What Cable to buy??? Astro spectra

[Andre]

I am looking to buy a programming cable for Astro Spectra mobiles and cannot decide which cable would best suit my needs. I do already have a RIB.

What I want to do is simply program these radios. NO flash upgrades....

On MOL I have 3 options.... I think....

0180300B10
3080369B73
RKN4047A

Obviously, the less I have to spend the better. Which should I buy?

-Andre

[akardam]

0180300B10 - High Power / Remote Mount Front TIB Programming/Service Cable
3080369B73 - Low/Mid Power Rear Accy Port Programming/Service Cable
RKN4047A - Flash Cable Only (not used for programming)

So, how are the radios you want to program configured? You may need one or both of the above cables.

Both of the programming cables are documented on the main site. Why not build your own for way less than Motorola wants to charge you?

[Andre]

All of the radios I would be programming are High Power / remote mount style. Some W9, some W7 and most W4.

[Batwings21]

I would build the cable, its very easy to build.

[Andre]

Another question, I also have a low power astro spectra in a consolette, it has a DB15F on that back that is not being used, it also has 2 DB25F on the front, which both have ribbons coming off of them. do I need to use a low power program cable on the back port, or can i use a high power program cable on the 2nd DB25F on the front????
Andre

[Jim202]

You could use the rear DB15 connector on the rear of the radio, but will have to supply the +12 volts to it. A better way
is to use the connector on the front of the radio in the upper left corner that looks like a mic connector. It should have
a black rubber cover over it. I can't remember the part number for this cable, but it has a USB connector for the
computer end. You don't need a RIB to use it.

Jim

Another question, I also have a low power astro spectra in a consolette, it has a DB15F on that back that is not being used, it also has 2 DB25F on the front, which both have ribbons coming off of them. do I need to use a low power program cable on the back port, or can i use a high power program cable on the 2nd DB25F on the front????
Andre

[tvsjr]

You could use the rear DB15 connector on the rear of the radio, but will have to supply the +12 volts to it. A better way
is to use the connector on the front of the radio in the upper left corner that looks like a mic connector. It should have
a black rubber cover over it. I can't remember the part number for this cable, but it has a USB connector for the
computer end. You don't need a RIB to use it.

The cable you describe is a mic programming cable for Astro Spectra Plus and XTL5000. It won't work on an Astro Spectra - you need either low/mid or high power cables and a RIB.

You should be able to use a high-power cable and plug into the (top?) DB25 on the back of the consolette and program it right up. If you have to go inside, you can plug into the DB15 with a low/mid cable or the second DB25 with a high power cable. As far as the ignition sense on the DB15 goes, I have a custom cable with a DB15 male and female... male to the radio, plug the existing harness into the female for ign, speaker, emergency jumper, etc.

[immelmen28]

I have an Astro spectra consolette I was working on and tried the high power DB25 to Accy. #3 (top) on the back of the case with no luck(communication with radio failed). I was told a specific cable was required for that port --> http://www.batlabs.com/astconscbl.html

Searching around I found this thread where the front right DB25 was tried but when the ribbon was removed it cause a FAIL 01/90. http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.p ... with+radio

I hope I am missing something, it would be nice to not have to break this thing open and hassle with the +12 ignition every time.