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Astro spectra to AS + retrofit
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 6:38 pm
by batdude
anyone remember the part number for the kit?
anyone actually order one?
doug
Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:32 am
by Pj
According to the upgrade manual, the kit is
H1794 - Which consists of:
1 - HLN6837 - Vocon Board
4 - 0312016A27 - Screws
1 - 3385054E01 - Label
You also need the flash cable for the Astro Spectra Plus, CPS for both. If you have certain UCM modules, they need to be flashupgraded prior to the radio upgrade.
Then, I think you need to do some service monitor work, blah blah. The Manual is 24 pages with 1/2 dedicated to CPS work. You get an Astro25 radio, but you lose AMSS/WAC AMSS/Affliate on PTT features if you monitor TRS with the radio.
The field upgrade manual is 68P81095C21-0 and can be found on MOL if you have access to that area.
Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 7:07 am
by xmo
PJ is right - you have to do a complete alignment of the radio. It's obvious when you think about it - you are putting a new "brain" into a radio it has never seen before.
If the Astro Spectra you are starting with is over about one year old, there is a modification that must be made to the command board. This modification involves surface mount component rework - and is on the hidden side of the board - so total disassembly of the radio is required.
Apparently the mod has to do with a voltage regulator that feeds the UCM - so if you have no encryption - the radio would work OK if the mod was not done. I would just hate to see people do that - later some poor sap will inherit that radio or buy it used - and if the second owner goes to put encryption in - who knows what will happen.
After the board is installed you read the radio with CPS and you get a one time opportunity to enter the radio's serial number. Then the radio has a one mode factory type codeplug in it - so you have to create what you want there - or do a drag & drop from the radios old codeplug.
That requires an open CPS session for the new codeplug and another open session for the old codeplug. The drag & drop feature works pretty well. It saves a lot of typing and possible errors - especially if you have a lot of trunked system info in the radio