Spectra Identification question

[MEGA14]

I found a site which breaks down the radio's model number to allow one to identify the radio's
various characteristics .

Where I have difficulty is identifying the right " System Operation " type for my needs.

I'm looking , ideally for a Spectra C7 800 mhz trunking radio to scan local police and fire who are operating on a smartnet type II system. Spectras are hard to find , so I'll settle for Maxtracs instead.

What I need to know is :

1) Re: Spectra , the 5th character in the model number identifies the radio as either Trunking , Conventional or Smartnet.

What is the difference between Trunking and Smartnet?

2) Re: Maxtrac . I can't find a site which allows me to break down the radio's model number by character in order to identify it's characteristics. I have so far learned that D35 or D45 represent Dash-mount , wattage rating and 800 mhz , usually trunking radios. I'd like to take the guesswork out of identifying the trunking aspect and I need to know how to determine whether it is a type I or type II radio.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[N4DES]

See if this helps...

http://www.genesisworld.com/modeldecoder.asp

 

[pacrat551]

Try the Wiki pages for help with different flavors of trunking and try Batlabs maxtrac for help on identifying models for maxtracs

 

[MEGA14]

Thanks to both for the links and info but that's exactly where I'm at.

As it says in the batlabs site , there is only so much info you can gain from the model number.
I was hoping there was more info out there.

Hard to buy a radio without knowing what to look for.

Maybe I'll stick to Uniden radios since they can be rebanded anyway.

The reason I wanted motorolas is because I never get any interference or static. I don't know what causes this in other radios , I only know motorolas transmit clearly. Same type of antenae , same frequency , no noise.

 

[pacrat551]

Thanks to both for the links and info but that's exactly where I'm at.

As it says in the batlabs site , there is only so much info you can gain from the model number.
I was hoping there was more info out there.

Hard to buy a radio without knowing what to look for.

Maybe I'll stick to Uniden radios since they can be rebanded anyway.

The reason I wanted motorolas is because I never get any interference or static. I don't know what causes this in other radios , I only know motorolas transmit clearly. Same type of antenae , same frequency , no noise.

Sorry I couldn't be any further help. FYI, If you are part of a trunked radio system, the motorola radios will be replaced if they cannot be rebanded. I have several older spectra, LCS and LTS series radios that will be replaced.

 

[jim202]

Be somewhat careful about obtaining Maxtrac radios for use on a trunking
system. Most of them don't have the trunking firmware PROM installed.
They can only do an analog trunking system. They will not do digital.

The other issue with the Maxtrac 800 radios is that they can not be used on
a trunking system that has splinter channels. The radio firmware will not let
the radio do the trunking splinter channels.

There should be a number of 800 Spectra mobiles floating around and being
sold on places like Ebay. Thes older Spectra radios will not do the digital
trunking systems. They can only work on a pure analog trunking system.

The last issue to be alert for is the data rate on the system control channels.
Both of these older radios will not do the newer 9600 baud data control
channel rate. They will only do the 3600 baud data rate. This coming year
there is a number of systems being changed over to the higher data rate.
This is due to the fact that Motorola is shutting off support for the 3600 data
rate. It is not P25 compliant. The 9600 data rate is P25 compliant, or as
close as you currently can get.

Jim

 

[MEGA14]

Thanks for that.

What , if any , modern Motorola radios would you recommend for monitoring public safety systems in Canada?

The data rate issue you bring up seems to agree with my assessment that maybe I ought to look at Unidens , the 296 , 396 , 796 and 996 , rather than bother with older Maxtracs and Spectras.

The Motorolas come in clearer than the BCT-8's or the 780xlt and I don't know why. It is what is/was motivating me to aquire Maxtracs/Spectras. If it's simply an antenna issue then my local radio shops are lacking in expertise.

 

[rescue161]

Is it a mobile radio that you want?

Astro Spectra that is propperly flashed will do what you want, but they are hard to find and expensive when you do.

I'd go with a handheld, i.e. an XTS3000 or an Astro Saber. Just make sure the firmaware is recent and you'll be fine. Stay away from the XTS5000 for monitoring purposes because they must affiliate with the system and that is something that you do NOT want to happen. The XTS3000 and the Astro Saber can be configured to never affiliate.

Good luck.