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Questions about Astro Spectra rear control heads
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:41 pm
by d119
Tried searching on this but no real luck.
What is the difference between the HCN1121D "REAR" control head and the HCN1078 standard control head?
Can two HCN1078 control heads be used on an ASTRO Spectra successfully? Or is the HCN1121 control head required?
What are the caveats?
Thanks
Re: Questions about Astro Spectra rear control heads
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 11:58 am
by com501
A rear head will not function as a front head, as it does not have some of the components a front head does.
Two front head will be very buggy as they will both try to assume control of the radio, and in most cases this did not work when tried on the bench.
That USB O5 head looks better every day....
Re: Questions about Astro Spectra rear control heads
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:25 pm
by The Pager Geek
There is no physical difference between Front and Rear Astro Spectra control heads. There is a software change [that can't be changed outside of depot] in the control head software that identifies Front vs. Rear.
tpg
Re: Questions about Astro Spectra rear control heads
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:00 pm
by com501
The Pager Geek wrote:There is no physical difference between Front and Rear Astro Spectra control heads. There is a software change [that can't be changed outside of depot] in the control head software that identifies Front vs. Rear.
tpg
Except that when you take an 1121 apart, the boards are different in the ones we have been getting from parts as of late.
There is a BGA missing.
Re: Questions about Astro Spectra rear control heads
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:17 pm
by The Pager Geek
The only difference between a front and rear is a byte change in the eeprom section of the 68HC11.
tpg
Re: Questions about Astro Spectra rear control heads
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:27 pm
by com501
I must be blind.
Re: Questions about Astro Spectra rear control heads
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:30 pm
by The Pager Geek
nah, I'm not disagreeing. Every revision they seem to pull a part off they didn't need in the first place.
I'm just saying... the only diff is the byte in the micro.
tpg
Re: Questions about Astro Spectra rear control heads
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:36 pm
by com501
The other problem is they don't repair them anymore. The flat rate is the same as NSO replacement cost....
Our customer JUST bought in the last year, XTL5000s with the W9 heads, dual. NOW they can't get that style any longer and are furious. Not to mention that the O5 heads have a whole different look and don't interchange with what they are used to....
More training...
Re: Questions about Astro Spectra rear control heads
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:09 pm
by The Pager Geek
Start stocking up on 1073 spectra heads... swap FW. Not exactly the best solution, but it gets you by...
tpg
Re: Questions about Astro Spectra rear control heads
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:57 am
by RFguy
The front and rear heads are identical EXCEPT the rear head has a different volume contol. The rear head volume control does not have an on/off switch.
Re: Questions about Astro Spectra rear control heads
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:26 am
by com501
Huh??
Volume control? We are talking W9's here. Rocker switches for mode and volume. The rear head has a plastic insert to block the slide switch for on/off control, but the switch is still there... permanently 'on'.
Re: Questions about Astro Spectra rear control heads
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:04 pm
by The Pager Geek
He's talking W4
Re: Questions about Astro Spectra rear control heads
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 2:23 pm
by RFguy
Sorry, it was the W4 that I was refering to.
Re: Questions about Astro Spectra rear control heads
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 2:54 pm
by com501
Copy that....
I don't think I have ever seen a W4 in person out here. No one ever seems to order them.
Even the motor units have W7's......