Remote Controlling of XTL 5000s with MC3000

[martinqc]

I know this is probably simpler than I am making it, but I am a glutton for punishment. I have an XTL 5000 Consolette, a CDN1337A Junction Box and two MC3000 desksets. After hours of banging my head up against the wall yesterday, I decided to ask for help from those whose experience surpasses my own. After following the instructions in the MC3000 manual for connecting to an RCH3000 (CDN1337A) junction box, I am able to control the radio from the deskset. However, no audio is passed from the radio to the deskset and no audio is passed to the radio from the deskset. I cannot find a solid "by-the-numbers" process to make this work and I really need assistance from ground zero to ensure I haven't overlooked anything. What options must the radio have for this to work, what needs to be set in the codeplug, deskset configuration, cable building, just to name a few. I know this would be much easier (read: so easy a caveman could do it) if I used one of the newer junction boxes, but I can't shake the feeling that this should work if I only knew how to do it.

[techtonics]

Wait, are you connecting to the consolette with a tone remote, to a "digital" deskset?

In order to work "digitally" you need a consolette with a Digital Control Board, an L3208/L3239 Digital junction box, and an MC3000 Digital Deskset

for analogue you need to have a MC1500-MC2000

[d119]

techtonics is correct.

The XTL 5000 should be a "W9" consolette model (plain face). I don't know if you can do this with the "W7" units that have a control head on the front or not.

You also need to verify that you have the DIP switches set in the XTL 5000 correctly.

The "Audio Interface Board" DIP switches S101 are as follows:

S101-1 ON = ASTRO control head power button disabled OFF = ASTRO control head power button enabled.

S101-2 NOT USED

S101-3 ON = EMER active high OFF = EMER active low

S101-4 ON = 600 ohm impedance OFF = 900 ohm impedance

S101-5 ON = 600 ohm impedance OFF = 900 ohm impedance

S101-6 ON = Local desk microphone not present OFF = Local desk microphone present

S101-7 ON = Digital Remote Control option present OFF = Digital remote control option not present

S101-8 NOT USED

JU101 = IN Always placed for ASTRO

J14 A-B = Transmitted and received audio is routed to TAPE_OUT (AC3 Pin 11) B-C Only received audio is routed to TAPE_OUT (AC3 Pin 11)

J15 A-B = SPKR_UNMUTE active high (COR) B-C SPRK_UNMUTE active low (COR)

That's it for the Audio Interface Board. The TRC board has a few other settings but I dont think a TRC board will work with digital remotes.

You aren't trying to use a junction box that has an "LTR" port on it, are you? If so, that box is for the CDM series mobiles and not the ASTRO Spectra/XTL. You should be plugged into a port that is labeled "Digital Spectra" on the junction box with a 1-to-1 DB25 cable out of Accessory Connector 2.

[martinqc]

@techtonics

Unfortunately, I could not tell you if it is set up for tone remote. What would be the fastest method for me to find that out? Please bear with me, I am starting from ground zero in my understanding so I may not understand what you are talking about right away. How do I tell if my radio has a Digital Control Board in it?

@both

The XTL 5000 does have a control face on it. So I am assuming that it is a W7 model. Is it not possible to have one with a face and it still be a w9? What if I took the face off (or at least disconnected it).

[Jim202]

I know this is probably simpler than I am making it, but I am a glutton for punishment. I have an XTL 5000 Consolette, a CDN1337A Junction Box and two MC3000 desksets. After hours of banging my head up against the wall yesterday, I decided to ask for help from those whose experience surpasses my own. After following the instructions in the MC3000 manual for connecting to an RCH3000 (CDN1337A) junction box, I am able to control the radio from the deskset. However, no audio is passed from the radio to the deskset and no audio is passed to the radio from the deskset. I cannot find a solid "by-the-numbers" process to make this work and I really need assistance from ground zero to ensure I haven't overlooked anything. What options must the radio have for this to work, what needs to be set in the codeplug, deskset configuration, cable building, just to name a few. I know this would be much easier (read: so easy a caveman could do it) if I used one of the newer junction boxes, but I can't shake the feeling that this should work if I only knew how to do it.

The manual that comes with the J-box has some well documented steps and connections that are used. The connections between the MC3000 and the J-box is standard CAT5 connections. You need to make up or obtain the cable that goes from the "lower" accessory connector on the consolette to the J-box digital connection. Make sure you have the TX audio and the RX audio wires used in the cable. If not, you don't get any audio in either direction.

There are one or two dip switches that need to be set in the J-box itself. One to set the J-box as master and another for the type of radio being used. if you find the MC3000 gets confused, unlpug both the radio and the J-box and let them reset.

Have used a number of these configurations. Just can't remember the part number from memory of the J-box. You can have up to a total of 5000 feet of cable between the MC3000 and the J-box. If you need more than the original 6 or 7 connections of additional MC3000, you will just need to add additional J-boxes. The additional J-boxes will just need to be set up in the slave mode.

Jim

[resqguy911]

The XTL 5000 does have a control face on it. So I am assuming that it is a W7 model. Is it not possible to have one with a face and it still be a w9? What if I took the face off (or at least disconnected it).

My experience is that the MC3000 & Digital interface box ONLY works with the L9 (or W9 if you prefer) model consolette, which has no face whatsoever. In your case, I would try reprogramming the radio as a W9 head and route the head cables to the consolette board as if it was set up that way in the first place. Do you have the service manual?

[jmr061]

You need the W7 or W9 XTL5000 Consolette. Yes I have used a W7 consolette with the MC3000s and it works fine. The junction box you need is the L3208A. There is a DB25 cable that goes between the consolette and the junction box. There are also jumpers inside the L3208A that must be set right for use with an Astro radio. Then you run cat 5 cable to the MC3000 remotes from the numbered ports on the L3208A.

The consolotte must have the standard audio board not the TRC. The easiest way to tell this is look for a RJ45 connector next to the antenna jack on the consolette. It it is there your have a TRC radio and that won't work. There are also jumpers on the audio board inside the consolette that must be set right.

I have all the manuals so if you need help let me know.

I have this setup running at home.

Jason

[npearson]

Is there any way to connect the consolette to the MC3000 without the junction box?

[Jim202]

Is there any way to connect the consolette to the MC3000 without the junction box?

In simple terms, NO.

Jim

[jpa]

Is there any way to connect the consolette to the MC3000 without the junction box?

Yes. Follow the instructions below.

For single MC3000 remote to Consollette, in configuration and test menu, set option 9 “Busy Polarity” High, and option 12 “RX Impedance and Circuit” to differential. Press and hold Shift button and Sel button to enter test menu. See manual for details.

Code: Select all

Wiring:  MC3000   Wire Color   Consollette   Function
         Pin 1    Blue         12            Ground
         Pin 2    Orange       6             Busy
         Pin 3    Black        14            Rx +
         Pin 4    Red          3             MicHi
         Pin 5    Green        11            MicLo
         Pin 6    Yellow       15            Rx-
         Pin 7    Brown        19            Data-
         Pin 8    White        7             Data+

Adapter is an RJ45 female to DB25 Male. Maximum distance between single MC3000 and base station adaptor is 50 feet. Maximum distance between MC3000 and Digital Junction Box is 5000 feet.

[alex]

Is there any way to connect the consolette to the MC3000 without the junction box?

Yes. Follow the instructions below.

For single MC3000 remote to Consollette, in configuration and test menu, set option 9 “Busy Polarity” High, and option 12 “RX Impedance and Circuit” to differential. Press and hold Shift button and Sel button to enter test menu. See manual for details.

Code: Select all

Wiring:  MC3000   Wire Color   Consollette   Function
         Pin 1    Blue         12            Ground
         Pin 2    Orange       6             Busy
         Pin 3    Black        14            Rx +
         Pin 4    Red          3             MicHi
         Pin 5    Green        11            MicLo
         Pin 6    Yellow       15            Rx-
         Pin 7    Brown        19            Data-
         Pin 8    White        7             Data+

Adapter is an RJ45 female to DB25 Male. Maximum distance between single MC3000 and base station adaptor is 50 feet. Maximum distance between MC3000 and Digital Junction Box is 5000 feet.

Anyone know off hand if the data +/- is synchronous or async serial? I think it's 9600 async serial.........

[npearson]

What is error code 05/10

[resqguy911]

What is error code 05/10

ERROR 05/10 Control head not communicating with radio.

[4n6inv]

I'm having the same error code. I'm using An Astro Spectra W9 mid-power with the "Direct Connect" method - using the DB-25 to RJ45 at ~10 feet. I've used the same configuration with a W7 - different radio - different AIB without any problems. The radio works fine with a W9 head attached, but I put it in a "faceless" consolette to mount behind my desk to give me some extra desk space - as opposed to having a full blown W7 consolette taking up half my desk.

I have a CDN1337A Digital Junction Box, but haven't tried it as an alternative because I'm only going to be using one RCH3000 remote and didn't see the need for a splitter.

Any ideas?

[jmr061]

As far as I know you always get that error with a w9 consolette. It doesn't affect anything.

Jason

[4n6inv]

Thanks, Jason. Seems to work fine. I'm going to try a couple of different Audio Interface boards to see if there is any difference. I got the error on a "B" rev AIB and am going to try the "A" and "C" versions, as well.

I tried it on a bench project some months ago, but didn't get the error. I'll report back if any difference.