After many years of NOT having any Spectra radios, now I have a VHF T83....A9 Spectra OR can have an A4 version. Each with the appropriate A9 or A4 control head.
Do I understand correctly that if the radio is an A9 version, it MUST have an A9 control head, and if it's an A4, it MUST have an A4 control head, and you can't swap head types around?
Not having played with Spectras before, it's all new to me.
If anyone wants to give me some basic advice regarding these radios and
their programming, it wouldn't be ignored.
Elroy
Basic Spectra questions.. high power, VHF, A4 or A9 head
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Elroy Jetson
- Posts: 1158
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:00 pm
Elroy,
If the radio chassis is set for an A9 head the RS Software needs to 'see' the A9 control head in order to read the radio. Then it can be changed via RSS to A4, A5 or A7.
A4 or A5/7 heads do not have the MODE names stored in the control head as they are in the A9 heads. So they can be interchanged with minor problems, and changed with RSS.
I can even read and write a Spectra without the control head if the radio is set for A4, A5, or A7.
If the radio chassis is set for an A9 head the RS Software needs to 'see' the A9 control head in order to read the radio. Then it can be changed via RSS to A4, A5 or A7.
A4 or A5/7 heads do not have the MODE names stored in the control head as they are in the A9 heads. So they can be interchanged with minor problems, and changed with RSS.
I can even read and write a Spectra without the control head if the radio is set for A4, A5, or A7.
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Elroy Jetson
- Posts: 1158
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:00 pm
Thanks, that helps a lot.
I have to choose between the A4 and A9 heads and radios. Due to limitations on my range of acceptable installation options in the car it's going into, I PREFER an A9 but may have to settle for an A4...which is a nice head in its own right.
Why didn't Motorola get smart and create control heads that fit in a DIN
standard mounting space for the neatest of in-dash installs?
It'd be just perfect if there was a control head that fit in the extra slot under
the CD deck in my car.
Edited to add: I built a programming cable this evening (what a simple cable to make!) and hooked up the radio components and was able to program a few test channels and run the radio through its paces. It works very well and the receiver is VERY sensitive. I'll probably do the installation in the car this weekend but I can tell it'll be days or weeks
if not longer before I've got the codeplug built and tweaked to perfection.
128 modes available and I'll bet I'll fill up every one of them. It's easy to
do when you decide to cover EVERY valid 2 meter repeater pair and decide to scan all the marine channels as well.
I don't yet know if I have an MPL option, but I hope so. Ideally it'll be a full list MPL option, with ALL PLs selectable.
Elroy
I have to choose between the A4 and A9 heads and radios. Due to limitations on my range of acceptable installation options in the car it's going into, I PREFER an A9 but may have to settle for an A4...which is a nice head in its own right.
Why didn't Motorola get smart and create control heads that fit in a DIN
standard mounting space for the neatest of in-dash installs?
It'd be just perfect if there was a control head that fit in the extra slot under
the CD deck in my car.
Edited to add: I built a programming cable this evening (what a simple cable to make!) and hooked up the radio components and was able to program a few test channels and run the radio through its paces. It works very well and the receiver is VERY sensitive. I'll probably do the installation in the car this weekend but I can tell it'll be days or weeks
if not longer before I've got the codeplug built and tweaked to perfection.
128 modes available and I'll bet I'll fill up every one of them. It's easy to
do when you decide to cover EVERY valid 2 meter repeater pair and decide to scan all the marine channels as well.
I don't yet know if I have an MPL option, but I hope so. Ideally it'll be a full list MPL option, with ALL PLs selectable.
Elroy