X9000 Handheld Cntrlr to System 9000 head

[Tim]

Hi Folks,

Just picked up a couple of VHF X9000s with the handheld controller.

Can I easily convert them to use the 'normal' control head?

I know I will have to replace the cable & get a different head.

The insides of the radio box seem a bit different than the others
that I have - this one has a vertical 'Memory board', and another
board that plugs onto the main board with DIP cables. Possibly
DVP?

Just wondering if it's worth converting them. (I already have cables
& heads).

Thanks,

Tim

[Pj]

Your best bet would be to look up Mike B's site. Seach for his user name here "Mike B" or a google search will usually find it.

I never personally played with the HHCH setup before for the x9000, but I believe you will need "normal" firmware for it to work properly.

Other than that, I was not aware of any real hardware differences.

[Mike B]

The S9k HHCH was typically used in the dual VHF/UHF radio setup. An external YLN1120 SIU Box is required for the S9k HHCH.
http://www.onfreq.com/syntorx/syntorx9k ... #x9ksiucab

Because of this, the 01-06710T70 - dual radio U501 Firmware chip was commonly used in the S9k SIU HHCH radios.

Here is general information on the Syntor HHCH models:
http://www.onfreq.com/syntorx/hhch.html

There was also a special dual radio RSS for the HHCH that used mode numbers for the HHCH two digit display. Even though its dual radio RSS, it had a setup option for a single radio drawer. I don't know if you can get the HHCH numeric only display to function with normal X9k RSS.

[Tim]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the info - I've pretty much decided to keep it as-is, provided I
can get the RSS to work with the thing!

The cable between the radio & HHCH has two separate junction boxes,
and that's all they really are. HNN4015A & HLN1170 SP01. The 4015
is a metal box a bit smaller than the siren box, and has some cutouts
& provisions for LEDs on the front, but the only thing inside is a large
PCB with two connectors at one end, which use PCB traces to jumper.

The 1170 looks like they used the plastic from a RIB box. Inside there
is a PCB with some traces & stuff for what looks like an EPROM, but
nothing other than connectors is populated.

With the HHCH either connected or not, I get a 'busy line locked' error message.

This is a single drawer radio, was part of some Border Patrol stuff.

Thanks,

Tim

[SlimBob]

I'd try reverse engineering it; take the codeplug out, put it into a regular S9K and read it. Or drop it into an EPROM burner and read it, along with a S9K standard codeplug.

[Tim]

Hi Bob,

thanks - I've decided that the radio needs to reside in the storage facility
for now.... don't need more timesinks!! (I've got a bunch of other
more 'profitable' radio conversions in the wings anyway!!)

Thanks to all!

Tim

[kf4sqb]

I could be way out in left field here, but the "vertical memory module" you describe sounds more like a Syntor X, not an X9000. Are you absolutely certain its an X9000 and not an X? You can put a personality board out of an X into an X9000 (and vice-versa), and there was also, as I recall, an option for putting a HHCH on the Syntor X. The radio end of the control cable is the same for both the X and X9000, so you can plug the head for one into the other easily, although it certainly won't work. Have you tried reading the radio with RSS?

[Tim]

Hey Ryan,

Thanks for the note.

I gotta admit... I found the error of my ways just before you sent over
the note.

Yep, it sure is 'just' an X. I've been doing so much work on X9000s in
the last couple of months that I didn't even notice the sticker.

If it was a snake, it would'a bit me!

I've never seen a Syntor X, and frankly thought it was in a different
case. The first clue should have been that the controller board
didn't look the same as all the other X9000 boards I've worked on.

The second clue was that it wouldn't read using the RSS.

I have the book on a X9000 dual radio set (UHF/VHF) that uses an HHCH,
so that kind of 'egged me on' in the X9000 direction.

I didn't know you could swap controllers... I have an X9000 that has
a bum VCO, so might pull the controller out of it & try it on this one.

Thanks for the insight,... pardon me, I have to go eat some crow!!

Tim

[kf4sqb]

Ah, you looked me up on QRZ, I see. Just for the record, I go by my middle name, Brett.

Don't worry too much about eating that crow, I've had to eat my fair share of it over the years (kinda' gets tasty, after you eat enough of it ). That's what we're all here for, to keep each other straight and help each other out. I think someone already referred you to it, but you should check out Mike Blenderman's most excellent website on the subject, just click on THIS LINK, and you should have enough reading to keep you busy for a few hours, at least. Mike has the most complete, most comprehensive collection of Syntor info on the web. All the info needed to perform the X-X9000 swap is there. I'm not sure if the X HHCH will work directly with the X9000, or if a different interface is required, but I think there is a different interface required.

[Mike B]

The Syntor X HHCH has dedicated individual switch wiring included in the cable. The Syntor X 9000, MaraTrac and Spectra HHCH converts the switch positions into serial data to be sent through the cable. This difference makes the Syntor X HHCH incompatible with everything else. In fact some Syntor X setups have dedicated wiring for specific HHCH switches that only match a specific interface board/cable. So, in most cases you can only use the correct part number Syntor X HHCH for a given interface board (there are lots of different Syntor X HHCH interface boards). Then you have the Syntor X HHCH with the 14 segment and 7 segment display, -vs- the simpler HHCH with two 7 segment displays.

Unless you get a complete working Syntor X HHCH radio, it can be somewhat of a minefield figuring out the required HHCH part number combinations without a manual.

[Tim]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the info... sounds like it is definitely NOT a 'mix & match' kind of
thing!

Fortunately, I got all the stuff for this particular radio, and it does work.

One of the guys on the repeater-builder board has a programmer, so
I might work with him to zap me a new code plug & use it as it is.

I'm aware of the 3rd party folks that make a pc programmable card
for it, but don't think I want to invest that much $ or time into this
radio.

Although it's not much functionality, the HHCH sure doesn't take up any
dash space! (what little there may be).

Thanks again,

Tim

[WB6NVH]

I converted some San Diego County HHCH Syntor X drawers to conventional because they couldn't find the accessories, then later, after I went to all the trouble, they found them...

Anyway, the HHCH version Syntor X personality board I worked on had a number of jumpers missing and several of the smaller IC's as well, in order to make it HHCH. I replaced the missing IC's and corrected the jumpers and it worked fine with a Systems 90-S head. It was not necessary to do anything to the firmware. This version had an extra board mounted above the personality board area which connected with a couple of ribbon cables to the sockets where the missing IC's normally went.

The biggest clue to it being a Syntor X is that the front plate says "Syntor X." The X9000 says "Syntor X 9000." If you want to stick to the X personality board you will need a programmer capable of doing a 2816 eeprom or a Moto suitcase programmer and remove the memory module for programming.

[kf4sqb]

Tim, I can also program the memory module for you. All you would need to do is remove the memory module (pulls straight up from the board), and ship it to me. All I ask is that you pay the return shipping. Let me know.