Inhibited VHF standard Spectra (Non-Trunking). How ?

[Leadenwah]

In an attempt to clone a regular, conventional, Spectra VHF, and error message popped saying, " WARNING ! INHIBITED RADIO ".

The radio would power up, but gave an error code (don't remember which) then the volume would rise on its own. I could turn it down, but it would rise again on its own.

How would such a radio get inhibited? I associate that problem with an unauthorized radio associating with a TRS which then kills the alien radio.

Do conventional VHF radios get inhibited in that way or are there other ways in which such a radio becomes inhibited.

This is 1 of a lot of 7 VHF Spectras bought a good while back which I'm only now getting around to processing.

[HLA]

it is possible to inhibit a conventional radio. and if that was done to it then that radio was on a frequency that it wasn't supposed to be on and that's the reason we tell everyone to get a scanner. and unfortunately the only thing that can undo that problem is the console that inhibited it. i'm not shure if factory can undo it either without swapping out the boards.

[George]

This is the first I have heard of such a thing to do with Spectra conventional. Nowhere in the manual does it talk about such a feature.

Please provide more information such as the MLM version, the model number and any other information you may have. What you have written so far is not enough to work off of.

George

[Josh]

This is the first I have heard of such a thing to do with Spectra conventional. Nowhere in the manual does it talk about such a feature.

Please provide more information such as the MLM version, the model number and any other information you may have. What you have written so far is not enough to work off of.

George

I got that same error in a spectra of mine where the MLM kicked the bucket a couple days later.

-Josh

[MikeOxlong]

I've seen the same thing but it turned out to be a corrupted codeplug making the radio think it was inhibited.

Dumped in a good codeplug and I was in business again.

[bellersley]

Incase you should find yourself with an inhibited Spectra, either trunked or conventional, replacing the MLM is all you need to breathe life back into it. I bought an 800MHz Spectra at a hamfest that had been inhibited. I just put in a new MLM and I was back in business.

[Leadenwah]

Thanks for the helpful replies.

I'll get that model number and other specifics just for interests sake.

I haven't been able to initialize a used MLM board. I tried to transplant one to the same model and feature set VHF conventional Spectra some months ago, but I get that message that the board has already been initialized.

Do I have to buy a new MLM board or, more likely, am I missing some basic knowledge here ? I'm missing plenty of knowledge, programming and otherwise !

Thanks

[w4rez]

it is possible to inhibit a conventional radio. and if that was done to it then that radio was on a frequency that it wasn't supposed to be on and that's the reason we tell everyone to get a scanner. and unfortunately the only thing that can undo that problem is the console that inhibited it. i'm not shure if factory can undo it either without swapping out the boards.

What?

Edit:

I can fully understand the "Get a scanner" response to inquiries about putting unauthorized radios on a trunked system. But for conventional? Come on, bro. You're not that special.

[Pj]

Been awhile since I programmed a spectra, but I *think* MDC-1200 inhibiting is support. Conventional radio inhibiting is out there, but not as widely used as it can be on a trunking system.

[Leadenwah]

So, I take it that the Inhibition of a conventional radio is possible, but far less likely than on Trunking systems which seems right to me.

Then "THIS RADIO HAS BEEN INHIBITED" warning could from a radio being where it shouldn't, but also it could have been inhibited by a bad board, right ?

Is it that the inhibiting signal is sent to the radio via it's MCD-1200 signaling feature or did I misunderstand ?

There are frequent warnings to members that fiddling around with someone's TRS (without invitation) can get your radio killed. It would seem like a previous user would have to have been causing a heck of a lot of trouble to provoke a conventional system to zap that radio.

I guess I'm wondering more whether this is something that members have seen happen or if this is pretty much a fluke.

This was 1 of 7 bought from a seller a year ago. 6 were fine and this one had the problem.

If I replace the MLM board with a used one from same model, freq and featured radio, how do I get the radio to accept a used MLM. It gives me the message that the board has already been initialized and can't be initialized a second time.

I've got several used MLM boards on the shelf so it would be nice to be able to use them again.

[Johnny Galaga]

What is "MLM" ?

[bellersley]

Memory Logic Module. It contains the operating parameters of the radio, including the codeplug.

[Pj]

If you have other spectra's with the exact same features (module number, etc), you may be able to clone a codeplug from a "good spectra" into the inhibited spectra. The MLM contains the codeplug and all that stuff, so if you put a good known one in the radio, your good to go. None of the other boards contain circuts that will keep it inhibited. Its all in the MLM module.

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

So if anything, read a good radio with the same model number/features (best bet open up the good radio and compare MLM versions with the inhibited radio), then attempt to clone that codeplug into the inhibited one and see what happens. Just may work.

If your brave, you may want to look thru this thread. It contains information on modifying spectras and changing MLM features. I believe that the inhibit feature is identified. BE FORWARND: If you screw something up, your out of a MLM module as it will go brain dead and you will need to find another MLM to put in the radio.

[George]

I have a few uninitialized MLMs that I picked up at a hamfest. Version 6.11 or so.

Would this help this project?

Please PM.

George