Motorola Astro Spectra Plus VHF

[LowderK]

ok this is going to sound stupid... I know the Astro plus radios are the in between radios of the astro spectra and XTL radios.. and use the same CPS as the XTL but here are a few questions I have
1 Programming Cable..? is it the same as the spectra using the rear 15 pin or ..? I was told there is a cable that can plug in to the W5 mic port to program..? is a RIB required..?
2 do these radio have the leaky components inside like the Astro spectra ..?
3 does the radio use Astro spectra encryption boards or XTL boards..?
4 can you upgrade from a W4/5 to a W9 via CPS like the XTL or ..?

Thanks for any information....

 

[n7maq-1]

1. Programming cable is a ribless RS232 P/N HKN6155. It does plug into the mic port, the DB 15 cable will not work.
2. RF sections were close to the same as the Astro Spectra, in some cases the same. I would watch the caps.
3. I can't recall for sure, but I would assume so on the UCM but I don't think the carrier board is the same. If that is not correct I hope someone will let you know.
4. I believe you can use any of the W heads with the exception of the W3. I'll check tomorrow when I can get to an ASP codeplug.

Jim

 

[secureradio01]

These radios use a UCM all their own. It looks identical to the UCM that an Astro Saber or Astro Spectra use, but it has a special firmware that will ONLY WORK in a Astro Spectra Plus. I have confirmed this 100%. I can list part #'s for the UCM's if you need them, they are very scarce. I may have a couple lying around that have DES-XL and DES-OFB in them, but the AES versions are really hard to find.

On the control heads, the Astro 25 CPS will NOT allow you to change control heads on the AS+ like you can on the other Astro 25 mobile radios. The reason for this is that the model number includes the control head type ie: ( D04UJH9SW3an ) just like the standard astro spectras did.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

These radios use a UCM all their own. It looks identical to the UCM that an Astro Saber or Astro Spectra use, but it has a special firmware that will ONLY WORK in a Astro Spectra Plus. I have confirmed this 100%. I can list part #'s for the UCM's if you need them, they are very scarce. I may have a couple lying around that have DES-XL and DES-OFB in them, but the AES versions are really hard to find.

On the control heads, the Astro 25 CPS will NOT allow you to change control heads on the AS+ like you can on the other Astro 25 mobile radios. The reason for this is that the model number includes the control head type ie: ( D04UJH9SW3an ) just like the standard astro spectras did.

I could've sworn they were like the XTL5000 TIBs. W3 TIB could be used with a W3 or W9 and the other TIB could be used with W4/5/7 and W9. I seem to remember running a high power Plus that was a W3 model with a W9 on the bench.

One major point of note on the 800 MHz Spectra Plus...they are only 800 MHz and won't do 700 like the XTLs will.