could then hook the HT1000 VHF controler up to the 800 mhz RF deck for a conventional 800mhz HT1000 (The system I monitor is a conventional campus safety repeater).

Suprisingly enough, I do have an 800mhz HT1000 Codeplug, I've only seen an 800mhz HT1000 in a couple of different places, so I'm assuming it's a slightly rare beast.

Any ideas? It sounds good in theory...

-Alex

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Fri Jan 25, 2002 12:13 pm

And it works in practice with lab rss.

Chris

Post by **alex** » Fri Jan 25, 2002 12:28 pm

Chris,

Check your private messages.

Thanks,

Alex

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Fri Jan 25, 2002 12:46 pm

Let me know if you have any luck with this, I might want to give it a try too

Matt

patrol186 · Post by **patrol186** » Fri Jan 25, 2002 6:31 pm

A few thoughts,
toolproofing error, wouldnt this be a possible issue?
if it works for you let me know I would like to try it as well
Ben

radioEd · Post by **radioEd** » Fri Jan 25, 2002 6:44 pm

Don't keep the theory to yourself. Thats why were here....let me know to! E=Mc2 TIA Ed

Post by **alex** » Fri Jan 25, 2002 11:30 pm

No, the toolproofing error wouldn't be an issue here because it is not an MTS radio - and I believe it requires V5.04+ firmware to make it an issue.

Also, I believe the pack/nopack option allows you to get around that.

I'll post my findings, I actually did the physical hardware swap tonight, i'm stumped tho as to how to make the software do what I want...

...update...

I discovered I had one PM from someone explaining to me how to do this. I'll give it a try sometime this weekend, and do my best to document the steps.

For now I need: VHF MT2000 48 channel code plug.

Anyone can help, [email protected]. Thanks!

[ This Message was edited by: alex on 2002-01-26 02:33 ]

N9LLO · Post by **N9LLO** » Sat Jan 26, 2002 7:00 am

I just completed changing a MTX9000 to a
MTS2000 VHF by using a VHF RF board and lab.
The MTX was 1999 vintage. After going through the alignment it works to spec.The Hearclear chip seems to be transparent.
Would still like to have a VHT JT1000 though.

Chris

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Sat Jan 26, 2002 8:46 am

These hacks do work. While you will get full functionality with the conversion to MT2000, you may find that some MTS functions will not work, like MDC status, messaging, etc. Its interesting that the ASF IC on the controller board of these radios is so versatile.

As far as making the conversion to JT1000, no good. The controller board is completely different. The radio will take the codeplug but will not allow kepyad programming. In addition you lose all signalling since the JT dosen't support any advanced protocols.

Alex has the steps to complete the conversion. I am sure he will be happy with the result, and then we can post the full, documented conversion to this board.

10-95 · Post by **10-95** » Sat Jan 26, 2002 8:04 pm

OH NO!! A secret is out there now, I have done that to about 5 mtx model radios, just swap out the rf deck and reprogram with lab and you are in business!! Of course you don't really have a real MT2000, it's just a hacked up radio that does not have the same resale value as a true MT or Mts but I kind of like mine.

10-95

[ This Message was edited by: 10-95 on 2002-01-26 23:05 ]

Post by **alex** » Sat Jan 26, 2002 8:19 pm

Ok,

I haven't started work on this besides taking appart the radios yet.

Once I figure out everything, I will both make a posting here, and send the info into Bat.

10-95 - Ultimate plan: Upgrade the MTX8000 controler to be MTS2000, VHF, MDC decode/encode (qcii would be nice too!). I will happily settle for a 48 channel with mdc encode, QCII.

So what do I need?

48 Channel Codeplug readable with LAB - MT2000 VHF

The rest of the hacks can be tried later...

-Alex

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[ This Message was edited by: alex on 2002-01-26 23:20 ]

10-95 · Post by **10-95** » Sat Jan 26, 2002 8:48 pm

What I have done is take an MTX8000 full keypad B-7 and take the Rf Deck above the controller and pull it out. If you are lucky, you have an earlier run of those two radios, in the later run they started soldering the contoller to the RF deck to keep this from going on. Now assuming you have the rf deck in the mtx , you will need to get a valid model number for that radio in which everband split it is. Now bring up your lab rss and goto create personality, and create the radio with the proper model number and select the options you want in it, then dump it into the radio. There is no labproofing issues with the mtx series.

You may also have to do some minor retung via the rss, just check the radio with a freq. counter to make sure it is on frequency also.

Have fun
10-95

Post by **alex** » Sat Feb 02, 2002 10:43 am

Ok, I've started working on this project, however, I'd like a couple of codeplugs:

VHF MT2000 A4
VHF MT2000 A5
VHF MT2000 A7

VHF MTS2000 A4
VHF MTS2000 A5
VHF MTS2000 A7

If anyone has the above, that would help a lot. The MTS2K codeplugs should be PRE flashport generation.

I had a couple people offer them to me, but haven't seen them come across my email yet...

thanks,

[email protected]

motor59 · Post by **motor59** » Fri Feb 22, 2002 7:06 am

Alex-
How's the progress on the project?
I've got a couple of radios just waiting to be reborn....

Post by **alex** » Fri Feb 22, 2002 7:27 am

The project was a success.

It is possible.

I now have a VHF A4, using a MTX8000 controler

I never got all the codeplugs I needed, so I used my MT2000 A7 to clone the controler - which worked really well - however I can't hack it in a way that will allow me to only enter 6 chars. The radio thinks it's a 160 channel radio with a A7 display. Since the controler only supports an A4 display, you can only type 6 chars into the field for the channel name.

But, the radio works, and does so quite well. I used a A4 case from JBarkly on ebay that I got for $30 bucks I think...

So, it's possible, witht he right tools. Be careful, as you can ruin a radio quite quickly. I think I figured out how to recover a radio using the pack/nounpack option if you get a corrupt codeplug. However, it helps to have a radio there you can read from in a pinch.

I'll see if I can't write out some instructions sometime in the next week, with some pictures to help people... however, I'm stressed with exams this weekend until monday night when i'm done with the quarter....

-Alex

Yosh · Post by **Yosh** » Thu Feb 28, 2002 10:02 pm

I have a follow up question...

Has anyone been able to convert a MTX8000 "B3" into a MT2000 "A7"? The service manuals list different controller part number for the top/no dispaly and the front display radios, however, the schematic and part list for the two different controllers appear to be the same?

I've successfully done this conversion to a full display/keypad MTX8000, but was curious about the B3 controllers.

Thanks,
Yosh

Post by **alex** » Fri Mar 01, 2002 5:08 am

On 2002-03-01 01:02, Yosh wrote:
I have a follow up question...

Has anyone been able to convert a MTX8000 "B3" into a MT2000 "A7"? The service manuals list different controller part number for the top/no dispaly and the front display radios, however, the schematic and part list for the two different controllers appear to be the same?

I've successfully done this conversion to a full display/keypad MTX8000, but was curious about the B3 controllers.

Thanks,
Yosh

Hey Yosh,

I was able to put a full A7 MT2K Codeplug into a MTX controler, however, the firmware on the controler that I had would not support the front display only the top display. I found this to be the case with the B3 Controlers - however, keep an eye on the radios, sometimes they throw better controlers than what's needed.

That's at least been my limited experience - i've only mucked around with 3 controlers.

-Alex

metro121 · Post by **metro121** » Fri Mar 01, 2002 8:02 am

JEEEEZ, come on guys , you killing me here.
If you take an HT1000 RF deck and install it with a MTX8000, MTX9000, MT2000, or MTS2000 controller board, you will get what ever band the RF deck is provided you hacked the controller properly.
NOTE, if you try this with a TOOL PROOF controller without the proper method you will have waisted your time.

If you are using B5's and B7 controllers you get the full feature and all of the 255 channels.

If you are using B3's and A4's you will USUALLY get just the top display BUT, you can get 160 channels.

Now how can you get 160 channels with a top display?

Well I am glad you asked.

You need to take the channel selector apart , VERY CAREFULLY. You will see a small chingas inside the channel selector that keeps the knob from continuously going around and around and around and around and around......, whoa, i'm getting dizzy.

This is known as "Continuous Rotory" when you hack your code plug.

by doing this , you can configure your switches for zones and put as many channels it as you want.

don't go over board and try to get 255 channels.

It will usually piss off the radio. You can try but if it does not work, go back to 160.