MCS2000 - removing Type II head and black key compatibility

[g8tzl2004]

I have just acquired an MCS2000. Details as follows:

MR503AB
M01RFM9PW5BN
629SBE00**

There is no head just the body and the "back" of the original Type II head - the so called "retention frame" and "back housing" with the 2 large clips on either side

I have another MCS2000 with a Type II head. I am planning on removing the head from this radio and using it to test the latest MCS2000 body.

Should I be looking to remove the entire head including the back housing and retention frame OR is it easier to just remove the "front" of the head using the big clips on the side of the head?

The MCS2000 "body" was manufactured in 2001 whereas the Type II head from the other radio was manufactured in 1995. The Type II head has black front keys - whereas I think the later versions has white front keys. Is there any problem in using a black key Type II head on an MCS2000 which previously had a white key Type II head?

Thanks

[g8tzl2004]

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[motorola_otaku]

Nah, heads are interchangeable between new and old radios.

The whole front of the radio comes apart pretty easily - just pry up the two tabs on the side of the head and the whole thing comes off leaving the frame and sleeve (my terms) on the radio.

[g8tzl2004]

Many thanks.

I used an old plastic credit card to lift the tabs on the side of the head - as you say, the head came off very easily...and using a plastic credit card avoided scratching the head!!!

The MCS2000 "body" seems to be working OK.

I noticed that there is a signal strength bar graph displayed on the right hand side of the LCD when you initially boot up. This does not appear on my other "early" 0.15 firmware version. The later MCS2000 is version 5.53.

Does anybody know whether you can display the bar graph when using conventional/simplex mode rather than trunking?

Thanks

[d119]

The bar graph is only functional when the radio is operating on a trunking system.