Astro Spectra Programming - CPS Version, Programming Cable..

[mocomd1]

Hello fellas, looking to program an astro spectra. My guess is the CPS is the ASTRO 25 Mobile, but what version?


Also, programming cables- doing some looking i've found RIB boxes and the actual programming cable, now it would be great if i could make these myself, but im somewhat of an electrical retard (no offense to anyone intended). I wouldn't even know where to start or what you make the thing with. I've seen RIB-less cables and RIB box and programming cable setups, which ones are more reliable/ practical?

The actual act of programming it: Ive read about "programming mode". How is that achieved with astro spectra radio's?

Thanks everybody.

[Jim202]

Well I would suggest that you take a couple of deep breaths of air and relax.

Programming of the Astro Spectra is not for the new comer. You didn't say just what flavor of radio you have. Is this a conventional
analog radio on either VHF or the UHF band? If so, then all is not lost. If your looking to put this radio onto an 800 MHz trunking
system to be able to us the radio as a scanner, your asking for a bunch of trouble. The first problem is that you don't have a "systems key"
in order to be able to even change anything in the trunking program. Won't go any further on that subject, as it has been hashed
over many times here on the site.

If your asking for information on how to make up the interface cable to program the radio, the info is available on the "Batlabs.com" site.
You will need a DB15 male connector, a DB25 male (I think), will have to go and look. I make up so many cables, that I can't remember
what the RIB radio side connector sex is now. Plus a cable with about 5 or 6 wires in it.

You use the rear accessory connector on the radio to program it with. You probably will have to add the +12 volt ignition wire to
your programming cable as the radio probably won't power up without it. Depends on how the control head is set up and or how the radio
may have been programmed before you.

As for what version of the software you will need, that kind of depends on what version was last used to program the radio. You won't
know if you have a new enough version until you try to read the radio. If you get the message about the age, your going to need a
newer version. You might luck out and have a radio that hasn't been touched for a long time. Then it will use an older version. It will
will cost you about $325 for a software subscription, if Motorola will give it to you. Might be cheaper to go see your local radio shop.

Jim

Hello fellas, looking to program an astro spectra. My guess is the CPS is the ASTRO 25 Mobile, but what version?


Also, programming cables- doing some looking i've found RIB boxes and the actual programming cable, now it would be great if i could make these myself, but im somewhat of an electrical retard (no offense to anyone intended). I wouldn't even know where to start or what you make the thing with. I've seen RIB-less cables and RIB box and programming cable setups, which ones are more reliable/ practical?

The actual act of programming it: Ive read about "programming mode". How is that achieved with astro spectra radio's?

Thanks everybody.

[tvsjr]

As far as the software goes, ASTRO 25 Mobile is the wrong package anyway. You need ASTRO Spectra. R05.03.00 is the latest version.

[mocomd1]

thanks for all the replies everybody.

Now I don't want to ask how to do anything illegal, so I suppose all I I still need some help with is where to get the DB15 and the other connectors, the cable with six separate cables inside, and the accesory plug for the back of the radio (is it universal or is it specific to motorola radios?) I wonder if there were a way to do like a "ghetto" connection with just some wires where it's expensive to get the motorola specific connector.

lastly, on the topic of CPS, Ive read about these radios being programmer with RSS (DOS version?) and the newer CPS (for windows?), supposing the radio hasn't been touched in a while, and was programed with RSS, would CPS work? or will that result in a "codeplug too new" error?

Thanks again everybody.

[mocomd1]

Well, i definitely do not want to do or ask about trying to something illegal, for, as you said, that is just asking for trouble.
I still could use a little more information: where could i purchase the DB15 and DB25 connectors, as well as a cable with the individual wires inside?
In regards to the accessory jack in the back of the radio, is that a Motorola-only part or is there a universal adapter which i could also purchase? (trying to work around Motorola's extremely high prices- even eBay seems rather expensive).
My guess is the radio was programmed for a trunking system using an older RSS. Which CPS can read the radio, old and new?
All that said, i think i may simply purchase a RIB box since the diagrams posted here go completely over my head.

These radio's are far more complicated than i had anticipated!

Thanks.

[Will]

Look here for my RIB road map with time proven mods.

http://batlabs.com/images/rib_mod.jpg

[mocomd1]

That looks VERY interesting, however i would have no idea what to do with it or how to make it.

[mocomd1]

radio is a T99DX+30W_ASTRO
ID: D04UJF9PW4an
Flashcode: 10000040000004

[FireCpt809]

For a programming cable check Ebay. There is a seller there MRE direct who makes some great cables for reasonable costs. I am almost certain he is a member here too

[mocomd1]

the problem is there aren't any on eBay. Even if there were, i can't seem to figure out the proper one to get. Theres a separate one for the Spectra 900's and Low/Mid Power and High Power, but i have a digital. I seem to be finding different information from different places, some say i don't even need a RIB, others say I need a RIB with a 15 Pin connector rather than the more common 25 pin (if that even exists.)

[FireCpt809]

What do you have? medium power or high power? The cable is the same no matter if its digital or ananlog. The high power and the med/low are different cables. Dont get a ribless cable they suck. buy a rib

[tvsjr]

OK, you need to slow down and take a deep breath and do some research.

First question - are you trying to program this radio for conventional or trunking use? If trunking, which system, and do you have a system key for it? That will tell us if your radio is even compatible with the system you are attempting to program it for.

Answer that, and then we can give you better direction.

[mocomd1]

basically, i want to read the radio, and learn about how it works, and possibly sell later. Its high power radio, but when i look around all i can find is a low/med power cable, and i'm directed to the low/med power cable when you have a dash mount high power.

[mocomd1]

Just for clarification, i don't want to use it to monitor any trunk d systems, as i am aware it is illegal.

[tvsjr]

There's no such thing as a dash-mount high-power. High power is remote mount by necessity... 110-watt drawer. You have a mid-power 800. The mid-power cable will work fine. You'll need ASTRO Spectra CPS, current version R05.03.00, to read it.

[mocomd1]

Great, thanks. One last thing, does the radio need to powered on in order to program?

[tvsjr]

Great, thanks. One last thing, does the radio need to powered on in order to program?

Yes...