MOTOROLA ASTRO Spectra 800 smart zone Question

Max · Post by **Max** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:50 am

Hi
I just bought a MOTOROLA ASTRO Spectra 800 smart zone ,It's MODEL #D04UJF9PW5AN 1 MEG FLASH CODE 500008-000000-1
Can someone tell me if this Spectra will do Apco25 ?
Thanks
Max

Post by **akardam** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 4:09 pm

It should, but I'd confirm the Host/DSP/Flashcode via the radio's service menu.

Post by Pj » Mon Jul 31, 2006 5:36 pm

Options in that flashcode:

Q806/G806 IMBE / APCO-25 Digital Operation
H14/G114 Digital ID Display
H38/G51 Smartzone Operation

Will it do digital voice, yes. Will it do the ASTRO25/APCO25 trunking, no. Will it do 3600 digital voice SmartZone, yes.

Again, if the radio is legit (and by the flashcode - most likely) the HOST and DSP firmware will support the functions. If its a hacked radio, maybe...maybe not.

Post by Pj » Mon Jul 31, 2006 6:04 pm

Almost forgot to add...

The Astro Spectra CANNOT do ASTRO25. If still available, you would need to get the Astro Spectra Plus upgrade kit which makes the radio into an Astro Spectra Plus. The kit is basically a new VOCON board and you need to change a couple of reisitors IIRC. Nothing complicated though.

Post by **xmo** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 7:16 pm

"..The Astro Spectra CANNOT do ASTRO25...."
_______________________________________

Beg to differ.

Motorola says the Astro Spectra Plus upgrade:

"provides the capability to operate...on the integrated voice and data system designs (6.05 and higher system releases)
...
Existing 800 MHz Astro Spectra radios, operating in Voice Only applications and wishing to upgrade to 9600-baud trunking, will not require this VOCON board upgrade to Astro Digital Spectra Plus. A FLASHport upgrade (G361) is available for this purpose"

Post by Pj » Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:37 pm

Hmmm... We were led to believe that it was not possible. I think I may still have the sheet on it as well..that was what I was going by (from memory).

tvsjr · Post by **tvsjr** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:21 pm

I've seen more than one straight-from-the-factory Astro Spectra (non-plus) that were configured for ASTRO25 operation. It is indeed possible, and these units had the latest firmware (R11/N08) in them.

Post by Pj » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:29 pm

Our problem might have been the XTL's were just out or due to be out shortly when we were going back for more mobiles.

I've seen more than one straight-from-the-factory Astro Spectra (non-plus) that were configured for ASTRO25 operation.

I haven't come across a single one yet... Must just be location..

Damn salesmen.

Post by Pj » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:42 pm

And there it is...

This upgrade allows the existing ASTRO Digital Spectra mobile radio and the consolette to be upgraded to the ASTRO Digital Spectra Plus mobile radio, which enables the 9600-baud feature set of P25 trunking systems. This upgrade provides the capability necessary to operate the data and system features that will be available in the respective releases on the integrated voice and data (IV&D) system designs (6.05 and higher system releases).

This upgrade can be performed on the different hardware versions of the ASTRO Digital Spectra mobile radios, including the 512K and 1M versions and all control-head types. Existing 800 MHz ASTRO Digital Spectra radios, operating in Voice Only applications and wishing to upgrade to 9600-baud trunking, will not require this VOCON board upgrade to an ASTRO Digital Spectra Plus. A FLASHport® upgrade (G361) is available for this purpose.

Upgrade Kit H1794
The upgrade kit, H1794, does not provide FLASHport upgrades. If an upgrade to existing capabilities is required, such as SMARTNET® to SmartZone®, a FLASHport upgrade must be purchased. Contact your sales representative for details.

tvsjr · Post by **tvsjr** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 12:29 am

Pj wrote:Our problem might have been the XTL's were just out or due to be out shortly when we were going back for more mobiles.

I've seen more than one straight-from-the-factory Astro Spectra (non-plus) that were configured for ASTRO25 operation.
I haven't come across a single one yet... Must just location..

Damn salesmen.

You know how to tell a salesman's lying, right?

<pbi class="gold" mode="on">

Post by **wavetar** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 5:00 am

tvsjr wrote:
You know how to tell a salesman's lying, right?

He opens his mouth?

tvsjr · Post by **tvsjr** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 6:45 am

wavetar wrote:
tvsjr wrote:
You know how to tell a salesman's lying, right?

He opens his mouth?

Well, the canonic response is "his lips are moving", but you get the idea.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:16 am

tvsjr wrote:I've seen more than one straight-from-the-factory Astro Spectra (non-plus) that were configured for ASTRO25 operation. It is indeed possible, and these units had the latest firmware (R11/N08) in them.

Whaa??

Are you telling me that my radio with version R11 firmware is capable of Astro 25 trunking?

I thought it was just revision '6' or whatever?

Confused.....

-Josh

tvsjr · Post by **tvsjr** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 12:56 pm

I dunno, I've never configured one. All's I know is that I've seen non-plus Astro Spectra 800s come out of Mother M with ASTRO25 in the flashcode and R11 in the vocon, and that those radios did indeed work on ASTRO25 systems.