P5100 Low 380-430

[10-95]

So I have a batch of nice Harris P25 AES DES P5100's heading my way. It's been a while since I have played with the Harris M/A Com stuff. I know in the days I worked with MPA's and MRK'S swapping RF decks and reprogramming was all I needed to do to change bandsplist. So I read here that the radios are no longer two pieces consisting of the RF portion and the Logic controller portion?? Is this correct? I was under the impression that changing out the RF deck to a preferred range and reprogramming and re-alignment was all that is needed. is this not the case on the 7100/5100'S?? If not , I will write and SC4 file and see if I can pull it into the ham portion of UHF anyway.

 

[DisasterGuy]

I'm not saying it can't be done but it would be pretty in - depth not to mention finding the parts if you don't already have them on hand. We swap front covers, main boards, etc but if there is a board issue we send them to lynchburg. That said, we haven't sent a 5100 or 7100 out in many years as they are EOL and beyond official parts support.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[ElroyJetson]

Frankly I think you're not going to like what you find.

The 5100/7100 platform's UHF models all have filter modules in them that are very tight and restrictive out of their band ranges. The 450 model is deaf through almost all the 440-450 MHz range and the UHF low 403-430 model is even more deaf if you try to take it up to 440-450.

Frankly I think you have much better, and more productive, things to do with your time, like watching paint dry.

Unless, that is, you wish to attempt to modify the filter modules themselves, which is likely possible
but it's not a job I'd take on.

If I remember correctly, and it HAS been a while so I am not 100 percent sure of this, Kyocera makes the filter modules in those radios and they're all stock items, NOT made exclusively for Harris (M/A-Com, whatever...) There may even be a drop-in model that actually allows operation in the 440-450 MHz range. If that is the case, and you can locate it, then you have solved problem 1 of 3. Writing an .sc4 file that extends your range is problem 2 of 3. The third problem is to ensure that the VCOs will lock that far out of band, which may or may not be a problem for the radio you choose to modify.

 

[N9PBD]

Disregard this post.

 

[10-95]

Well I'll give it a shot anyway. Writing the SC-4 file is a pretty simple job.
I probably still have the one I used to bring my low split
MRK up to ham and it works Quite well on 70cm. I will provide an update
When I do one of the radios next week.as for the ,Sc-4 File, the correct
Lines of code needed exist in the Dos version code plugs. As for features I am
Using am old Ericsson dos based generator

 

[kb4cvn]

Nope, the days of separate RF deck and and control/logic boards ended with the M-RK series radios.

The LPE's has a DSP daughter board. Everything after that was a single board portable radio.


As far as moving the 403-430 and 378-430 MHz radios up into the 440-450 MHz range. Yes it can be done. But do you really want to spend that much time, engineering effort, and patience to attempt it? The SC4/SC5 file will let you program it. But you will have lots of component changes to make it work correctly.

I put a Mastr3 repeater on the air here in Lynchburg to be able to play with all the low-UHF surplus stuff out there. Even got it coordinated. (420.050 out, 426.050 in, 136.5 Hz tx/rx for analog, or $293 for P-25) Apparently a bunch of other people around the country have the same idea.

Use the radio for 71cm amateur, scan the feds. But use it where it was intended. Or, sell/swap it for what you want!

My humble 2¢ worth.

 

[10-95]

Nope, the days of separate RF deck and and control/logic boards ended with the M-RK series radios.

The LPE's has a DSP daughter board. Everything after that was a single board portable radio.


As far as moving the 403-430 and 378-430 MHz radios up into the 440-450 MHz range. Yes it can be done. But do you really want to spend that much time, engineering effort, and patience to attempt it? The SC4/SC5 file will let you program it. But you will have lots of component changes to make it work correctly.

I put a Mastr3 repeater on the air here in Lynchburg to be able to play with all the low-UHF surplus stuff out there. Even got it coordinated. (420.050 out, 426.050 in, 136.5 Hz tx/rx for analog, or $293 for P-25) Apparently a bunch of other people around the country have the same idea.

Use the radio for 71cm amateur, scan the feds. But use it where it was intended. Or, sell/swap it for what you want!

My humble 2¢ worth.

As I mentrioned , my SC4 file moved my low split MRK up just fine, no issues, so I'll try that file on the 5100's. Thanks