Spectra Consolette

[Badboys2]

I have a couple of Astro Spectra Consolettes that I bought (case, power supply, ribbon cables, etc) without radios. I have since put Astro Spectra radios in them and they work fine. There are two (2) female DB-25 connectors on the back side of the consolette. What do they do? Can I program my radio via these connectors withot having to open up the consolette and connecting my programming cable to the back of the radio? My goal is to be able to program/modify to contents of my radio codeplug without having to open up the consolette everytime. Any help that you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Badboys2

[515]

On all of the Astro Consolettes I've worked with, the bottom "Accessory 2" connector is for connecting remote desksets or a telephone interconnnect. Usually I've seen a DGT9000, RCH3000 or MC3000 remotes connected to this connector. If more than one remote is used, a junction box (a hub of sorts) connects to this connector.

The top "Accessory 3" connector has discriminator audio, data bus lines (possibly for programming), emergency switch, +5V, +13.8V, and ground connections. No speaker audio connections, though, at least according to the service manual.

The connector 3 pinout is (according to service manual):

2 Ground: audio or analog
4 discriminator audio
5 A+, 13.8V
6 Busy line of data bus
7 BUS+
8 Bus Shield
12 Digital Ground
13 Emergency switch
18 Switched 13.8V
19 BUS-
20 Data bus reset

I left out pins that either were not used, or not applicable.


It looks like all the connections are there for the programming cable, but I've never tried building one.


Good luck!

[Badboys2]

515,

Thanks for the information. I do not have a copy of the service manual for these units so I was unaware of what the pin configurations were for either connector. I will have to make up a programming cable and see if it works.

Thanks again,

Badboys2

[seleong]

I am working on project in the reverse order: I have an Astro Spectra Consolette (without control head) that I would like to take the radio out of and use as a regular mobile. The part number indicates it is a W9 version, and I was wondering if it was as simple as removing it from the Consolette and using the remote cable to connect a W9 head. I guess I have to re-program some options via RSS to tell the radio it's not a Consolette anymore too. Am I looking at more work than this?

Thanks for your help!

Steve

[515]

I've never tried it, but I would think that if you had a spare W9 head and cable, it would work fine. The Astro Consolettes are programmed with Astro Spectra RSS/CPS, and the DGT9000, RCH3000, and MC3000 remotes have buttons and displays compatible with the W9 head.

I can't think of any programming changes that you would need to make...

[seleong]

Thanks for your reply! I will try the "science experiment" this week. My only curiosity is what might happen when I try my converted A9 to W9 head on the unit (just swapped firmware into an old A9). I'll post my results!

Steve