Spectra D43 questions

[indigo]

Hello:

New to the board and have some questions re. Spectra mobiles.

1. Have a D43KXA7JA7BK that is report to be "locked in xmit" when powered up. Does anyone have experience/info/suggestions as to what this may entail?

2. On the above D43KXA7JA7BK, I believe this is known as an "A5" control head (unit is an under dash type mount). It has a "Scan" button (3rd from left in the row of 5), but believe I saw somewhere that SmartNet or SecureNet would not scan.....I don't knowif this is correct or not - anyone have experience/info/suggestions?

3. On a different D43 Spectra (different than the above-referenced) it is reported to be showing a "Fail 01" (or "-001" or something similar). I believe a moderator here (Will? is it?) mentioned he has seen many like this in for repair? What is the "usual" problem here and is it an easy fix? Costly?

If anyone can assist, thanks in advance,

[thebigphish]

1. Have a D43KXA7JA7BK that is report to be "locked in xmit" when powered up. Does anyone have experience/info/suggestions as to what this may entail?

pull the mic, does it still start up in txmit?

3. On a different D43 Spectra (different than the above-referenced) it is reported to be showing a "Fail 01" (or "-001" or something similar). I believe a moderator here (Will? is it?) mentioned he has seen many like this in for repair? What is the "usual" problem here and is it an easy fix? Costly?

If anyone can assist, thanks in advance,

Synth will not lock. check to see that the freqs in there aren't too close to VCO limits, because as they get older or abused, they tend to only txmit in portions of their rated spectrum.

[John]

If after pulling the mic, if the radio is still "locked in transmit", you might want to check the control head interface board. If your radio has an "enhanced" head and the interface board is the older version it wil cause the same problem. This topic has been covered here before. You migth want to search for it.

John

[phrawg]

Most common cause of a locked tx on pwr up is that the radio is
assembled with the wrong interface board between the chassis and
the "head". if so there is a trace that must be cut and a minor
change made to the interface board to make it work. I dont have
the correct numbers for the boards with me but when I get to
my shop tomorrow I will get the number and post it here. Phrawg

[Mike B]

Here is a link with the control head board numbers:
http://www.open.org/~blenderm/spectra/b ... html#later

When pin 24 on one of the above boards is combined with a HLN6058 and HLN6066 Interconnect Board, you get a Push To Talk short. There are other short circuits as well.

Here a link with the fix for a HLN6058 and HLN6066 Interconnect Board.
http://www.open.org/~blenderm/spectra/index.html#spifix
http://www.open.org/~blenderm/spectra/b ... tml#spp502

You can also get a replacement HLN6285A Interconnect Board if you do not want to modify your old board.

The radio drawer emergency jumper must also be installed or you will be locked in Tx. However, if JU502 is missing on the Command Board, then the emergency jumper should be removed.
http://www.open.org/~blenderm/spectra/i ... #j2dashrem
On dash mounts, the emergency jumper is inside the DB-15 accessory connector:
http://www.open.org/~blenderm/spectra/c ... ml#accj2j3

[Will]

The FAIL 001, SYNTH out of lock is usally caused by bad componets on the RF board, BUT I have seen (WAY) too many that had componets changed, boards swapped till the cows should of come home with "no joy". There is a 'slight' design flaw in the RF board(s) which shows up when the radios get older.

I'll be glad to look at your radio and the repairs usally are $50 or less for BatBoard members. I do not charge for an estamate.

I had the same "locked on transmit" with several heads until I found the hard way the points that Mike B. has documented so well. I cheated and cut two pins off the A4 control head.

[indigo]

Appreciate the assistance everyone. Will, where are you located? Do you do programming as well? Should I contact you off the board?

Basically, what I intend to do with the unit that has an apparant Interface Board problem (the one that's locked on xmit with or without the mic attached) is to use it as a RECEIVE only unit altogether, would not require any xmit capability whatsoever. Also desire to be able to scan at least 4-10 channels, and I understand the list could possibly be user changed with button manipulation. I do not believe I need any PL's or related, either. Basically, this Spectra would be a Motorola "scanner" - of which I know there's better ways to easily scan (in this case, VHF), but have this Spectra on my bench, and desire to use it mobile to help eliminate all the pager etc. QRM that plagues a cheap old Uniden scanner in the truck.

Any other assistance is greatly appreciated guys (& gals).