Astro Spectra Question
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KX5MOT
- was JonboyOK
- Posts: 1714
- Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2005 4:56 pm
- What radios do you own?: Motorola Talkabout 250
Astro Spectra Question
I recently purchased of what i thought to be two regular VHF Astro Spectras on ebay and when i took them out of the box today i discovered that they have two separate antenna jacks, one min-UHF for TX and one SMA for RX. Does anyone know anything about these and is there a way to change it back to one jack? Any help is appreciated, thanks.
"Archers."
"I beg pardon, sire. Won't we hit our own troops?"
"Yes....but we'll hit theirs as well. We have reserves....attack"
"I beg pardon, sire. Won't we hit our own troops?"
"Yes....but we'll hit theirs as well. We have reserves....attack"
..
a picture (including the model #) is worth many comments
sounds "SP" ish to me.... perhaps they are configured as auxilliary radios... ?
d
sounds "SP" ish to me.... perhaps they are configured as auxilliary radios... ?
d
BRAVO MIKE JULIET ALPHA
"You can do whatever you want, there are just consequences..."
IF SOMEONE PM'S YOU - HAVE THE COURTESY TO REPLY.
"You can do whatever you want, there are just consequences..."
IF SOMEONE PM'S YOU - HAVE THE COURTESY TO REPLY.
Sounds like the HRR setup. These wouldn't happen to be 800MHz radios by any chance?
As far as I know, the only large user, or only user that I am personally aware of using these is Orange County CA.
On the primary radio, a couple of modifications was done. This included a couple of minor circut modifications (on both radios) that helped reduce the power off power draw, and an antenna switch. The switch obviously cut off the feed to the 2nd radio on TX.
Other than that, they are fully functioning radios. However, in the dual radio mode, the 2nd radio WILL NOT TX at all. No affilations, no MDC responses etc. Its just an expensive reciever.
As far as I know, the only large user, or only user that I am personally aware of using these is Orange County CA.
On the primary radio, a couple of modifications was done. This included a couple of minor circut modifications (on both radios) that helped reduce the power off power draw, and an antenna switch. The switch obviously cut off the feed to the 2nd radio on TX.
Other than that, they are fully functioning radios. However, in the dual radio mode, the 2nd radio WILL NOT TX at all. No affilations, no MDC responses etc. Its just an expensive reciever.
Lowband radio. The original and non-complicated wide area interoperable communications system
Forgot to add.
There are no SP numbers that I can find associated with the HRR setup.
They do fall under these option numbers:
In either system configuration, the radios are mounted together in a common trunnion bracket, allowing for a neat and compact installation.
Automobile Configuration:
In the automobile configuration, the radios share a common control head and cable. At the radio end the control head cable is split and has similar connectors that attach to each radio. The connectors are marked and are not interchangeable. The control head end of the cable is the same as for the standard ASTRO Spectra mobile, except that there are two speaker cables available, one for the primary radio and one for the auxiliary audio. The two radios share a common antenna. This makes installation easier, more compact, and neater. Single antenna operation is accomplished by the use of a special power splitter assembly, located inside the RF power amplifier of the primary transceiver. An external coaxial cable couples the receive signal into the auxiliary receiver; the auxiliary receiver is not capable of transmitting. The PA casting, which is fitted to the auxiliary receiver, is only for passing signals and supplying DC power to the radio. The auxiliary receiver cannot receive while the primary radio is transmitting.
A single DC cable is used to power both radios. It is also split at the end
with identical and interchangeable connectors. A common in-line fuse
is used.
The motorcycle configuration differs from the automobile
configuration in the following ways:
Motorcycles use a special expanded enclosure that is large enough
to accommodate both radios.
Speaker audio from each radio is routed into an audio combiner
box located inside the enclosure. The combined audio feeds either a single speaker, mounted on the handlebars, or a headset. Separate audio signals are not available in the motorcycle configuration.
There are no SP numbers that I can find associated with the HRR setup.
They do fall under these option numbers:
Here are the part numbers that make up the "dual reciever" system. I may be missing some:W168AHSP Convert to 15-Watt Primary Transceiver—Motorcycle
W168AJSP Convert to 15-Watt Primary Transceiver—Mobile
W168AKSP Convert to 1 to10-Watt Primary Transceiver
W224ADSP Convert to Auxiliary Receiver—Motorcycle
W224AESP Convert to 15-Watt Auxiliary Receiver—Mobile (Model W9)
W224AFSP Convert to 15-Watt Auxiliary Receiver—Mobile (Model W7)
W278ABSP Convert to 15-Watt Power Output (Model W7)
You can take two normal Astro Spectras (W7/W9 only) and just buy the cable, reprogram them and you have a dual radio system. But again, there is no chance of TX'ing on the 2nd radio. The PTT/Audio lines are not present on the second connector and the firmware or codeplug locks out the TX functions all together. It will not respond to MDC or trunking commands.YKN4264A Cable, Control Head, Dual-Receiver Motorcycle Radio
YKN4265A Cable, Control Head, Dual-Receiver Mobile Radio
YKN4267A Cable, Power, Dual-Receiver Mobile Radio
YLF4003A Board, PA, Primary Transceiver
YLF4005A Board, PA, Auxiliary Receiver
YLF4006A Board, PA, Primary Transceiver; 1-/15-Watt
YLF4007A Board, VCO Carrier
YLF4008A Board, PA, 800MHz; 15-Watt
YLN1139A Enclosure and Hardware, Motorcycle, Dual-Receiver Radio, Black
YLN4710A Board, Command, Motorcycle, Dual-Receiver
YLN4711A Board, Command, Mobile, Dual-Receiver
YLN4713A Kit, Audio Combiner Assembly
YLN4718A Hardware, Trunnion, Dual-Receiver
YLN4723A Kit, Hardware
In either system configuration, the radios are mounted together in a common trunnion bracket, allowing for a neat and compact installation.
Automobile Configuration:
In the automobile configuration, the radios share a common control head and cable. At the radio end the control head cable is split and has similar connectors that attach to each radio. The connectors are marked and are not interchangeable. The control head end of the cable is the same as for the standard ASTRO Spectra mobile, except that there are two speaker cables available, one for the primary radio and one for the auxiliary audio. The two radios share a common antenna. This makes installation easier, more compact, and neater. Single antenna operation is accomplished by the use of a special power splitter assembly, located inside the RF power amplifier of the primary transceiver. An external coaxial cable couples the receive signal into the auxiliary receiver; the auxiliary receiver is not capable of transmitting. The PA casting, which is fitted to the auxiliary receiver, is only for passing signals and supplying DC power to the radio. The auxiliary receiver cannot receive while the primary radio is transmitting.
A single DC cable is used to power both radios. It is also split at the end
with identical and interchangeable connectors. A common in-line fuse
is used.
The motorcycle configuration differs from the automobile
configuration in the following ways:
Motorcycles use a special expanded enclosure that is large enough
to accommodate both radios.
Speaker audio from each radio is routed into an audio combiner
box located inside the enclosure. The combined audio feeds either a single speaker, mounted on the handlebars, or a headset. Separate audio signals are not available in the motorcycle configuration.
Lowband radio. The original and non-complicated wide area interoperable communications system
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bellersley
- No Longer Registered
- Posts: 872
- Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2005 7:03 am
There is no marine service that involves duplex operation from a vessel (and, with the demise of the Marine Operators, none on shore, either).
Strictly as a guess, the radio may have been converted to DSC, which requires a second receiver on Ch. 70, but frankly converting a Spectra to DSC strikes me as such an impossible job that there must be another explanation.
Strictly as a guess, the radio may have been converted to DSC, which requires a second receiver on Ch. 70, but frankly converting a Spectra to DSC strikes me as such an impossible job that there must be another explanation.
I talked to the author of the original post on this last night and he sent me some pics. Very interesting looking. There is a TX and RX jack on the PA housing. He told me the codeplug looks normal. He also tested to see if it would RX while TX and it does not. The PA board has the normal Motorola part number for a mid power VHF PA.
It truely is odd.
Jason
It truely is odd.
Jason
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Monitor142
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2003 10:23 am
- What radios do you own?: MT500 w/ P25 trunking and AES
PJ:
For the amount of money they have spent, along with the unusual SP of the HRR, they should have just bought a second radio. I have handled many and opened one up to see exactly what you state, an Astro Spectra minus the TX section. The funny part now is that the A/S is out of production, hence local law folks can't order the "Primary Law setup" right now. The XTL 5k won't have the HRR option until December or early 07.
OC likes Moto to build them SP systems. They ran the dual receiver Micor's and Syntors in UHF prior to cutover to the countywide 800 system.
Oh did I mention they spent a lot of money ??? Plus all law is encrypted which is just lovely. Narcs and vice, I can understand, but basic city traffic, jeezs. At least we can listen to fire, the sewer guy, and the dog catcher
Brian in "the OC"
For the amount of money they have spent, along with the unusual SP of the HRR, they should have just bought a second radio. I have handled many and opened one up to see exactly what you state, an Astro Spectra minus the TX section. The funny part now is that the A/S is out of production, hence local law folks can't order the "Primary Law setup" right now. The XTL 5k won't have the HRR option until December or early 07.
OC likes Moto to build them SP systems. They ran the dual receiver Micor's and Syntors in UHF prior to cutover to the countywide 800 system.
Oh did I mention they spent a lot of money ??? Plus all law is encrypted which is just lovely. Narcs and vice, I can understand, but basic city traffic, jeezs. At least we can listen to fire, the sewer guy, and the dog catcher
Brian in "the OC"
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Kenneth Jensen
- Posts: 129
- Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2003 12:02 pm
Re: Astro Spectra Question
I have one of theese - it has been converted back to normal with just one antenna jack. s7n 412CDG13xx - actually I like it so much that if one of you have one like it for sale - send me a pm.