ASTRO Data

[ASTROMODAT]

We are looking at adding some short mesage service to our upcoming ASTRO digital voice network (we're in the process of replacing our existing Micor repeater with a Quantar IMBE Conventional repeater and continuing to use our existing fleet of ASTRO Spectra mobiles and XTS 3000's). We have a UHF conventional system for primarily digital voice.

Adding data on an ASTRO digital voice System (our existing ASTRO mobile Spectras with W9 heads are all equipped with the W947 ASTRO data option) entails an RNC 3000 (and as of 12-31-02, it has been replaced by an uplifted version) and a host computer, connected through a DIU 3000. The mobiles need the old KDT 9100-WS mobile terminal, or the newer MW 520.

We have studied the ASTRO Conventional Systems Integrated Voice and Data System planner (R4-26-5) plus looked thru the current R3, so we have some idea of the major "pieces" needed, and the current versus MD'ed hardware/software.

The RNC 3000 (VME based L1960) has just been replaced by the RNC 3000-cPCI (L3245) as of 12-31-02. The old KDT 9100-WS mobile CRT terminal (F51DT9100-WS) with the "MagicPipe Comm Stack" software has been replaced by the MW 520 (and other products, even including generic laptops), loaded with appropriate software .

Question: Has this equipment (e.g., KDT 9100-WS, MW 520, RNC 3000, etc.) ever showed up on eBay, or is this equipment so rare that realistically I need to go to Motorola and buy it new?

Larry

P.S. Does anyone know why the MW-520 interfaces to the analog SPECTRA mobile's that have the A4 thru A9 control heads, but the MW 520 only interfaces with the ASTRO Spectra mobile's that have the W4 thru W7 heads? In other words, the MW 520 does NOT interface to the ASTRO Spectrra mobile with the W9 head, but it DOES interface to the analog Spectra with the A9 head!! (This is according to the current R3). Why is this???!!!!

Note: The MW 520 interface cable to/from the analog Spectra mobile and to/from the ASTRO Spectra mobile is the FLN 2871 .

[Pj]

The equipment does show up on Ebay from time to time, but not often enought to keep looking for it. You can usually find the older MDT CRT systems already setup for or with 800/900 spectra's for the data service. Usually they are pretty beat though if they come from PD services. If you can find some from FD service, they tend to be in much better shape.