Just purchased a trunk-mount 136-162 Astro Spectra with W9 control head off eBay - "clean" serial number at http://www.genesisworld.com/stolen.asp and everything! Woo hoo! (Any other such on-line databases available to the public?)
So, a couple of n00b questions follow:
(1) MPL: A post in thread "http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.php?t=37923" suggests that user-selectable MPL can be added to an Astro Spectra as a "field quotable SP" (big-time n00b question - what does the acronym "SP" mean?). Might anyone have any specific/unique identifying information as to how exactly to specify this "field quotable SP" if one were to contact a service shop in order to purchase this capability? If this could indeed be accomplished, how would it be accessed via CPS (in order to program the MPL list and to program a button to enable the user to access it so as to select a particular tx PL and optional rx PL for an analog channel)?
(2) Various flashcode upgrades: This particular radio has host firmware 11.03.00.00 and DSP N07.03.12, with flashcode options G806 IMBE and G51 SmartZone. I don't suppose that older Astro Spectras (according to batlabs.com/mfgtabl.html, this one was built in July 1995) are upgradable to G361 9600 IMBE trunking? Upgradable to G114 digital ID? Q447 APCO packet?
(3) What about upgrading to some flavor of N08.xx.xx DSP firmware or a later 11.xx.xx.xx host firwmare?
(4) Lastly, I think I have read here that Moto won't do anything with radios unless the person requesting service assistance is the original buyer. If not out of line to ask here in this forum, what have been people's experiences here in dealing with Moto-authorized service shops for flash upgrades or for these field quotable SPs? The local Moto-authorized service center that I know of won't deal with private parties. Also, if likewise not out of line to ask here in this forum, if any of my above issues could be accomodated via flash upgrades or SPs, could anyone recommend any reputable service shops, that deal with private parties and secondary buyers, to perform such work?
TIA
several Astro Mobile questions
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SP means "special product"(1) MPL: A post in thread "http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.php?t=37923" suggests that user-selectable MPL can be added to an Astro Spectra as a "field quotable SP" (big-time n00b question - what does the acronym "SP"
mean?).
Might anyone have any specific/unique identifying information as to how exactly to specify this "field quotable SP" if one were to contact a service shop in order to purchase this capability? If this could indeed be accomplished, how would it be accessed via CPS (in order to program the MPL list and to program a button to enable the user to access it so as to select a particular tx PL and optional rx PL for an analog channel)?
you need to check the vocoder if it is 512 or 1 meg Do that on self test(2) Various flashcode upgrades: This particular radio has host firmware 11.03.00.00 and DSP N07.03.12, with flashcode options G806 IMBE and G51 SmartZone. I don't suppose that older Astro Spectras (according to batlabs.com/mfgtabl.html, this one was built in July 1995) are upgradable to G361 9600 IMBE trunking? Upgradable to G114 digital ID? Q447 APCO packet?
Depends what for? If any of the options help. Although usually more bugs ironed out in later versions.(3) What about upgrading to some flavor of N08.xx.xx DSP firmware or a later 11.xx.xx.xx host firwmare?
Moto will deal with non original owners however getting an SP out them may be another question.(4) Lastly, I think I have read here that Moto won't do anything with radios unless the person requesting service assistance is the original buyer. If not out of line to ask here in this forum, what have been people's experiences here in dealing with Moto-authorized service shops for flash upgrades or for these field quotable SPs? The local Moto-authorized service center that I know of won't deal with private parties. Also, if likewise not out of line to ask here in this forum, if any of my above issues could be accomodated via flash upgrades or SPs, could anyone recommend any reputable service shops, that deal with private parties and secondary buyers, to perform such work?
RE: several Astro Mobile questions
Hey Bruce1807:
Thanx for the reply.
Regarding your response to my #2, at bootup there is no message displayed on the LED indicating 512k or 1MEG -- just sez' "self test" then rolls to channel alias. There are a number of paper stickers on the backside that indicate radio is now 1MEG, though, as well as the fact that the radio has been flashed in the past -- so I'm guessing that it went in to the shop for a flash and hardware upgrade in one of its previous lives.
Read somewhere once about depressing the "Home" key five times within five secs or something like that, during self-test, in order to get a visual LED display of stuff like host and DSP version, and (I think) vocon size, but none of the buttons are programmed as "Home" and no "Home" button programming options show up for any button in the CPS Control Head display setup. So I'm just going off what I read on the sticker. So 1MEG would support option G361? Plus all that other stuff (W947, G114, N08.xx.xx, 11.7x.00.00, and MPL SP) I asked about?
In addition to getting clarification on 1MEG and G361, hopefully, by this post's bumping this thread to the top, will result in maybe somebody knowledgeable about identifying the part number option for that elusive MPL SP, too.....
Again, thanx for your help!
Thanx for the reply.
Regarding your response to my #2, at bootup there is no message displayed on the LED indicating 512k or 1MEG -- just sez' "self test" then rolls to channel alias. There are a number of paper stickers on the backside that indicate radio is now 1MEG, though, as well as the fact that the radio has been flashed in the past -- so I'm guessing that it went in to the shop for a flash and hardware upgrade in one of its previous lives.
Read somewhere once about depressing the "Home" key five times within five secs or something like that, during self-test, in order to get a visual LED display of stuff like host and DSP version, and (I think) vocon size, but none of the buttons are programmed as "Home" and no "Home" button programming options show up for any button in the CPS Control Head display setup. So I'm just going off what I read on the sticker. So 1MEG would support option G361? Plus all that other stuff (W947, G114, N08.xx.xx, 11.7x.00.00, and MPL SP) I asked about?
In addition to getting clarification on 1MEG and G361, hopefully, by this post's bumping this thread to the top, will result in maybe somebody knowledgeable about identifying the part number option for that elusive MPL SP, too.....
Again, thanx for your help!
If the radio is a W9, press the home button 5 times within 5 seconds on turning the radio on. It will scroll (Sometimes fast) the model number, serial number, flash etc etc and ending with "CSQ 1" or the like which is used for radio testing.
You can also read the radio with software and it will tell you the same information, but will not tell you if its 512 or 1meg. But, knowing the host/dsp will pretty much take care of that.
Don't plan on getting a SP quote. I don't think anyone as actually seen a MPL Astro Spectra, however the radio itself is now discontiuned and SP packages were developed for exterememly large customers (who order hunderds or thousands of radios with unique requirements -- think State and Federal customers).
Even if you were to pay all the engineering costs, the radio is no longer current, so they won't entertain your request anyways.
Unless there is a need, I wouldn't worry about ASTRO25 trunking. If your plans where to monitor a trunked system, forget about it unless you have a valid radio ID from the system owner. You cannot passively monitor the ASTRO25 systems like you can others types.
You can also read the radio with software and it will tell you the same information, but will not tell you if its 512 or 1meg. But, knowing the host/dsp will pretty much take care of that.
Don't plan on getting a SP quote. I don't think anyone as actually seen a MPL Astro Spectra, however the radio itself is now discontiuned and SP packages were developed for exterememly large customers (who order hunderds or thousands of radios with unique requirements -- think State and Federal customers).
Even if you were to pay all the engineering costs, the radio is no longer current, so they won't entertain your request anyways.
Unless there is a need, I wouldn't worry about ASTRO25 trunking. If your plans where to monitor a trunked system, forget about it unless you have a valid radio ID from the system owner. You cannot passively monitor the ASTRO25 systems like you can others types.
Lowband radio. The original and non-complicated wide area interoperable communications system
Hi PJ and Bruce1807:
Yes, the radio, a T04JKH9PW9AN, has a HCN1078D Systems 9000 W9 control head. The mic plugs into the backside of the control head, right next to where the control cable plugs in -- it's not a front panel mic jack.
Why "Home" is not showing up as a programmable button option in RVN-4183M, I don't get it. Weird.
Too darn bad about no MPL in Astro-land, too! Guess I'll have to create a library of custom codeplugs, depending where any given cross-country road trip might take me. What a hassle. Or, I guess I could use my old-school analog FM Spectra...
Ummm, I suppose front-panel programmability is another field quotable SP?
Yes, the radio, a T04JKH9PW9AN, has a HCN1078D Systems 9000 W9 control head. The mic plugs into the backside of the control head, right next to where the control cable plugs in -- it's not a front panel mic jack.
Why "Home" is not showing up as a programmable button option in RVN-4183M, I don't get it. Weird.
Too darn bad about no MPL in Astro-land, too! Guess I'll have to create a library of custom codeplugs, depending where any given cross-country road trip might take me. What a hassle. Or, I guess I could use my old-school analog FM Spectra...
Ummm, I suppose front-panel programmability is another field quotable SP?
The home button is actually one that's non user-programmable. That's why you're not seeing it as a programmable button in the software.jv wrote:Hi PJ and Bruce1807:
Yes, the radio, a T04JKH9PW9AN, has a HCN1078D Systems 9000 W9 control head. The mic plugs into the backside of the control head, right next to where the control cable plugs in -- it's not a front panel mic jack.
Why "Home" is not showing up as a programmable button option in RVN-4183M, I don't get it. Weird.
Too darn bad about no MPL in Astro-land, too! Guess I'll have to create a library of custom codeplugs, depending where any given cross-country road trip might take me. What a hassle. Or, I guess I could use my old-school analog FM Spectra...
Ummm, I suppose front-panel programmability is another field quotable SP?
FPP isn't available on the Astro Spectra at all. As far as i know, it's only available on certain portables.
Hi Bob
While I suspect that "home" is non-programmable on some flavors of control heads (like maybe a W4; I know that's how it is on my old A4), I would also expect that they would have shown up in the GUI as a fixed button.
So, I subsequently posted over in the Radio Programming forum and "Rescue161" came to my aid. I am posting the outcome of that thread to provide some partial closure to this thread, as well as for the benefit of anyone else that might find themselves befuddled by this (or was it just n00by ol' me that has these problems?).
It turns out that along the bottom row of buttons on the W9, you have the "mode" and "volume" rockers and then the two buttons just to the right of those guys are the only ones that can be programmed for "home". And of those two, the leftmost button of those two is the only button on the W9 that can be programmed for "sel", too.
= = = = =
PJ:
I did verify (from the "click your heels together and press Home 5 times really fast" drill) that it is 1MEG. So, do you think that this radio would be able to take G361 IMBE trunking, G114 digital ID, W947 APCO packet, N08.xx.xx DSP and 11.70.xx.xx firmware, on top of its current G806 IMBE, G51 SmartZone, N07.03.12 DSP and 11.03.00.00 firmware? (Now, if I could only get the local service shop to answer their phone or return my voice mails!)
Thanx!
While I suspect that "home" is non-programmable on some flavors of control heads (like maybe a W4; I know that's how it is on my old A4), I would also expect that they would have shown up in the GUI as a fixed button.
So, I subsequently posted over in the Radio Programming forum and "Rescue161" came to my aid. I am posting the outcome of that thread to provide some partial closure to this thread, as well as for the benefit of anyone else that might find themselves befuddled by this (or was it just n00by ol' me that has these problems?).
It turns out that along the bottom row of buttons on the W9, you have the "mode" and "volume" rockers and then the two buttons just to the right of those guys are the only ones that can be programmed for "home". And of those two, the leftmost button of those two is the only button on the W9 that can be programmed for "sel", too.
= = = = =
PJ:
I did verify (from the "click your heels together and press Home 5 times really fast" drill) that it is 1MEG. So, do you think that this radio would be able to take G361 IMBE trunking, G114 digital ID, W947 APCO packet, N08.xx.xx DSP and 11.70.xx.xx firmware, on top of its current G806 IMBE, G51 SmartZone, N07.03.12 DSP and 11.03.00.00 firmware? (Now, if I could only get the local service shop to answer their phone or return my voice mails!)
Thanx!