Batboard

I just received a 16 channel UHF Mostar radio that I purchased off of E-Bay. It actually cleaned up pretty well. Even using the information on Batlabs, I am having difficulty determining the bandsplit from the model number. I would prefer to know the bandsplit prior to taking the radio to a Motorola shop for programming. The model number is: D44TLA7D00AK. The original listing on the inside of the top cover indicates the radio was originally programmed for frequencies in the 451 mhz range. Ideally, I would like to program in frequencies from 407 - 419 mhz (Yes, I do have authorization to be using frequencies in this government band). Is there any hope? Kirk Higgins

Hi:

Hate to be the bad guy, But:

1. Mostars are ( still are ) one of Motorolas
worst radios ever produced.

2. They are almost impossible to keep them
working ( Most have long since died )

3. The Screws " Must " be torqued properly otherwise the sythesizer will not even lock,
also the Shields must be in perfect shape.

4. Additionally, you will find they will not
work in the 403-430 Mhz band unless the radio
is in the spacific range.

5. The MIB ( Mostar Interface Box ) along
with alomost all support parts was discontinued many years ago.

Finding someone with a MIB or even willing
to try and program a Mostar is almost impossible.

In short, Motorola wished they never placed
that series on the market as they had as much
trouble keeping them alive as you will.

Recomedation ! Get a Maxtrac / Radius Mobile
or a Spectra.

Don't waste your monies on a propriatory, almost impossible radio to program.

MS

Your points are well taken, however...I am fortunate to have a local Motorola technician who still has the capability to program Mostar radios (I don't know how much he likes to do it, but he can). I too would prefer to have a Maxtrac, Radius or Spectra. Unfortunately, I can't find anyone selling one for the thirty dollars I paid for the Mostar. I realize that you get what you pay for, but it is a Motorola radio in good working order and seems to have served its purpose well in the fourteen years since it was manufactured. Again, I do appreciate your comments and will make every attempt to upgrade when I can. Kirk

HI:

Well? If you have a fully operational radio
and are not able to find someone, I can
probably help you. I do have a Policy on these older radios however, is that I am NOT
able to offer anykind of warrantee before or
after programming.

If the radio should quit 1hr / 1 day / 1 month after programming, you are sorta on your own.

Depending on your Version of radio, there are
4 ways of programming Mostars.

1. MIB, RSS, and Computer===Very Rare setup
2. R-1800 Series Suitcase Programmer to
reprogram the EEprom
3. Finding a Local MRSS that still addresses
Mostars.
4. Private party with the above tools

In either case, most programming services for
Older Series Radios of this class that use
EEproms, can easily run 75.00-125.00up + Shipping

One Main reason most persons shy away from
these 10-20.00 radios is that the time & Effort to make them play again can easily
approch the cost of a Maxtrac or Radius Mobile which almost anyone can program those
for 15.00-25.00 Max

Hope the additional info helps.

PS: Sometimes Old City / County / State
Repair facilities have these Old Programmers
if you can get them to offer the time for free

MS

I have become kind of attached to my Mostars. I was lucky to find someone who had the programmer and have put several on ham bands. They tend to pickup more interferance than my Maxtrac and are definitely narrow in tuning but I still like them. One of my budies has had a vhf one in his jeep and it has been very reliable.