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Spectra upgrade from A4 to A9 head

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 5:59 pm
by WB4JGI
I have to warn you guys from the start, I know very little about bitbanging. So here it goes.

I have a high power UHF spectra A4 that I would like to make an A9. I have a A9 codeplug that matches the features of the current A4 codeplug (ie: zones, MPL, RSSI). Could I clone the A9 codeplug into the current A4 radio? Thus hopefully, making the radio an A9 without bitbanging.

I'm trying to avoid bitbanging the radio. But, I probably will have to because I don't see how this could write to the MLM and Command boards and stay in there. But, I may be wrong.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 6:07 pm
by bellersley
You're going to need to bitbang. There are two places the information is stored - on the MLM and the Command Board. Cloning in a new codeplug will only change the MLM and once the radio reboots, it will over-write the MLM with the values stored in the Command Board.

However, it is very easy to do what you want. If the main batlabs site was working I'd link you to a page that outlines exactly what values to change, and to what. Perhaps someone has this info on hand. I've done it a few times myself and the whole procedure takes maybe 10 minutes.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 6:26 pm
by JAYMZ
Stu, you can try the following links...

The first from the main Batlabs site. This has a lot of information on radios, plus info on MOFLAGS and BitBanging. It'll also tell you how to utilize the "ramrod" method of sticking a codeplug in forcibly with LAB to get to where you want.

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

If you want to straight up bitbang on the model and serial numbers I put together a little page with instructions on how to do so.

http://www.k2jsv.com/spectra

Good luck.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 6:35 pm
by WB4JGI
Thanks Jaymz, I found your site more informative. What I have gathered so far is to bitbang 6051 to 39 and B67E to 39. Am I correct, or is the 6060 an important one as well?

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 7:29 pm
by JAYMZ
All 3 are of the same importance.

The first 2 are the model number, but the 3rd will tell the radio or software what type of control head to look for.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 8:09 pm
by jmr061
What version MLM is in the radio. If its a newer 6.xx board the string provided in the batlabs site is for a nicely featured A9 and will be much better than forcing in a plug.

Jason

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 4:20 am
by WB4JGI
It's a V6.15

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 5:18 am
by jmr061
Use bitbanger and change these locations to these values:

CB Range B681 - B690 AND MLM Range 6183 - 6192 (feature set)
00 76 40 A3 19 FF F1 FF 64 84 90 1F 1F 00 00 00

Also change
Location 6060 to CD (A9 head)

Then you really should change the model number information as well. You do this in two places. Visit this nice website for that info:

http://www.k2jsv.com/spectra

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks

Jason