Spectra service menue

[dechief]

I have a 900 Mhz Spectra in my truck but I can not get the service menue to display. I hit the home button 5 timed during the SELF CHK display and it will not go into the SERVICE menue? The head works normally and all functions seem to work, the home button beeps every press but it will not go into the SERVICE mode? Is there something in the programming or some secret handshake to get access?

Jack
K6YC

[jackhackett]

I remember seeing some that wouldn't go into the service mode this way, I can't remember what the difference was.. I'm thinking maybe they were trunking models.

[Will]

Even the trunking models should go into SERVICE mode. You did not get anything on the display after the five HOME button presses.
Also try right after the self check finishes.

[xmo]

Just out of curiosity, you might check the front panel settings in the RSS.

From the MAIN MENU > F2 SERVICE > F8 SERVICE AIDS > FRONT PANEL AUTHORIZATION

[dechief]

Just out of curiosity, you might check the front panel settings in the RSS.

From the MAIN MENU > F2 SERVICE > F8 SERVICE AIDS > FRONT PANEL AUTHORIZATION

I checked that, the home button is not programmable. Only the top row and the keypad can be assigned. The home button beeps normally when pressed, it is just like the commands are not being registered by the micro. Everything works on the radio, I just can not set up the scan.

Jack

[xmo]

"...the home button is not programmable..."
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Who said anything about programming the home button???

What I suggested you check is the access to front panel tests which is set in the SERVICE menu.

If those settings are "Disabled" - pushing the HOME button five times at power up does not put the unit into SERVICE mode.

[dechief]

"...the home button is not programmable..."
---------------------------------------------------

Who said anything about programming the home button???

What I suggested you check is the access to front panel tests which is set in the SERVICE menu.

If those settings are "Disabled" - pushing the HOME button five times at power up does not put the unit into SERVICE mode.

BINGO!!! Sorry I misunderstood what you were saying. I did not have a specific enable on the menu but when I ran the head thru a test routine it enabled the Service mode! Thank you very much for the help! You were 100% on the money!!!

K6YC

[dechief]

"...the home button is not programmable..."
---------------------------------------------------

Who said anything about programming the home button???

What I suggested you check is the access to front panel tests which is set in the SERVICE menu.

If those settings are "Disabled" - pushing the HOME button five times at power up does not put the unit into SERVICE mode.

BINGO!!! Sorry I misunderstood what you were saying. I did not have a specific enable on the menu but when I ran the head thru a test routine it enabled the Service mode! Thank you very much for the help! You were 100% on the money!!!

K6YC

I spoke too soon! The radio works fine on the bench with the control head on the radio but when I put it in my truck with the rear mount cable it does not work? I guess I just don't get it? Why work OK on the bench and not in the truck? Could it be that after a power cycle the turn on VIA the RSS is lost and it goes back to sleep?

Sheesh!

Jack
K6YC

[dechief]

I finally figured it out. Just on a fluke I changed the 2 "time bomb" capacitors on the head and Bingo! It goes into the service mode every time even on the remote cable. I am not sure why, but I will take it! I had no other symptoms, and the VFD was bright and clear so I just assumed they were OK. When I lifted C-45 I could see a little goo under the plastic pad but C-52 looked clean. I guess I should just shotgun all those 10 uf caps and be over it!

Jack
K6YC

[kcbooboo]

One of the 10uF caps on the control head is the filter cap for the 35V VFD supply. When it goes bad, the display usually goes dim or out completely. The other 10uF cap is just a power supply bypass cap but it seems to filter/remove noise from the 35V VFD oscillator circuit. That noise can cause buttons not to work, programming to fail, and other strange occurances that you would not believe if a user reported odd things to you.

So it would probably be a good time to replace the other 10 aluminum electrolytic caps in the radio.
Bob M.