MOTOROLA SPECTRA MOBILE
RADIO INFORMATION
[SYNTOR]
[SYNTOR X] [SYNTOR
X 9000 and X 9000E] [TRUNKING
SYNTOR X and SYNTOR X 9000] [SPECTRA]
INTRODUCTION
The Spectra and Spectra II mobile radios are covered on this
web site. The Consolette, Railroad, Metrocom MTC3600 (NYCTA) and
VRM 600 Spectra radios are not covered. The Astro Spectra mobile
is somewhat similar to the Spectra II, but is not covered (some
Astro only accessories and manuals are identified for reference
only). The Spectra II can be identified by its E2, E3, E4, E5,
E7 or E9 control head designation and is sometimes called Spectra
E instead of Spectra II. The Astro Spectra can be identified by
a W3, W4, W5, W7 or W9 control head designation, or the Astro
logo on the radio or control head.
The Spectra product line uses the Systems
9000 serial bus from the Syntor X 9000 radios. It also uses
the same option Rx Option audio and Tx Option audio scheme used
by the Syntor X 9000. The original Spectra uses PROM based firmware
on a MLM board. Over the long time the original Spectra has been
around, several different variations have been created. Even if
they look the same on the outside, there can be important differences
inside. The Spectra II is a more advanced Trunking radio later
(newer) development that uses FLASH based firmware. The Astro
Spectra is a digital capable radio with RSS programmable wide/narrow
band that also uses FLASH firmware.
Spectra control head designations that start with A
(i.e. A2, A3, A4, A5, A7 and A9) are for conventional (i.e.
not trunking) Spectra radios. Control head designations that start
with B (i.e. B2, B4, B5, B7 and B9) are for trunking
Privacy Plus Spectra radios. Control head designations that start
with C (i.e. C2, C4, C5, C7 and C9) are for trunking
Smartnet Spectra radios. Control head designations that start
with E (i.e. E2, E4, E5, E7 and E9) are for trunking
Smartnet/Smartzone Spectra II radios. The A2, B2, C2 and E2 limited
control heads have many of their button positions blanked out
and do not support scanning or many features found on other radios.
Trunking radios will usually also allow some conventional frequencies
to be programmed.
These radios come in VHF, UHF, 800 MHz and 900 MHz versions.
See the model chart for more
information.
These radios contain a program with things like the Rx / Tx
frequencies, PL / DPL tones, signaling, scan lists, etc., inside
them called a code plug. The Radio Service Software (RSS) and programming hardware
is used to read, edit, save and write
the radio's code plug. You can not create a Spectra code plug
from scratch. If must be read from the radio or loaded from a
saved file on the RSS computer. The code plug contains the radio's
model and serial number, which the RSS checks for, so Motorola
made it difficult to use any other code plug than the one that
came with the radio. Batlabs
is the best Motorola site and their Spectra page is the best source
of information on this that I know of.
The Spectra radio drawer uses a MLM board that plugs into the
main Command Board. This MLM board contains RAM,
PROM and EEPROM.
The PROM has the radio's firmware permanently programmed
into it. This PROM firmware is something like the radio's operating
system. The EEPROM stores the radio's code plug. The code plug
is like a program that runs under the radio's firmware based operating
system. Because the firmware can not be reprogrammed, it is immune
to corruption from failed radio programming attempts. In fact,
the essential built-in programming that allows the radio to communicate
through the Systems 9000 bus with
the RSS computer, is contained in this PROM firmware. Because
the code plug is reprogrammable with the RSS, it is not
immune to corruption from failed radio programming attempts (a
corrupted code plug can prevent the radio from powering up). The
older HLN6024, HLN6062, HLN6064 and HLN6074 Command Boards use
a 37 pin MLM connector and the newer HLN6094 Command Board uses
a 40 pin MLM connector.
The Spectra II has a different Command Board with a built-in
large flash EEPROM instead of a plug-in MLM board. The firmware
and code plug both reside in this flash EEPROM. Because the Spectra
II firmware can now be reprogrammed, it is not immune
to corruption. At worst, corrupted firmware can even leave the
radio totally unable to communicate with the RSS computer (this
requires a major repair or replacement Command Board). FYI, the
Astro Spectra also has a large flash EEPROM.
The version of the firmware in the radio can directly affect
what accessories and options will or will not work with the Spectra
radio. This version information can be accessed when the radio
is powered up (after the "self chk" quickly press Home
5 times) or through the RSS and its programming equipment.
Even if you have the correct firmware version and any required
hardware, the radio's code plug still may not allow the
accessory/option to used (i.e. you still may not be able to
program it in the RSS). Here is a primitive beginning of a firmware
version table:
Spectra Option
Description |
Required
Radio
Firmware
Version |
Required
Radio Hardware / Code Plug |
Advanced Securenet |
5.10 or later |
Physical
Security Housing assembly and Cabling.
Compatible control head.
Advanced Securenet capable code plug. |
DTMF Decoding |
5.10 or later |
HLN6151A
DTMF Decoder or
HLN6150SP?? Hear Clear (unknown
SP #).
DTMF decode capable code plug. |
Zone Operation |
6.00 or later |
Zone capable code plug. |
Conventional RSSI |
6.15 or later |
A pre-programmed RSSI control head key.
An A4, A5, A7 or A9 control head. |
- Do not confuse DTMF Decoding with DTMF Encoding.
DTMF Encoding is a standard feature on many Spectra radios.
- The Hear Clear HLN6150 only has the copper traces for the
DTMF decoder parts on the printed circuit board. I do not have
the SP part number for the Hear Clear boards that actually comes
with the DTMF decoder parts installed. The earlier Hear Clear
boards do not have any DTMF support at all.
The way the Spectra powers up is different from previous radios
like the Syntor X 9000. Just like other older models of mobile
radios, the Spectra has a red/black power cable that supplies
power to the radio drawer. All dash mount radio control heads
and remote mount radio control heads, except for the Systems
9000 remote mount control heads, are supplied with power directly
from the radio. Older radios, like the Syntor X 9000, used to
supply switched power from the control head to the radio
drawer. The Spectra radios do not work this way. The power switch
on the control head goes to the radio drawer serial input/output
chip and then to the radio drawer microprocessor through the switched
B+ connection. It is a fancy way of providing a control head to
radio drawer microprocessor interrupt wake-up function using the
switched B+ line. The Spectra radio drawer serial input/output
chip and microprocessor always has power whenever the radio drawer
red/black power cable has power. When the radio is off, the microprocessor
is in a sleep mode that draws an extremely small amount of power
and the radio does not function. When the wake-up interrupt is
activated through the switched B+ connection, the microprocessor
comes out of sleep mode and the radio functions like normal (it
draws way more power from its power cable when it is on). The
difference is, the control head no longer provides
the on/off switched power through the control head to the radio
drawer internal voltage regulators, using switched B+ as the power
source. Now the Spectra radio drawer serial input/output
chip and microprocessor turns these internal voltage regulators
on or off using the radio drawer unswitched A+ as the power source.
Therefore, these switched internal voltage regulators draw their
power from the radio's red/black power cable, instead of the control
head power switch.
This change in the radio's on/off control improved the optional
radio drawer based Emergency button operation. Now a Spectra radio
drawer that is turned off can power itself up and send
the Emergency signal to dispatch, without having to manually turn
on the radio first. If the radio is off, the control head does
not even power up at all. This improved Emergency operation is
also one reason why the radio drawer based Emergency switch must
be installed or the radio drawer Emergency input pin must
be shorted to ground for the radio drawer to function normally
(when command board optional jumper JU502 is installed, the Emergency
input pin should be left open and not shorted to ground for normal
operation).
Do not confuse this improved Emergency option, that originates
from its own hardware input line attached to the radio drawer,
with the old RSS programmable control head Emergency key
or the RSS programmable control head VIP In Emergency button.
The old control head Emergency key or button can also
initiate the Emergency signal, but the radio must be manually
turned on first, before this control head based setup will work.
Even when the Emergency key or button is RSS programmed into the
control head code plug, the new Emergency option input
line from the radio drawer still must be setup correctly.
Obviously, the RSS programmed control head based Emergency
key or button is not the preferred method of controlling
the Emergency function. The Emergency line from the radio drawer
is the preferred method. To use the Emergency function, MDC Signaling
and Emergency must be enabled in the RSS Conventional Configuration
(not to be confused with the control head Emergency key or VIP
In button RSS programming). Even if MDC Signaling and Emergency
is not enabled in the RSS Conventional Configuration, activating
the radio drawer Emergency line will still cause big problems.
Changing command board jumper JU502 will reverse the
radio drawer Emergency Switch polarity. JU502 is installed in
most radios (i.e. it is the default) and radios with JU502 installed
will act as described in the preceding paragraphs. If JU502 has
been removed, then the radio drawer Emergency line wiring must
be changed. Radios with JU502 removed that have their radio drawer
Emergency line wired as described in the preceding paragraphs,
will power up and be stuck in the Emergency state.
This change in the radio's on/off control can also have a negative
side effect. If the radio's code plug suffers from certain types
of corruption, the radio's microprocessor may not even turn the
radio on. This type of code plug corruption might even
leave you with no choice, except to replace the MLM on a Spectra
or send in a Spectra II for service (the Spectra II has no replaceable
MLM). Because the radio's microprocessor expects to find particular
pre-installed code plug data before it will power up the radio,
you can not simply replace the MLM EEPROM chip with a new unprogrammed
chip when repairing the radio.
Control heads like the A2, B2, C2, E2, A5, B5, C5, E5, A7,
B7, C7 and E7 using the HLN6075, HLN6263, HLN6283, HLN6337 and
HLN6338 circuit boards have a U4 chip with interface circuitry
and a built in electronic power switch control. There is no mechanical
switch carrying power to the control head, radio drawer and VIP
accessories. This electronic power switch is a operated by a simple
momentary contact switch that causes U4 and Q51 to toggle the
control head switched B+ power on or off. The switched
B+ feeds the control head switched 5 volt regulator, which powers
the control head U1 microprocessor. The switched B+ also goes
to the radio drawer and wakes up the radio drawer microprocessor.
This power switch difference can be important when troubleshooting
radios with these electronic power switches. If you have a radio
with one of these control head boards that will not power up,
this could be one potential source of the problem. Control head
circuit board jumper JU7 will bypass the electronic power switch
and force the control head to be turned on all the time. Keep
in mind that the control head internal switched B+ power, including
the Switched B+ sent to the radio drawer, VIP Switched B+ pins
and VIP-II DEK Switched B+ pins, all draw their power through
Q51. All of the other control heads (including the HLN6020 and
HLN6078) have a mechanical power switch that physically switches
to and remains in the on or off position.
As these radios get older, the electrolytic capacitors can
become a problem. If the electrolytic capacitors on the control
head boards, radio drawer command board or RF board leak, it will
disrupt the operation of the radio. Any leakage will also eat
through the printed circuit board traces if left there long enough.
The more common problems are radios that will not power up, get
stuck in SELF TEST or give a FAIL 001 error message. Electrolytic
capacitors are not the only cause of these problems, but they
are becoming a fairly common cause. Keep this in mind when trouble
shooting these radios.
Never ground either radio speaker lead. Grounding
any/either speaker lead will destroy the audio amplifier chip
on the Command Board. Motorola sells an audio
isolation transformer for connecting test equipment, like
a SINAD meter, to the radio speaker leads.
The standard HSN4018B speaker
is 8 ohms. An optional HSN6001A
3.2 ohm speaker is available that is louder than the standard
speaker.
The above drawing has "hot spots" you can click on
for additional information. These are functional block diagrams
only and have no relationship at all to true physical proportions.
- The radio drawer chassis comes in two different
basic configurations. There are the low/medium power (50 watts
or less) radio drawers and the high power (110 watt) drawers.
- The low/medium power radio drawer chassis is
used for dash mount and remote mount radios.
- The high power radio drawer chassis is only
used for remote mount radios.
- The low/medium power radio Interconnect
Boards are interchangeable. The existing Interconnect board
can be removed and a different one installed to change the radio
configuration. Other changes to the code plug or control head
accessories may be required to complete the conversion and/or
installation. However, the Interconnect board for a high power
radio can not be installed.
- The high power radio Interconnect boards are interchangeable.
The existing Interconnect board can be removed and a different
one installed to change the radio configuration. Other changes
to the code plug or control head accessories may be required
to complete the installation. However, the Interconnect board
for a low/medium power radio can not be installed.
- When changing out an old dash mount control head for a
new dash mount control head, first check the Interconnect
board part number and new Control Head board part number. Any
HLN6058 or HLN6066 Interconnect board will require
modifications to work with later HLN6263,
HLN6283, HLN6337, HLN6338, AALN4009 or AALN4015 control heads.
If you do not want to make the Interconnect board modifications,
then you will need a new HLN6285A Interconnect board instead.
- The Low/Med Power and High Power radios use different power cables. The Low/Med Power
cable is shared with other radio models like the MaxTrac and
Radius mobiles. The High Power cable is unique to the Spectra/Spectra
II/Astro Spectra high power radios.
- High power 110 watt VHF and UHF radios do not have
a rear J2 DB-15 connector. All high power radios
are remote mount only and have two
DB-25 connectors (J5 & J6) on the front
of the radio. There is no radio drawer plastic front either,
it is metal with a locking drawer handle and uses a special
base mounting plate (it is not
exactly the same as, but is very similar to the Syntor X and
Syntor X 9000/9000E radio drawer mounting system).
- The low and medium power radios have a standard mounting
trunnion bracket and other optional
mounts. There is also an optional locking
kit.
- The low power motorcycle radios have a weather proof enclosure with an antenna.
- The Interconnect Board
used depends on the radio configuration. Some earlier dash mount
Interconnect Boards that appear to duplicate the same control
heads supported by other boards, only work with older control
heads (these older Interconnect boards can be converted
to work with the newer control heads). The Interconnect Board
is installed in the front of the radio drawer. The HHCH dash/remote
mount radios and all low/medium power remote mount radios
require a special plastic front.
The other dash mount radios have the Interconnect Board sandwiched
between the radio and control head.
- Clear Interconnect Boards
are for radios without Internal
Securenet circuit boards (the model
number identifies Securenet capable radios). The Secure
Interconnect Boards have the P506
Internal Securnent Keyloader Port for the P501
radio drawer internal option connector (an Internal
Securenet circuit board can be plugged into the P501 connector).
A Key-Variable Loader (i.e. also know as KVL, Code Inserter or
Keyloader) and its cable are used to load the encryption key
or keys into a Securenet option board through a Keyloader Port.
- The pushbutton or rotary dash mount uses a A2, B2,
C2, E2, A4, B4, C4, E4, A5, B5, C5, E5, A7, B7, C7 or E7 control head. The dash mount J2
DB-15 wiring is slightly different than a remote mount (see
below). Dash mounts use the 3080091M01
accessory cable attached to the J2
DB-15 connector on the rear of the radio drawer. Remote mounts
may or may not use an accessory cable on the control head J3
DB-15 pigtail connector. Keep in mind, the high power radios
and motorcycle radios are not available in dash mount configurations.
- The only real difference between a dash HHCH
and remote mount HHCH, is the remote mount HHCH uses a special
3080069P02 or HLN6092A
(old part # 3080069P01) J5
cable. The DB-15 Accessory Connector attaches to the radio's
J2 DB-15 on a dash mount or
to the cable's J3 DB-15 "pig
tail" connector on a remote mount (this Accessory cable
includes a Hang-Up Box connection). All of the single radio drawer
HHCH radios use a special HHCH Interconnect
Board and MLM module (the HHCH Interconnect Board and MLM
will only work with the HHCH). The dual radio drawer HHCH radios
that use the SIU, have the
same Interconnect Board and MLM module as an A9 radio (the radio
has a special SIU HHCH code plug with 2 digit numbers instead
of mode names). The low / medium power HHCH radio drawer has
different wiring on the J2 DB-15
connector.
- All Low/Med power remote or dash mount radios
can use the J2 DB-15 connector to program the radio.
- All remote mount radios with the J6 DB-25 connector
on the front of the radio drawer can use it to program the radio.
One exception is a low/med power radio with the HLN6261B Interconnect Board, which has
its Systems 9000 bus pins on J6 disconnected (this version
of the Interconnect Board comes without certain chip resistor
jumpers installed).
- The very early HLN6020 and HLN6078 control head circuit boards
have the Bus +, Bus - and Busy connections on the front microphone
connector (later model control head circuit boards use these
pins for the Securnet Keyloader Port). Radios with these very early control head circuit
boards could possibly program the radio's code plug using these
connections with a custom cable.
- The J6 Options DB-25 connector is required for options
like a rear control head (if available), Systems
9000 housings, etc.
- The remote mount radio configurations that show J2
as "not used", can still use this connector. It is
just not part of the "standard" radio installation.
Normally, the J3 cable connector or Systems 9000 connector
is used instead.
- There are remote mount kits for dash mount radios. Therefore,
radios with a D model
number are commonly found in remote mount configurations where
you would expect a T
model.
- Securenet dash mount radios have special Keyloader
Port pins on the microphone connector (very early control
head circuit boards do not have Keyloader pins) and use an
Internal Securenet option board
located inside the radio drawer. However, there was a special
dash mount that used an external Physical
Security Housing with a HKN6044A
Securenet cable, a HLN6268A
Interconnect board and part number 27-80246R01 Spectra radio
chassis. The HKN6044A cable is attached to the bottom of the
radio drawer using a unique Interconnect Board connector only
found on this special radio (the special chassis has a hole in
the bottom of the radio for this connector).
- Securenet remote mount radios with an internal Securenet option board located
inside the radio drawer have a special P506
Keyloader Port connector above the J5 connector and require
special secure plastic fronts
to accommodate this extra connector. Radios with the external
Securenet option board located outside the radio drawer in a
Physical Security Housing have
their own Keyloader Port on the housing, so these do not use
P506. The Physical Security Housing is cabled
between the radio drawer and front control head or SIU/HHCH.
The Physical Security Housing requires the SIU if the HHCH
is used (the HHCH can not communicate directly with the Systems
9000 external Physical Security Housing Securenet board). The
radio drawer microprocessor could possibly substitute for the
SIU, but it appears the factory never made any cables to support
this configuration. When the SIU is used, the radio drawer Interconnect Board is not
the HHCH model, it is an A9 compatible model instead.
- Full Feature Securenet is supported by the radio drawer P501 Internal
Securenet Board.
- Advanced Securenet is supported by the Physical
Security Housing Securenet Boards.
- Securenet capable radio models
with the X in their model number (i.e. T83GXA....)
have Securenet enabled code plugs and the remote mount models
have a P506 Keyloader Port connector
(except for the SIU/HHCH X model which has no P506).
- The optional radio drawer emergency button (not to be
confused with the control head based Emergency key or button)
must be installed or the radio drawer emergency pin must be jumpered
to digital ground for the radio to operate normally. The
Low/Med Power radios include an emergency jumper to digital ground
inside the 3080091M01 accessory
cable or 3080010R01 accessory
cable shorting plug. There is also a jumper on most newer remote
mount radio Interconnect Boards
to ground the emergency line that is not normally installed (I
am not sure about high power radios). Some radio drawer Command
Boards also have a jumper to ground the emergency line.
- The HLN6432 Systems 9000
connector converter board can jumper the emergency line to the
VIP In 2 pin (this jumper may be installed by default
on some boards). This board also has an optional jumper to short
the Emergency line to ground.

The above drawing has "hot spots" you can click on
for additional information. This is a functional block diagram
only and has no relationship at all to true physical proportions.
- There is an early version of the J5
remote mount connector with a unique pin out. It exists when
a dash mount HLN6058 or HLN6066 Interconnect
Board is combined with a remote mount HLN6055 Interconnect
Board. The early HLN6055 combination Interconnect Board was superseded
by the newer HLN6077 dedicated single circuit board remote mount
Interconnect Board. The HLN6077 has also been superseded by newer
Interconnect Boards with the more commonly found J5
pin out. This HLN6055 Interconnect Board does not work with the
Advanced Securenet Physical Security Housing.
- The HLN6058 or HLN6066 Interconnect Boards have special connections
just for the HLN6055 board. The very
early and early dash mount
control heads avoided using these special connection pins. However,
the later dash mount control
heads did use these pins for other functions. The most noticeable
problem is a later dash mount control head plugged into a HLN6058
or HLN6066 Interconnect Board will force the PTT to be stuck
on. You can modify the HLN6058 or HLN6066
Interconnect Board to work with later control heads or you can
replace the Interconnect Board with a HLN6285A.

J2 Dash and Remote Mount Radio
Drawer Rear DB-15 Accessory Connector (all except HHCH
and Motorcycle) (click on the above pin out for the cable
info.):
The above view is looking at the back of the radio.
- Tx Audio or Reset in SP customer applications
- Emergency
- VIP Out 2 * (Voice Inhibit in
SP customer applications)
- Switched B+
- Ignition * (Switched B+ in SP
customer applications)
- Speaker Hi
- Speaker Lo
- Digital Ground
- Systems 9000 Busy
- Systems 9000 BUS -
- Detected Audio or Voice Inhibit in SP customer applications
- VIP Out 1 * (Data Inhibit in
SP customer applications)
- Inverted PTT or Switched B+ in SP customer applications
- Systems 9000 BUS +
- Microphone Hi (Ground or Reset in SP customer applications)
* Functional only in dash mount configuration.
Not Connected in remote mount T model configuration when the J3 DB-15 connector
or Systems 9000
connector is used.

J2 Motorcycle Remote Mount Radio Drawer
Rear DB-15 Connector (click on the above pin out for the cable
info.):
The above view is looking at the back of the radio.
- Tx Audio in SP customer applications
- Emergency
- Horn / Lights
- Switched B+
- Ignition
- Speaker Hi
- Speaker Lo
- Digital Ground
- Systems 9000 Busy
- Systems 9000 BUS -
- Detected Audio in SP customer applications
- Hang-Up Box 1 (HUB 1)
- PTT 1
- Systems 9000 BUS +
- Microphone Hi

J2 HHCH Dash Mount Radio Drawer Rear DB-15
Connector.
The above view is looking at the back of the radio.
- Tx Audio in SP customer applications
- Emergency
- Hang-Up Box (HUB)
- Switched B+
- Ignition
- Speaker Hi
- Speaker Lo
- Digital Ground
- Systems 9000 Busy
- Systems 9000 BUS -
- Detected Audio in SP customer applications
- VIP Out 1
- Inverted PTT in SP customer applications
- Systems 9000 BUS +
- Microphone Hi
- All of the above J2 connector pin outs are for normal
(i.e. not SP) radios. There are jumpers located on the Command
Board that can change the functions of some of these pins in
SP radios.
- Radios that have code plugs with different control head configurations
(i.e. different than what the radio original came with) forced
into them, may not have the correct Command Board jumpers set
and the J2 connector pins may not work correctly as shown
above. Keep in mind, the single radio drawer HHCH has a unique
MLM and Interconnect board that only works with an HHCH code
plug.
Here is an example of how to put A2, B2,
C2, E2, A4, B4, C4, E4, A5, B5, C5, E5, A7, B7, C7 and E7 control
heads together:
The above drawing has "hot spots" you can click on
for additional information.
- Check out the control head drawing
page for information on the different types of control head
fronts.
- This is an example of how A2, B2, C2, E2, A4, B4, C4, E4,
A5, B5, C5, E5, A7, B7, C7 and E7 control heads are put together.
Substitute A5 with A2, B2, C2, E2, B5, C5 or E5. Substitute A4
with B4, C4 or E4. Substitute A7 with B7, C7 or E7.
- The example shows how different variations of parts can build
the same control head for dash mount, original
style remote mount or Systems 9000
remote mount.
- FYI, the A9, B9, C9 or E9 control heads are Systems 9000
only and as far the above example goes, they will only work with
the Systems 9000 HKN4355 or HKN4356 remote mount cables. They
are also available as a completely assembled control head with
a part number that starts with HCN.
- Notice the A2, A5 and A7 share the exact same control head
circuit boards. What matters is the radio's code plug.
You can attach an A7 control head to a radio drawer with an A5
code plug and none of the extra A7 buttons will work because
the radio's code plug will not recognize them.
- The radio's RSS programmed code plug will determine what
types of control head can be used (see above). If you can
not program it in the RSS, you can not use it!
- This example does not go into any exceptions. For example,
the motorcycle control head only exists as an original style
remote mount. There is no such thing as a motorcycle dash mount
or motorcycle Systems 9000 remote mount. Another small flaw is,
the HKN6062 motorcycle cable should be shown going to a Motorcycle
radio drawer, not the Trunk mount radio drawer.
- The A5 / A7 control head circuit boards evolved, starting
with the HLN6020, then the HLN6078, HLN6075, HLN6263, HLN6283
and finally the HLN6337. The HLN6338 is the motorcycle control
head which I believe has different jumper settings and is probably
weather resistant.
- The HLN6020 and HLN6078 circuit boards use different A5 /
A7 front plastic that I do not have the part numbers for. It
has a different type of power switch that is attached to the
front plastic. The front microphone
connector wiring is also different.
- The A4 rotary control heads come in a standard AALN4009 or
motorcycle AALN4015.
- The HLN6337 is an enhanced control head. When this
control head is installed, the RSS can set the control head to
enhanced and program VIP inputs / outputs and control head options
like the DIM levels. If you have the enhanced head and a Systems
9000 remote mount, you can also program and use up to 3 DEKs.
- I think the AALN4009 rotary head may also be enhanced
(there were lots of versions of this board starting with revision
A and it is at least at revision J now, so some older version
may or may not be enhanced)?
- I do not know if the HLN6338 motorcycle head is enhanced
or not.
- The AALN4009 can be ordered as a kit with the front panel
included as part number AALN4008J.
The motorcycle AALN40015 can be ordered as a kit with the front
panel included as part number AALN4013D.
- The A5 and A7 code plugs can be set as "standard"
or "enhanced" in the RSS. If you start with an A5 code
plug, then "standard" and "enhanced" only
applies to an A5 control head. If you start with an A7 code plug,
then "standard" and "enhanced" only applies
to an A7 control head. The "standard" setting will
not allow the control head configuration RSS programming
screen to program any DEKs, DEK VIP inputs/outputs or control
head options (i.e. Backlight and Dim settings). The RSS "enhanced"
setting will allow all of these to be programmed. An enhanced
control head circuit board is required for the control head options
programming (i.e. Backlight and Dim settings) to have any effect.
A Systems 9000 remote mount and
an enhanced control head circuit board is required
for the DEK programming to work (but it will mess up your regular
VIP ports if you program a DEK without the required stuff).
- Troubleshooting tip: If you do not have an
enhanced A4, B4, C4, E4, A5, B5, C5, E5, A7, B7, C7 or
E7 control head circuit board and you attach a DEK, the DEK
will not work. You have to separate the control head housing
plastic (using the 2 front screws) and check the control head
circuit board part number tag to find out if it is enhanced.
The other alternative would be to try programming several different
enhanced control head options (i.e. Backlight and Dim
settings) and see if the control head responds to the programming.
If you only tried programming it one time with one setting, you
would have to check the jumpers on the control head circuit board
first, too make sure your programmed values do not mimic the
jumpered defaults (i.e. in that case just look for the tag instead).
The enhanced control head is the only one that will respond
to the different settings correctly.
- If you have a HLN6075, HLN6263 or HLN6283 control head circuit
board, you can remove the zero ohm chip resistor jumper JU16
and install jumper JU17 to always force the backlight to be on.
- The enhanced HLN6337 and HLN6338 also have these jumpers,
but the backlight setting is RSS programmable (therefore, there
is no reason to mess with these jumpers unless you do not want
the radio operator to be able to manually turn the backlight
off).
- FYI, the A9, B9, C9 and E9 control heads have a RSS
programmable VIP In backlight DIM control. One of the VIP
In ports can be set to "DIM ON HIGH" or to "DIM
ON LOW" and that input port pin is connected to the vehicle
headlight switch.
- A later
version dash mount control head plugged into a HLN6058
or HLN6066 Interconnect Board
will produce the following short circuits (the Command Board
audio amplifier chip may be blown up by these speaker lead short
circuits):
- The dash mount HLN6058 and HLN6066 Interconnect Board P502 pins 3, 10,
34 and 35 must be removed or the PC board traces
cut for use with dash mount later
version control heads. These changes convert the older HLN6058
or HLN6066 into an equivalent of the newer HLN6285A Interconnect
Board. These four P502 problem connections found on the HLN6058
and HLN6066 were originally intended to support the long obsolete
HLN6055 remote mount converter
board.
Here are the original style and motorcycle
Spectra remote mount control head hookups. The original style
cables were eventually replaced with Systems
9000 cables, see below. The HHCH cables were not changed to
Systems 9000 cables because the HHCH is not Systems 9000 compatible.
The motorcycle radios were not changed to Systems 9000 because
their control head connector is weather resistant. The A9, B9,
C9 and E9 control heads will not work with these cables:
The above drawing has "hot spots" you can click on
for additional information.
- A: Radio drawer J5 remote mount A2,
B2, C2, E2, A4, B4, C4, E4, A5, B5, C5, E5, A7, B7, C7 or E7
control head, uses the 3080157M01
or 3080157M04 cable. The P104 microphone connector on the
front of the control head is used.
- B: Radio drawer J5 remote uses the HKN6034A or HKN6035A
cable to connect to the Physical Security Housing. The
Physical Security Housing J2 / J5 &
J100 connects to the remote mount A4, B4, C4, E4 or later version A5, B5, C5, E5,
A7, B7, C7 or E7 control head, using the HKN6036A
or HKN6037A cable. The very
early control heads will not
work (the VF Sense connections are missing and the firmware is
not compatible). Special control
head jumpering to connect the VF Sense leads to the Spare
leads is required (the control head Spare leads are not usable
as Spares with the VF Sense jumpers connected). The P104
microphone connector on the front of the control head is used
for the microphone connection. The Physical Security Housing
has its own Keyloader Port, so it does not use the P506
radio drawer Keyloader Port or the control head P104
microphone connector Keyloader Port pins.
- C: Radio drawer J5 HHCH remote mount
uses the 3080069P02 or HLN6092A (old
part # 3080069P01) cable. A special Hang-Up Box is required
for the HHCH. These remote mount cables only work in conjunction
with a special radio Interconnect
Board and MLM (i.e. the single radio drawer HHCH is different
than any other configuration). The dual radio drawer HHCH is
different than this single radio drawer HHCH and uses a standard
A9 type Interconnect Board and MLM (it has a SIU
and different Systems 9000 J5 cables also). The HLN6024,
HLN6062, HLN6064 and HLN6074 Command
Boards do not support the single radio drawer HHCH.
- D: Radio drawer J5 motorcycle remote
mount A2, B2, C2, E2, A4, B4, C4, E4, A5, B5, C5, E5, A7, B7,
C7 or E7 motorcycle weather resistant control head, uses
the HKN6062A cable. The P104 microphone connector on the
front of the control head is closed off with a plug (part number
7502118Z01). The weatherproof
J3 DB-9 microphone connector is
used with a special HMN1062A
weather resistant microphone. The 3080010R01
accessory connector is used to attach the fused orange ignition
wire, optional headset connector, optional radio drawer emergency
switch (or standard emergency ground jumper) and any optional
VIP hardware at the J2 DB-15 connector
on the rear of the radio drawer.
- The 3080157M01 or 3080157M04,
HKN6036A or HKN6037A and HKN6062A cables require the remote
mount control head 1580293L02
rear plastic housing. None of these cables can be used with a
DEK.
- Only the 3080157M01, 3080157M04, HKN6036A,
HKN6037A, 3080069P02,
HLN6092A (old
part # 3080069P01) or HKN6062A
remote mount cables have a J3 "pigtail" connector.
The J3 connector is not found on any Systems
9000 cables.
- As you can see, the dash mount,
motorcycle and HHCH
VIP connections are very limited, comapred to the remote
mount.
- I do not know if a remote mount rear control
head is supported for these configurations or not (I doubt
it is possible). The remote mount Systems
9000 HCN1071 is the only
rear control head I am aware of, which will not work with
these original style cables. If there is a another rear
control head, it will require the radio drawer J6 Options
connector. The radio's code plug will also have to allow
the use of a rear control head.
- The HLN6261B Interconnect
Board has the Systems 9000 serial bus and Filtered Audio disabled
on the second DB-25 J6 connector. A Spectra radio with
this Interconnect Board can not be programmed from the J6
front DB-25 connector and will not support any
Systems 9000 housings or rear control
head options.

J3 Remote Mount "Pigtail" Cable DB-15
Accessory Connector (all control heads listed for configuration
A above) (click on the above pin out for the cable info.):
The above view is as if you were looking at the face of the connector
on the radio cable.
- No Connection
- Emergency
- VIP Out 2
- Switched B+
- Ignition
- Speaker Hi
- Speaker Lo
- Digital Ground
- VIP In 3
- VIP In 2
- No Connection
- VIP Out 1
- No Connection
- VIP In 1
- VIP Out 3

J3 HHCH Remote Mount "Pigtail" Cable DB-15
Accessory Connector:
The above view is as if you were looking at the face of the connector
on the radio cable.
- Tx Audio in SP customer applications
- Emergency
- Hang-Up Box (HUB)
- Switched B+
- Ignition
- Speaker Hi
- Speaker Lo
- Digital Ground
- Systems 9000 Busy
- Systems 9000 BUS -
- Detected Audio in SP customer applications
- VIP Out 1
- No Connection
- Systems 9000 BUS +
- No Connection

J3 Motorcycle Remote Mount "Pigtail"
Cable DB-9 Connector:
The above view is as if you were looking at the face of the connector
on the radio cable.
- Microphone Lo
- Microphone Hi
- Hang-Up Box 2 (HUB 2) *
- PTT 2 *
- Digital Ground
- Switched B+
- No Connection
- No Connection
- No Connection
- * If a motorcycle cable is not used with a motorcycle
radio drawer and motorcycle control head, then pin 3 HUB 2
becomes VIP Out 2, and pin 4 PTT 2 becomes VIP
In 1. This means the HMN1062A microphone on the J3
DB-9 microphone connector will only work correctly on
a motorcycle radio (it is probably possible to reconfigure other
radios to work with this microphone).
Here are the Spectra Systems 9000 remote
mount control head hookups:
The above drawing has "hot spots" you can click on
for additional information.
- A: Radio drawer J5 remote mount A2, B2, C2,
E2, A4, B4, C4, E4, A5, B5, C5, E5, A7, B7, C7, E7, A9, B9, C9
or E9 control head uses the HKN4355
(old part # 3080183P01) or HKN4356
(old part # 3080183P02) cable. The
optional VIP hardware uses a 15-80221J01 VIP
Connector Housing. There is a total of 3 VIP In and 3 VIP Out
physical connections available.
- B: Radio drawer J5 remote mount A4, B4, C4,
E4, A5, B5, C5, E5, A7, B7, C7, E7, A9, B9, C9 or E9 control
head with 1 DEK, uses the HKN4355
or HKN4356 cable. The DEK is attached with a HKN4273A
(old part # 3080248L01) DEK Interconnect
Cable. The optional VIP hardware uses a 15-80212L01 VIP
II Connector Housing. There is a total of 3 VIP In and 3
VIP Out physical connections available.
- C: Radio drawer J5 remote mount control head
(see B above for CH
models) with 2 DEKs, uses the HKN4355
or HKN4356 cable. Each DEK is attached with a HKN4273A
DEK Interconnect Cable. The optional VIP hardware uses one or
two 15-80212L01 VIP II Connector
Housings. There is a total of 6 VIP In and 6 VIP Out physical
connections available.
- D: Radio drawer J5 remote mount control head
(see B above for CH models) with 3 DEKs, uses the HKN4355 or HKN4356 cable. Each
DEK is attached with a HKN4273A
DEK Cable. The optional VIP hardware uses one, two or three 15-80212L01
VIP II Connector Housings.
There is a total of 9 VIP In and 9 VIP Out physical connections
available.
- Special programming note for early
A9, B9, C9 and E9 control heads. One early Spectra head was
a HCN1045B and later C, D, etc. revisions. This control head
uses through hole printed circuit board construction and Dual
In-line Package (DIP) integrated
circuits. The HCN1047 is a trunking example of one of these early
heads. If you try and write a code plug to the radio with the
RSS on one of these early heads, the RSS will return error 80
(cannot program the S9000E control head). These early control
heads have a built in hardware protection circuit that prevents
the EEPROM from being programmed unless the microphone hi line
is shorted to ground. Motorola used to make a Spectra programming
adapter for this function that plugged into the microphone jack,
that I do not have a part number for. However, you can make your
own programming adapter or modify the programming cable to short
the microphone hi line. Be careful and do not power the radio
on or off with the microphone hi line shorted or you might
corrupt the code plug in the control head EEPROM. The later control
heads, starting with the HCN1061 and higher numbers uses surface
mount printed circuit board construction and Surface Mount Device
(SMD) integrated circuits.
These later control heads do not require the microphone
hi line to be shorted.
- The optional radio drawer Emergency button can be wired to
the control head VIP port. When a VIP In pin
is used for the radio drawer Emergency Button wiring, that VIP
In port is not RSS programmed with a VIP In Emergency
function (i.e. it is only used as a convenient place to attach
the external Emergency switch wire at the cost of consuming the
use of one of the unprogrammed VIP In port pins). The DEK VIP
II pins can not be used for the radio drawer Emergency
line. This Emergency line can be wired to a DEK cable connector
that is plugged into the control head (VIP In 2 is used). The
radio does not have to be turned on for this radio drawer based
Emergency function to work. The A9, B9, C9 and E9 control heads
require a custom jumper to connect the radio drawer Emergency
line to the VIP In pin (usually J1
pin 27 to J1 pin 3).
- The control head keypad, VIP or DEK VIP II ports can
still have a RSS programmed Emergency key or button. These control
head based Emergency functions will not work if the radio is
turned off.
- The A2 B2, C2, E2, A4, B4, C4, E4, A5, B5, C5, E5, A7, B7,
C7 and E7 remote mount control heads require the HLN6432
Systems 9000 connector converter board and 1502116Z02
rear plastic housing to use the HKN4355
or HKN4356 Systems 9000 cable.
- The A9, B9, C9 and E9 control heads only come with a Systems
9000 connector.
- To add any DEKs, the Spectra requires
an A9, B9, C9 or E9 control head, or an enhanced A5, B5,
C5, E5, A7, B7, C7 or E7 control head (with the RSS code plug
set for an "enhanced" control head). The HLN6020,
HLN6078, HLN6075, HLN6263 and HLN6283 control heads are not
enhanced and will not work with any DEKs. The HLN6337
is enhanced and will work. The A2, B2, C2 and E2 control heads
are limited function heads and their RSS code plug may
not support any DEKs? I do not know if the HLN6338
motorcycle control head circuit board is enhanced or not. I do
not have any information on A4, B4, C4 or E4 control head DEK
compatibility. I do not have any information on Spectra II E4,
E5 or E7 control head DEK compatibility (these will probably
work with the correct control head circuit board).
- When adding DEKs, the larger connector of the HKN4273A
(old part # 3080248L01) DEK cable
goes to the left (the connection marked VIP or EXP) in the above
drawing. The smaller connector that looks like a microphone connector
goes to the right to the DEK in the above drawing.
- When using a A2, B2, C2, E2, A4, B4, C4, E4, A5, B5, C5,
E5, A7, B7, C7 or E7 control head, the microphone connector on
the back of the control head housing or the microphone connector
on the front of the control head may be used. The HLN6020, HLN6078
and HLN6075 control head circuit
boards do not work with the HLN6432 rear microphone connector.
- The A9, B9, C9 or E9 HCN1071
is the only rear control head I know of at this time.
The HCN1071 remote mount rear control head
requires two DB-25 radio drawer
connectors with the J6 Options connector and uses
a HKN4378B cable attached
to the J6 connector (this is different if you have a Systems 9000 Housing). The radio's code
plug will also have to allow the use of a rear control head.
- The HLN6261B Interconnect
Board has the Systems 9000 serial bus and Filtered Audio disabled
on the second DB-25 J6 connector. A Spectra radio with
this Interconnect Board can not be programmed from the J6
front DB-25 connector and will not support any
Systems 9000 housings or rear control
head options.
- If the retainer clips are broken off of the control head
connector, use REX-1070B as a replacement.

The above view is looking at the back of the control head or
DEK. Some control heads have another microphone connector on the
control head face. Click on the hot spots above for the individual
connector and cable pin outs that plug into the above connector.
VIP
and VIP II Pin Outs |
Control
Head
VIP Pins |
DEK
VIP II Pins |
Description |
4 |
15 |
VIP In 1 |
3 |
16 |
VIP In 2 |
37 |
17 |
VIP In 3 |
|
2 |
43 |
VIP Out 1 |
1 |
44 |
VIP Out 2 |
34 |
45 |
VIP Out 3 |
|
18 |
48 |
Switched B+ |
19 |
49 |
Switched B+ |
35 |
50 |
Switched B+ |
|
20 |
10 |
Ground |
21 |
11 |
Ground |
36 |
12 |
Ground |
- The VIP and VIP II connector housings can use standard over
the counter DB-9, DB-15, DB-25, etc., female pins and
standard pin insertion/extraction tools. I prefer a metal pin
extraction tool over the breakable plastic one Motorola sells.
Here are the Spectra Systems 9000 remote
mount physical security housing control head hookups:
- A: Radio Drawer J5 remote mount to Physical
Security Housing uses the HKN6034A
or HKN6035A cable. The Physical
Security Housing J2 / J5 to remote mount A9, B9,
C9 or E9 control head uses the HKN4290A
or HKN4292A cable. The optional
VIP hardware uses a 15-80221J01 VIP
Connector Housing.
- B: Radio Drawer J5 remote mount to Physical
Security Housing uses the HKN6034A
or HKN6035A cable. The Physical
Security Housing J2 / J5 to remote mount A9, B9,
C9 or E9 control head with 1 DEK, uses the HKN4290A
or HKN4292A cable. The DEK
is attached with a HKN4273A
(old part # 3080248L01) DEK Interconnect
Cable. The optional VIP hardware uses a 15-80212L01 VIP
II Connector Housing.
- C: Radio Drawer J5 remote mount to Physical
Security Housing uses the HKN6034A
or HKN6035A cable. The Physical
Security Housing J2 / J5 & J100 to remote
mount A4, B4, C4, E4, A5, B5, C5, E5, A7, B7, C7, E7, A9, B9,
C9 or E9 control head uses the HKN6059A
or HKN6060A cable. The optional
VIP hardware uses a 15-80221J01 VIP
Connector Housing.
- D: Radio Drawer J5 remote mount to Physical
Security Housing uses the HKN6034A
or HKN6035A cable. The Physical
Security Housing J2 / J5 & J100 to remote
mount A4, B4, C4, E4, A5, B5, C5, E5, A7, B7, C7, E7, A9, B9,
C9 or E9 control head with 1 DEK, uses the HKN6059A
or HKN6060A cable. The DEK
is attached with a HKN4273A
(old part # 3080248L01) DEK Interconnect
Cable. The optional VIP hardware uses a 15-80212L01 VIP
II Connector Housing.
- The optional radio drawer Emergency button can be wired to
the Physical Security Housing, as the control head cables are
missing this wire. The radio does not have to be turned on for
this radio drawer based Emergency function to work.
- The control head keypad, VIP or DEK VIP II ports can still
have a RSS programmed Emergency key or button. These control
head based Emergency functions will not work if the radio
is turned off.
- See the above Systems 9000 remote mount
control head configurations for specific information on adding
additional DEKs.
- See the above VIP and VIP II pin out
information.
- The Physical Security Housing has its own Keyloader Port,
so it does not use the P506
radio drawer Keyloader Port or the P104
microphone Keyloader Port found on some control
heads.
- There are some special considerations for the A4, B4, C4,
E4, A5, B5, C5, E5, A7, B7, C7 or E7 control heads. First,
the HLN6432 Systems 9000 connector
converter board and 1502116Z02
rear plastic housing is required. Second, the very
early and early control head boards
will not work. Third, I assumed that a DEK or DEKs can
be used with the Physical Security Housing Securenet. This will
depend on having an enhanced control head that
is also Advanced Securenet compatible (I have not seen any documentation
that confirms this, but I do not think using an enhanced
control head will be a problem). The later
HLN6283 is called for on the A5, B5, C5, E5, A7, B7, C7 or E7
control heads (the HLN6337 or HLN6338 may also work, but the
HLN6263 will not).
- J2 / J5 pin 1 may have a blue power wire with
a fuse on it coming out of the Pysical Security Housing. This
was only used by the Syntor X 9000 and Syntor X 9000E radios.
Do not use this blue wire. In fact, J2 / J5
pin 1 will already have power on the blue wire from the radio's
A+ line through J5 pin 20.
- The rear control head does not appear to be
supported with the Advanced Securenet Physical Security Housing.
The Physical Security Housing intercepts the microphone line
from the front control head for use by the Securenet Board, before
it is sent to the radio drawer J5 connector. This is not
possible for a rear control head attached to the radio drawer
J6 connector. The VF Sense and S.NET LED would also be
a problem. There could be other problems as well.
Here are the Spectra Systems 9000 housing
hookups:

The above drawing has "hot spots" you can click on
for additional information.
- A: Radio drawer J6 remote mount. The HLN1185B
or later revision Siren/PA housing use the HKN4363
cable.
- B: Radio drawer J6 remote mount. The YLD1008A
and YLE1007A VRS housings use the HKN6038
cable.
- C: Radio drawer J6 remote mount. The YLD1005A
and YLE1008A VRS & Siren/PA Combination housings use
the HKN4363 cable.
- D: Radio drawer J6 remote mount. Same cable
as B.
- E: The HLN1185B
or later revision Siren/PA housing uses the HKN4304A T-cable
when a VRS is already installed (the VRS must be first). There
are some problems addressed below.
- Only one of the above A through D configuration connections
is used in any single radio system.
- Problems daisy chaining a Siren/PA to a VRS. If you
use a HKN4363B cable to the VRS with a HKN4304A T-cable to the
Siren/PA, you will run into a problem. The HKN4363B
cable does not have a pin 7 on the VRS connector and the HKN4304A T-cable uses pin 7 to
transfer switched B+ to the Siren/PA at the end of the daisy
chain. The Syntor X 9000 T-cable has a pin 7 that is shorted
to pin 6 on the VRS connector, which is why the Syntor X 9000
uses this type of setup without any problems.
- Fix number 1: add a new pin 7 and a jumper it to pin 6 in
the HKN4363B cable VRS connector.
This requires a new pin 7 and a 6684690C02 contact pin removal
tool to remove pin 6 to add the jumper wire.
- Fix number 2: add a jumper wire to the bottom of the VRS
circuit board from pin 6 to pin 7.
- Fix number 3: open up the HKN4304A
T-cable T-connector housing and swap pin 6 and pin 7. This requires
a 6684690C02 contact pin removal tool and possibly a psychiatric
visit after getting 39 pins to line back up with their tiny slots
all together when reassembling the connector body.
- This daisy chaining problem has not been checked for on a
HKN6038 cable (this cable could
possibly short pins 6 and 7 on the VRS connector, which would
mean it has no problem?).
- The Siren/PA Housing has space for up to two Internal Option
Boards. These are only used with the Syntor X 9000 / 9000E radios.
I am not aware of any Internal Option Boards that will work with
a Spectra from inside the Siren/PA housing. This is also the
reason the HLN1247 Systems 9000 External Options Housing, which
only supports up to two of these Internal Option Boards, is not
used with the Spectra.
- The early HLN1185A version of the Siren/PA does not
work with the Spectra.
- The VRS model should end
with a SP02. Some of the SP01 VRS functions work, but not all
of them work with the Spectra.
- When one of the above Systems 9000 Housings is connected
to a Spectra radio, a remote mount Spectra radio that has two DB-25 connectors with J5
and J6 is required. The Systems 9000 Housing cable is
attached to the J6 connector.
- The HLN6261B Interconnect
Board has the Systems 9000 serial bus and Filtered Audio disabled
on the second DB-25 J6 connector. A low/med power remote
mount Spectra radio with this Interconnect Board can not be programmed
from the J6 front DB-25 connector and will not
support any Systems 9000 housings or rear control head
options.
- The A9, B9, C9 or E9 HCN1071
is the only rear control head I know of at this time.
When a Systems 9000 Housing is used with a HCN1071 rear
control head, the J6 radio connector and HKN4378B
cable are not used for the rear head. Instead a HKN4376B
rear control head T-cable or any Syntor X 9000 rear control
head T-cable is used and is connected to the last Systems
9000 housing. It is done this way because Motorola did not make
a T-cable equivalent type of connector for the Spectra J6
DB-25 radio drawer connectors. The radio's code plug will also
have to allow the use of a rear control head.
HHCH notes:
Single
Radio Drawer A3 HHCH |
Dual Radio
Drawer HHCH with SIU |
Requires HLN6094 Command Board |
- |
HHCH Interconnect Board |
Normal A9 Interconnect Board |
HHCH MLM Board |
Normal MLM Board |
HHCH code plug |
Special SIU code plug with
2 digit mode identifiers |
- The older HLN6024, HLN6062, HLN6064 and HLN6074 Command Boards
do not work in the single radio drawer HHCH. The HLN6094 and
later variants do work with the HHCH.
- If you want to convert a single radio drawer HHCH for use
with another control head (i.e. A2, A4, A5, A7, A9, B2, B5, B7,
B9, C2, C5, C7 or C9), you will need a new Interconnect
Board, new MLM Board, and a new code plug. The two Boards
and code plug should be the correct ones for the control head
type you are converting to.
- If you want to convert an A2, A4, A5, A7, A9, B2, B5, B7,
B9, C2, C5, C7 or C9 radio drawer into a single radio drawer
HHCH, you will need the correct Command Board, new HHCH
Interconnect Board, new HHCH MLM Board and new HHCH code
plug.
- If you want to convert a dual radio drawer HHCH for use with
another control head (i.e. A2, A4, A5, A7, A9, B2, B5, B7, B9,
C2, C5, C7 or C9), you will need a new code plug for the control
head type you are converting to.
- Keep in mind there are cable and control head changes not
mentioned above when converting radios.
- The HHCH uses directional, non-differential, synchronous
serial communication with a clock line
and without a busy line (this is
similar to the MaraTrac control head communications). The HHCH
single radio drawer has a special HHCH
Interconnect Board that provides the necessary support for
this type of synchronous
control head communication. No other Spectra radios, including
the HHCH dual radio drawer, uses this type of synchronous
communication from the radio drawer. For the HHCH dual radio
drawer, the SIU converts the
HHCH pin out and control signals into Systems
9000 compatible pin out and control signals for the radio
drawer. Systems 9000 uses differential,
bidirectional, asynchronous
serial communication with a bidirectional
busy line at 9600 baud, which
is totally incompatible with the HHCH synchronous
serial communications.
- Each radio drawer in a dual radio drawer HHCH usually comes
with an Advanced Securenet Physical Security Housing.
- There are tricks to changing MLM Boards and code plugs covered
in the Batlabs Spectra
pages.
- Be careful, the J5 DB-25
for the single radio drawer HHCH has a different pin out than
other J5 DB-25 pin outs. The
HHCH Interconnect Board is
responsible for the different J5 pin out. For example, if you
plug a remote mount A2, A4, A5, A7, A9, B2, B5, B7, B9, C2, C5,
C7 or C9 control head into a single radio drawer HHCH J5 DB-25,
it will apply the full power supply A+ voltage to the Speaker
Audio Hi lead (pin 25). This might damage the Command
Board audio amplifier chip.
- Keep in mind that all HHCH radio drawers have a J5 DB-25
connector, even the dash mount HHCH.
- The point is the single radio drawer HHCH has special parts
that are different from any other Spectra radios. So, converting
radios into a single radio drawer HHCH or from a single radio
drawer HHCH is more complex than most other control head conversions.
- On the HLN6094 Command Boards, JU505 and JU506 are
only installed for the single drawer HHCH and should be removed
if converting from an HHCH to a different control head. There
are probably other Command Board jumpers that should be changed.
Programming tips:
Here are some simple programming tips. The function key sequence
to the programming screen will be given as a reference. When the
function key list starts with "Main Menu", it is giving
you a reference to the beginning menu the RSS starts with. When
"Main Menu" is missing, it is assumes you are continuing
on from the last programming screen mentioned (it is assumed you
have already loaded a code plug into the RSS).
Conventional Zones:
Whenever the SCAN TYPE Priority List
is set to Mode Slave, it
causes the Dynamic Priority Assignment
to only show as Not Available
and the RSS will not let you change its setting or enable it.
As soon as you enable Zones, the SCAN TYPE programming is hidden
and no longer accessible. Therefore, if the SCAN TYPE Priority
List is set to Mode Slave
before you enable Zones, you will loose control over the Dynamic Priority Assignment. As long
as you have control of the Dynamic Priority
Assignment function, you can set it to Enabled
or Disabled.
If you have Zones enabled and the Dynamic
Priority Assignment function shows as Not Available, you
will have to disable Zones in order to un-hide the SCAN TYPE
Priority List selection if you want
to get back control over the Dynamic Priority
Assignment function. When you disable Zones, the RSS will
totally forget ALL your Zone programming. Also,
if you change the MDC SIGNALING
when Zones are enabled, you will loose control of the Dynamic
Priority Assignment function and have to disable Zones
to change the SCAN TYPE to regain control. When you enable Zones
again, you will have to reprogram all the Zones from scratch.
The solution is to get everything set correctly, before
you enable Zones the first time.
BTW, you can have a maximum of up to 25 Zones. Each individual
Zone can include any mode you want to use that is programmed
into the radio. Each Zone has its own unique scan list. Not all
MLM firmware versions support Zones and
the code plug must also allow Zones to be enabled.
To avoid loosing control of the Dynamic
Priority Assignment function (Main Menu, F4, F2, F6),
perform the following.
Before enabling Zones (Main Menu, F4, F2), first go to any mode
on the Conventional Mode Configuration screen (F10, F5) and set
SCAN to Enabled,
then go to the Conventional Configuration screen (F10, F3). Under
SCAN TYPE set the Priority List
to Op Select. You can also
set the Non_Priority List to Op Select if you want to (I am not
sure, but I do not think this setting affects anything else after
Zones are enabled). Set the MDC SIGNALING
as Enabled or Disabled
at this time, then leave this setting alone. Now you can enable
Zones (F10, F2), then enter the Zone programming screens (F7)
and program the Zones. Using the Zone Scan Options screen (Main
Menu, F4, F2, F7, F8), you can still select slaved scan lists
if you want them, so do not worry about the SCAN TYPE being set
to operator select.
Here is a neat trick for disabling MDC SIGNALING without loosing
control of the Dynamic Priority Assignment
function (if you turn MDC back on later, it will still cause
the Dynamic Priority Assignment
function problem). Go to the Conventional Mode Configuration
screen (Main Menu, F4, F5) and set the Call
Signaling to DTMF
and DTMF Options to Decode.
A warning screen will appear and you select F2 CONTINUE. Now
go to the Conventional Configuration screen (F10, F3) and MDC
SIGNALING will be disabled without affecting the Dynamic
Priority Assignment function. If you had gone straight
to the Conventional Configuration screen (Main Menu, F4, F3)
instead and disabled MDC SIGNALING, the Dynamic
Priority Assignment function problem would have occurred.
Conventional DTMF Decode:
If the DTMF CALL OPTIONS (Main Menu, F4, F3, F2, F2) shows
as "Not available for this model; please refer to catalog
sheet.", try the following:
From the Conventional Mode Configuration screen (Main Menu,
F4, F5), set the Call Signaling
to DTMF, DTMF
Options to Decode
and Decode Call Type to Sel Call (if your RSS lets you).
If MDC was enabled a warning screen will appear. If this happens
and you select F2 CONTINUE, all MDC SIGNALING will be
disabled. Now go back to the Conventional Configuration DTMF
Signaling Options screen (F10, F3, F2). If a new section of DECODER
OPTIONS appeared, then the DTMF CALL OPTIONS screen (F2) will
now work.
DTMF decoding and MDC SIGNALING can not both
be enabled at the same time.
If you are using Zones, remember that enabling MDC SIGNALING
in the future (which will disable DTMF Decoding) will cause the
Dynamic Priority Assignment function
control problem.
Not all MLM firmware versions support
DTMF decoding and a special DTMF
circuit board plugged into P501
inside the radio drawer is required. If you program DTMF decoding
without all the right stuff, it simply will not work.
The "Not available for this model" message is misleading,
as it really depends on the RSS selections. DTMF decoding is
not available if the radio drawer has an internal
Securenet board installed in P501.
VHF model note:
The optional receiver preamplifier found in Spectra VHF radios
is implemented with some resistor changes (the printed circuit
board is the same). This means the non-preamp model has different
resistors that cause the front end to be less sensitive, but also
have improved interference rejection (this is a big plus in an
urban environment with lots of RF pollution). The parts list and
circuit board component layout is located in the detailed
service manual.
BTW, the UHF preamplifier option is more complex. It has a
transistor, capacitors and resistors that have to be changed out
on a hybrid sub-straight.
[SYNTOR]
[SYNTOR X] [SYNTOR
X 9000 and X 9000E] [TRUNKING
SYNTOR X and SYNTOR X 9000] [SPECTRA]
[PAC-PL and PAC-RT
VEHICLE REPEATERS] [HHCH] [PROM PROGRAMMERS]
[GLOSSARY]
[WEB LINKS] [SURPLUS
PARTS GUIDE] [ITEMS FOR SALE]
[WEB SITE REVISIONS]
[TOP] [SPECTRA HOME]
[HOME]
PL, Private Line, DPL, Digital Private Line,
MPL, Talkaround, MDC-600, MDC-1200, MVS-20, Securenet, Smartnet,
Smartzone, Privacy Plus, Smartnet, Touch Code, Quick Call II,
Channel Scan, Talkback Scan, Systems 9000, MaraTrac, Mitrek, Micor,
Spectra, Spectra II, Astro Spectra, MataTrac, Syntor, Syntor X,
Syntor X 9000 and Syntor X 9000E are trademarks of Motorola Inc.