Batboard

THANKS for all your help and ideas. Was not as hard as I thought.

Jake

Jake,
This will be a good place for you to start.

http://www.batlabs.com/newbie.html

Dennis

Also:

Spectra RSS can be run ONLY under native DOS -- not in a so-called "DOS Window" under Windows.

There may also be CPU limitations; I use 486 machines exclusively for RSS.

The dash-mount cable will have a flying lead coming out of the hood on the radio end. This goes to Pin 5 of the DB15 connector, and it must see 12VDC in order for the radio to power up.

Hi, thanks Yes i bought an old 486 laptop on Ebay. I had read that form for newbies earlier. I guess what im really looking for is tips not to blow out my radio or tips on how to use the software. I have not connected the stuff yet. Im waiting to hear back from people on their ideas before I proceed.


Thanks
Jake

So now that you have the 486 laptop start is in dos mode, plug the rib box in the serial port, plug the radio to the outer side of the rib box, make sure the rib box have power, and the radio is on, start the spectra program, press f3, then f2, wait it should finish to read the radio, then shut the rib box off, press f7 to save a backup of the code plug, and play around any help press f1, when you have tings set, power back up the rib box, press f8, wait for massage to press f8 again, press f8, and it will write your now code plug to the radio,

make shure you wait for it to be totally finished reading or writing the radio before you take power away from the radio. other than that it will tell you you if you are doing something it don't like.

The programming manual, such as it is, should be supplied with your RSS package from Motorola. I wonder if Motorola still ships the manual anymore, maybe Jake can answer this when he gets his RSS package.

What would the manual cost from a reputable but someone thats not to expensive? Im new to this so I dont know of companys that sell it. I got the number for moto off the Batlabs site. So i really dont know where to go for moto stuff the Spectra came from Ebay.

You have two good online options for ordering Moto parts and manuals.

MOL - Motorola Online

Myradiomall.com - A reseller of Moto parts

As for the manual part number and price:

6880101W48 $29.50 MOL Price

$35.01 from Myradiomall.com

The reason why they cost more is simple, they order the item from Motorola and pay the shipping cost to get it from them and then reship it to you. Your just paying the middle man shipping.

If you plan on doing business with Motorola often enough for parts, manuals, RSS, anything Motorola, your best off to signup for an MOL account.

https://businessonline.motorola.com/Log ... efault.asp

WOW thats great a guy on ebay wants about 50 bucks plus shipping


I dont really plan on doing alot of biz with MOTO i just want to get one radio working


But thanks I also plan on calling the man at moto that sold me the software to find out if I should have gotten a manual.

Thanks


Jake

also, spectra's are VERY finnicky about power... MAKE SURE you have a properly working bench power supply, or a properly installed system with a good battery.....

RE: Power.
It deepens on what type of cable and antenna you’re your using.( /\/\ )’s specifications show it draws 27 amps when x-mit. But when I installed it at work, I measure it 26-32 amps. When I add my new lmr600 cable, it masseurs at 20-25 amps.

LMR600 in your mobile!!!

But you'r correct a lot of the antenna cables are not 50 ohm. Like RG58/U is accually 53 ohms!

I recall on my UHF when I changed from RG58A/U on a Motorola factory antenna cable/mount to LMR240Flex, the SWR went down and the TX current draw is less. The cable is only 10' long, same antenna.