MLM Boards for Spectra's - Model Specific?

kyote · Post by **kyote** » Wed May 31, 2006 3:22 am

Are the MLM boards model specific to Spectra's?
Can a board from a 900 be used in a UHF?
Can a UHF low power board be used in a High Power UHF or VHF?
( Like the Maxtrac Main Boards )

kcbooboo · Post by **kcbooboo** » Wed May 31, 2006 3:55 am

As far as I know, an MLM can be configured to work in any of the Spectra mobile radios. Usually Motorola sets up the serial number and loads a minimal amount of codeplug when you order a new one, so it can work in any radio. When you install it and initialize the radio with it, other stuff gets stored in it as well. This removes the ability to move it easily from radio to radio.

Moving it to another radio requires significant hex-editing of data in the command board as well as in the MLM. There is info floating around on the web that explains some of what needs to be done, but not all of it, and not with step-by-step instructions. As they say, it's not for the faint-of-heart.

Bob M.

kyote · Post by **kyote** » Wed May 31, 2006 4:01 am

Can a board be "blanked" like a maxtrac board then?

kcbooboo · Post by **kcbooboo** » Wed May 31, 2006 4:42 am

No, the MLM can not be blanked. It contains some minimal amount of codeplug data that's required to let the radio work to some extent before you initialize the radio with it. This lets you test the basic functionality of the radio with a new MLM before committing it to that radio.

While there are ways of erasing the memory space in the MLM, doing so would render it totally useless unless you had a way of loading the base data back into it. The chips are soldered to the board. Someone was working on unsoldering the chip, reprogramming it with the "blank" data, and putting it back on. I don't know how far that project has gotten.

People have installed "used" MLMs and hex-edited data in their radios to get them to work, but under extraordinary circumstances and with known good codeplugs to put back into them.

I wish Spectras were as easy to blank and start fresh, like MaxTracs. But, alas, that is not the way of The Force.

Bob M.

kc7gr · Post by **kc7gr** » Wed May 31, 2006 7:23 am

kcbooboo wrote:No, the MLM can not be blanked. It contains some minimal amount of codeplug data that's required to let the radio work to some extent before you initialize the radio with it. This lets you test the basic functionality of the radio with a new MLM before committing it to that radio.

While there are ways of erasing the memory space in the MLM, doing so would render it totally useless unless you had a way of loading the base data back into it. The chips are soldered to the board. Someone was working on unsoldering the chip, reprogramming it with the "blank" data, and putting it back on. I don't know how far that project has gotten.

<snippety>

That would be me. I have acquired enough hard data, and spare parts, to try recreating a "blank" or "virgin" MLM, at least for the conventional radios, but I still need to get better SMD rework equipment (what I have access to now is iffy at best).

I expect to have such by the latter part of September this year. I've been trying to find a good deal on either a Pace ST-350 or a Chipmaster station (they're both very costly, new -- on the order of $3,500 - $5K), but have not had much luck as yet.

I will post an update as soon as I have it. In the meantime -- kcbooboo is correct. A Spectra MLM cannot be "blanked" in the same sense that a Maxtrac or Radius logic board can. Currently, the only way to get a "fresh" MLM is to buy one from Motorola at $225 each.

Keep the peace(es).

kyote · Post by **kyote** » Wed May 31, 2006 2:26 pm

Oh Well.. It was a thought.. Thanx guys....