Modifying an xtl5000 to interface with an svr-200

[Radiogeek97]

fellas

I have had good results using an svr-200 connected to some of the cdm's in our cars at work, just recently the chief bought two xtl-5000 40w mobiles No complaints on the radios BUT i looked up the application notes on the pyramid website and, according to them the logic board of the radio has to be modded in order to get "on air detect" to work properly! see below:

Additional Modifications (Radio):
1. Remove R0412 on the main logic board. This insolates RTS_DCE from the accessory connector J2.
2. Install a general purpose diode (1N914) from the base of Q0951 to Pin 8 of J0402. Ensure the anode is toward
the base of Q0951.
I was wondering if anybody has done this MOD and if so how hard was it. I can only assume that this would void the warranty even if a moto shop did it?
also if anybody knows of a work around for getting the "on air detect' to work without the mod let me know.
I have called and left a message with the pyramid folks already, I will post any results, thanks for your help in advance.

[ai4ui]

I did a mod to the Astro Spectra from the Pyramid application notes to connect it to a SVR-200 to bring a COR signal out to the 25 pin plug. Once I started, I wished I never had even put a screwdriver on the chassis. If you are real good at soldering, have the right tools, and are comfortable working on static protected SMD equipment, then go for it. That command board has more to it that what you can see and it would be very expensive if you damaged it.

You mentioned CMD's. Are you operating conventional or trunked? If you are conventional only then you won't need the "on air detect". All that does is tell the SVR-200 to send the user a little blip so that the user knows that the radio has a channel grant & it's okay to talk. The unit will operate just fine in conventional mode without it.

Robert

[Batwings21]

You need to call pyramid, they have a pre-made SMART cable that requires no mods to the radio. I have used them and they work great, but if you use trunking make sure you tell them that as the first production run didn't work right with trunking. Once they got the trunking thing figured out, the cables were plug and pray... but worked great.

[Radiogeek97]

batwings


thanks i finally got thru to the techs at pyramid (v.v helpful guys) and they confirmed what you said and gave me the part #'s i need!!
thanks

[Batwings21]

Glad I could help. Its soooo much easier with the smart cable.

[Astro Spectra]

Batwings21, what does the SMART cable contain?

[Batwings21]

The smart cable has a black epoxied box in it, I believe it contains a PIC or micro controller. It monitors the sb9600 bus for the cor signal, and a couple of other things.

[Astro Spectra]

Thanks