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Converting a 5-pin Maxtrac to a 16-pin

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 3:11 pm
by fireradio
Is it possible? What about using components of Maxtracs that are on different bands?

What I'd like to do: I've got a low-band 5-pin Maxtrac that I'd like to make a 16-pin so I can use Quick-Call II decoding to trigger a relay.

I have a 16-pin UHF Maxtrac that I'm not using. Could I sacrifice components from the UHF Maxtrac to make the low-band do what I want?

Thanks!

Re: Converting a 5-pin Maxtrac to a 16-pin

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 6:20 pm
by PETNRDX
Yes, you can do that.
But you need Maxtrac LAB to do it.
Basically you blank and re-initialize the logic boards to match the model radio you have put the logic board into.
Some 5 pin boards will allow you to have 16 channels, and basic features, some will allow 32 channels.
So, you could pull the 16 pin from your UHF, and blank then init that for a full feature 32 channel with "signaling" in the low band radio, and put the 5 pin board in the UHF and blank the init it to be a basic 16 channel radio.
There are pretty good descriptions on how to do this on this board or on Repeater-Builder.
REMEMBER to either go thru the tuning process and write down ALL the tuning values for each radio before you start, or you will
have to re-tune both radios.
I recommend the re-tuning, but if you don't happen to have a service monitor you can get by with copying the data, then
re-entering it.

Re: Converting a 5-pin Maxtrac to a 16-pin

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:10 pm
by fireradio
Thanks for the info, Steve... very helpful!