Spectra upgrade to Astro, siren won't work

[rdwilson]

I had a VHF spectra A5 (enhanced) high power with a 1185B Siren/PA and DEK working just fine (with the horn-transfer as well). I upgraded to a VHF Astro Spectra W9 high power and now the Siren/PA won't work.

- DEK works OK can program radio channel/zone to any button and it works. I get the "boop" sound when programmed to Blank.
- Error 8/10 when the siren is unplugged, so I assume the radio is looking for the siren.
- W9 head not reporting siren or PA functions.
- Self-check OK and all DEK LEDS flash
- I can hear my horn transfer relay under the dash "click" on self-check.
- Programmed siren function to button on W9 head. Nada.


Here's what I have tried so far:
1. Upgraded to a 1185E with the Astro logo.
2. Swapped cables HKN4363B with a newer 4363C.
3. Pulled fuse on 1185 to listen for faint siren sounds, none.
4. Put old A5 back and siren works.
5. Swapped DEKs and no change.

In RSS,
1. Toggle Siren/PA option and Error 8/10 follows logically.
2. Toggle all ignition sense options (ignition line is always hot, but worth a try).
3. Add/remove DEK and program buttons. Works but no siren functions.

Other than the Siren/PA problem, the radio works great. The state police in Texas recently went to P25 and my Uniden scanner wasn't nearly sensitive enough. The Spectra rocks in that regard.

Any help in getting this problem solved would be greatly appreciated.

[rdwilson]

After scouring this board I found a possible reference in a post by that mentions a jumper. "I checked the jumper inside the pa box for dual radio option" The problem is not exactly like mine but similar. I'll pop open the 1185 and check this.

The way I understand it, the Systems 9000 serial bus carries the data for each processor. When the 1185 fails to "report in" at self check, then the Error 08/10 is returned to the control head. Since both 1185 "B" and "E" versions don't error when connected correctly, can I assume that they at least pass the communications test?

The problem acts as if there is some type of hardware inhibit since the DEK checks out OK. Anyone know if the Astro Spectra has a jumper or commonly has a mod (cut circuit trace or the like) that precludes siren/pa use?

According to a post by batdude, the Astro Spectra requires the "E" version on the HLN1185 and I had hoped that upgrading would solve the problem but it did not.

[jmr061]

What is the host/dsp of your radio out of curiousity?

Jason

[rdwilson]

Thanks for the reply Jason. Here's the info:

T04KLH9PW9AN
1MEG 2.5KHZ
Flashcode: 5000010000008

RSS shows additional info:
Software Option: G48
Radio Software Version: Not Available
DSP Software Version: Not Available
Radio Codeplug Version: 000C

When started in Test Mode the radio shows:
R110800
N080202
SIREN 00

[rdwilson]

I popped open the HLN1185E and the only jumper that I could find was this one:



Close up:


Does anyone know what it does?

[4n6inv]

With that late of firmware; you almost ceertainly need the HLN1439 Siren Box. Those damn 1185E's we weird to begin with... They worked fine on the older model W-9's, but all of the Astro Spectra installs that I've seen done for the past 3+ years all have the HLN1439 amp.

[jmr061]

You have seen teh 1439 because they haven't made the 1185 for a long time now. I have at least 3 1185Bs in service on Astro Spectras with R11.70. The siren setup should work.

Jason

[4n6inv]

Actually; I say that because I had a similar problem and was told by Motorola that I would need the 1439 with my flavor of radio - a VHF high power - depending on what features I had in the codeplug, flashcode, etc. I bought the 1439 from Motorola (OUCH!), and problem solved! I, too have used the 1185x's with Astro Spectras with really unpredicatable results. Once I was at a funeral, my car was off, the radio was off, and the damn siren switched on for no apparent reason! Did I mention that I had the siren jumpered to 110 watts??? I tried starting the car and powering up the radio, and unplugging the control head. No dice. I had to actually remove the fuse from the siren unit to cut it off. After this debacle; it seemed to work just fine for a few more months. Every one in a while it would do something strange; the worst being, not working when I needed it on a call where the traffic was stopped and backed up on the interstate for about 6 miles. I suppose it's like any other Motorola product: sometimes it can just be a roll of the dice to figure it out, and no one seems to know why it did what it did because according to Motorola "It should have worked...".