Spectra Buttons Help

[fchrist16]

Does anyone have a manual they can reference a few questions for me regarding some of the buttons for a Spectra with A9 head?

Regards,

-Frank C.

[linkinpark9812]

Does anyone have a manual they can reference a few questions for me regarding some of the buttons for a Spectra with A9 head?

Regards,

-Frank C.

I do not have a manual but own an A9 Spectra and have done some experimenting with it (aka check my signature ).

What are some of the questions about the buttons on the Spectra? Do you mean their functions?

[fchrist16]

I was thinking there could be something in the manual that I was missing....

Check your PM's.

Regards,

-Frank C.

[Jim202]

If you don't say what buttons you have questions about, you will never receive any help.

Jim

[fchrist16]

Jim,

The Route/Run (Rt/RN) and Time buttons are what I'm most interested in...My other two topics seem to have gone by the wayside... /viewtopic.php?f=1&t=92985

Regards,

-Frank C.

[Jim202]

The "Route/Run" button is only functional on Metrocom models. When pressed, the control head
enters the route/run configuration and is then ready for route/run entry by the user.

The above is from the programming information. Bottom line, I don't think this selected function
would be of much value to you. Not one that I would select. Plus it requires the radio to have
a special MLM board with the "Metrocom" firmware to function.

Jim

[Jim202]

If the time button is depressed, and the "TIME" is selected as the default display, then a bad beep
will sound. On the other hand, if the "TIME" button is depressed and the TIME is not selected as
the default display, then the System Time can be displayed for three seconds by depressing the
"TIME" button. If system time has not yet been downloaded, "NO TIME SET" will be displayed
either as the default display, or in response to a button press.

Again, this selection probably will be of no value to you unless you are listening to a radio system
that is sending time information.

There are a number of button selections available in the Spectra radio 9000 control heads that
were put there for specific customers and how they were using their radio systems. Rather than
have a number of special software versions floating around and messing up the radio techs, I
believe that mother M made a decision to include all this mess into the standard software. Then
left it up the the radio techs to select the needed button selections to fit the radio systems that
the radios were connected to.

May not be the real answer your looking for, but about the best that I can come up with.

Jim

[fchrist16]

Alright thanks. Guess the time button won't work at all. I also guess I have to find a METROCOM MLM board too. I like that Rt/Rn feature on the local busses

While we are at it....

I assume DATA is an option to send Packet Data?

ALT says Alternate Radio and for that I need a SIU or some sort of cable.

RTT (Request to Talk) and PRTT must be the same as Rt/Rn??

RSSI I have and love

I still don't get how H/L works...

Regards,

-Frank C.

[Jim202]

Alright thanks. Guess the time button won't work at all. I also guess I have to find a METROCOM MLM board too. I like that Rt/Rn feature on the local busses

While we are at it....

I assume DATA is an option to send Packet Data?

ALT says Alternate Radio and for that I need a SIU or some sort of cable.

RTT (Request to Talk) and PRTT must be the same as Rt/Rn??

RSSI I have and love

I still don't get how H/L works...

Regards,

-Frank C.

The H/L is for alerting. You set the radio up for decoding and when it gets the decode, you can use
the button to select the horn and lights to flash. You will need an external relay for this as there is
no current handling contact built in.

Sounds like you want to go to an bunch of effort to play with features that you will probably
never use or can't use.

Jim

[fchrist16]

Nope, I was just curious and now you've killed my cat! Thanks Jim

Regards,

-Frank C.

[MT2000 man]

Not to hijack this thread, but (it's on the same topic anyway )
what button am I missing on my Spectra, and how would a new button be put in ? (See video of my radio here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83asjyTYo0w)

Note the red stub next to the Mode up/down where a button would go, what button would go there ? I thought it would be the emergency button, but I ordered one, and it wouldn't fit the radio. The button I ordered was all red, and had a long plastic "rod" in the middle of the button, and it said "EMER" . For the life of me I couldn't figure out how the damn thing fit in the radio
I could live without the button, but pressing that little red stub in is getting to be a PITA. (I have the button programmed to change zones).

[Hartley]

That is the button that is used for a function you don't want to accidentally hit - normally EMERGENCY, but could be something else - I use it for Airhorn..

To remove it, pick out the black plastic around the outside of the red button and you should get it all - the red button and the rim. Then you can push in whatever button you want (you probably want "ZN UP" or ZN DN")

Hartley

[resqguy911]

What I would like to find is the SP emergency button shroud that was so large it plugged into the next button hole over, and completely surrounded a full size EMER button. I have a pic somewhere

[MT2000 man]

That is the button that is used for a function you don't want to accidentally hit - normally EMERGENCY, but could be something else - I use it for Airhorn..

To remove it, pick out the black plastic around the outside of the red button and you should get it all - the red button and the rim. Then you can push in whatever button you want (you probably want "ZN UP" or ZN DN")

Hartley

Hmmm, interesting. I tried to pry around that plastic circle of a leftover button, but it looks like it's just the actual radio itself. It's just that plastic (that still also functions as a button, you can depress it and it still works) nub, and that plastic "ring" that looks like it's physically part of the control head.
Sorry if I'm sounding too armature, but truth is, I've had NO experience taking apart Spectras. I just know that all that's left from the button that WAS there is that plastic nub, and the surrounding plastic is physically part of the radio. So, apart from taking the control head apart (forget that idea, I'll definitely break something lol) I'll just leave it as is.

[wx4cbh]

The rectangular black plastic insert that holds the red "stub" isn't part of the control head. The type you have is a two-piece emergency button. The black insert holds the separate red actuator stub, and the one-piece buttons all have the stubs as part of the button. Gentle use of a small pair of needle nose pliers will easily extract the insert and allow you to lift out the red stub portion (if it doesn't come out with the insert). Once out, insert the new button of choice by lining it up in the hole so that both side tabs will go in straight and together, and press it into place. The side tabs will snap into position and hold the button in place. If the button isn't lined up properly, it will just shift to one side and refuse to go in. Don't force it. Just lift it out and try again. You'll know when it's right - it'll snap in slick as grease.

[MT2000 man]

Ah, yup that did the trick ! I just used some pliers and pulled up on that rectangle ring surrounding that red stub, and it's NOT part of the head like I thought !
Now all I need is a "zone" button to put in it's place.
Anyone happen to have an extra "ZONE" button laying around ??