Radius model identification

[SmilnDon]

A fellow HAM bought a Motorola Radius model at a Hamfest. All that was programmed into the radio was a single frequency.

My question is this. How do I know what model and what features are in this radio? There is not much on the Batlabs website that deals with this particular radio.

Here is what I know so far:

FCC ID: ABZ89FT4770

It is a 450-470 MHz radio, Part 90 and 95 accepted, 2.5ppm radio.

The Motorola Model Number is D34LRA77A6DK

I know that it is a 25 watt UHF radio with the 16 pin accessory plug.

What I dont know is the specific model i.e. M206, M208, M214, M216, how many channels ( I would know if I knew what model this was of course) and what RSS that is required for programming it.

[xmo]

You need the HVN9173 RadM100 / Radmbl RSS

When you read the radio, the model description such as "M216/214" will appear along with the model number in the upper left RSS screen area.

If the radio has the 2 seven segment digit mode display it stands to reason that it is an M214/M216.

In any case, with a 16 pin board, it can be blanked and configured as you desire.

There is a lot of good info at:

http://www.repeater-builder.com/maxtrac ... index.html

You may recognize that KB0NLY is a fellow Batboarder. Scott obviously put a lot of work in the material he gave the Repeater builder folks. Also thanks to Mike Morris, WA6ILQ for he work in putting it on their site.

[EKLB]

Also if you look at the front radio controls and it has the Ch up/down /mon/scan/sel (5 buttons total) its a 16 ch with scan much like the Maxtrac 300 series.

If only ch up/down/exit i think it says its a 6ch (M206)

Actualy looking at the picture on the front cover it really looks like it says MON not Exit.

If it has a 5 button control front then i think they were eigther a 8ch (M208)without scan or 16ch (M214/M216)with scan.

I have M214 radius radius and they do 16ch not 14ch as you might think by the m/n and it might have something to do with the program but it still IDs as a M214. (Scan included)

Anybody know for sure if the 8ch had the 5 button control front for sure = Im thinking they might have ?

Looking at my Motorola Radius repair manual i dont see exactly the model number you posted but do see this one which im assuming may be yours if you posted incorectly.

Radius M/N # D34LRA77A5AK
UHF = 449 to 470 mhz
25 watt
6ch
No scan
M206

Looking at the manual it apears they all use the same RF Bd and Logic Bd so that probably wont narrow it down any.

Believe as already posted above youd be best reading with RADMBL rss in dos mode to get the model number for sure.

Its possible to convert these up to 16ch with scan by blanking and reinitiating the logic bd.

But youd need the 5 button front control rather than the 3 botton front if you want to be able to activate scan on/off ect.

And it doesnt look like they were available as narrow band 12.5 but available as 25 khz wide band jobs.

Decent radios as far as im concerned = very little troubles for me.

EKLB

[SmilnDon]

This one does have the 5 button front on it. So would it be safe to assume that it is at least an 8 channel, possibly a 16 channel? It does have the expanded logic board with the 16 pin connector in the back.

[kb0nly]

If it has the 16 pin board i think it would be safe to say it will do at least 16ch, with a bit of work you can get 32ch's.

Go over to the repeater builder link that XMO posted, there is an article there on blanking and reinitializing. Though it deals with the Maxtrac, the Radius is basically the same radio with a different name. Like GMC and Chevy, LOL!

Kudos to the co-author on that article, oh wait, that was me.

[wavetar]

This one does have the 5 button front on it. So would it be safe to assume that it is at least an 8 channel, possibly a 16 channel? It does have the expanded logic board with the 16 pin connector in the back.

Yes, I can confirm the M208 was a 5-button, 7-segment display radio capable of 8 channels out of the box. What I cannot confirm is if the logic board is the 'expanded' type (like GM300 16-channel & Maxtrac 16-pin boards) or the 'masked' type (like M120/130, GM300 8-channel boards). The M214/216 definitely had the expanded board, I suspect the M208 used the masked board.

Todd

[EKLB]

Was the M208 a no scan or would it do scan functions as a factory radio ?

Im wanting to say it did not do scan but dont know for sure.

Thanx EKLB

[kb0nly]

This one does have the 5 button front on it. So would it be safe to assume that it is at least an 8 channel, possibly a 16 channel? It does have the expanded logic board with the 16 pin connector in the back.

Yes, I can confirm the M208 was a 5-button, 7-segment display radio capable of 8 channels out of the box. What I cannot confirm is if the logic board is the 'expanded' type (like GM300 16-channel & Maxtrac 16-pin boards) or the 'masked' type (like M120/130, GM300 8-channel boards). The M214/216 definitely had the expanded board, I suspect the M208 used the masked board.

Todd

First step is to open that bugger and find out which logic board it has to be sure.

[wavetar]

Was the M208 a no scan or would it do scan functions as a factory radio ?

Im wanting to say it did not do scan but dont know for sure.

Thanx EKLB

Correct, there was no scan for the M208.

Todd

[videonerd]

Here's one for you sleuths...

I have a Radius mobile here, five buttons (System/Subfleet/Phone/Call/Blanked or rubbed off) ... two digit LED display. The logic board reads HLF9122A.

What is it? I'm thinking an 800mHz trunked. But I can't read it with the M100 RSS.

[RadioSouth]

Nope, not the logic board. That's a 800 MHz RF board with T/A. The legends on the radio indicate it's trunking so the trunking RSS is what's needed assuming the radios not a mix and match.

[videonerd]

I guess it's time to call up Big M and send them my left arm for an RSS... would you know which RSS I need to order?

Thanks.

[n2knc]

You need the HVN9173 RadM100 / Radmbl RSS

.

[57Shasta]

I have never seen a trunked Radius, con 800 only. If it is trunked, will RADMBL work? Me thinks someone is switching front panels around or peeling stickers off...

[RadioSouth]

Model # or S# visible on sticker ?

[xmo]

I have also never seen a trunked 800 Radius.

The next move is to open the radio and get the complete part number and version information off the firmware on the logic board.

You can look at the Maxtrac pages on Repeater-builder for more information:

http://www.repeater-builder.com/maxtrac ... intro.html

[videonerd]

There is no sticker on the unit. Which is why it's such a mystery to me. I wouldn't be bothering you guys if the search function revealed something.

From XMO's link to repeater-builder.com, the unit does have a 5pin connector at the back, and the 27C256 chip. I can't find the associated HLN9277A (800 Conventional 5pin) or HLN9260C (Maxtrac 840 5pin) however.

However, from the HLN5172A board, seems like it's a good find.
RF board is HLF9122A = 800MHz.

[Max-trac]

If there is no plug in eprom, then it is a "masked" board.
Make sure the PA is 800 also before you spend time on it.

What do you want it to be?
IE you can blank it with labmax and make it 16ch conventional....

[wavetar]

There WAS an 800Mhz privacy plus Radius mobile...it was called the M500 Privacy Plus. I have never seen the actual radio myself, but we have the RSS for it...part# HVN9762.

Todd