Using a A 9 Remote Control head on a Spectra BK model ?

[cowboywildbill]

Hi everyone, I'm a newbie here, so here goes a dumb question. I was reading some of the info from your site about the spectra and syntar systems.
I am waiting on a Model D43KMA7JA5BK VHF E-919 radio system with an A-5 control head. I have an A9 remote head from another unit model # AK.
My question is can I use the A-9 head on the BK radio? If I read the info correctly it might not work? The BK radio gets the power to the head differently from the radio's board and the AK A-9 head get's it's power from two pigtail wires on the front of the control cable? Or something like that.
SO IS THERE A WAY TO USE THE A-9 ? I know that some of the functions wouldn't work on the A-9 head but can it be done?
I already have the A-9 installed in my car. Also are the control cables different for the BK and the AK model ?
I already have everything run from the veh. batt. to the trunk for the radio unit and the Control cable from the head to the trunk also. It sure would benice not to have to change the cables. Thanks for your time.

[RADIOMAN2002]

The problem is more going to be that the radio is not going to recognise the head. It may or may not power up, and you are going to get Mode 1 or jibberish on the display. You need to update the radio with Lab. If you don't have it, your not going to be able to do anything to make it work.

[cowboywildbill]

Thanks for the reply, I think I have a line on an A-7 head. I was told that an A-7 head is better tha the A-5 which is what it is supposed to have. And that it will work? I hope so thanks.
Thanks for your help.

[jmr061]

The A5 functions will work but not the extra keypad buttons. Gotta use lab. Some later model spectras did you let the user change the control head but not alot that I know of.

Jason

[cowboywildbill]

Thanks. I hope they use the same cable. I have a syntor radio with an A-9 head. Are the cables the same? If it is I won't have to swap that out.

[kc7gr]

I've done a number of A5/A7 to A9 conversions. Doing so requires a few things.

(1) The control cable (and existing head) must be a late-issue type with the odd-shaped oblong connector. The cables with the rectangular connector at the control head end are not compatible with the A9 heads.

Oh, FWIW: The 'AK' and 'BK' designations have no effect that I know of on what head you can use.

(2) You need to use That Evil Software No One Talks About to do some hex-editing (bit-banging, if you like) of the radio's memory. Specifically, you need to change the control head type byte. It's best to change the model number to read 'A9' in the correct position as well. This saves confusion in the future.

(3) Once the mod is done, you need to go through and reprogram things to reflect the increased functionality of the A9 head.

As a side-note: Have you checked your radio to see if the 'time-bomb' electrolytic capacitors are leaking? How's your receive audio? Are you getting a sharp 'pop' when the radio mutes/unmutes?

If you decide that this is overwhelming, I can do the conversion (and capacitor replacement, if necessary) for you at my normal rates. Drop me a PM if interested.

Happy tweaking.

[jmr061]

Thanks. I hope they use the same cable. I have a syntor radio with an A-9 head. Are the cables the same? If it is I won't have to swap that out.

Syntor X9000 (if that is what u have) and Spectras use different control head cables.

Jason

[cowboywildbill]

Thanks for the input everyone. I recieved my newly programmed spectra VHF from Emergency 8 a seller from e-bay.
I hooked everything up correctly using the supplied A-5 head and when I powered it up I got the dreaded FL 01/09 code. I double checked everything still no go. I have an 800 mgz syntor that I know works, I hooked it up to the A-5 head got same code. I hooked the 800mghz up it's A-9 head and it worked.
I hooked up the A-9 head to the VHF and it worked, but I got the "Mode 1" code because it didn't recognize the A-9. But it scanned and volume worked.
Blipped the mike and it worked. I think the A-5 head that came with it is bad ? Any idea's. I hate to have to ship it back, I can't get a reply from the seller?
Any idea's? I did learn about the differences in the cables after seeing the two side by side.Thanks again.