Motorola Oddballs through the years

jackhackett · Post by **jackhackett** » Thu May 28, 2015 11:25 am

Looks like a Power Voice, model TSN6015A. I think black was the standard color for those. Used them on fire truck pump panels.

repeater builder has a manual for them.
http://www.repeater-builder.com/motorol ... n6015a.pdf

kb4mdz · Post by **kb4mdz** » Thu May 28, 2015 11:48 am

Andy's exactly right. There's a small FD, Whitakers, NC. that had one of these on a truck. Finally failed ummmm, 5 or 6 years ago. Amp was still good, I think it was the speaker cone. Right at the pump panel, which was in a 'pass-thru' from side to side, behind the main cab and firing straight at the operator. I'm quite sure it predated the Maratrac that had been put on the truck when Maratracs were newish.

jmfirefighter20 · Post by **jmfirefighter20** » Thu May 28, 2015 3:09 pm

Here's one. This was mounted on the pump panel of a fire truck I owned. In the cab was a Syntor....I took it out when I sold the truck it was too cool to let go. The Syntor and this unit still work (even though it's not narrowband, it's still nice to hear this old worker running and receiving!)

Anyone got any info on this thing?

FireCpt809 · Post by **FireCpt809** » Thu May 28, 2015 5:51 pm

Andy Corbin wrote:I ran across an older Motorola speaker at Dayton Hamvention. The speaker is the same style that was with the Motrac series except this one is a low gloss black cabinet finish with a chrome speaker grille and a chrome mounting bracket. This speaker has a powered amplifier in it which I have learned puts out about 15 watts and the speaker itself is a "weatherproof" design. I have seen Motorola powered speakers and the old metal "motrac" design, but never with the black and chrome scheme. I thought the speaker looked pretty cool so I bought it and didn't really pay much for it. I checked and the amplifier portion does work. The speaker is actually in pretty good condition for its age.

I just went round and round with a department who insisted they have one of these on their new $500K Pierce fire engine. They had use the old ones for years over and over til they finally gave up the ghost on the last one they had. They wanted it tied into the speaker output of 2 radios with a DPDT switch on the cab to select the radio. They are running a VHF/7-800 PII APX7500 and a VHF PM1500 and wanted to be able to hear the radio traffic at the pump panel. Though every firefighter on the rig has an APX7000 for every seat. We called a few places that may have had one, no luck finally they decied to go with the 15w weather resistant speaker on the panel.

FireCpt809 · Post by **FireCpt809** » Thu May 28, 2015 5:55 pm

jmfirefighter20 wrote:Here's one. This was mounted on the pump panel of a fire truck I owned. In the cab was a Syntor....I took it out when I sold the truck it was too cool to let go. The Syntor and this unit still work (even though it's not narrowband, it's still nice to hear this old worker running and receiving!)

Anyone got any info on this thing?

These were common on a lot of fire apparatus before the days of everyone having their own portable radio. My department had these up til the Maratracs we used til narrowbanding killed them off. The last rigs to have them were the 1995 Pierce engines. They used the weather proof speaker as posted above. I have one of these handset setups here somewhere.

motorola_otaku · Post by **motorola_otaku** » Mon Jun 22, 2015 12:56 pm

mikegilbert wrote:Here's an odd one. The MX800 conventional only 800mhz radio.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7785/181 ... 6b34_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8835/181 ... eb36_b.jpg

Ex-LA City FD by chance? I always thought they used STXes but not having seen one up close it would be easy to confuse the two!

PETNRDX · Post by **PETNRDX** » Mon Jun 22, 2015 1:38 pm

Interesting.
That certainly is the STX form factor.
I had not seen one like that.
Continues to show just how many different models of things Motorola made.

N4KVE · Post by **N4KVE** » Mon Jun 22, 2015 2:48 pm

Several PD's used them here in the 80's for 800 conv systems. GARY

d119 · Post by **d119** » Mon Jun 22, 2015 5:51 pm

While I was working in the Los Angeles market, I came across several border agencies to LAFD that had the MX800 portable. Nothing physically different between it and an STX as far as I know, probably just software limitations (conventional only).

mikegilbert · Post by **mikegilbert** » Tue Jun 23, 2015 2:36 am

motorola_otaku wrote:
mikegilbert wrote:Here's an odd one. The MX800 conventional only 800mhz radio.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7785/181 ... 6b34_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8835/181 ... eb36_b.jpg
Ex-LA City FD by chance? I always thought they used STXes but not having seen one up close it would be easy to confuse the two!

This one came from an ambulace company from Illinois, I believe.

Didn't LAFD have the display mics on theirs?

d119 · Post by **d119** » Tue Jun 23, 2015 5:42 am

I've never seen an STX display mic, aside from the one that plugs into the STX convertacom. Was it a display RSM?

mikegilbert · Post by **mikegilbert** » Sat Jul 04, 2015 8:50 pm

d119 wrote:I've never seen an STX display mic, aside from the one that plugs into the STX convertacom. Was it a display RSM?

I've got a screengrab from an old episode of COPS or LAPD, Life On The Beat which clearly shows an LAFDparamedic with a display RSM. Trying to find it now.

LAFD used 800mhz conventional Visars, MX800s and Astro Sabers. Here's a shot of a full keypad MX800:

Speaking of LAFD, here's a sweet SP rig in one of their ambulances:

d119 · Post by **d119** » Sat Jul 04, 2015 9:10 pm

Back when Motorola actually BUILT stuff... Awesome...

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Sun Jul 05, 2015 3:03 pm

d119 wrote:Back when Motorola actually BUILT stuff... Awesome...

Absolutely. The Motorola of yesteryear was awesome with very talented people. Now ................................?

d119 · Post by **d119** » Sun Jul 05, 2015 8:32 pm

Now it's all contract work.

mikegilbert · Post by **mikegilbert** » Tue Nov 03, 2015 10:02 pm

Finally found that image of the LAFD MX800 with display mic!

N4KVE · Post by **N4KVE** » Wed Nov 04, 2015 1:47 pm

d119 wrote:I've never seen an STX display mic, aside from the one that plugs into the STX convertacom. Was it a display RSM?

The mike looks exactly like the convertacom mike, but plugs directly into the radio. I bought one years ago just to have with my STX, but the radio is only good for conventional now. It was one of the last ones built in the USA, & has the 821 GPS board & DES XL. It worked GREAT in it's day, & I had the matching convertacom to go with it. GARY

mikegilbert · Post by **mikegilbert** » Sun Nov 15, 2015 8:41 pm

Here's a new one for the group:

The AP10 (amateur portable) ham handheld.

resqguy911 · Post by **resqguy911** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 6:51 pm

mikegilbert wrote:Here's a new one for the group:

The AP10 (amateur portable) ham handheld.

This is the coolest find yet. Wow

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Tue Nov 17, 2015 1:30 am

Very cool never saw that before, That full length spirit series housing looks just like the PC10 which was basically a SP10 but in a longer tan housing for a Price Club build (no up/down buttons or display either) but otherwuse the same.

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Wed Nov 18, 2015 3:58 pm

there are some CP50 on the bay now n then

mikegilbert · Post by **mikegilbert** » Wed Nov 18, 2015 8:43 pm

RadioSouth wrote:Very cool never saw that before, That full length spirit series housing looks just like the PC10 which was basically a SP10 but in a longer tan housing for a Price Club build (no up/down buttons or display either) but otherwuse the same.

I totally forgot about those! I remember Costco using them when I was a kid. They also sold them in the store. That's another radio from my childhood I'll have to add to the collection.

mikegilbert · Post by **mikegilbert** » Thu Nov 19, 2015 2:20 pm

It's been frustrating finding high-res images of rare radios on the internet, so I spent the last few days photographing my radio collection in a light tent.

The plan is to document as many Motorola radios as possible with high resolution photography.

Here's my MX300R to kick things off.

PETNRDX · Post by **PETNRDX** » Sat Nov 21, 2015 11:45 am

We have seen some of mikes photos before, LOVE the quality.
I wish I could photo my collection of Moto stuff that well.
Mike, you obviously have both the high quality photo equipment and the talent.
Someday (yeah, I know) I am going to try to take the best photos I can of some of this stuff.

mikegilbert · Post by **mikegilbert** » Wed Dec 09, 2015 6:02 pm

Thanks, Steve!

If you're ever in the LA area and want to bring along some of your collection, I'd be more than happy to photograph it. Same goes for anyone in SoCal. I'd love to build a database of high-resolution images of iconic Motorola radios.

Here are some group photos I've been working on:

MX360-S UHF DTMF in Shadow Bronze

MX360-T 800mhz DTMF and Non-DTMF

MX300-R Midband

MX800 800mhz

sjxts3000 · Post by **sjxts3000** » Wed Dec 09, 2015 11:14 pm

That's some great photo-documentation there, Mike. Thanks for sharing!

mikegilbert · Post by **mikegilbert** » Fri Dec 11, 2015 9:58 pm

Thanks!

Here's a side-by-side comparison between the Saber SI and Astro Saber

And the elusive PFD300 / MTX-VIP

Post by **escomm** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 9:46 am

thank

sjxts3000 · Post by **sjxts3000** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 9:53 am

Mike, these are great pics! Did you also get pics of the tops of these fine gems? (like you posted above with the AP10)

mikegilbert · Post by **mikegilbert** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 1:23 pm

I'll go back and shoot closeups of the tops of all of them. I didn't have time to move my lights around.

PETNRDX · Post by **PETNRDX** » Tue Dec 15, 2015 12:51 pm

Those pictures look as good as the original sales literature.

mikegilbert · Post by **mikegilbert** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 9:10 pm

Thanks!

P100 DTMF

P50+ DTMF

HT600 DTMF

HT440

R750+ / R370

Visar DTMF

PETNRDX · Post by **PETNRDX** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 1:11 pm

Wow those are good pictures.
Guess it helps to know what you are doing, and have the right equip.

PETNRDX · Post by **PETNRDX** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 1:13 pm

Mike check your PM's when you get a chance. Gonna send you one.

Post by **ASRM** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 5:10 am

I remember many of those radios posted, I saw some really interesting VHF Moto gear when I worked for a regional RCC/paging/telephone carrier.

Also a local radio shop I frequent has some of these radios posted in his shop, he has rows and rows of old Moto, GE, and other items. I asked if I could look over them and possibly take home or help him sell out as collector items.

Thanks to everyone for the memories

NSPD · Post by **NSPD** » Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:05 pm

Here is something for the oddballs category... this is from WAY before my time. Part of an old dispatch console?

It has pins on one side and a matching socket on the other side, so it appears they are modular and can be connected end-to-end.

BTW.. need a couple replacements for the missing buttons and lever plastic. if you have any, PM me please.

talviar · Post by **talviar** » Thu Jan 21, 2016 4:15 pm

That would be a Quik-Call encoder for the old 2+2 siren tones. . . . . . . . one button out of each row (but in a different column) to make up the full set for a siren decoder to trip

Scratch that-
That was the preprogrammed button panel.
Forgot the group tone was auto tied in.

See this web page.
http://www.policeinterceptor.com/emerg.htm

That would have been tied to the main encoder to make things work

NSPD · Post by **NSPD** » Thu Jan 21, 2016 7:14 pm

Thanks for the link!

It's a neat piece of equipment, glad I was able to save it and some other vintage 1940's and 1950's Moto and GE items from the trash.

NSPD · Post by **NSPD** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 5:01 am

Here is another... old desk set from the 1940's/1950's. It is based on a Stromberg-Carlson 1243 telephone with a Western Electric handset. The case is cast metal and it is HEAVY. I read that Stromberg-Carlson switched to Bakelite for this model telephone during WWII, so this may be prewar?

I've never seen another one...

PETNRDX · Post by **PETNRDX** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 3:01 pm

That is just cool as heck!

chrismoll12 · Post by **chrismoll12** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 2:01 pm

Date: Feb 1960
Looks like a handie talkie pre-transistor HT200 - All metal
Extending the antenna turns it on

Andy Corbin · Post by **Andy Corbin** » Fri Apr 15, 2016 5:15 am

I don't know if it is actually a "transceiver". The tag indicates it is a transmitter. Interesting it is set for what is now one of the NOAA weather frequencies.

Andy

k2hz · Post by **k2hz** » Fri Apr 15, 2016 9:18 am

That is a Motorola "Handie Micro Talkie". It is a transmitter only and was generally used for one way communications. I have not seen that model with the pull out antenna before. A model with fixed loop antenna that was also a handle was comon for use in railroad yards.

It is similar to the transmitter part of the early tube type packset radios and was intended as a more compact unit where an employee only needed to transmit information such as for railroad switching instead of use of hand signals.

The frequency on that unit is 163.475, not the 162 weather frequency.

Andy Corbin · Post by **Andy Corbin** » Fri Apr 15, 2016 11:00 am

By golly, the frequency is indeed 163 and not 162......thats what I get for replying to a message before the morning caffeine fix.

Andy

NSPD · Post by **NSPD** » Sat Jun 11, 2016 1:34 pm

Here is something I just saved from the big charger in the sky....

Motorola Handie-Talkie FM Radiophone Model #P11-1A H on 46mhz

PETNRDX · Post by **PETNRDX** » Sat Jun 11, 2016 7:46 pm

Very cool.

NSPD · Post by **NSPD** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 9:04 am

Here's one we haven't seen yet.. or really anywhere for that matter... Motorola HT100 VHF.

There doesn't seem to be much information at all out there about these. By the way... uses a battery that screws onto the back, so that is the whole radio! Shorter than a Pageboy!

NSPD · Post by **NSPD** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 9:23 am

Maybe not an "oddball" per se, but seldom seen... the HT210!

Last but not least for today, this was described as a "factory dummy" HT220 for televison, movies, advertising, etc. Not sure why you wouldn't just use a regular radio... Anyone know anything about these or their use?

PETNRDX · Post by **PETNRDX** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 12:07 pm

I know there were dummy radios like that given to the sales force as examples of the products.
Cheaper way to go back in the day.

N4KVE · Post by **N4KVE** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 12:48 pm

I remember years ago a neighbor brought me a MTS2000. He "found" it at a trade show. I put a battery on it, but nothing happened. I tried to read it, & again nothing. It had a full display, & when I opened the radio to look inside, there was no circuitry. Just the circuitry for the full keypad display front. There was a metal bar inside, so the radio felt like a normal radio. I told him it was a dummy radio, so he gave it to me. The front display worked, so I used it years later. GARY