Batboard

This is a 50% hardware, 50% programming question:

Having had many Spectra A-9 and C-9 radios, I loved nothing so much as the ability to program the Systems 9000 head using " Zone-X ", a feature which allows one to assign every DTMF key and all, but 3 of the other buttons on the control head for direct access to Zones.

So, you could program any button for a designated Zone. One press of that key takes you right to that zone. No extra steps. I like to have from 15 to 20 zones so this is a great feature for me.

Now, using CPS 04 on an Astro Spectra's W-9, I find that this is NOT available, but offers only some multi-step access scheme. Also, all previous (9000) heads could be programmed to briefly flash the name of each zone when changing zones. This, too, is out. You could give each Zone its own name independent of the Mode names in the control head, but now you have to SHARE the 11 character readout if you want to even mark your zones, much less give them useful names.

Do any earlier versions of the CPS offer the old plan?

CPS is wonderful, but.....if I can't get these two features in this format, I'll have to go back to using DOS/RSS. The radio has only been read, not written to yet.

Zone naming was taken out for the Astro's, I don't know why...I thought it was pretty nice to have as well. The only alternative is to decrease your mode names and share display line with "Z1" or whatever you want. Sucks, but...

I don't think that any of the RSS's or CPS allows you to do what you want.

However, I believe if you get yourself a DEK, you should be able to assign the DEK keys to do what you want for direct or mode access.

Worse case, hold down the home key and enter the mode # directly.

Thanks, PJ,

My only hope had been in using one of the later DOS/RSS versions for " Zone-X" and for independently named Zones. You've answered my question on using any version of the DOS/RSS (my only experience in that had been with W5, W7 radios).

I can't see what was gained in discarding this useful feature, but I guess that's beside the point.

The DEK does now seem the only alternative. I've never used them, but know how they work with the head. I think they have 6 to 8 buttons and the CPS allows the use of 3 DEK's as I recall and I'd need 2 of them. I happen to have two packages of DEK buttons bought a while back when I thought they'd fit the Systems 9000 head. They didn't, but at least I have a head start on that project.

It's a little crowded, but then we often have to choose Function over Form.

Thanks again.

Leadenwah wrote:The DEK does now seem the only alternative. I've never used them, but know how they work with the head. I think they have 6 to 8 buttons and the CPS allows the use of 3 DEK's as I recall and I'd need 2 of them. I happen to have two packages of DEK buttons bought a while back when I thought they'd fit the Systems 9000 head. They didn't, but at least I have a head start on that project.

As you've found out, nope... common misconception, unfortunately.

If you're looking for DEKs, let me know... I've got two or three brand-new still in bubble wrap that I wouldn't mind getting rid of.

Does anyone know if the XTL5000 followed the Astro Spectra or if they reverted back to the good ole days of the Spectra.

I miss having full zone text independant of the mode name. I also wish they never got rid of the "positional" option. The new way just plain sucks.

The XTL is the same way as the astro spectra, no direct zone button and the XTL doesn't even have a direct mode button.

The Astro Spectra CPS claims to have a MS1 - MS4 button (mode select 1 to 4) but I have never been able to get it to work. The help file says a long press of that button programs the current mode to that button but it doesnt work for me. Maybe I am doing something wrong, but oh well.

Jason