Revisiting the Dual Spectra/SIU/HHCH system

[motorola_otaku]

Reading Jim202's thread on Spectra channel capacity reminded me that I had done a from-the-ground-up Spectra dual-radio writeup a while back and never posted it here. This was done a couple of years ago for a friend who wanted a dual-radio kit for his space-limited mobile install using a pair of un-hacked normal A9 mid-power radios as the building blocks. However, since you will be writing completely new MOFLAG strings into both radios you can use any A4/5/7/9 Spectra radio. The only radio that cannot be used (ironically enough) is a factory A3 radio, as it uses a different MLM and a different interconnect board.

Before we begin, let me preface this by saying that both of my radios were black-tagged and had version 6.xx MLMs. Dual-radio/SIU capability does not seem to be tied to a specific MLM version as has been opined previously but it may well require version 6.xx or later. Maybe one day I'll haul out a version 5.xx C9 800 trunking radio and try it, who knows?

Credit goes to natedogg223 for the original MOFLAG documentation and to Jim202 for the cable pinout.

You will need the following items:

• Dual-radio handheld control head, part number YCN4021A. Note that it is fundamentally different from a typical A3 Spectra head and you cannot do conversions between the two.
• HHCH-to-SIU cable, part number YKN4273A.
• Spectra SIU box, part number YLN1120A. If you have one with a different part number it's probably for Syntors and won't work with Spectras without a firmware changeout which is beyond the scope of this article.
• Spectra-to-SIU cables or ASN boxes, part number unknown (to me). The schematic for building a cable out of a HKN4356 remote cable is included below.
• A working A9 Spectra control head and HKN4356B remote cable.
• Two working Spectra radio drawers configured for remote-mount. Any combination of VHF and UHF radios can be used. Conceivably a C9 800 MHz trunking radio could also be used but would require a different MOFLAG string to account for trunking capability. If you only need conventional capability for 8CALL/8TAC or whatever, follow these instructions as given.
• Regular Spectra RSS
• Spectra Lab RSS with BitBanger capability that is capable of writing to your radios' MLM versions.
• (OPTIONAL) SIU RSS, part number unknown. It is based on Syntor X9000 RSS and as such needs a suitably slow computer to operate.

We'll start with building cables to go from the radios to the SIU box from stock HKN4536 Spectra remote-mount cables. You can use external ASN boxes as per the original setup, but again it simplifies things to just use a straight-through cable. I don't know if the SIU will let you drive internal Securenet via the switch on the HHCH; it's worth investigating. Length probably doesn't matter but to conserve space I kept mine under 3 feet.

Code: Select all

Factory DB25F------Color (Use)------New DB25M
1---------------Black/Green (PTT)----------NC
2--------------------Blank-----------------NC
3--------------------Blank-----------------NC
4--------------------Blank-----------------NC
5--------------White (SB9600 Bus+)----------2
6--------------------Blank-----------------NC
7--------------------Blank-----------------NC
8--------------------Blank-----------------NC
9----------Black/Brown (Detected Audio)----NC
10---------Shield for 9 (Analog Ground)----NC
11-----------Shield for 12 (Mic Hi-)-------12
12------------Black/Yellow (Mic Hi+)-------13
13--------------Purple (Emergency)---------NC
14--------------Black (SB9600 Bus-)---------3
15-------------------Blank-----------------NC
16---------------Brown (Spare 1)-----------NC
17----------------Red (Spare 2)------------NC
18-------------Blue (Digital Ground)---9 & 18
19-------------Black/Orange (Reset)---------1
20-------------------Blank-----------------NC
21---------Bare (SB9600 shield carrier)----11
22----------------Yellow (Sw B+)-----------14
23-----------Black/Red (SB9600 Busy)--------4
24---------------Green (Speaker-)----------24
25--------------Orange (Speaker+)----------23

Now comes the fun part: hacking and programming the Spectra radios. This complete process will have to be performed on both radios you plan on using.
1.) Start by programming all of your modes/frequencies/MDC IDs/scan lists/etc. with normal Spectra RSS and writing to each radio with it connected to your working A9 head. Leave the mode names at default since you won't be needing them later. Save that codeplug with normal RSS and LAB RSS in case you flub a step later and need to start over.
2.) With the radio and A9 head still connected to the programming setup, go into Lab RSS but don't read it.
3.) Go into BitBanger and write the following string to the following locations:

Code: Select all

Locations: 6183 through 6192 (MLM) AND B681 through B690 (Command Board)
00-76-40-A3-09-FF-F1-FF-64-85-90-1F-1F-20-00-00

When you exit out it will automatically write the radio which will then display FAIL 01/82. Don't worry, this is normal, caused by a checksum mismatch with the new feature strings you just wrote.
4.) Exit out of Lab RSS and go back into normal RSS. With the A9 head still attached, read and write back to the radio without changing anything in the programming. It should now display no fail codes and appear to be operating normally.
5.) Go back to Lab RSS, read the radio, then go into the MOFLAG menu.
6.) Look for and change the following settings:

• Moflag 4, Bit 4 - Mode_names - Set to "Disabled"
• Moflag 8, Bit 5 - S9k_control_head - Set to "Disabled"
• Moflag 9, Bit 0 - multi_radio_system - Set to "Enabled"
• Moflag 13, Bit 5 - SIU - Set to "Enabled"

Do not change anything else.
7.) Exit out to the main menu and write to the radio. You may get the warning that the feature set doesn't match the radio, blah blah, just go ahead and write it. If everything is going right so far, the codeplug size should drop from ~40-50 blocks down to ~5-12. This is because it isn't writing to the A9 head anymore. If the codeplug size is still 40-50 blocks, you missed a step somewhere.. go back and double-check your work.
8.) Go back to regular Spectra RSS. Go F9/Setup-->F4/RSS Configuration and set "Multiple Radios" to "Enabled." Hit F8/Save then F10 to exit.
9.) With the A9 head still connected to the radio, go to your new F2/Radio/ASN Group Conversion menu. Hit F2/Read Radio Type. "Current Radio Group" should display as "Normal."
10.) If you want your setup to match the factory labeling on the HHCH, you will need to set your UHF radio to "Main" and your VHF radio to "Aux." This is done with up/down arrow keys.
11.) Once the correct type is selected, hit F7/Conv Radio. If you followed everything correctly, the "Current Radio Group" field will change to whatever you just selected after a brief program cycle. If it doesn't and still displays "Normal" then you missed a step somewhere.. go back and double-check your work.
12.)You may now disconnect the A9 head and connect the radio to the SIU.

Use the Radio 1 port on the SIU for your "Main" radio and Radio 2 for the "Aux" radio. If you reverse them transmit mic audio will not pass. On the HHCH end of the HHCH cable there are three plugs; the orange/green plug is for Radio 1's speaker and the black/black/red plug is for Radio 2's speaker. The 6-pin plug with 4 pins populated is for a DTMF pad that I haven't seen the documentation for. The orange and green wires on the SIU end of the HHCH cable work identically to a normal Spectra's ignition sense leads; green is constant 12V and orange is switched. Or you can connect them both to constant 12V and control it from the Off/VHF/UHF switch on the HHCH. I also strongly advise running either braid or 14-gauge wire between the SIU box and the chassis of one (or preferably) both of your Spectra radio drawers to beef up the SIU's flimsy grounding. Additionally, the HHCH cable may have a stray black wire coming off the HHCH end; it's connected to two shields in the cable and can be connected to chassis ground if you're having problems with alternator whine or other noise in your transmit audio.

The SIU RSS programs using the same Spectra high-power cable and RIB you used for the radio programming, and can be connected to either radio to read/write. Its only function is to program mode names over 99. If neither of your radios go over 99 channels you don't need it at all, even when using a NIB/unused SIU. You can use it to program your channels with Maxtrac-style trunking labels if desired, like 1A, 2C, etc.

One final note: the SIU and HHCH can be used with any single A9 radio as-is. The MOFLAG work is only necessary to use two radios in a dual-radio configuration.

[Jim202]

Very good write up on the conversion.

To add a couple of heads up on the SIU. I had the hardest time trying to get the SIU software to run on a number of my computers. It would always bomb out on me. Then one day the light came on. If I had to use the the small program "CACHEOFF.COM" to get the Syntor X9000 software to run on some of the computers, I wondered if this might be the answer. Sure enough. Once I started the 'CACHEOFF.COM' program and then the SIU program, all played well.

Second, the SIU has a poor circuit design and will probably crash on you some where down the road. When this happens, it won't power up the radios. There is a poorly designed voltage comparator circuit inside the design of the SIU. Spent a day trying to figure out what the issue was a number of years ago. The fix wasn't worth all the time I spent. It can be fixed by the simple cutting of one pin off of one of the circuit packages inside the SIU. If anyone runs into this, give me a blast and I will locate my PDF file on the repair and send it along. Have had to do this on several SIU boxes that went belly up.

Jim

[motorola_otaku]

To add a couple of heads up on the SIU. I had the hardest time trying to get the SIU software to run on a number of my computers. It would always bomb out on me. Then one day the light came on. If I had to use the the small program "CACHEOFF.COM" to get the Syntor X9000 software to run on some of the computers, I wondered if this might be the answer. Sure enough. Once I started the 'CACHEOFF.COM' program and then the SIU program, all played well.

I use a Compaq Contura 3/25c 386.. it croaks a little with Syntor software (CHPROG.exe won't write a file with more than 32 channels) but it runs the SIU RSS fine without needing cacheoff.

[Jim202]

To add a couple of heads up on the SIU. I had the hardest time trying to get the SIU software to run on a number of my computers. It would always bomb out on me. Then one day the light came on. If I had to use the the small program "CACHEOFF.COM" to get the Syntor X9000 software to run on some of the computers, I wondered if this might be the answer. Sure enough. Once I started the 'CACHEOFF.COM' program and then the SIU program, all played well.

I use a Compaq Contura 3/25c 386.. it croaks a little with Syntor software (CHPROG.exe won't write a file with more than 32 channels) but it runs the SIU RSS fine without needing cacheoff.

It is possible you don't have the right version of the software. With the right version, you should be able to go the whole 128 channels into the radio. I did see last night that there is a bit bang memory location that has the 99 channel or 128 channel information. Will have to try that on the radio I have that does 99, but won't let me go to the 128 channels.

Jim

[kcbooboo]

motorola_otaku: check your PMs.

Bob M.

[motorola_otaku]

I use a Compaq Contura 3/25c 386.. it croaks a little with Syntor software (CHPROG.exe won't write a file with more than 32 channels) but it runs the SIU RSS fine without needing cacheoff.

It is possible you don't have the right version of the software. With the right version, you should be able to go the whole 128 channels into the radio. I did see last night that there is a bit bang memory location that has the 99 channel or 128 channel information. Will have to try that on the radio I have that does 99, but won't let me go to the 128 channels.

Jim

Oh, sorry for the confusion. What I meant was: CHPROG.exe with the Syntor X9000 RSS will create a more-than-32-mode control head codeplug and write it to the head, but crash with a checksum error on verification which obviously means the computer is too fast. Keep it to 32 modes or less and it reads and verifies fine.

Bob: read and replied.

[Jim202]

I use a Compaq Contura 3/25c 386.. it croaks a little with Syntor software (CHPROG.exe won't write a file with more than 32 channels) but it runs the SIU RSS fine without needing cacheoff.

It is possible you don't have the right version of the software. With the right version, you should be able to go the whole 128 channels into the radio. I did see last night that there is a bit bang memory location that has the 99 channel or 128 channel information. Will have to try that on the radio I have that does 99, but won't let me go to the 128 channels.

Jim

Oh, sorry for the confusion. What I meant was: CHPROG.exe with the Syntor X9000 RSS will create a more-than-32-mode control head codeplug and write it to the head, but crash with a checksum error on verification which obviously means the computer is too fast. Keep it to 32 modes or less and it reads and verifies fine.

Bob: read and replied.

Have you tried running the "CACHEOFF.COM" program first before starting the Syntor X9000 software? It solved a number of issues for me.

Next is the computer speed. There is a new version of "moslo" called "MOSLO PRO" that works. But it cost $29.00 to download on the Internet. This also I have used with good success on some of my semi faster computers like under 1 GB, more commonly 500 MHz or less.

Jim