Maxtrac 800 radio modification

This forum is for the discussions targeted at converting various models of Motorola equipment to operate in the 900MHz Amateur Band.

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KB3DXR
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Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 4:03 pm

Maxtrac 800 radio modification

Post by KB3DXR »

I am in the process of building a receiver for a 33cm repeater and picked up a Maxtrac 800 at a hamfest today. It has a HLF-9122a RF board, HLN9313a logic board, and HLN9435c firmware. Is this radio convertable to 900Mz receive, and is the firmware trunking. If I need conventional firmware, what is the part number, and how much should it cost?

73's,
Christopher Best
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xmo
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Post by xmo »

Your firmware is trunking. Your logic board is fine. Your RF board has the correct talkaround VCO.

To perform the conversion, you will need to replace the front end filters, mod the RF board so the VCO stays shifted, blank the logic board, replace the firmware, program and align the unit.

Here is one previous thread on the subject:

http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.php?t=20829


Here is some Maxtrac reference data:

Maxtrac Firmware list

Part number,application, version, checksum, date, chip
HLN9277A, VHF/UHF/800 Conventional 5 pin logic board, 4.00,(n/a), 1987, 27C64
HLN5569A, VHF/UHF/800 Conventional 16 pin logic board, 5.34, (n/a), 1987, 27C256
HLN9435A, 800 Trunked 16 mode w/conventional, 54.03, (3FD0), 51/92, 27C512
HLN9260C, Maxtrac 840 5 pin boards, 52.07, (n/a), 1987, 27C256
HLN9383F, Startsite Smartnet Type2 16 pin, V71.25, (BEB3), 22/95, 27C512
FRN4007B, 900 Trunked, V80.08, (44F3), 51/94, 27C512
FVN4019A, 900 Conventionl, V30.03, (BD00), 21/98, 27C256
FLN6531A, 800 Desktrac, V31.00, (90D0), 14/95, 27C256 (Tx & Rx are same)
5102901S02, Intrac UHF Maxtrac, V IL 1.014, (n/a), 1990, 27C256
HLN9499B, Radius M214/216 16 pin bd, 21.01, (n/a), 1987 1991, 27C256

Logic Boards

Low Band, VHF, UHF, 800

HLN5172A, 5 pin, trunking
HLN5173B, 5 pin, conventional
HLN9123A, 5 pin, masked
HLN9313A, 16 pin


900 MHz trunking and conventional

FRN5529A, 16 pin

800 RF boards

HLF4095B, non-talkaround
HLF9122A, talkaround
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n2knc
Posts: 193
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2003 8:01 pm

maxtrac prom

Post by n2knc »

i have a trunking prom if you need one we can talk motorola maxtrac/radius frn4007b ver 80.06 ic chip
CTAMontrose
was grem467
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Post by CTAMontrose »

he will need the conventional firmware.. i have converted dozens of these radios and they make great 902.xxxx receivers!
KF6HHS
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2001 4:00 pm

Post by KF6HHS »

he will need the conventional firmware.. i have converted dozens of these radios and they make great 902.xxxx receivers!

Why? Ten conventional channels aren't enough for a radio used as a repeater receiver!

Hugh KF6HHS
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