Spectra heads : how to identify them ?

VE2VGA · Post by **VE2VGA** » Sat Feb 14, 2004 9:43 pm

Hello,

Just wondering, how do you identify a Spectra head from another ?

What's the difference between a A5, C5, E5 and so on...?

I'd checked thoroughly the site, but didn't saw any reference to this.

Thanks!

Post by **HumHead** » Sat Feb 14, 2004 11:03 pm

Have you looked through the Motorola Gallery on the main site?

d119 · Post by **d119** » Sun Feb 15, 2004 3:17 am

With regards to the letter, it specifies the radio signalling format.

A = Conventional
B = Privacy Plus Trunking & Conventional
C = SmartNET Trunking & Conventional
D = Advanced Conventional Stat-Alert (I've never seen this)
E = Enhanced Privacy Plus (whatever that is)

And so on and so forth. A & B models are by far the most popular, and C being the next most popular and E the last most popular. I don't believe that with A3, A4, A5 and A7 heads that it matters whether or not the head is actually on a conventional or trunking radio (so long as the correct buttons are programmed and physically installed), as the signalling format of the radio is determined in firmware that's actually in the radio.

Now as for the A9 enhanced heads, those may be specific to trunking and conventional. I know they were with the Syntor X9000.

The number designates the features of the control head.

A3 = "HHCH", Hand Held Control Head. All controls built into the microphone. 2 Character mode display.

A4 = "Intermediate Package", Rotary Volume & Mode controls with pushbutton feature controls. 8 Character Display.

A5 = "Standard Package", 5 feature buttons + three fixed buttons on the right side (Horn/Lights, Monitor, Direct/Talkaround). Rocker Volume/Mode switches. 8 Character Display.

A7 = "Expanded Package", 5 feature buttons + DTMF on the right side that can also double as more feature buttons. Rocker Volume/Mode switches. 8 Character Display.

A9 = "Full Feature", 5 feature buttons + DTMF on the right side that can also double as more feature buttons. Rocker Volume/Mode switches. Available Zone rocker as an option. 11 Character display. Available as remote-mount only.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some of the features of the control head variations, but that's the basics. I hope this helps.

Code3 · Post by **Code3** » Sun Feb 15, 2004 3:41 am

Lets not forget the all important..

W = Programmable aka Astro Spectra

These are pretty much the same as regular spectra heads, but with different firmware, so unfortunately they are not interchangeable

ExKa|iBuR · Post by **ExKa|iBuR** » Sun Feb 15, 2004 3:50 am

Is the "E" version not SmartZone?

If not - what is a SmartZone Spectra?

-Mike

Jim202 · Post by **Jim202** » Sun Feb 15, 2004 6:58 am

ExKa|iBuR wrote:Is the "E" version not SmartZone?

If not - what is a SmartZone Spectra?

-Mike

The E version radio is in fact a Smartzone. There are a number of them in use here in Loiusiana on the state system.

Jim

VE2VGA · Post by **VE2VGA** » Sun Feb 15, 2004 12:45 pm

Thank you all for your replies, now i've got a good idea of what is what

I'll keep and print this thread as an excellent source of information!

As you may guess, i'm a newbie on this interesting stuff.

I may have another question about this subject: i recently got a conventional VHF dashmount Spectra. The radio was a bit dirty so i planned to remove at least the head and take it apart to clean it up a bit. To my surprise, all the pushbuttons rubbers pads are there (including the DTMF portion wich is not showing on the head).

I didn't try them yet (the radio is blanked and i must have it reprogrammed soon), but i guess that they will not be all functional, right ?

techie · Post by **techie** » Sun Feb 15, 2004 3:42 pm

The model list shows a type 2 head (limited), and a type 8 ( expanded control station)..
what are those about? is the 8 the dgt9000? or something completely different?

b7spectra · Post by **b7spectra** » Sun Feb 15, 2004 4:55 pm

Don't forget about the "2" model - which resembles the "5" model.

VE2VGA · Post by **VE2VGA** » Sun Feb 15, 2004 7:16 pm

Techie : both pictures are from the same unit.

The first picture shows the complete unit and the second picture is what i've found , once the faceplate removed, from that same radio...

Leadenwah · Post by **Leadenwah** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 12:12 am

I understood the Spectra "E" series heads ( E5, E7 ) were for SmartZone, but what function does the control head itself play in the Smart Zone ? That is, what is the, say, E-7 head doing for that SmartZone radio which the A-7 cannot?

Is there Firmware in the "E" heads which is Exclusively for SmartZone?

Conversely, are there functions for an A-7 Spectra radio which the E-7 cannot perform ?

The more I learn of such things, the more I realize how little I knew.

Thanks,
Geo.

Mike B · Post by **Mike B** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 12:07 pm

The Spectra is a combination of both code plug and control head type. For example, the exact same control head circuit board (with different front plastic) is used in both an A5 and A7 radio. You can put an A7 head on an A5 radio (which has in internal A5 code plug in its MLM) and none of the new keys on the A7 will work. The only keys that work are the old A5 keys. The cause of this is the A5 code plug inside the radio drawer.

The Spectra control heads have been through an entire development process and there are many different versions of the control head circuit boards. I do not know if any of the trunking radios require newer boards or not. Keeping this in mind, generally speaking, an A2, B2, C2, E2, A5, B5, C5, E5, A7, B7, C7 or E7 control heads are all the same control head circuit boards. It is the code plug inside the radio that makes the A, B, C, E, 2, 5 or 7 difference, not the control head.

The A4, B4, C4 and E4 control heads have also been through an entire development process and there are many different versions of the control head circuit boards. Still, they use the same circuit board for all these rotary heads.

The A9, B9, C9 and E9 are an older design that have different "look alike" models from older radios. Still, the "guts" of the Spectra versions of these control heads are the same. Once again, it is the radio drawer code plug on the MLM that makes the difference.

The command board, MLM and code plug inside a Spectra determines how the control head behaves. Of course there are limitations with older versions of the MLM and you need the flashable command board for the Spectra II or (these are the E radios), etc.

I almost forgot to mention, on the Spectra II radios, the MLM is replaced with a flash chip soldered on the command board. So the E code plug in not in a separate MLM board, it is in the flash chip instead.

Here is some additional info:
http://www.open.org/~blenderm/spectra/#combo
http://www.open.org/~blenderm/spectra/cheads.html

VE2VGA · Post by **VE2VGA** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 4:41 pm

Thanks Mike for all your additional infos, i really appreciated them.

Excellent website also, good reference.