How to make a Motorola radio scanner only?

[k9dave]

Hello newbie here I’m looking for someone to turn two Motorola radios into scanners.
1. Motorola Astro 9000 complete unit with siren
2 Motorola 09 controller for a federal signal system
Location is Delaware and Philadelphia.

 

[mmckenna]

We'd need more data.
Possible you have a Spectra. Those are old radios. Single band and limited scanning capability. You'd need to know what band the radio is, and then find out what is in your area on that specific band that you want to listen to.

They are also analog only, and that will further limit what you can do with it.

They need to be programmed, and that will require some older software and a programming cable. The software needs an old windows machine to run on in most cases.

They are also notorious for leaky capacitors and very unlikely to find one that does not have that issue.

If this is your first foray into radios, you're going to spend a bunch of money on parts to make this work and have a very limited capability. The programming is difficult and take a lot of time to learn. These things are barely worth scrap value.

If you are looking for a scanner, you'll get way more capability and use out of an actual dedicated scanner. Might actually be cheaper in the long run.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Welcome to the RR forums. Search the forums for "non affiliate scan". Plenty of threads about it and reasons you should avoid putting a professional radio on a system it's not intended to operate on. Besides most of the systems in Philadelphia/Delaware area are P25 Phase-II which your Motos can't handle. Take my advice as a newbie you should just stick with a scanner.

 

[PhillyFireFeed]

I'm in your area and can do Motorola NAS programming, but I won't even touch radios that old. Check fleabay for an XTL2500 or XTL5000 in the 700/800 band and I could throw the Philly TRS in it. Delco is still analog UHF T-Band for the moment, but all other counties in the area are using 700 MHz P25 Phase 2 systems, which in the Motorola realm is limited to the APX series (APX4500, 6500, 7500, 8500). Unless you just want some analog dispatch channels, etc, then you can get an appropriate band XTL and I could throw those in. The XTL mobiles are dirt cheap (under $100) but the APX mobiles are going to be upwards of $1,000.

 

[Ubbe]

Hello newbie here I’m looking for someone to turn two Motorola radios into scanners.
1. Motorola Astro 9000 complete unit with siren

If it is a Astro Spectra then it seems to have a very flexible scan list system suitable for scanner use. The Astro name should also make it capable of digital P25. Read the model number of the radio unit to see exactly what frequency band it is and what systems that then can be monitored in your area.

/Ubbe

 

[nokones]

The 4th digit in the model number will tell you the operating band range of the radio.

Also, if it is a Spectra, which output power (Mid or High) is the radio? You will need the appropriate programming cable for the specific radio depending on the radio output power.

To program for receive only, each conventional personality will need to be changed to "Receive Only" and scan list(s) will need to be developed.

 

[Ubbe]

You will need the appropriate programming cable for the specific radio depending on the radio output power.

OP is looking for someone to program it for him, to avoid buying all the stuff and learn how to program as it will probably be a one time event.

/Ubbe

 

[nokones]

Depending on the actual model radio, I may have the cable and the programming software and I am willing to program the radio for him at no cost. He will just need to pay the shipping costs both ways.

 

[nikronzo]

Hello newbie here I’m looking for someone to turn two Motorola radios into scanners.
1. Motorola Astro 9000 complete unit with siren
2 Motorola 09 controller for a federal signal system
Location is Delaware and Philadelphia.

Sell it on ebay and finance a real scanner