WTF?? Analog to Astro Spectra W7 UHF conversion not working

Cipher77 · Post by **Cipher77** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 6:35 pm

We performed the analog to astro conversion and it all appears to have gone well. we changed a range 1 astro to a range 2 and it took the code plug after coercion and seems to wake up & gives no errors -- However, the radio is stupid. It just sits there & has a contunuous tone in the audio (600hz or so). Does not appear to TX or RX. Cannot get the unit into service mode (home button 5x). Also buttons that should cause xmit do not appear to work. the original model of this radio was a "L" as in Consolette. Could this possibly be the issue as we have double checked that the TRC option is turned off? could this be a hardware compatibility issue w/ converting to a D series radio (W7head dash mount)???

Any help will be appreciated.

Post by **wavetar** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 7:02 pm

I think you'll have to detail exactly what you did (ie: which boards you swapped from what radios, etc) before we can offer any definitive answers. I do know the consolette radios had different firmware than 'regular' radios, which may be why you're getting the constant error tone.

Todd

Cipher77 · Post by **Cipher77** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 9:35 pm

Ok, we performed the following hardware swap out procedure outlined here: http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.php?t=48942 (range 2 VCO & front end)

we were able to get a W7 "D04" model code plug & s record & successfully (that I know of) completed the bit-banging of the s-record into the new radio. No errors when powered up except for the tone & the buttons not working.............

Any info would be great!!! I really dont know how to start troubleshooting this problem.

Thanx

Post by Pj » Sun Aug 28, 2005 4:52 am

Bitbanged the srecord?

Cipher77 · Post by **Cipher77** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 5:16 am

"Bitbang" (ing) (ed) N,V, Adv, Adj - Definition: To cram-hole a bunch of info into a vocon without regard for any security measures or formal procedure by "normal" means and software. This involves a reverse engineered type of procedure talked of on many other posts in this forum. Synonym: "Brain-f@!k" (ed), (ing)

hope this answers your question

jmr061 · Post by **jmr061** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 7:45 am

Never heard of anyone bitbanging an astro codeplug before. I am sure that is your problem. There is a LOT!!!!!!!!!! more to it than just changing a few things. You need a codeplug or s record from a true range 2 radio.

Jason

jmr061 · Post by **jmr061** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 7:58 am

Detail out what you did better.

What radio model numbers were used? What model number radio did you get your D04 codeplug from. Were any hardware modifications made to existing boards, etc.

Thanks

Jason

Post by Pj » Sun Aug 28, 2005 12:33 pm

Bitbang(ing) - The feature used with LAB software written for the ANALOG Spectra, and not to be confused with the DIGITAL Spectra.

Hence, that's what I asked.

Post by **wavetar** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 2:06 pm

What version of what LAB was used to force the codplug? Of the 3 generally 'available' versions, only one will work for what you're doing. Astro LAB 3.04.00 will not work, as it doesn't recognize IMBE at all & will corrupt the codeplug, even with a 'packed' read. MTSX LAB 2.00.01 is too old, it won't transfer the codeplug correctly either. MTSX LAB 3.00.02 will do what you need...even though it's an 'Astro' radio.

Todd

motorola_otaku · Post by **motorola_otaku** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 3:44 pm

I had the same problem with mine (a L04 radio also) and it turned out to be an interconnect board issue. Does yours TX immediately upon powerup? If so, pull the control head interconnect board and replace it with an HLN6285 and all should be well.

Cipher77 · Post by **Cipher77** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 9:58 am

Going to try to pursuit the interconnect board issue that motorola_otaku stated in the last post -- if that doesn't work, I'll go the firmware route & figure how to solve the "wrong firmware" issue.

Thanx everyone for your input!!! It's much appreciated!!!! hopefully this will work & I can add my radio to the list of successfully modified 438-470 Astro Spectras~~~

Post by **wavetar** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 11:31 am

motorola_otaku wrote:I had the same problem with mine (a L04 radio also) and it turned out to be an interconnect board issue. Does yours TX immediately upon powerup? If so, pull the control head interconnect board and replace it with an HLN6285 and all should be well.

If that's the problem, you might be able to easily fix it. I pulled this from the Spectra Model Specific page:

Spectra Interconnect Boards

I am sure most of you are aware of the HLN6285 interconnect board for the Spectra radio. This is the newest board which will allow you to run an A4 head or the newer advanced heads on a Spectra with out the radio going into a hissy fit and keying up as soon as you turn on the radio.

If you are discarding your HLN6058's and HLN6066's and buying the HLN6285, YOU WAISTING YOUR $38.00 PLUS SHIPPING!!!!

Take your your 6058's and 6066's and isolate pins 4,5,22,and 29. To find these pins, look at your interconnect board while it is still in the radio after taking off the control head. They will be the pins at the top of the board, not to be confused with the lower black plug which the control head mates with.

Starting from the top row of pins at the very left which will be pin 1. As you get to pin 6 you will see that pin 7 is missing and then continues to pin 8 all the way to the far right which will be pin 19. Pin 20 starts at the bottom left bellow pin 1 and proceeds to the far right which will be pin 38.

You can cut the traces to each pin or just unsolder it and remove it like a bad tooth.

You now have an HLN6285.

Todd

motorola_otaku · Post by **motorola_otaku** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 12:04 pm

I'll check when I get home, but I'm almost positive the one that came out of my radio wasn't a 6058 or a 6066. It was something completely different that I'd assumed was consolette-specific. The radio was 100% untampered-with too; in fact, it still had the warranty stickers over the chassis screws.

Cipher77 · Post by **Cipher77** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 1:37 pm

Wavetar!!! Thanx profusely for the interconnect board mod -- It worked & now the radio isn't dumb. It works as it should. HOWEVER, there in no rx and when txing, the red light lights for 500ms & then goes out without any rf output. In service mode, attempts to cause txmitter keyup result in a FAIL 001. I know that this is "no VCO lock" error. again this is a R2 VCO old style with 3rd coax for synth feedback, we did the "route through pin 1" mod could this be part of the issue or the problem entirely? The VCO part # is HLE6046B (european/canadian true R2 VCO).

any info would be great

thanx!!!

Joe

Cipher77 · Post by **Cipher77** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:24 pm

Any Ideas Guys/Gals????

jmr061 · Post by **jmr061** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:36 pm

What type of codeplug/srecord did you program it with?

Jason

Cipher77 · Post by **Cipher77** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 7:18 am

An "r" range codeplug

jmr061 · Post by **jmr061** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 7:39 am

Ok here we go. There are TWO different ranges for "R" in an astro spectra. One is 438-470 the other is 450-482. Which one did you use?

Jason