spectra and x9000?

bayfire300 · Post by **bayfire300** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:47 pm

hey gang......will the spectra and x9000's do the hamm bands.....either 2m or 440?

thanks

otto

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:57 pm

Yes and Yes...

However, the X9000 requires a ham band hacked version of the software, its out there but not available for sale from Moto.

The Spectra RSS can be edited to widen the bandsplit. If you can find a low split Spectra 136-150 it would make a great 2m rig, but if you also want to monitor PS stuff then get a 146-174 split, it will still program down to 144.

The UHF has a bottom end of 450, but like i said some editing will get it programmed for the ham band.

The X9000's are easier on the programming side of things, get the ham split software and program away. However, your best to get both re-aligned for ham band coverage before use. I have a VHF and UHF in my mobile that have been aligned for the ham band, they have a hot receiver!

bayfire300 · Post by **bayfire300** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 5:29 pm

oh ok thanks.......so no holding the shift key huh ,,,need he software for the x9000

otto

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 5:37 pm

Nope, no shift key entry.. LOL

Here is the page that talks about opening up the splits in the Spectra RSS.

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

kf4sqb · Post by **kf4sqb** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 8:35 pm

bayfire300 wrote:oh ok thanks.......so no holding the shift key huh ,,,need he software for the x9000

otto

Tread carefully, Otto. I think I know what you are saying, but it almost sounds like you are asking for the RSS. I'd hate to see a label under your username!

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 8:42 pm

I believe he meant just that he needs to get the X9000 software, not that he's looking for it here.

I would offer up the part number for the RSS, price, info on how to order from MOL, etc... Except that does him no good for the ham band programming.

I think we need to somehow review the use of the software versus asking for it. That is, for what reason it's being sought after. Being that the ham band version is not officially supported by Motorola, nor available for sale.

kf4sqb · Post by **kf4sqb** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 8:55 pm

Scott, I did say that I thought I knew what he was trying to say.

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:22 pm

No offense, i just wanted to further state and agree with your comment. I would hate to see someone getting the ol' RSS warning stamp for a post that was just worded wrong!

kf4sqb · Post by **kf4sqb** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:54 pm

That was my point.

BTW, did you ever check into the 'Bat Phone'?

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:58 pm

No i haven't checked into it yet, it's on my todo list. Though the wife likes to point out that the todo list has other stuff like win the lottery and become a millionare on it as well. Basically when i get a chance to i will!

I'm intrigued by it though!!

kc7gr · Post by **kc7gr** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:02 pm

bayfire300 wrote:oh ok thanks.......so no holding the shift key huh ,,,need he software for the x9000

otto

Assuming Moto still has it available, you're looking at about $76.00 or so. Expect to have to sign a 12-page Draconian licensing agreement before they allow you the privilege of giving them your money.

HOWEVER -- The stock X9000 software will not permit entry of ham frequencies. There was a specific "ham" version that has been floating around for a long time, but it was never available from Motorola.

To expand a bit on the receivers: The VHF Range 2 (150.8-174) units, which are the most common ones available in VHF, drop dramatically in receiver sensitivity below about 147MHz.

In order to achieve decent sensitivity on the ham bands, the front-end bandpass filter needs to be sweep-tuned, using a spectrum analyzer and tracking generator, to bring the low end up and the high end down (the filters are about 22-24MHz wide). In other words, you end up sacrificing a bit of the high end to gain in the low end.

The UHF Range 2 (450-470MHz) radios are the same way. Their receiver starts to drop off sharply below 449MHz.

If you lack the proper equipment and/or skills to perform the retuning, I can do it for you at my normal rates. PM me if you want to set something up.

Happy tweaking.

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:38 pm

Let me add something about the RSS purchasing.

It's not that bad anymore!!

You need to setup an MOL account first of all. Once you get that done you just need to request software licensing and access to purchasing RSS through MOL and your done.

No 12 page form anymore!

And yes, the biggest problem with putting the X9000 on the ham band is perhaps the software, its not legitimately available to begin with, so it's don't ask don't tell to get a hold of it. And as the man above me there pointed out it really needs an alignment to be "right" on the ham band. He did my VHF, that puppy hears!

George · Post by **George** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 6:26 am

The X and X9000 came in two splits. All of the radios in my cars have range one front ends/VCOswith range 1 100 watt power amps. Two of mine are range one front ends with range two power amps. The point is this: If you watch, you can find range one radios, probably 40 watt and you can remove the front end and put it in a range two radio to get the higher power out. In the lower ranges it's a little inefficent, like taking 22 amps to make a full 100 watts, but it works fine otherwise. The true range one power amps are pulling about 18 or 19 amps to make 100 watts. Otherwise, in the upper 146 and 147 range the current consumption is not that radically different.

As for the RSS, with the right version, one can cover 136 to 163 using the range one front ends. Of course I recommend preamps for the front ends, and I will put my own shameless plug in for the X9000 as the best radio ever built because I have NEVER had my X9000's open up due to intermod, even when sitting next to high power paging transmitters and stuff like that.

Oh, and another thing...the range one units can be spread to do an excellent job in the amateur band and will also hear very well to pick up NWS services in the 162 range. So you RailRoaders are covered also!

Long live the X9000!

George

kf4sqb · Post by **kf4sqb** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 8:47 am

You've got a good point, George. However, the range 1 units are pretty rare. You can find them, but you definately have to look hard.

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:09 am

I was going to suggest that as well, taking a low power range 1 radio and using a high power range 2 to get a 100w radio. But they are so darn hard to find!!

I helped a guy out a while back with this very swap. He had a range 1 Syntor X low power, and a x9000 range 2 high power. So i just swapped parts around and had a range 1 high power x9000 and a range 2 low power syntor x.

That's another advantage of the x9000, you can buy up some syntor x's for spare parts on the cheap.