Seeking information on GEOTEK radios

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Wed Oct 03, 2001 8:11 pm

I've been given a stack of GEOTEK Communications mobile radio systems. I've done some research on them and they were an interesting technology but they went belly-up as a company and don't exist anymore.

These radios use a proprietary 900 MHz frequency hopping multiple access trunked format and utilize digital vocoder technology created by Digital Voice Systems, Inc. which is the company that owns the patents on the IMBE algorithm used on Astro digital systems. Whether or not these use IMBE isn't determined yet, and if they do, they might be a step in the right direction to make your own IMBE scanner...but it'd be an advanced project.

I want to get into these radios and see what they can do. Not the hardware, the software. Given that the company no longer exists, I don't think there are any relevant issues pertaining to the programming equipment and software that would be required to program one of these mobile radios. How can you enforce a copyright on an EXTINCT format or technology by a company that no longer exists, why would you want to, and who's around to take the part of the copyright holder if none exists? I think their programming software could be given away in bubblegum packs, given the circumstances!

So, if by the wildest chance anyone has the programming hardware and software for these units, please let me know. Let's make a deal.

I don't know what these things are capable of but their construction is VERY neat and tidy, (and simple!) and they aren't plagued with a million connections to worry about. And interestingly enough, they have AVL boards in them that have an 8 pin connector on them on one side and an antenna connector on the other. Presumably they're pretty easy to get running.

Elroy

Post by **Code3Response** » Wed Oct 03, 2001 8:27 pm

Check this..... http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dl ... 1280207746

Looks like you might be in for a surprise with copyright stuff.... Nextel bought Geotek... might want to contact Nextel. Just my 0.03 (inflation)

Cowthief · Post by **Cowthief** » Thu Oct 04, 2001 6:07 am

Hello.

The Geotek unit was in use by us right up untill they went broke.
They were used in the Houston,Texas area by us for dispatch, the units have a GPS radio, as well as the T/R set.
The original idea was to be able to track a mobile in its forays.
Training manuals were written for monkeys, same thing over and over.
The neat thing, they can do LTR trunking, this is because the first ones out were put on SMR.
Software for programming?. I am not sure, will have to check backups, although i doubt I have anything.

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Thu Oct 04, 2001 6:45 am

Interesting. Thanks for the info. I think I'll contact Nextel and request authorization for software and related materials on these units. Given that they're still an extinct format with no practical use, they might say 'sure, go ahead, knock yourself out'...IF I can get to someone who actually knows something, that is. Might be a challenge.

Elroy

Cowthief · Post by **Cowthief** » Thu Oct 04, 2001 8:11 pm

Hello.

Found out that the Geotek units in houston are on SMR, the tracking stuff does not work.
They were also used in Dallas by our company, but are now on Nextel, Houston will follow very soon, perhaps more surplus?.

Cowthief · Post by **Cowthief** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 5:34 pm

Hello.

Found out the Dallas stuff is 900 MHz, Houston 800 MHz, are the radios able to do that whole range, or, are there things I am not seeing, I pulled the covers on one each, they look alike.

radioEd · Post by **radioEd** » Thu Oct 11, 2001 3:21 am

Elroy, check for private messages

Cowthief · Post by **Cowthief** » Sat Oct 13, 2001 7:52 pm

Hello.

IF, and only IF, you can come to some legal agreement, then you can contact Southwestern Motor Transport Lines,Attn Ed Garcia Re#5609
4600 Goldfield
San Antonio, Texas 78218
With a copy, notary public copy, of a verifiable document, at that time, I might be able release programming software.
Training manuals, the stuff that tell installers what to do next, nothing really complex, can be scanned, however I am in the transportation industry, HAZ/MAT, so the federal and state DOT people are being very careful, I requested that "old" software/manuals be made "available",
When "they" saw the private post, questions, questions, and more questions, including what was I doing with the things.

Thank You.