Batboard

I bought from a fellow board member an Astro Spectra W7 control head, part HLN6396.

I went and slapped it on my analog spectra and expected it to work, which it did not, in either dash-mount or remote configurations.- with analog spectras.

So, is there something different in the heads between the analog and astro spectra? I was told there was a different in the interconnect boards between the two. I'm a bit disappointed that the parts aren't more intercompatible, either that or this control head isn't working right.

If there are differences, would an analog spectra interconnect board and control head work on an Astro Spectra, or an Astro Spectra interconnect board and control-head work on an analog spectra?

Regular analog Systems 9000 A9 remotes with the standard HKN4356 cable on an Astro W9?

Yikes

-Josh

The easiest answer is the last question:
The cables are the same between Astro and Analog.

The Heads are not. Each control head has firmware in it, similar to the radio itself. Astro heads work with Astro Radios, and Analog Heads work with Analog Radios.

As an example, you can replace the firmware in an X9000 head to convert it into a 1078 (Astro Front W9) head. There are some minor electrical differences between A7 and W7 board, but ultimately, it's the micro that sits on it that tells them apart.

The dashmount interconnect board does vary by 2 pins. They are reversed. I have yet to look them up for the specific numbers.

Hope that helped...
Good luck, the future of Astro Radios rests in your hands....

tpg

My UHF radio started out as a 40w consolette, model L04QKH9PW7AN. When I got it, it contained the interconnect board # HLN6058A. On powerup, it did exactly what the analog Spectras were described to do when using an advanced or A4 head with an old interconnect board; i.e. immediate TX, squirrely button function, etc. I swapped it with an original HLN6285A and it functioned 100% normal. I have yet to load a secure key in it, so that may prove to be an issue.

Are you telling me that you have used an analog spectra intrconnect board on an astro consollete with success?

-Josh

Yes it should work if its the newer interconnect analog spectra board. The only change in the astro spectra interconnect board appears to be for flash upgrades since those would be done via the control head in a dashmount radio. The interconnect board connects those extra pins needed for that.

Jason

Wow, that's good news!

I saved myself $36 for now anyhow.

I think I paid a lot more for the Spectra HLN6285 interconnect though....

Live and learn.

-Josh