Batboard

Aragorn

You're definitely taking a chance on anything over a P90 for DOS-based programming. We've tried quite a few different CPUs at various speeds and the fastest one that never gave a problem has been the Pentium 90. Thanks to those who responded about the PCMCIA-serial converters. We have one on the way...

Aragorn

Yeah, I figured that about the USB-serial ones. I'll check out the SSP-100. Thanks guys.

Aragorn

I'm about to pick up a new laptop and see that most do NOT have an old-style 9-pin serial/Comm port. You would have to use a USB-to-serial convertor to have a 9-pin comm port. Is anyone using this setup succesfully to program the Waris radios(CDM/Pro) with the Windows-based RSS? Thanks.

Aragorn

What're they getting for one of the ah-humm...cheaper Wulfsberg units?

Aragorn

I believe the CDM, GM300, and Maxtracs only stop while scanning on the Priority channels if there is ONLY proper PL/DPL detected. The non-Astro Spectra, as you've seen, doesn't do this and I wish it did. Scan wasn't one of thier priorities back in the day. I wish Motorola would allow more than 16 ch...

Aragorn

You have to consider what features are important to you. Channel scan, # of channels, signalling options, etc.? I think a good starter radio, and one of Motorola's best all-purpose radios, is the HT1000. 16 channels with practically every signalling option you'll probably need, scan, and nice config...

Aragorn

Right, Todd. I meant the encryp-key. 515, thanks for that. I didn't know that. We definitely know they are 'crypted now, though.

Aragorn

Thanks Lindsay. Actually, my buddy put those last entries on the Trunked Radio site for the Edison system. He has confirmed they are running DES-OFB like you say. I've decided to not even try to pursue securing a system key. I don't want any hassles over it.

Aragorn

No, I'm not, however I have freinds who are. I'll have to see what we can do. Thanks.

Aragorn

Shaun, the thing is is that I get very little of anything. From the little I've heard and comparing it to your mp3 I think they are encrypted. I hope I'm wrong.

Aragorn

Thanks Shaun. I didn't plan on trying to change my new A/S, however the old one has been thru the mill already. Frankenstien, I call it. :) It's been flashed with the "infamous" plug. I checked the flash of the old radio before and I believe it won't do Apco25. Here's the specs: A/S3 #1(ne...

Aragorn

Read the "Astro/digital sq question" thread. My attempts to monitor a local agency seems to mirror yours.

Aragorn

Are VSELP radios still being pushed by Motorola? I surmized the IMBE/CAI radios are being touted as the lastest and greatest so they'd get that. If they are VSELP then the only way to monitor them would be with a system key and properly setup radio that matches their programming...?

Aragorn

Edison, NJ. I thought it was either VSELP or IMBE? I checked my old A/S since and it is VSELP but doesn't do CAI. I figured if I got a plug with the same split with CAI I could somehow get it into it. The new A/S I have is the one with CAI but it's IMBE and has a much newer Host and DSP.

Aragorn

I thought there was something like "Digital Audio Functions" F4/F3/F2/F4 I think that did something like that?

Aragorn

They went into ops about March of last year and are using XTS3000's and Astro Spectras. I have nothing further to go on. Edit: I thought my buddy had a VSELP A/S3 but he's got what I have.
Anyone have a codeplug for A/S3 uhf-hi with VSELP and CAI?

Aragorn

Everything else is setup correctly but I've never tried listening to an Astro system before so regarding the Astro/digital settings I'm slightly at a loss. Except for the Digital CSQ and the digital type settings, what else needs to match for me to hear them using non-trunked means....besides the fr...

Aragorn

If you're referring to monitor, as in with PL or DPL, then yes you can program it to a (side) button. You can program the monitor for PL defeat or open squelch, which is then when you get that static. I forget exactly where it is... F4/F3/F2 I think....

Aragorn

NYLawman, yes, it is possible but if that was the case the radio wasn't properly tuned then because it should be able to hangle the 450-512MHz that it's spec'ed for. I'm still at a loss here. I can't seem to hear anything but intermittent digital noise. I'm using the digital CSQ setting and I've tri...

Aragorn

The first looks like every other RIB knockoff I've seen. I would go with that one if I had to go with either of those. Or, get one from Carolina Radio. I know folks with Carl's RIB and they have had no problems. I, myself only use a real Motorola RIB, cables, etc., and wouldn't use anything else.

Aragorn

I don't know much about the system except what they're using radio-wise and that they're running Astro all the time, non-encrypted. I know I'll hear everything, but that's ok. I only want to monitor them. I'll try the different digital types and see if that works. Thanks guys.

Aragorn

We recently had our local municipality move over to an Astro trunked system using XTS3500 and Astro Spectras. They are using Astro mode all the time, but no encryption. Now, the question is, I programmed my A/S 3 for their freqs using conventional (non-trunked) channels, since I don't have the trunk...

Aragorn

I personally had nothing but good experiences with Maxrad antennas. I had a Larsen and it didn't really seem to perform so good. I also tried a few other brands, Comtelco being one, and still never had a really good feeling about them. Switched to Maxrad and I won't go to anything else now. I've got...

Aragorn

FWIW, I got the same treatment. I would email him, basically "where's my radio" or "got a tracking #" questions and would only get one or two replies, and they were somewhat vague. So, now that I've since gotten my radio from Nick would I buy from him again? Yes, but this time I ...

Aragorn

OK, I got that Mike. But again, how will I tell which version of A7 head I have? Will it damage the A5 head if I choose Enhanced and it really is a NON-enhanced head? Will we then get nuisance delete and the other buttons working or would the model# have to be changed in the codeplug?

Aragorn

Did you try changing the model # to reflect the A7 head? I don't know if this needs to be done. I planned on trying this whole thing out starting next week since I'm on vacation then. Let us know how you do Victor Xray.

Aragorn

Hmm...I thought it had something to do with the DEK but I'm not sure. On both my UHF and VHF I only can choose from Standard or Enhanced.

Aragorn

I've got an A5 Spectra and upon first looking at the it the head was programmed as enhanced. It looks like a regular A5 head. I changed it to standard and I wonder if I should've done that before using it. How can I tell if it's an Enhanced head? Thanks.

Aragorn

The scan list has to be programmed via the RSS to be operator selectable. If it's fixed then you can't change the scanlist from the front of the radio.

Aragorn

John's right. There's many Spectras out there with everything but zones. I have one of them. :-( Its MLM is 6.02. I've tried cloning in a codeplug with zones and it appeared to take but during ops it freaks out sometimes by resetting or not tx on channels. I think the problem is that it's a Secure m...

Aragorn

Anyone know the location on the Spectra MLM to enable zones using the Bitbanger?

Aragorn

Oh, ok. Sorry, but initially I wasn't sure exactly which button you were talking about. Thanks. I'll try it out.

Aragorn

Will, could you please expand upon this more? Which button are you exactly talking about? Do you still need to change the head type to an A7 with Lab? Thanks.

Aragorn

CDM only does 16 scan channels per zone, and you can't link zones or scanlists together. The most you can scan at one time is 16 channels.

Aragorn

Actually, I forgot...to actually use the A7 features you probably have to clone the codeplug of an A7 into an A5 model. Then you could use the buttons. Hey Will what's this mod you're talking about?

Aragorn

While ripping open my Spectra's head to check those burnt out LEDs I saw that the layout of the A5 head looks like an A7...buttons are all there. I figure Will rigged something up with his A5 head.... What'd you do Will? Spill the beans bro. Drill a hole in the face and put a button there?

Aragorn

No nuisance delete on Spectras? Say it ain't so! Am I totally missing it in the rss? Thanks.

Aragorn

Well, it's possible they burned out. We've all seen commercial grade products fail. Srange things happen in circuits. I soldered in two test leds, left it on overnight and so far so good. If they hold up until tonight I'll replace them with my buddy's old Spectra head leds. Thanks all.

Aragorn

Ok, I looked inside and they might be bad. My buddy's got an old Spectra head laying around. I'll salvage them off there and see what happens. BTW, they're not surface mount, but obviously very small.

Aragorn

Thanks guys. It's only the two LEDS that aren't working. Everything else, controls, Tx/Rx, and all the other lights/display work fine. I think just the LEDs are blown out somehow. I'll take a look over the weekend. I don't think it's a failure of another component, though I can't be sure.

Aragorn

ESD? :) Yeah, but too many forget about it and ZAP!, there goes your radio. Anyway, yeah, I'm pretty good with a soldering iron, little more advanced electronics than the average Joe. However to remove the head unit is going to be a major pain so before I go that route I figured I'd ask first. I fig...

Aragorn

I've got a Spectra whose Tx and Busy lights don't work on the head. Everything else about the radio works fine, lights, controls, Tx/Rx, etc. Before cracking open the control head I'd like to know if it's possible to replace their bulbs(I'm guessing)? Thank you.

Aragorn

I had this same, exact problem, getting the same exact errors. I figured it was the RIB, but turned out to be my comm-port on my old laptop finally bit the dust. I tried testing just the Rib on another PC and it worked fine. I then found another old laptop and tested it there and it runs fine again....

Aragorn

It's in the RSS. I think it's in the first menu....F4/F2?...but it's definitely programmable.

Aragorn

I just wish he used an older version. I had to have my AS3 programmed by a shop since my AS subscription ran out and the latest version I have is 8 something....I can't check it right now. I don't even have the damn update card everybody probably throws out thinking it's junkmail from Motorola.

Aragorn

Anyone know? Thanks.

Aragorn

What this comes down to is simple: ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU BID and look at the seller's feedback. On every one of the lots I've bid on on Ebay I make sure the item is what I want and works the way I would expect it to. The only way to do that is by asking the seller questions. Sure, some sellers ma...

Aragorn

BTW, does anyone know what version of Astro RSS Nick uses to program?

Aragorn

On runs over 20' I've used and highly recommend Times Microwave's LMR200 cable. However, for most car/truck runs that average around 8'-10', RG-58 is just fine. The loss is only a concern when running anything over 25'-30'.

Aragorn

Thanks. I forgot about that. It should be a rule NOT to program eqpt late into the morning hours when you're half dead.

Search found 74 matches

Using RIB & CDM rss with USB/serial convertor?

Astro/digital sq question

Difference between Spectra Enhanced and non-Enhanced heads?

Bitbanging zones into Spectra?

Spectra: no nuisance delete?

Spectra: Busy & Tx lights...replaceable?

Going rate these days for Astro Saber/Spectra RSS?