Spectra MDC question

[phillipsc84]

Just trying to figure out if its a setting I don't have right or the radio itself, but is a conventional Spectra with MDC1200 enabled (assuming all settings are correct) able to display the Unit ID of the transmitting unit? Like the HT1250's do whenever someone transmits.

[kcbooboo]

It seems that the Spectra needs all of the Unit ID codes and aliases stored in a "Call List". This governs what it displays when any MDC code comes through.

You'd think that with 8 characters on the display, they could just show "MDC=nnnn" and make live real simple, but NOOOOOO.

About all you can do is enter the codes in the list and have them display the appropriate code number. But you still have to have all of them in the list; if it's not there, nothing will be displayed.

Bob M.

[Josh]

It seems that the Spectra needs all of the Unit ID codes and aliases stored in a "Call List". This governs what it displays when any MDC code comes through.

You'd think that with 8 characters on the display, they could just show "MDC=nnnn" and make live real simple, but NOOOOOO.

About all you can do is enter the codes in the list and have them display the appropriate code number. But you still have to have all of them in the list; if it's not there, nothing will be displayed.

Bob M.

If you want MDC ID decode/display, you'll need an Astro Spectra.

If you want to alias IDs with names, you need an Astro Spectra Plus, or XTL5000.

The spectra will just show "call rcd" or something like that, and then like state before, if it is in your call list, you can go into call-alert or page mode and the last caller should be the first in your list. Also, the spectra doesn't accept all MDC-IDs... just numbers from 0001-9999, no A-F anywhere.

[Andre]

I am trying to figure out if my astro spectra will display Astro ID aliases from the Astro Call List. The radio does have Digital ID Display. Basically, instead of the number 1 showing up on the display, I want it to read DISPATCH I put 1 and Dispatch in the Astro Call List but it doesn't decode the alias name, it just shows the 1

I am beginning to think astro spectras do not offer that feature

Andre

[Josh]

I am beginning to think astro spectras do not offer that feature

Andre

Nope, you'd need an Astro Spectra PLUS or XTL series mobile to have that feature.

-or- if "dispatch" has the "Soft-ID" feature set programmable, then you could enable it to display "DISPATCH" on any other radio with soft ID enabled.

[sethcwilliams]

Just to tag along to this, will an XTL/XTS 5000 radio actually broadcast an alias in a conventional ASTRO system, or would a uniform alias list have to be loaded in each subscriber unit and referenced based on the (ASTRO, MDC, DTMF) unit ID received? I ask because that's how I interpreted the last post, that the alias might be sent over the air. I've got 600 or so subscriber units out there, you can imagine the management nightmare it would be to keep a single list updated in every radio without OTAP.

[Josh]

Just to tag along to this, will an XTL/XTS 5000 radio actually broadcast an alias in a conventional ASTRO system, or would a uniform alias list have to be loaded in each subscriber unit and referenced based on the (ASTRO, MDC, DTMF) unit ID received? I ask because that's how I interpreted the last post, that the alias might be sent over the air. I've got 600 or so subscriber units out there, you can imagine the management nightmare it would be to keep a single list updated in every radio without OTAP.

idk a thing about OTAP, except for rekeying stuff, but the MDC Alias lists are stored in the radios to be aliased when they are RX'd. It is not sent over the air.

Soft ID on Astro conventional systems however, is.

-Josh

[sethcwilliams]

Thanks man, I'll do some experimenting with that. I appreciate the info!