Spectra Cable, the same as Syntor x9000?

BikerScout · Post by **BikerScout** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:06 pm

Hi, everyone. I recently acquired a Motorola Spectra T43KXA7JA9AK Radio. However, it has no cable for the A9 control head. Can I use a Syntor x9000 cable?

Bryan

Rick Rock · Post by **Rick Rock** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:53 pm

The cable you need is a HKN4356. I am not sure what the syntor uses off hand...

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 8:14 pm

The Syntor has a different connector on the drawer end, the Spectra has a DB25 for the radio end.

I haven't compared the control head end between the two, but if wires were available to the correct pin numbers i guess you could replace the radio end with a nice heavy duty d-sub connector.

Probably a lot easier just to get a Spectra cable off ebay or the batboard.

Mike B · Post by **Mike B** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:49 am

kb0nly is correct, you can put your own DB-25 connector on a Syntor X 9000 cable, however you will be hard pressed to duplicate the strength or resistance to moisture of the factory cable. Motorola back fills the Spectra DB-25 connector body with some kind of plastic or epoxy. You can also add the HKN4355 (22 foot) cable to your list as another factory Spectra A9 cable (the HKN4356 is around 17' long). Here is a link to some connection info:
http://www.open.org/~blenderm/spectra/#sys9kcon

The control head wiring is almost the same, except the Spectra adds an emergency wire on control head pin 27 (27 is not connected in an X9K head):
http://www.open.org/~blenderm/spectra/c ... #s9krdpins
http://www.open.org/~blenderm/syntorx9k ... #x9krdpins

BikerScout · Post by **BikerScout** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 9:57 pm

So what makes the radio conventional or trunked, the control head or radio box?
Is T44KMA7JA9AK a conventional or trunked?
If I put a C7 control head on this radio, will that work?
is a HCN1073A a conventional or trunking control head?
Those web pages are some heavy reading.

Bryan

Rick Rock · Post by **Rick Rock** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 7:41 am

BikerScout wrote:So what makes the radio conventional or trunked, the control head or radio box?
Is T44KMA7JA9AK a conventional or trunked?
If I put a C7 control head on this radio, will that work?
is a HCN1073A a conventional or trunking control head?
Those web pages are some heavy reading.

Bryan

The radio unit itself.

The T44 spectra is a 45 watt, non-secure capable, A9 conventional-only spectra unit.

Control heads are not trunking/conventional specific. If you take an A7 head off a conventional spectra and put it on a B7 or C7 unit, the head is now a B7 or C7, and vise-versa. The same with A9 heads. The only thing to watch for on heads is the older syntor heads, ex. HCN1036, as they don't do too well with spectras, and of course you wouldn't want to put an Astro unit on a conventional/trunked unit either.

A4/A5/A7 heads can be swapped from radio to radio without even reprogramming the radios, as the names and head button features are programmed into the radio itself, not the control head (except the A9- they store the names in the head). The only thing about swapping heads is putting the same featured head on the radio as it was set up for, as it won't recognize different switches unless they are configured in RSS.

BikerScout · Post by **BikerScout** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 2:24 pm

Thanks everyone for the information. I have suddenly found myself in a situation where I now own some radios that I never thought I would own and before now never had any interests in. I am really trying to get as much info on these as I can.
I am really more of a paper person than a internet person. I would rather read it on paper than read it from a screen.
Again, thanks for all the info.

Bryan

Rick Rock · Post by **Rick Rock** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 4:58 pm

BikerScout wrote:I am really more of a paper person than a internet person. I would rather read it on paper than read it from a screen.
Again, thanks for all the info.

Bryan

That's why they invented printers!

jmr061 · Post by **jmr061** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 9:16 pm

I once saw a true motorola cable at a ham fest that would allow the use of a x9000 cable on a spectra. It was some sort of conversion cable used when swtiching from an x9000 to the spectra so the control cable wouldn't have to be ripped up and power re-run.

Jason

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 9:36 pm

Here is a good example of the cable you need..

http://cgi.ebay.com/MOTOROLA-SPECTRA-SY ... dZViewItem

You will notice though, on the head end of the cable it doesn't have the retainer clip, the metal piece that goes around the connector and clips into the head. Seems like the most commonly missing part on X9000 and Spectra remote mount parts.

As for that cable JMR964 was referring to, are you sure it wasn't just a Spectra Siren/PA cable? They have the DB-25 on one end and the Syntor X9000 style connector on the other end for the Siren/PA, or VRS box.

jmr061 · Post by **jmr061** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 9:54 pm

Trust me it was a conversion cable. Pretty neat little thing.

Jason

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 10:54 pm

Cool.. Didn't know such a cable existed! I can understand the reason for having one though, take a vehicle with an X9000 already installed, remove the radio, connect the adapter cable and install the Spectra, and swap the control head if necessary, and the install/upgrade is a done deal!

BikerScout · Post by **BikerScout** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:25 pm

Thanks guys. I got most of the stuff together for the T43KXA7JA9AK today and hooked it all up. The control head is a HCN1063B System 9000, the control head cable is HKN4356B. After trying to turn the unit on and finally figuring out what the Green and Orange wires where for. I finally got the radio to come on with a error 08/10. I don't have mic yet but, hopefully i'll solve that soon.
Before the radio arrived I typed out a channel map of how I wanted the radio to be programmed. After I got the unit up and running, I went to the local radio shop and had the radio programmed. I must say these are fine radios. Thinking about getting another.
I'll let you know how the other one works out.

Bryan

Rick Rock · Post by **Rick Rock** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 3:53 pm

The green and orange wires are power wires. 1 is for constant power, the other is for ignition sense. If you do a search, you can find out which is which, or go to batlabs.com. As for the error 08/10, that is a siren unit enabled that is not attached.

Rick

BikerScout · Post by **BikerScout** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:47 pm

Well that would explain some of the questions the guys at the radio shop asked me. Like "Do you have a DEK unit? Do you have lights and sirens?" and after I came home the error message was gone. Now I know what they meant by "what did you want your minimum volume set at?" I have to take the radio back and have them set it to 11. Not knowing a thing about what they REALLY meant, I told them Zero of course. HA! Newbie mistake!

Bryan

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 6:03 pm

I wouldnt' set the min vol to 11, that's rather loud on a spectra.

I have also seen the x9000 to spectra conversion cables. Short length of cable with a femal x9000 connector on it with of course a DB25 on the other end.

BikerScout · Post by **BikerScout** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 8:34 pm

I wouldnt' set the min vol to 11, that's rather loud on a spectra.

I must be going deaf.

Bryan

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 8:39 pm

Apco... Any chance you got one laying around to take a snap shot of? I haven't seen one of those, just wanted to use the picture to prove to others it exists. If not, don't worry about it.

11 would be mighty high! I set my VHF to 7, though it is a base. For mobile maybe another notch or two. Unless for some reason your's has low audio? 11 is a booming volume level on mine, i can hear it clear across the house.

Is it an older white label Spectra? Maybe its a failing capacitor if the audio output is low. Or, it might even be a bad speaker.

BikerScout · Post by **BikerScout** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 9:13 pm

I think I know what you mean. It is a older white label spectra. Now I just have to find that post where it tells what parts to change out. Is it pretty easy to do? Or would I be better off taking it in to a Radio Shop? I am pretty good with a soldering iron and fixing things myself but, I don't have a service monitor, or other radio tuning gear.

Bryan

Rick Rock · Post by **Rick Rock** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 10:45 pm

Get in touch with Will, he's a moderator on here, and a spectra repair specialist. He can help you through that.