Search found 645 matches

by Astro Spectra
Tue Mar 12, 2024 9:13 am
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: 125 watt VHF Quantar randomly drops TX
Replies: 5
Views: 728

Re: 125 watt VHF Quantar randomly drops TX

When Quantars do random things it’s time to check the EEPROM in the SCM. Check if it’s the problem Xicor part or the good Atmel version.
by Astro Spectra
Sat Mar 09, 2024 8:18 am
Forum: APX Series Subscribers
Topic: Please explain this option on APX6500
Replies: 5
Views: 176

Re: Please explain this option on APX6500

It’s an option to reduce cost.
by Astro Spectra
Mon May 30, 2022 3:42 pm
Forum: APX Series Subscribers
Topic: APX 8000 and MPL plus 900MHz
Replies: 6
Views: 2100

Re: APX 8000 and MPL plus 900MHz

No hack is presently possible as the APX radio itself refuses the frequencies even when CPS is hacked to allow entry.
by Astro Spectra
Mon May 30, 2022 3:36 am
Forum: APX Series Subscribers
Topic: APX 8000 and MPL plus 900MHz
Replies: 6
Views: 2100

Re: APX 8000 and MPL plus 900MHz

The 800/900 Mototrbo radios (except the e series) work very well on the 900 MHz ham band, no hardware mods and you get DMR which is excellent at 900.

The receivers drop a tad at the low end but above about 915 you’re golden. The XPR repeaters also work really well.
by Astro Spectra
Mon May 30, 2022 3:31 am
Forum: APX Series Subscribers
Topic: APX8500 G507-12.5 kHz FCC Mandate
Replies: 4
Views: 2212

Re: APX8500 G507-12.5 kHz FCC Mandate

I thought (but happy to be corrected) that the marine and ham band frequencies were OK in CPS at 25 kHz. Have you tried?
by Astro Spectra
Sun Jan 23, 2022 8:27 am
Forum: MotoTRBO Repeaters, Trunking, and Site Infrastructure
Topic: Difference between DR3000 8MB and 32MB
Replies: 2
Views: 3038

Re: Difference between DR3000 8MB and 32MB

The main difference I remember is that remote IP programming is not available on the 8MB. This prevents you from doing codeplug changes and software updates remotely.

Also, some of the 8MB builds are old and include a strange heating pad on one of the chips to allow operation at cold temperatures.
by Astro Spectra
Thu Mar 18, 2021 1:30 pm
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: Portable Radio Antenna Identification
Replies: 5
Views: 6403

Re: Portable Radio Antenna Identification

I posted the chart on this site a while ago.
by Astro Spectra
Thu Mar 04, 2021 12:00 pm
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: Get my GM1200 to transmit constantly
Replies: 5
Views: 7063

Re: Get my GM1200 to transmit constantly

Both those radios are designed for ICS, that is intermittent commercial service with a low transmit duty cycle. If you want to use them to transmit continuously then you would need a number of modifications including a fan for the heat sink and some work around the PA to reduce the output power quit...
by Astro Spectra
Thu Mar 04, 2021 11:53 am
Forum: Radio Programming
Topic: XTS3000 Programming Issue
Replies: 3
Views: 5793

Re: XTS3000 Programming Issue

It will work well enough on 469.99375 MHz, that's only 1.25 kHz off. Some radios drift that much anyway.

The reason you can't enter 469.9925 MHz is that the synth only does 5 and 6.25 kHz steps, your frequency would need a radio that can do 2.5 kHz steps. AFAIK the 5K can do this OK.
by Astro Spectra
Sun Feb 07, 2021 11:12 am
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Super-Turnstile antenna
Replies: 7
Views: 6626

Re: Super-Turnstile antenna

If this is for ham radio you could run horizontal polarisation for mobile.

It was very popular years ago for 6m mobile, see:

http://www.macnaughtonart.com/halo.htm

However, I've never seen commercial LMR using H-pol.
by Astro Spectra
Thu Sep 17, 2020 9:26 am
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Quantar won't startup
Replies: 12
Views: 10698

Re: Quantar won't startup

It's been a while since I've stayed in a Holiday Inn but I don't remember having an issue with Atmel replacements. YMMV.
by Astro Spectra
Wed Sep 16, 2020 12:55 pm
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Quantar won't startup
Replies: 12
Views: 10698

Re: Quantar won't startup

The code plug EEPROM is the small square PLCC chip mounted in a socket near the front of the card from memory. Kits of unexplained things happen and with anything other than Atmel.
by Astro Spectra
Sat Sep 12, 2020 12:22 pm
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Quantar won't startup
Replies: 12
Views: 10698

Re: Quantar won't startup

Is the EEPROM Atmel or Xicor? The original Xicor are very failure prone.

Are you certain the SCM is original and there's been no parts swapping?
by Astro Spectra
Wed Jul 15, 2020 11:31 am
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: Mcs2000 to 929.8875mhz
Replies: 2
Views: 6806

Re: Mcs2000 to 929.8875mhz

929.8875 or 929.89875 MHz?
by Astro Spectra
Wed May 27, 2020 11:33 am
Forum: MotoTRBO Portables and Mobiles (4xxx/6xxx) 1.0 Series Subscribers
Topic: XPR6550/6580/7550/7580
Replies: 2
Views: 8648

Re: XPR6550/6580/7550/7580

For VHF nothing. The older UHF portables are in two ranges, 403-470 and 450-512 MHz. Out of band is possible but YMMV. The newer XPR 7550 does 403-512 MHz out of the box. The 900 MHz portables and mobiles work well but avoid the 7580e and 5580e. Google Lou WA6EPD 33cm for details. If you're interest...
by Astro Spectra
Fri May 15, 2020 3:58 pm
Forum: Radio Programming
Topic: XTS2500 Factory Reset
Replies: 2
Views: 6362

Re: XTS2500 Factory Reset

No. The only option is to create a blank-ish plug yourself and clone.
by Astro Spectra
Tue Apr 07, 2020 11:56 am
Forum: Converting Motorola Equipment to 900MHz Amateur
Topic: XPR 6580 onto 900 mhz ham band
Replies: 7
Views: 14042

Re: XPR 6580 onto 900 mhz ham band

In your hex editing you have probably forgotten to either change the search criteria data type to Unicode string or you didn't save the change to Mototrbocps.exe
by Astro Spectra
Thu Feb 27, 2020 11:11 am
Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
Topic: Motorola GM360 one radio two microphones
Replies: 10
Views: 9930

Re: Motorola GM360 one radio two microphones

To be honest from the questions you're asking I think a second radio install is the safest option. A second hand '360 will be cheaper than outfitter labour rates.
by Astro Spectra
Sun Feb 16, 2020 9:43 am
Forum: Converting Motorola Equipment to 900MHz Amateur
Topic: XPR 6580 onto 900 mhz ham band
Replies: 7
Views: 14042

Re: XPR 6580 onto 900 mhz ham band

Gary, when you say one radio would convert to DMR do you mean with the MOL trunking conversion package with associated specific firmware builds or do you mean you used the CPS convert function and regular update firmware?
by Astro Spectra
Mon Jan 06, 2020 11:58 am
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: Quantar Repeater external controller help please.
Replies: 5
Views: 8764

Re: Quantar Repeater external controller help please.

The Repeaterbuilder web site has the details you need, both connections and WildCard work around.

Many people find the stock Quantar works fine without a controller, it has the necessary CW ID built in.
by Astro Spectra
Mon Jan 06, 2020 11:53 am
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: quantar power supply
Replies: 3
Views: 7501

Re: quantar power supply

I can confirm that there are no schematics for any of the various models. There supplies were built to a functional spec by different vendors and each used a variation of their own design. Many are quite fixable depending on the fault but need to be tackled with experience. Some need to have rivets ...
by Astro Spectra
Wed Dec 18, 2019 4:00 pm
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Quantar Local Link
Replies: 6
Views: 8005

Re: Quantar Local Link

No, that is the connector on the back of the DIU.
by Astro Spectra
Wed Nov 13, 2019 6:09 pm
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Interfacing a Consolette to a quantar RT/RT
Replies: 7
Views: 8311

Re: Interfacing a Consolette to a quantar RT/RT

If you are going to go to that complexity why not used licence free 900 MHz Ubiquity? Sure the 800 MHz mobiles might have more power but you'll need to crank them down a long way to get any life out them. Mobiles just are not designed for 100% transmit duty cycle.
by Astro Spectra
Sun Nov 10, 2019 10:19 am
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: astro-tac 3000 manual
Replies: 1
Views: 5385

Re: astro-tac 3000 manual

Google repeater builder astro tac
by Astro Spectra
Fri Nov 08, 2019 11:39 am
Forum: Computer/Technical Assistance
Topic: SSD IN YOUR CF-29
Replies: 5
Views: 7910

Re: SSD IN YOUR CF-29

Watch W9CR do a PATA (IDE) SSD install here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQdr4FMYzFM

OK, different platform but the same problem, skip to about 18 minutes in.
by Astro Spectra
Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:53 am
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Quantar Local Link
Replies: 6
Views: 8005

Re: Quantar Local Link

If you program the repeater for mixed mode and make an analog connection as well between the machines then yes. To be clear the digital connection doesn't carry analog and vice verse. There is no codec function in the Quantar.
by Astro Spectra
Sat Nov 02, 2019 11:20 am
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Quantar Local Link
Replies: 6
Views: 8005

Re: Quantar Local Link

Linking two Quantars on the same site in P25 mode is no more than 5 minutes work if you have (or have procured) the necessary V.24 interfaces. These can be genuine Moto boards, the P25NX style, or my own single chip breadboard type. The details of the connection and settings are in the Quantar stati...
by Astro Spectra
Wed Oct 16, 2019 2:41 pm
Forum: Experimental - Mods, and how to do things a little out of the box
Topic: CM300 COR output
Replies: 2
Views: 10583

Re: CM300 COR output

How much current does the relay draw from 12 volts and how much current is the COR output of the CM300 specified at?
by Astro Spectra
Thu Oct 03, 2019 1:10 pm
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Interfacing a Consolette to a quantar RT/RT
Replies: 7
Views: 8311

Re: Interfacing a Consolette to a quantar RT/RT

You are right, the 800 MHz Quantar receiver only covers 806-825 MHz while the transmitter only covers 851-870 MHz, so interworking is not possible. The solution I would implement is a Cisco router at each end to encapsulate the V.24 in IP, them use either the county microwave or your own IP link, po...
by Astro Spectra
Wed Oct 02, 2019 10:49 am
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Interfacing a Consolette to a quantar RT/RT
Replies: 7
Views: 8311

Re: Interfacing a Consolette to a quantar RT/RT

If you want to support P25 over the V.24 sync interface then no, there is no synchronus serial interface on the XTL. While there is the theoretical option of using the XTLs to implement an IP link via the internal P25 stack it isn't fast enough for the V.24 9600 bps payload. If you just want analog ...
by Astro Spectra
Sat Jul 06, 2019 2:46 pm
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: Need a jumbo banana plug R1011 power supply
Replies: 10
Views: 11512

Re: Need a jumbo banana plug R1011 power supply

Red heat shrink might be an option. Use similar black heat shrink if you want the plugs to look matched.

Personally I'd convert to Anderson style powerpole connectors, I prefer the SB50 or SB120 types.
by Astro Spectra
Tue May 28, 2019 12:54 pm
Forum: Radio Programming
Topic: CP200 CPS programming issue. COM Port
Replies: 4
Views: 7470

Re: CP200 CPS programming issue. COM Port

To echo com501's point, randomly trying com ports is a waste of time. If it's not showing in Device Manager (in Control Panel) then it doesn't exist. One issue is occasionally Windows decides the Motorola radio is a modem and not a serial port but again DM will show you that.
by Astro Spectra
Tue May 21, 2019 3:53 pm
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Keyup Nucleus
Replies: 3
Views: 6450

Re: Keyup Nucleus

Have you read this? Might have some useful pointers:

http://www.repeater-builder.com/motorol ... ticle.html
by Astro Spectra
Tue Mar 12, 2019 12:30 pm
Forum: MotoTRBO Portables and Mobiles (3xxx/5xxx/7xxx/SL) 2.0 Series Subscribers
Topic: XPR 7550E audio mutes RX
Replies: 1
Views: 5392

Re: XPR 7550E audio mutes RX

The FPP feature may not allow access to all DMR channel settings. Color code, timeslots, talkgroup, RX frequency, tx freq, admit criteria, all need to be set. I've not used FPP on Mototrbo so I don't know for sure. The programming software will allow you to see the channels settings in the zone that...
by Astro Spectra
Sat Feb 23, 2019 10:22 pm
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: Any idead how far a 10 watt lsb radio would tx ?
Replies: 5
Views: 7605

Re: Any idead how far a 10 watt lsb radio would tx ?

One Spilsbury SBX-11A in orange: https://www.pwnhc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2016.9.1.jpg Also available in green. These were often used in Antarctica by field parties with the antenna just laid out on the ice. Made in Canada, eh. And the brochure: http://arec.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/sbx...
by Astro Spectra
Thu Feb 21, 2019 3:11 pm
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: Any idead how far a 10 watt lsb radio would tx ?
Replies: 5
Views: 7605

Re: Any idead how far a 10 watt lsb radio would tx ?

I have talked over 500 miles on similar equipment and frequencies with the antenna (a wire half wave dipole) just stretched over bushes 6' above ground. 4MHz is good usually late evenings. Day time might be just 100 miles depending on ionosphere conditions. Coax at that frequency doesn't matter much...
by Astro Spectra
Thu Feb 21, 2019 3:08 pm
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: Any idead how far a 10 watt lsb radio would tx ?
Replies: 5
Views: 7605

Re: Any idead how far a 10 watt lsb radio would tx ?

I have talked over 500 miles on similar equipment and frequencies with the antenna (a wire half wave dipole) just stretched over bushes 6' above ground. 4MHz is good usually late evenings.
by Astro Spectra
Thu Feb 21, 2019 3:04 pm
Forum: General Motorola Solutions & Legacy Radio Discussion
Topic: 3rd World LMR Equip VHF
Replies: 4
Views: 6995

Re: 3rd World LMR Equip VHF

Like most places, countries in the Caribbean have type approval and licensing requirements. It is best to see what gear is already approved and choose the same model to help minimise border issues. While using ham gear may avoid the type acceptance issue it may then give you more complex licence req...
by Astro Spectra
Thu Jan 24, 2019 12:02 pm
Forum: MotoTRBO Repeaters, Trunking, and Site Infrastructure
Topic: XPR 8400 CWID Problem
Replies: 4
Views: 10686

Re: XPR 8400 CWID Problem

Good to know, thank you.
by Astro Spectra
Tue Jan 22, 2019 12:52 pm
Forum: MotoTRBO Repeaters, Trunking, and Site Infrastructure
Topic: XPR 8400 CWID Problem
Replies: 4
Views: 10686

Re: XPR 8400 CWID Problem

Similar bug reported in the latest SLR firmware release notes but nothing on the XPR.
by Astro Spectra
Mon Dec 24, 2018 11:08 pm
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Cat5 Cable Noise on Tower
Replies: 6
Views: 8094

Re: Cat5 Cable Noise on Tower

There have been a few threads on this in the past here. First thing to do is have all the cable runs replaced with top quality outdoorcrated shielded Cat 5/6 cable. Like the Tough Cable from Ubiquity. You can explain to the WISP that it's better for them (reduces chances of induced lightning damage ...
by Astro Spectra
Sat Dec 01, 2018 10:54 am
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Quantar Linking 2m/440 & external controller
Replies: 3
Views: 7138

Re: Quantar Linking 2m/440 & external controller

Why bother with analog? Digital only is much easier and better.
by Astro Spectra
Thu Nov 15, 2018 11:35 am
Forum: Base Stations, Repeaters, General Infrastructure
Topic: Frankenstein Quantar?
Replies: 2
Views: 6798

Re: Frankenstein Quantar?

That's how it's done.

You can even alter the ranges of the RF modules see W9CR's excellent site:

http://wiki.w9cr.net/index.php/Quantar
by Astro Spectra
Mon Aug 27, 2018 11:59 am
Forum: Vehicle Radio Installs
Topic: Fighting Noise In A 2018 Honda CR-V
Replies: 6
Views: 8335

Re: Fighting Noise In A 2018 Honda CR-V

If you did something and the noise went away you need to retrace your steps to discover what changed.

Also a firend found clip on chokes over the injector leads very helpful in fixing his interference issues.
by Astro Spectra
Mon Feb 12, 2018 10:53 am
Forum: MotoTRBO Repeaters, Trunking, and Site Infrastructure
Topic: Help Please - XPR8400 Questions About Mixed Mode
Replies: 5
Views: 8149

Re: Help Please - XPR8400 Questions About Mixed Mode

Actually AFAIK with dynamic mixed mode IPSC is not supported but RDAC still works.

EDIT: I bought a dynamic mixed mode EID and it was a disappointment, for the money it did not allow IPSC networking.
by Astro Spectra
Fri Feb 09, 2018 10:13 pm
Forum: MotoTRBO Repeaters, Trunking, and Site Infrastructure
Topic: Help Please - XPR8400 Questions About Mixed Mode
Replies: 5
Views: 8149

Re: Help Please - XPR8400 Questions About Mixed Mode

If you plan to network the DMR forget mixed mode.

A work around is to program up two channels, one analog and one digital, and switch it either suing a hard wire to the ACC connector or by using RDAC.
by Astro Spectra
Mon Jan 15, 2018 1:12 pm
Forum: MotoTRBO Repeaters, Trunking, and Site Infrastructure
Topic: Trbo rptr receive threashold chatter
Replies: 5
Views: 8283

Re: Trbo rptr receive threashold chatter

I set the threshold to -45dBm (as high as it will go) because the protection mechanism is wrong. You're supposed to listen before transmission to avoid co-channel but in a two frequency system the repeater receiver is not listening to the transmitter frequency (and can't because of the duplexer) so ...

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