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Motorola Spectra High Power

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Magnetsteve

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I had taken my Motorola Spectra High power radio to the local motorola tech to have it programmed, this (probably my first mistake) radio was bought off of ebay. It physically is in good shape, it has an A9 control head. When I powered it up after purchasing it it shows MODE 0 on the display, I thought somebody had just wiped out the memory or something. Motorola tech told me he could not get the radio to program and everytime it would try to program, it would lock up their computer.. Whats wrong with it? did I buy a piece of junk?

thanks
 

b7spectra

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Let me guess, the Motorola tech also charged you, even though he couldn't program it, right?

I've programmed close to a hundred Spectras, both high and low powered, and never encountered a Mode 0. If there was a programming issue, it would display "FL ##/##" on the screen.

Check out BatLabs at BatLabs Spectra and it might give you some better insight.

Is it a VHF or UHF? I'm actually looking for one in UHF.
 

n5ims

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Search for the Spectra capacitor replacment proceedure (links are posted nearly monthly here). The Spectra series are known to have issues with some of their electrolitic caps which leak and can cause several issues. If not taken care of early enough the acid in the fluid can destroy the circuit boards. The repair isn't too hard to do yourself and there are folks that specialize in this repair as well.
 

druleshy

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I can fix your radio for you. Just had to fix my radio that was saying the same thing.
 

jparks29

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mode 0 sounds like either the control head wasn't programmed properly (as the A9 is programmed seperately) or you have a Syntor x9000 display instead of a 'real' A9.
 

druleshy

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I just got a radio off ebay it had the mode 0 . Someone push a dash mount codeplug into a trunk mount.
 
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mode 0 sounds like either the control head wasn't programmed properly (as the A9 is programmed seperately) or you have a Syntor x9000 display instead of a 'real' A9.

X2

I have gotten "Mode 0" when I would bit bang stuff and mess up the check sum and get a Fail 01/82, then Mode 0.

I know you said it CAME with an A9 head with the cables, but what is the model number on the radio (and when reading with RSS)? If the RSS says it is an A9, reprogram it.

Otherwise it may not be compatible like jparks said or some other issue with the codeplug if it was previously hacked (bit banged).
 

Magnetsteve

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ok, like I said this one came from ebay also, I'm not sure if I have the correct head put on it or not (bought deck off of ebay and used a head that I had lying around the house that looks identical to a spectra, I guess it could be a syntor head but I'm not sure) , but like I said when powered up it says mode 0....

druleshy, that be great if you could fix it
 

mancow

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Spectra A9 control heads don't program separately like the old Syntors do.


mode 0 sounds like either the control head wasn't programmed properly (as the A9 is programmed seperately) or you have a Syntor x9000 display instead of a 'real' A9.
 
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Spectra A9 control heads don't program separately like the old Syntors do.

I think he means that when you program a radio, it programs the codeplug to the MLM, as well as program the mode names into the A9 head.

If you put another A9 head on that radio that was from a different radio, they wouldn't match and the mode names would not work right.
 

mirage

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Ok Lets get to Basic with numbers

What is the model and ID of the Radio
What is the model of the head (I know A9) but on the back of the head.
Doug
 

Magnetsteve

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Okie dokie... Finally had a chance to sit down and take these numbers for you.

Model on radio: TA4GX+078W
ID #: T83GXA7HA4AK

Control Head: HCN1073E and says "SYSTEMS 9000" on it
 

mirage

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Feb 17, 2003
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First problem

Well the first problem is that you have the wrong head the radio is a A4 thats the head with the two knobs.
Once you have the correct one then maybe it might program. As far as the 9000 head goes you can get most to work on the Spectra by resetting the control head this trick only works on the ones with the orange rubber where the cable plugs in if it has a white plastic its spectra but may be a trunking head.
This wont help you in your case but keep it in mind.
Open the head up and look for the chip in the brown socket. With the radfio off pop the chip out be careful the socket is delicate. With the chip out turn the radio on and go get a cup off coffe you will see it flashig numbers and such. after about an hour put the chip back in with the radio off. Dump a A9 archive into the head with a A9 Radio that matches of coarse and you can make A9 heads work. This also works for the Syntor x 9000 Radios only use that radio since some times its hard to find heads for the old guys and also this way you can have a high memory head for the 9000..
 
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Okie dokie... Finally had a chance to sit down and take these numbers for you.

Model on radio: TA4GX+078W
ID #: T83GXA7HA4AK

Control Head: HCN1073E and says "SYSTEMS 9000" on it

Since you say you have an A9 head, My radio is a T83GXA7HA9AK, which is the same codeplug as that except with an A9 head. My head is the HCN1073D revision, but that should still be fine.

PM me if you need or want to try the codeplug. Just make sure to make a backup of your codeplug (even if it is messed up) just in case, if possible.
 
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