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spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 8:29 pm
by Jay
I took in a Spectra recently that has no power connector on the rear as most typically do. Instead it just has a blank plate. The model # is D33KMA7JA7AK. From my homework, it looks like this is a motorcycle Spectra. It has two DB-25 connectors on the front of it. It came with a systems 9000 head (HCN1036E SP06) and a HKN4356B interconnect cable.

So how do I power this thing up, since there is a blank plate where I would expect to plug in 12v? The interconnect cables does have the orange and green leads, but I imagine that just provides power to the head.

Thanks
Jay

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 10:43 pm
by Bill_G
I'd be taking the pa section off and looking inside.

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 6:39 am
by RadioSouth
Just looked thru my old brochures, looks like Mcy radios start with a M prefix believe you have a low power dash mount (d prefix) radio. You're right about the green and orange lines, one is the stay alive battery line the other is ignition sense, not suitable for powering the radio. How to power ? Got me, haven't heard of such a variation. The DB=25 connectors don't seem like an appropriate place, can't carry much current but guess in a SP build of a very low power radio like telemetry it's possible. Also the head doesn't seem original should be a A7 .

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 10:28 am
by n7maq
Just a guess, could it be a secondary receiver, or VRS of some kind?

Jim

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 11:54 am
by RadioSouth
I'd be interested to see the outcome but I'd bet you guys hit it, makes the most sense. To me it shows a standard low power radio by model # but as a SP build the original model # would carry thru and the SP variation would sort of be an addendum to the build. Wonder if they'd still carry thru the FCC ID# on the label even though no transmitter is inside ?

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:21 pm
by firemedic
Bet it's this per batlabs info site based on the 1036 sp06 control head.

As a side note, there was also a SP06 option used by the Washington State Police. This option allowed the control of a Spectra and a Syntor X9000 from a single control head. It may use HLN5027ASP06 firmware, which is still available from Motorola. We do not know what RSS this setup would use or any other information about it. What we do know is that the Spectra is only used as an auxiliary receiver, not as a transceiver (this has been confirmed). So this combination is really a Syntor X9000 transceiver with a piggy-backed Spectra auxiliary receiver

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 2:56 pm
by motorola_otaku
You have a Washington State Police auxiliary receiver. It was used with a Syntor X9000 and connected through its control head cable with a T-cable similar to the ones used for sirens or PAC-RTs. Bruce, kc7gr knows them inside and out; search the board and you'll find a complete breakdown.

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 7:46 pm
by Jay
It does sound like it fits as one of the Washington State Police receive radios. For those that are interested, here are two pics. While you can't see it in the photos, I can clearly see light through the three holes that I assume the power connector would be positioned through.

I would mention that if this was truly used as an RX only radio, it is interesting to me that there is still TX and RX coax connections from the PA to the rest of the radio.

rear of the radio...
Image

cover removed...
Image

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 10:00 pm
by SlimBob
Open it up and take more pictures!

No need to violate the VCO compartment however...

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 8:01 am
by RADIOMAN2002
Maybe just put a power connector on it and power it up. Use lab to reflash to whatever you want.

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 11:52 am
by twowaytekk
I can confirm this is a SP Spectra built for the Washington State Patrol. I have two of these, and one complete operating setup with the X9000. The Spectra can only RX. They were programmed with a single channel RX only, though they can be programmed with the full 128 channels for RX. The power is supplied through a special DB25 pass through cable which connects to the DB25 connector on the Spectra and and front of the X9000. The mini-UHF connector was linked with a mini-uhf connector on the front of the X9000, and then then antenna was attached to the front of the X9000. Thus it only requires one VHF antenna for both the TX/RX of the X9000 and the RX of the Spectra. This setup does require special RSS, as it has SP06 firmware. You will not be able to program the head to work with the Spectra by using normal Spectra RSS, or X9000 RSS. The Spectra does program with normal Spectra RSS though, using the DB25 connector.

To get this rig working you still need the special X9000, control cable, mic with dual rocker, and two speakers. They are still available on ebay, by a seller in WA. These are fun to play around with, however, check the caps in the Spectra, as I'm sure they already have or soon will leak! If you need any more help let me know.


Mark

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 1:34 pm
by SlimBob
twowaytekk wrote: To get this rig working you still need the special X9000, control cable, mic with dual rocker, and two speakers. They are still available on ebay, by a seller in WA. These are fun to play around with, however, check the caps in the Spectra, as I'm sure they already have or soon will leak! If you need any more help let me know.
Is there a possible source of RSS?

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 7:56 pm
by twowaytekk
The RSS required is Syntor X 9000 Ver 4.03.SP06


Mark

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 3:13 am
by jjbond
If any of you want more of these radios, here's your chance. :)

http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/state, ... auc=417620

Spectra D33KMA7JA7AK (51ct)
Spectra T99DX+099W_ASTRO (24ct)
Spectra Astro Kit-HLN1185E (7ct)
System 9000 Kit-YLN1115A (6ct)
Syntor XX9000 T99KE+037W (58ct)
Control Heads (90ct)
Motorola Microphones (91ct)
Miscellaneous power & cords in large box
4 Bags of Motorola Speakers (count unknown, pallet weighs approx 218 lbs)

Jennifer

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 1:52 pm
by Will
Nice to hear from you Jennifer.

That is a LOT of toys!

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 8:53 pm
by FireCpt809
Not to really Necro an old thread...

Here is one on Ebay now...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOTOROLA-SYNTOR ... 35b1656a6c

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 9:06 pm
by jjbond
Thanks Cap'n....

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 11:51 pm
by SlimBob
Perhaps the better question would have been... Where do you find a mic with a dual-rocker?

Re: spectra with no power connector?

Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 2:48 am
by Spiffy50
I found one in a box of random Spectra bits at a hamfest a few years back. $5 for the whole thing!