Canadian Spectra model : what can it be ?

VE2VGA · Post by **VE2VGA** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 12:22 pm

Hi,

Got a remote head Spectra labeled as V1377A wich is canadian made.

There is a sticker on the side labeled as "OPP Telecom", wich i believe that it can be some older stock from the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police).

The MLM board is marked as being V3.0

I've made some test by switching the MLM board with another one from a A5 (dash) Spectra and then the same A5 head and connector and it worked to some extend. It appear that this V1377A is a lower split VHF radio ... but since the old V3 MLM didn't work with the A5 head i can't retrieve much infos from it..

Now the question : what type of remote head do i need for this one ?

Thanks,

Guy, VE2VGA

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 1:50 pm

Being canadian its probably got a 30w PA and maybe some SP firmware.

Remember if you're a big enough purchaser, M used to make anythying you wanted.

Post by **batdude** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 4:42 pm

everything i have ever seen in a radio housing with a "V" number was a data radio...

i betcha that's some kind of either moscad or other telemetry/MDT radio...

normally, they don't have control heads.... ala the newer MCS radios that are in MOSCAD systems...

doug

VE2VGA · Post by **VE2VGA** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 11:20 pm

Thanks guys for your replies!

Well, i'm not a big purchaser .. as stated before, i buy used thing just to play around with them and use it in the radioamateur spectrum (144-148 Mhz or 430-449 Mhz).

As for a data radio, i don't know but i'm sticked on the idea that this radio was used for voice communications. There is two connectors on the front panel wich indicate "remote head" and the other "repeater".

See below (sorry for the lousy pictures)

<IMG SRC="http://www.racing-web.com/ve2vga/Motoro ... 377A-1.jpg">

<IMG SRC="http://www.racing-web.com/ve2vga/Motoro ... 377A-2.jpg">

ExKa|iBuR · Post by **ExKa|iBuR** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 11:40 pm

Well, the OPP here in Ontario recently went to an APCO P25 IMBE system using Astro Spectra's...it's remote, but it could be possible that radio is "borrowed" so to speak.

Or.

The old system was a system called NOR, which used completly customized firmware (used MDC-600 as a control channel for 2 or 3 channel trunking). I was under the impression they only used VHF Syntors, but I suppose it would be possible they use(d) Spectras...the system went "live" in 1982, and the first stage of the new system went online in 2002, most of Ontario still uses the old analog NOR system.

I doubt it would work, but try reading a codeplug from it and see what you get.

If you can give me the model number, I know a fellow who used to work for OPP Telecom, I can run it by him and see if it rings a bell.

-Mike

VE2VGA · Post by **VE2VGA** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 11:56 pm

Mike,

Thanks for your infos about this.

As explained in my first post, i can't read the radio as it is now since i don't have the proprer remote head that goes with it.

>>If you can give me the model number, I know a fellow who used to work for OPP Telecom, I can run it by him and see if it rings a bell.

The model number is labeled as V1377A.

Post by **alex** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 6:45 am

This radio does belong to the OPP Telecom NOR System.

It does require special software to program it - it is pretty much useless unless you want to use the SIM/COM channel(s). This radio also required a special control head. Without it, well, you have a very elegant spectra style doorstop.

From what I know they are still using the system up north.

I would probably consider it a parts only radio, and retire it to the door. Since it requires special software, your chances of even reading the radio are about 0....

-Alex

60hzEE · Post by **60hzEE** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 2:00 pm

Guy: Probably too much work, but if you were to swap out the command board, and install that extra V5.1 MLM that you have, you could probably read the radio and then change its personality to either a dash mount or trunk mount. Which ever you prefer.

Probably the safest bet would be to configure it as a dash mount (if you have an HLN6285 head interface circuit board), since the remote plate on the radio may be a special one. Normally the two connector versions connect a remote control head and a siren/PA.

Your box was mailed today Air PP.

Lee

VE2VGA · Post by **VE2VGA** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 7:29 pm

Lee : yep, it was done as stated in my initial message and was working fine. Now the only problem is getting a dash mount head + the interface connector. For my tests i've used parts from a know working radio.

>Your box was mailed today Air PP.

Thanks, that was fast !

VE2VGA · Post by **VE2VGA** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 11:08 pm

... by the way, i'll get in touch with the OPP next week to check if this particular unit was "borrowed" or not... i just hope that it wasn't.

If this radio is APCO25 compliant, does it mean that some additional boards can be found in it ? As far as i can tell, it appear plain radio to me.

ExKa|iBuR · Post by **ExKa|iBuR** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 3:49 am

You've got an old OPP analog NOR trunking radio.

It uses a custom control head, a custom MLM and as such, requires custom software.

As it is right now...it's not incredibly useful.

However, you might be able to throw in a Spectra MLM and have it work.

So yes, I'd say it's clean.

-Mike

Susan157 · Post by **Susan157** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 4:11 am

This is not the new opp radio gear.

And the equipment does get lost.

The opp are installing all new sinclair
antennas and NIB the old antenna's
complete and ready to install were
being sold at Hamvention in Dayton
Ohio last may 2003.They were new
in the box for$125.00 with the
co-phasing harness.Great deal.

The person had 30 units.

ExKa|iBuR · Post by **ExKa|iBuR** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 4:15 am

...

Negative.

The OPP are using the exact same antennas as the old NOR system.

They are using the exact same frequencies, both VHF for the system and UHF for the mobile repeaters. Why would they install all new antennas when their old ones are exactly what they use now?

-Mike

MikeOxlong · Post by **MikeOxlong** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 7:21 am

They are not using the same antennas in a lot of cases. The standard is the SRL235-2 but in some cases they are installing 210C4's. I did see the antennas NIB at Dayton 2 years ago but I didn't see where they came from. A friend bought several units for use up north on his commercial system.

Not sure why but it's mainly at cellular sites that have been used for the Fleetnet system. Probably has something to do with tower loading or smaller fill in sites.

Going back to the original post:

You have a Spectra that was modified for the Ontario Provincial Police. It used a pseudo mdc trunking format and had special logic installed in the mlm. The control head and cable were sp products. There was a mobile repeater that plugged in as well and the special logic also controlled it.

A few people have bought them as parts radios and others have redone the mlm's to convert them to regular Spectra's. Depending on the price you get them for, they might not be bad parts radios.

From what I heard, they were supposed to be sent up north as spares or be destroyed. It's possible that the contractor pulling them out got tired of waiting for somebody to pick them up and decided to dispose of them.

Happens quite a bit when the contractor never picks up surplus equipment from a sub-contractor and the sub wants his shop space back.

Susan157 · Post by **Susan157** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 10:50 am

We have seen new antennas installed
within the last few months and they
are the 435-2 antennas.They look like
two each 210-c2's on one mast.

We like the full wide band sinclair
210-c4 but they have never been
used here by the opp in this area.
They have their own towers here.
They are not sharing tower space.

Bell Canada has the contract for
the opp towers for radio work.

VE2VGA · Post by **VE2VGA** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:46 pm

Thank you all for your replies... now i'm breathing a little bit easier

I'll have this radio checked anyways, better be safe than sorry as they says.

Anyways, i guess that this radio is legit, since if it was "borrowed" somehow, one of the things that probably has gone first is the "OPP Telecom" sticker, wich is still on the radio as well as the id/serial sticker.

As an additional safety measure, i ran a check on the Genesis website (Global Stolen Radio Database search) available at :

http://www.genesisworld.com/StolenRadio ... Search.htm

and, thanks God, it wasn't there.

Luckily enough, i didn't pay too much for it, about 45$ (US) including shipping.

I may use it as a parts radio or maybe i'll "rebuilt" it to a conventional dashmount... only the future will tell

Oh by the way, what is the meaning of the "NOR" ?

Thanks again gang, it's always a pleasure to post and read this useful forum.

hoser · Post by **hoser** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 7:38 am

My OPP Spectra Manual lists the Spectra Model # as V1296A.
These are still in use...until the ASTRO stuff is swapped in.
Don't worry, it ain't 'borrowed'.

ExKa|iBuR · Post by **ExKa|iBuR** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:10 am

NOR refered to the operating modes.

There was:

NOR == NORmal
AUX == AUXiliary
COM == COMmon
SIM == SIMplex
TAC == TACtical

-Mike

MikeOxlong · Post by **MikeOxlong** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 7:23 am

Susan157 wrote:

Bell Canada has the contract for
the opp towers for radio work.

Bell Canada is the phone company.

Bell Mobility Radio is the contractor hired by the Ontario Government to maintain their radio sites.

Canadian Spectra model : what can it be ?

Canadian Spectra model : what can it be ?

hmmm

It is not the new Radios for the opp's.

The old was the 235-4 New ones here are 235-2

Re: The old was the 235-4 New ones here are 235-2