STX821 Differentiation

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 7:53 pm

How can you tell the difference between a typeI STX821 and a Type II STX821?

Looking on eBay, I see radios with channel selector knobs, or channel selector knobs display and limited keypad, as well as radios with no channel selector knob display and full keypad.

Is there an easy way to tell before I go spending money on one?

Also, knowing that the display can be programmed with alpha-tags, how many numbers/letters can be displayed?

Thanks
-Josh

Monty · Post by **Monty** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 9:34 pm

Hi:

Since there are so many varations of
STX821's, the only real way is to
either " know " the party you are getting
the radio from or find out which " Firmware"
is installed into the radio.

There is a couple of contacts on the remote
speaker / mic that you can short out, and
it will tell you the version inside like
GPL 1.0 or GPS 1.0 which is the most desired
types.

Also, you can take the radio apart, and look
at the board. If its Green, thats a good step in the right direction.

The problem with STX's, is that many are pretty old, and if you are looking for one
like for a Scanner, you would be well advised
to find one fully checked out, working, and
known to have been serviced well

Monty

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Tue Apr 02, 2002 1:26 pm

One other thing:

How often can STX821s, be found in a plain 'STX' marked case?

What's the capacity of digits on the display?

-Josh

On 2002-04-02 00:34, msisco9939@aol.com wrote:
Hi:

Since there are so many varations of
STX821's, the only real way is to
either " know " the party you are getting
the radio from or find out which " Firmware"
is installed into the radio.

There is a couple of contacts on the remote
speaker / mic that you can short out, and
it will tell you the version inside like
GPL 1.0 or GPS 1.0 which is the most desired
types.

Also, you can take the radio apart, and look
at the board. If its Green, thats a good step in the right direction.

The problem with STX's, is that many are pretty old, and if you are looking for one
like for a Scanner, you would be well advised
to find one fully checked out, working, and
known to have been serviced well

Monty

eacradio · Post by **eacradio** » Wed Apr 03, 2002 5:37 am

Another way to tell is the serial number. Units that do Type I only start with 626, ones that will do Type II start with 678. Hope that helps.

1 Adam 12 · Post by **1 Adam 12** » Wed Apr 03, 2002 1:02 pm

The only sure way as mentioned before is to have the radio either read, if no display or do the sideblock test and look at the version number. A lot of the lower serial number radios where upgraded with new boards by shops and when they intiated the radio the serial number stays the same because agencies having to track those numbers as part of their assets. You will also find some 821 chassis with the older 5.1 boards in them beause they dumped them on the SMR users here in South Florida not too long before Nextel came over the Horizon. Had a pool company with 12 radios all marked 821 and 9 where 821s, and 3 where 5.1 . Be patient and check them out carefully.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 1 Adam 12 on 2002-04-03 16:02 ]</font>

RESCUE161 · Post by **RESCUE161** » Wed Apr 03, 2002 3:10 pm

So a 5.1 controller won't do Type II?

1 Adam 12 · Post by **1 Adam 12** » Thu Apr 04, 2002 4:35 am

No, its the top end controller for Smartnet type 1, and allows multi-pl etc in conventional, but cannot do type II

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Thu Apr 04, 2002 8:04 am

Totally ignore what the labels on the housing say on an STX, because so many of them don't match what's inside it isn't even funny.

Check the version of the controller. A true STX 821 has a GPL series controller (GPL 1.0, GPL 1.1) or a GPS series controller.

An STX 800 has an REL series controller.

REL series, GPL series, and GPS series controllers are all secure capable. But there is an optional jumper wire that must be installed in the radio's chassis (for keyloading) or it won't work in secure mode, even if you have the rare securenet board to go with it.

REL, GPS, and GLP series controllers all do type I and type II operation, if I remember correctly. I'm sure of it with the GPL and GPS series, and I'm fairly sure that REL series controller handle both as well...or are they type II only? Anyone know for sure on those?

Elroy

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 3:17 pm

Apparently (and unfortunately) the STX radio I was looking at, was a type I only radio. I have another question. If I were to buy an STX821 that had no display or buttons on the front, could I replace the face with one with a display and keypad and expect it to work? I think it will (as I can add a DTMF pad to a non-DTMF HT600 with no problems).
Any ideas?? A lot of typeI radios sell real cheap on eBay, even with full display and keypads. Right now there are 3 non-display STX821 units on eBay for a low price!!

-Josh

-Josh

Monty · Post by **Monty** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 3:30 pm

Hi Josh:

Sorta want to reframe from sounding like
a salesman, but you really do have to be
carfull on STX821's. Those radios were
of a age where " Anything " is possible.

The Logic Boards can be Changed, and the
Front Covers with Keypads can replace ones
without keypads, and the list continues.

Its Best to " know " who you are buying from
and if you desire a good radio, I do have some that have been well taken care of, and
are worth upgrading...Buy Someting " As-Is"
or the phrase, was working when came out of
service, you could be just throwing your monies away on Ebay....I know, I have been
fixing alot of them !

Many of the STX's due to being a large radio
were used as Clubs, and who knows what else.

Email me direct if you are interested in one

Monty

RESCUE161 · Post by **RESCUE161** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 3:34 pm

Josh,
Monty has some good prices on the STX821. The ones that I have aren't full key pad, but they do have display and 3 buttons on the front. They have 96 personalities They work great...
Scott

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 4:07 pm

On 2002-04-07 19:30, msisco9939@aol.com wrote:
Hi Josh:

Sorta want to reframe from sounding like
a salesman, but you really do have to be
carfull on STX821's. Those radios were
of a age where " Anything " is possible.

The Logic Boards can be Changed, and the
Front Covers with Keypads can replace ones
without keypads, and the list continues.

Email me direct if you are interested in one

Monty

2 comments.

The radios I saw on eBay, had 16 position switches and claim something about a version 5.1 board.

Second, I've been having problems with e-mailing you. I seem to be able to get the first message to you, and a reply from you, but then (like last time) I asked how much you wanted for the STX821 and never received a respone. On different topic regarding the infamous HLN9383 EPROM, I posted on a newsgroups, I got a reply, I sent you the model number and my intentions for the chip and never received any further e-mails even after the one requesting a reply even if you couldn't help me out. I'll e-mail you about the STX821, and hope to do business with you, but I need to know that you've been receiving them.
-Josh

Monty · Post by **Monty** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 4:18 pm

Hi Josh:

I am surprised !

Please let me know who your provider is...AOL
may have blocked them !

Also, you might try sending twice !

If all else fails, well, I will send you
a private message via the Batboard here.

Don't really like doing it, but may have
to use that system until I can figure out
why I am missing your email...I will send a
Private Message.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 4:24 pm

Monty

I sent you an e-mail just a few minutes ago. My provider is Prodigy Internet, but my e-mail is provided by Hotmail. Usually the e-mails get right through.

-Josh

On 2002-04-07 20:18, msisco9939@aol.com wrote:
Hi Josh:

I am surprised !

Please let me know who your provider is...AOL
may have blocked them !

Also, you might try sending twice !

If all else fails, well, I will send you
a private message via the Batboard here.

Don't really like doing it, but may have
to use that system until I can figure out
why I am missing your email...I will send a
Private Message.