Batboard

Has anyone run into problems with a new programming
cable from Motorola, part number HKN6155A. This is a
serial port cable used for the front panel mic connection
to a Astro Spectra, Spectra radio.

When you plug this cable into the front panel of the radio,
it causes the radio panel to blank the display. If you pull
the cable out of the front panel mic connector, the radio
looks like it goes into a normal power up sequence and
then continues to work just fine.

I have used older cables without this problem.

Jim

Jim202 wrote:Has anyone run into problems with a new programming
cable from Motorola, part number HKN6155A. This is a
serial port cable used for the front panel mic connection
to a Astro Spectra, Spectra radio.

When you plug this cable into the front panel of the radio,
it causes the radio panel to blank the display. If you pull
the cable out of the front panel mic connector, the radio
looks like it goes into a normal power up sequence and
then continues to work just fine.

I have used older cables without this problem.

Jim

That is the cable for the Astro Spectra PLUS. I don't think it will work on the Astro Spectra, or the Spectra. It does NOT plug into the mic port, on the H/P it goes into the port next to the power cable above the C/H cable.

Jim.

n7maq wrote:

Jim202 wrote:Has anyone run into problems with a new programming
cable from Motorola, part number HKN6155A. This is a
serial port cable used for the front panel mic connection
to a Astro Spectra, Spectra radio.


Jim

That is the cable for the Astro Spectra PLUS. I don't think it will work on the Astro Spectra, or the Spectra. It does NOT plug into the mic port, on the H/P it goes into the port next to the power cable above the C/H cable.

Jim.

OK, I give up. What's the part number for the Spectra and Astro Spectra mic connector cable with serial connection?

Jim

Spectra/Astro Spectra can NOT be programmed through the mic connector. You program them through the DB-15 on low/mid-power decks or the second DB-25 on high-power decks.

The Asto Spectra that uses an XTL5000 type radio can
be programmed from the front panel mic connector. I have
used the cable and programmed radios with it from the
front mic connector.

When I tried it on one of the XTL5000 Astro Spectra
radios, it caused the front panel display to go blank and
reboot the radio. Using a cable from Motorola that the
customer has, it works just fine. So either the cable I
have is bad, or it is the wrong part number. They look
the same.

Problem is I don't have the correct cable number for it.
When I called Motorola tech services, this is the number
they gave me.

Jim

tvsjr wrote:Spectra/Astro Spectra can NOT be programmed through the mic connector. You program them through the DB-15 on low/mid-power decks or the second DB-25 on high-power decks.

For what it is worth, I ran into the same program with a set of XTL5000 mobile radios in "Consolette" configuration. The programming cable that our parts people acquired, which is called the programming cable for that radio and has a plug on one end to fit the mike connector, caused the same failure of the radio when plugged in. (If a radio can detect that a cable has been plugged in, this indicates some form of jumper in the plug shorting two pins to one another.)

After some effort, I found a different part number in the Consolette manual. In the Motorola catalog, this part number is not called a programming cable, but rather a "data cable." It has a squarish plug that fits the accessory connector on the back of the XTL (other end is serial). Plugged this cable in and the XTLs programmed just fine.

I've programmed several Astro Spectra+'s and XTL5000's with the HKN6155, and they do cause the display to go blank, but they still program fine with the blank display. The radio returns to normal as soon as you unplug the cable.

The HKN6155 should work on all the Astro Spectra Plus and XTL5000's with the Wx head series. The XTL5000 with the O5 head uses a different cable, though. And, the HKN6155 will not work on the regular Astro Spectra.

RKG wrote: After some effort, I found a different part number in the Consolette manual. In the Motorola catalog, this part number is not called a programming cable, but rather a "data cable." It has a squarish plug that fits the accessory connector on the back of the XTL (other end is serial). Plugged this cable in and the XTLs programmed just fine.

You don't happen to have the part number for this do you ?

I need to order one. ASAP

HKN6160A