Astro Spectra drawer unit with an analog Spectra A9 Head?

KC2NNS · Post by **KC2NNS** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:24 am

Can somebody tell me whether or not an A9 control head for an analog Spectra will work with a high-power Astro Spectra drawer unit? Thanks.

-Jon

jmr061 · Post by **jmr061** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:42 am

Simple answer is no. But......

If the control head is DIP style (hcn1036, hcn1041,hcn 1047, etc) then no it can not.

If the control had is SMD style (hcn1063, hcn1073, etc) then the firmware in it can be swapped out to make it work on an astro spectra. I have done this many times.

Jason

KC2NNS · Post by **KC2NNS** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:50 am

Thanks for the quick response. I've got a remote-mount analog spectra in my car right now and I wanted to upgrade to the astro. Primary reason for this is the new 12.5 khz bandwidths in the VHF band. There are some new channels in my county that I can't program into my analog spectra. I heard from a few people that the astro spectra will do the new splits.

So I guess the next question is will the same control cable work with the astro spectra? I'd really like to avaoid ripping up the carpet again to route a new cable.

Thanks.

jmr061 · Post by **jmr061** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:09 am

Yes the same control head cable is used between astro spectra and spectra (there are the really old stlye spectra ones for the a4/5/7 that dont though).

Beware not all vhf astro spectras are totally narrowband compliant. In order to be they must have the 2.5 rf board in them. It will usually say 2.5 on the side id tag if it does.

Jason

KC2NNS · Post by **KC2NNS** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:22 am

Thanks alot. Really appreciate the help.