Spectra programming question

radiocat37 · Post by **radiocat37** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:55 pm

I have done a search on the board for this issue and have found nothing. I have several remote mount spectras; A4 and A5 heads. I am able to read and write to these with no problem. I take the same programming cable and attempt to read a dash mount spectra and it will not read. The radio flashes on and off during the read process and the computer screen reads: serial bus communications error. What am I missing?????

Mike

RKG · Post by **RKG** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 7:29 pm

Not sure this answers your issue, but are you aware that, while you can use the same cable for dash and rear-mount mid-power Spectras, the cable has to be used a bit differently? Specifically, you have to find a way to apply 12VDC to Pin 5 of the 15-pin connector on the back of the dash mount; the most common way is to have a flying lead on the programming cable that runs to Pin 5, and you put a female AMP pin on the end of the lead and slide that over Pin 5 of the accessory plug (that you unplugged from the radio in order to plug in the programming cable)?

radiocat37 · Post by **radiocat37** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 7:47 pm

I have a flying lead with 12V to PIN-4 of the AMP connector. The PIN 5 slot has no pin in it. No other pins have voltage present.

HLA · Post by **HLA** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 8:23 pm

just put the head back on the radio and you should be in business, it's only 2 screws and you'll need to have the pin adaptor to put back in between the head and radio.

radiocat37 · Post by **radiocat37** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 5:47 am

I think I missed something.

FYI: All radios are the mid-power spectra...mix of VHF and UHF 450.

The AMP connector I was referring to was the programming cable plug. I think I understand you mean for me to remove the dashmount head and attach the remote cable-head assembly and then proceed with programming?? I will give that a try.

Mike

olepro1 · Post by **olepro1** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:23 am

in the past, on some spectras i have to cut power to the rib when turning the radio on. after the radio comes up turn the rib back on. don't know what the trouble is but this has always worked.

olepro

Jim202 · Post by **Jim202** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:02 am

Let me ask a dumb question here. Just what programming
cable are you using and just where are you trying to
connect it to the radio?

For most low and medium power Spectra radios, there is
a 15 pin DB connector on the rear of the radio that should
be used for programming. You will need to supply 12 volts
to the ignition sense pin if the radio is set up to need it.

You might try looking on the Batlabs.com site and go look
for the Spectra mobile radio section. In there it gives
several radio programming diagrams to use. Depends on
the radio as to which one you need.

Jim

radiocat37 · Post by **radiocat37** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:10 pm

I am able to program any remote mount mid-power spectra.....through the rear 15-pin connector. I am not able to program any dash mount spectra....through the rear 15-pin connector.

No need to go much beyond that. Are the cables different for remote mount and dash mount mid-power spectras??????/

radiocat37 · Post by **radiocat37** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 11:20 am

OK.....I ohm-d out my programming cable and compared it to the one shown for low power spectras. I never questioned it because I have never had a problem....unitl I tried to program the dashmount....have alwys done remote spectras.

The cable I have is a bit different. I have the trailing 12V lead to pin-4 and nothing on pin-5. The DB25 pin-12 is not present to the DB15 pin-4. It sees the B+ voltage via the lead rather than through pin-12. All other connections are as decribed in the diagram shown

Hope this helps.....THANKS for any help.

I may need to get a different cable (YA THINK?!!)

Mike

jackhackett · Post by **jackhackett** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 1:35 pm

I've seen that cable before.... we use it for the VRM600 vehicular modem, which is based on the Spectra radio.

As far as I understand it, in a normal Spectra head the SWB+ is provided from A+ through the on/off circuit, and the ignition sense controls that circuit. Since there's no power switch on the VRM600 modem head they do away with the on/off circuit and you supply SWB+ to the radio via pin 4 of the acc. connector.

To use that cable on a regular spectra just switch the ign. lead from pin 4 to 5. You don't have to worry about the connection from pin 4 to pin 12 of the RIB, that is just to supply power to the rib, if you've got a battery or wallwart on the RIB you won't need it.

One other note, when programming a remote mount Spectra with the standard Specta cable you don't hook up the ignition lead, the ignition sense is supplied through the control head cable. That is probaby why it worked on remote mounts but not dash mounts.

misawatech · Post by **misawatech** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 5:37 am

Unless I am mistaken the 2 radios configurations are different. In the remote mount spectra there is usally a db15 connector at the head location and that is normally where the head is supplied power. This is why the remote head radios could be programmed with no problem.

As you probably figured out by now the dash mount radio needs the cable listed in the spectra portion of this site. What I mean is there is a diagram to make your own, if you have a db25 connector and the required type of pins, and a spare control head power cable for the spectra. When you make the cable you should give yourself a short flying lead that will get the 12 volt power to supply the control head of the dash mount radio. In the past I have wrapped this lead around the 12v supply connection of the radio but that is probably not the best way.

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