Convert W7 option to W3?

[andrewket]

Hi all,

Does anyone know what is involved in converting an Astro Spectra W7 option to W3 (hand-held control head.) If I purchase a W3 head and plug it in and then read the radio will it come up as a W3?

Thanks,
Andrew

[XDCLabs.COM]

You will need to have the radio flashed with a W3 codeplug. It also means that you will loose all programming you've done to it.

[andrewket]

XDC,

Thanks for the response. My motorola rep is telling me it will also require a hardware change - a control head unit inside the radio. Is this bogus?

Thanks,
Andrew

[XDCLabs.COM]

If you have a dash-mount controlhead with the head attached to the rf-deck, then you will definately need a control faceplate. If your W7 head is already a remote head, then you might need to replace the faceplate. I can't recall whether I had to do this. I do remember having an older faceplate that would support a W7, but not a W3. But I don't know whether the newer faceplates that support W3, support W7 as well.

[andrewket]

I've got the W7 control head, which is a remote mount. The radio is in the trunk. I've asked my motorola rep to itemize the parts required, so we should know soon enough.

Thanks,
Andrew

[penstar]

Would that faceplate also be known as a W3 Interconnect Board ala HLN6574C? Myself and TXCAP have run into the same problem and have concluded that this is the "missing link".

[XDCLabs.COM]

That sounds very familiar.