Spectra UHF/VHF Power Question

SmartZone · Post by **SmartZone** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 7:18 am

Greetings everyone and Happy Holidays...

I have a quick question.... Is it possible to program a button on an A7 spectra to do High/Low power? I'd love to have the ability to switch between them or override the powerlevel set in the RSS.

Thanks for your time.. I appreciate any assistance you can give.

SmartZone

YoChief · Post by **YoChief** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 9:49 am

Since you have a Spectra, that has a biscillion modes and you can set the power level for each mode, we did this with ours:

We wanted a mode (channel) that we could use on the scene and not bother the dispatcher with all our chit chat. We programmed a simplex mode adjacent to the dispatch mode that was the same as the repeater output frequency. That way we could still hear the dispatcher if they called, but we could talk all we wanted and not bother them. Some people call it a "talk-around" channel. We programmmed that mode for low power because all we needed was the wattage to get across an emergency scene, usually not more than a couple of blocks at the most.

The dispatch mode (the repeated mode) was at high power. In your case all you would have to do is duplicate the high power mode with a low power one. Our Spectra's were 125 mode and we never came close to filling them all up.

Jaqx · Post by **Jaqx** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 9:55 am

On my Spectra I have the simplex channels programed so that the "DIR" button selects the low power setting.

On the repeater channels I just use another mode and put "low" in the Alpha tag for that Mode.

BTW, Anybody know the power on the low setting? I've got a 110 watt VHF A9 Spectra......

Jaqx

SmartZone · Post by **SmartZone** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 10:26 am

I was afraid that was goign to be the case... Does anyone know of any way of making a button, to change the power level? Even with the 'biscillion' modes, I still dont want to have to duplicate channels for power settings.... I think its foolish not to have a 'high/low' option.

YoChief · Post by **YoChief** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 12:19 pm

Spec sheet says 50W is the low setting on a VHF 110W unit.

.....And I agree on the lack of the capability to program a button to allow low power by mode. Except that if Motorola had to give us all the things we would want on a radio it would look like a '58 Cadillac by the time they got done.

CyberSlicer · Post by **CyberSlicer** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 12:54 pm

The low and high power settings are both RSS adjustable. I've seen 110 watt Spectras that were set as low as 20 watts on low power and 160 watts on high. I have never checked the actual low power limits though. Next time I get one on the bench I'll see how low the power will go.

Don

SmartZone · Post by **SmartZone** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:38 pm

Ok.. that woudl be great. Because unfortunately, I will not have a need to run 110watts off VHF.. I think at most I'll need is 80.... but I guess there is no way to physically make a button that will do that feature. Let me know how low it will go for me next time your on the bench... I think 110 is too high for my needs... i'd need a split like 75-80 (high) and 30-40 (low).

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 5:50 pm

you know there really isn't much difference in power out put, heat, amps and the like between the radio txing at 75w and 110w. What's the point?

Not being sarcastic, but I don't see that you'll be gaining much or being nice to the radio. Spectras, like syntor are meant to be keyed down at high power.

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 7:26 pm

YoChief wrote:Spec sheet says 50W is the low setting on a VHF 110W unit.

50 watts is LOW POWER? WTF? When I think of low power on a mobile, I am thinking like 5 or 10 watts. 50 is the HIGH POWER setting on both my Ham Radios

SmartZone · Post by **SmartZone** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 7:36 pm

yes.. when the 110watt mobile puts out 110watts out .. in high power, 50 is reasonable for low.

Remember.. this isnt a ham radio... this is the big 'M'.

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 9:19 pm

I know. I just found it humorous that 50 watts is concidered low power. It isn't exactly low.

Will · Post by **Will** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 10:17 pm

Matt, I guess the wording should be " FULL power and SOMETHING LOWER power"!!!!!

You can also select, in the RSS, the transmitter power as High or Low on the main and Talkaround frequency seperatly.

Also remember that the transmitter power settings for FULL and "Low" are adjustable from the Dash Board in the Align menu. Just be sure to write down the settings so you can return to them.

I have done that on a couple of special events so I would't blow off the guys 40 miles away.

SmartZone · Post by **SmartZone** » Sat Dec 28, 2002 7:36 am

Hey Will,

Could you go into doing that from the keypad so that I completely understand? I appreciate whatever 'indepth' info you can give.

Thanks for everyone's help.

PCSAR4x4652 · Post by **PCSAR4x4652** » Sat Dec 28, 2002 10:03 pm

see next message

PCSAR 4x4 652 · Post by **PCSAR 4x4 652** » Sat Dec 28, 2002 10:16 pm

I need to find out how to delete the other user name on batlabs.

You can program a button (main menu, F4, F6, F2) to do Talk Around (DIR button) across the whole radio.
I use the DIR button to switch from hi to low power on my 110 watt A9 Spectra. This controlls the output power no matter what channel you are on. You have to enable this feature on each mode you want to do this with.
A few things in the rss need to be changed to do it.
You can also prgram just certain modes to enable talk around, it will ask you for the T/A freq. Enter the RX freq above it. It will use the RX freq (from the repeater) as a tx freq when you select the button to bypass the repeater. Then hit F7 to enter Mode Configuration Options, scroll to "TALK AROUND POWER" and select "LOW". If you want all modes to do this then select F4 "next mode" and do the same, repeat as neccessary.

Email me and I will walk you through it.

SmartZone · Post by **SmartZone** » Sat Dec 28, 2002 10:38 pm

but what if you want to control the power output but still keep the repeater freq. split active? Meaning.. i dont want to go direct to change power settings if I have to still talk into a machine...

Well let me ask this to the group...... If i have a 110watt vhf spectra... can i change the high power to be a different level...and the low power to be something different too? The reason its a big deal... is that i know i wont need 110 watts out... period... I dont want to put out more power than I need to get the job done... its the ham in me... If i wanted to make High power 75 and say the low power 35... would I be able to do that?

PCSAR 4x4 652 · Post by **PCSAR 4x4 652** » Sun Dec 29, 2002 12:13 am

In the "Alignment" options you can specify wattage. keep in mind if you go too low the radio may not "Lock" or become unstable.
You would still ues the DIR button to toggle between hi and low power.

April · Post by **April** » Sun Dec 29, 2002 12:54 am

Power up the Spectra radio, press the HOME button five times, and the MODE rocker once. When it finishes with the version and serial number, scrol with the MODE to ALIGN, press HOME once. It now wants the last four of the serial number, enter using the VOL and MODE and press HOME once. Scrol to HI PWR or LOW PWR and note the settings, press and hold mic PTT and then reduce the number and press home again, and your new number is stored in the radio.

SmartZone · Post by **SmartZone** » Sun Dec 29, 2002 11:18 am

Hey thanks for that align menu help. I knew it could be done. Just wasnt sure .

You'd think they would have had those on the spectra... the MCS2000 actually has a high/low power setting on the control head. Thanks for everyones help on the options...

I am sorry if I have sounded preoccupied or obsessed about the power issue. Just trying to learn and see if there were things, which there were, that i didnt know about the spectra series regarding power level changes.

Thanks to everyone who replied.