[Motorola] Astro Spectra VHF Range 2 to Range 1

[w7trh at comcast.net]

John, 



So .........Did you ever change a range 1 to a range 2 by fooling RSS? I have a chance to transfer a quantity of ASTRO Spectras to our McChord AFB BST., if this can be accomplished! The range 2 will do "us" no good for AFMARS use! I heard NAVY MARS is NOT going narrow band, so I can see ARMY or AF going there either, as that would interfere with "Interoperability"! Too bad these radios are federal property! I know they will be "Crushed" when turned in to DRMO! Too bad! The radios I have are the 2.5 kHz and 1 meg. Now I have to find the RSS version as high or higher than the radios were programmed with! I have not "Read" the radio yet, with the RSS I have on hand. I may check with McChord "LMR", but I'll bet they don't know how to hex edit to change the range from (2) to (1)!! 



Did you actually have 1-3 microvolts sens, or did you mean 0.1 to 0.3 microvolts sens? 



Thanks for your input John! 



Tim Hardy W7TRH / AFA0TP Wa. 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Johnjewkes at aol.com 
To: motorola at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 3:39:34 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific 
Subject: Re: [Motorola] Astro Spectra VHF Range 2 to Range 1 

Hi Tim, 
    I use Spectra and Astro Spectra for Army MARS Freqs  143 & 150 
with no problems. I have the RSS available via local National Guard unit   
(Comm unit). 
Changing the codes in the RSS fixes the band correctly (Hi or low  split) 
No noticeable variance in reception ( still 1-3 microvolts). JUST one thing 
 though: 
the heads are very easy to damage when changing out. Also, bad caps in the   
unit 
can cause a 'squish-squish-squish' noise in the background of   
transmissions. Check 
all the caps for proper values. Yes, some heads include scan function, horn 
 alert on 
receive or so forth... (One button simplex or repeat -They call simplex   
'Talkaround'). 
  
    You have to select on/off for these functions  inside the RSS. Then you 
save the file and 
feed it in via the RIB  into the midi-port (called a codeplug on the   
radio). So long as the 
unit is intact, it will read and write to the radio. 
  
73 de John Jewkes, US ARMY MARS, Oregon/W6HNC 
  
  
In a message dated 11/16/2009 1:03:11 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,   
w7trh at comcast.net writes: 



Hello Folks, 



I am wondering how much hex  editing is involved in moving a Astro Spectra 
[VHF Hi Range 2] to [VHF Low  Range 1]. If this can be accomplished, how 
much does it affect rec. sens.?  (This radio will be used on USAF MARS 142-143 
mHz) 



I have  never done any hex editing......so if it is possible to lower range 
of  the Spectra [100 w trunk mount], I may ask for assistance with my   
"Project". 



Also, I thought I read that if you change control  head (ex. A9 to A5), you 
had to do something in software. I realize that  cables are the same. 



Thanks for any help you can provide!   



Tim Hardy 

W7TRH / AFA0TP 

Vashon Is. Wa.   
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