Astro Spectra UHF 400-437mhz want to run at 478mhz

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motoguy
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Astro Spectra UHF 400-437mhz want to run at 478mhz

Post by motoguy »

gday all, i know its a bit offtrack from 900mhz Ham modifications, but i am curious if i can move this astro spetra from its current band of 400-437mhz up to work on 478.000mhz ? is it posible to retune the RX and TX VCO and then tune the radio with the software? and if it cant be modified to work at 478mhz what is the highest the radio will TX and RX without modifications?. thanks for your time to read my post and hopefuly help me out . i know its a bit off topic but hopefuly ive posted to the right area where people know what im wanting to do :)
cheers

Motoguy
motorola_otaku
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Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 7:03 am

Re: Astro Spectra UHF 400-437mhz want to run at 478mhz

Post by motorola_otaku »

Short answer: No.

Long answer: You need a VCO, RX preselector, and PA deck from an analog 450-482 Spectra, a s-record from a 450-482 Astro Spectra matching the control head type of the Astro you already have, MTSX Lab software to blow the s-record into the radio (don't ask), and the proper tools (an Astro Spectra service manual and a service monitor) to do a complete alignment afterwards. Basically, your Astro Spectra is not going to do 478 MHz unless you convert it to a 450-482 radio which, while not necessarily difficult, cannot be done without all of the aforementioned items.

Extended answer: If, for some reason, you need 403-433 and 478 capability in the same radio, you need a 403-470 MCS2000 and bandplit-hacked software to allow programming above 470 MHz. If you need all that plus IMBE capability then you need a XTL5000. Sorry, there's no easy or cheap way around that in the Motorola family of radios.
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