Hi power ASTRO narrow band capable??

[jcobb]

Hi - need some help. Got a high power VHF Astro Spectra remote mount A5 mobile. Programming went fine - until I tried to get a 12.5kc channel with 2.5kc deviation.

Went OK in the program, but when I tried to load the radio, it bucked, snorted, and farted - and then the software said something like "can't load 2.5 kc channel, check firmware/software" or some such stuff (I can't recall exact wording). So I had to go back and have the guy change those 2 channels to something that would work, but of course I can't talk to the 2 fire depts. I need to.

Radio guy was using RSS 8.0.0, but as he has less experience with Spectras than I do, we were both lost. (their shop has programmed like 2 astros in 800 conventional, so they don't see much astro action).

I do need the hi power here in the mountains, but I also need the 12.5kc channels with the corresponding deviation. Would also like to have P25 digital, but that's not immediate. No trunking on VHF here.

- So do I need to pry open the lids and look for hardware, or is it the dreaded "flashcode" daemon?

- Has the FCC/NTIA limited narrow-band to low-power (<50watts) and I'm SOL? I do have a 40 watter VHF, but it has other problems on rx.

- Or do I take the 2 VHF Astros that I have and try to make one low-power narrow-band unit?

I'm tearling my hair out, and I don't have that much left to lose.

Any help greatly appreciated!

Jack

[Pj]

I may be wrong, but I think someone posted awhile back something about how the Astro Spectra's (at least the older ones) were not narrowband compatable. I would think that they were, but I don't own one. I know that the portables are ok.

I believe someone stated it had to do with the RF boards. I'll do a search and see if I can find anything

[jcobb]

Thanks PJ - If I have to go "dumpster diving" for boards I will. Just for my own information, it probably wouldn't hurt for me to open it up and see what's in there. That's how you learn!

Thanks!

Jack

[jcobb]

A little more info on the radio:

T04JLF9PW5AN
1 MEG
0000010000009 Flashcode

I also got this far into the radio:

HRN 6014A board


Jack

[alex]

if that's the RX board part number you need at least a C or D revision to have Narrow Band operation.

My understanding that the radio on the label should indicate it's narrow band complience.

-Alex

[jcobb]

On the label it has:

Model Nbr: T99DX+141W_ASTRO
ID Nbr: T04JLF9PW5AN
Serial Nbr. xxxxxxxxxx 1 MEG
FCC ID: AZ492FT3773
Mfg. by Motorola

Mfg. Code: 0000010000009

Ever since they went to the new model/id number scheme, I haven't been able to keep up with which was what. Of course, when I got started, it was with a good ol' T43GGV trunk mount VHF 2 channel unit.

I know that the "P" in the ID Nbr. says it is "programmable" but the Astro manual I have doesn't even mention narrow band.

Jack

[alex]

HRN6014A

Is this the actual rx board part number?

If so, both the A and B revisions of the board will not do narrow band. The C and D revisions will support narrow. I understand that these boards are few and far between, and last I checked on MOL they were around 600-700 bucks.

Good Luck.

-Alex

[jcobb]

On the label it has:

Model Nbr: T99DX+141W_ASTRO
ID Nbr: T04JLF9PW5AN
Serial Nbr. xxxxxxxxxx 1 MEG
FCC ID: AZ492FT3773
Mfg. by Motorola

Mfg. Code: 0000010000009

Ever since they went to the new model/id number scheme, I haven't been able to keep up with which was what. Of course, when I got started, it was with a good ol' T43GGV trunk mount VHF 2 channel unit.

I know that the "P" in the ID Nbr. says it is "programmable" but the Astro manual I have doesn't even mention narrow band.

Jack

[jcobb]

Ouch! Well, that's mother moto for you. I guess I had better start saving up my beer cans.

Looks like I have 2 HRN 6014As (one in each VHF Astro) and a spare HRN 6019A from my 800 conventional Spectra. From the book, they are all the same board, just with some little difference in some of the components to get the VHF, UHF, and 800 meg bands.

I just checked with the shop, and the best they would do for me for a C/D model was $632.........

I wonder if moto does upgrades to boards?


If that is the only board change, I could save up for Xmas for a couple of years ("All I want for Christmas is my two front RX boards.........")

Thanks for the info Alex - I had done a search here on narrow band but it never came back with any info on the boards.

Jack

[Pj]

Here's a thought----

Download the "request for upgrade form" here at batlabs, and fax it down to the depot. They usually take a couple of days, but the techs usually write back quite a bit of information and part numbers.

[alex]

your welcome.

You can call motorola and ask what their price on parts exchange is.

That might work.

Prob pay about 1/2 the cost - who knows. Worth a try.

-Alex

[jcobb]

Pj and Alex - thanks for the idea!

I just got off the phone with mother moto and got the form and the number to fax to the team that does upgrades.

I will see what they have to say - $1,264 plus tax and shipping is a little steep for my budget.

Thanks again! I'll let the group know what I find out.

Jack

[alex]

well, that's prob. if you send it in and they do the work. I don't think you'd have to do tooo much if yuo just swap the boards yourself.

-Alex

[jcobb]

Yeah, got to snif out the boards first. I thought I would see what they would charge to just modify my two boards - if that was all it took. I am going to tell them what I have in case there is a VCO change out as well.

Jack

[alex]

From what has been explained to me - all you need to do is replace that one board.

But, it would make sense to RX narrow band, your transmitter must also transmit narrow band.

It'll be interesting to hear what they say will be the exact breakdown.

-Alex

[jcobb]

Alex

We'll see what they have to say, but while I was thumbing thru my manual again, I see that both the VCO and the RX front end go thru the RF board (HRN 6014/9). Also, in the alignment info, it says that you adjust the TX dev balance in both the VCO and the RF board. I guess they have parts of the RX and TX scattered all thru the radio.

Closer to a computer than I ever thought I would see a radio.

Jack

[jcobb]

Well, gang. Got the poop (truly!) from mother moto. <sigh>

Looks like a pot load of money going out the drain. There are enough significant changes on the HRN 6014/6019 boards that there is no upgrade path from the A/B versions to the C/D narrow band versions.

The upgrade folks wanted to do the upgrade (of course), but they admitted that they would be selling me a new board for each radio that I sent them. That would be the full-boat price plus their charge for their valuable time and expertise.

Looks like the boards themselves are $632 each (gov't price about $580). They also said that that was the only mod to get narrow band - change out the RF boards.

So there ya go, folks. I already have an empty coffee can that I am going to start throwing my pocket change into - maybe by this time next year I can get a board for Xmas.

Jack

[FatBoy]

Jack,
you cant win!! FatBoy from tampa.

[The Pager Geek]

Just so you know... The A/B version will do narrowband. It WON'T do 2.5kHz splinter channels.

For example: Let's say you currently run wide on 155.100. If you turned it into a narrow repeater, the Astro Spectra you currently have will do it. If you changed to 155.1225, then it will not do it. There is a difference!!!!

Yes swapping that RF board will do both RX and TX. The command board looks to that RF board for compatability and will give an error if it's an older version. Even the RF board has a brain.

pg

[jcobb]

Geek - you're right. I didn't make myself very clear in my first few rants. The new channels some of the FDs are getting here are the splinter channels, with narrow bandwidth. Those were the ones I tried to program with no joy.

Thanks for the clarification - it will help me to remember, as well as helping some of the "lurkers" here (as I once was).

Jack