Luckily, a simple hardware mod can resolve this issue. While some models will tune all the way to 440 MHz with no problem, others will experience VCO unlock at around 443 MHz, leaving the lower portion of the band unusable. This can present a problem for amateur use, as the easiest bandsplit to use in the ham bands is the 450-482 MHz model. In practice, maximum out-of-band tuning can be limited to anywhere from 3 MHz all the way up to 10 MHz, varying from radio to radio. However, the design of the Spectra VCO circuitry is such that large deviations from the designed frequency range are difficult. The Astro Spectra CPS can be easily modified to accept out-of-band frequencies using the Hex-Edit Method. Software Available Flashcode Options Flashcode EditingįDBTool can update flashcode options on Astro Spectras. The colors used in this diagram are also the correct wire colors found in the OEM W3 cables. Motorola is very inconsistent with their RJ45 pin numbering, but in this case pin 1 is the standard RJ45 pin 1 (far left with tab facing down). Note that inside the rubber boot of the W3 head is an RJ45 connector. If you want to homebrew a W3 control head cable, the connections are as follows: These audio settings can be found in the Radio Configuration -> Radio-Wide -> Audio Gain Options section of CPS. However, as found through testing and tweaking by members of communications.support, there exists a much better setting for Astro radios that can make the transmitted audio from these units sound even better. The default settings are fine, and most people will have no complaints with the quality of audio from these radios. 3.4.1 Creating Codeplugs with Astro Spectra DepotĪnalog and digital audio is processed by the audio DSP before it is sent through the RF section and transmitted.As this is a non-standard speed for a computer, the SRIB reads the code out of it's memory and writes it to the MCU bootloader at 7200 BPS. The issue for the here is the CPU runs at 1.8432 MHz meaning the MCU bootstrap asynchronous data speed runs at 7200 bps (1843/.256 = 7200). This Bootstrap mode is not a firmware function, but in the MC68HC11F1 MCU directly (ala Waris radios), and thus it may be possible to bootstrap a 100% dead corrupted firmware radio. The bootstrap code is the small program pushed into the radio via xmodem when it's in bootstrap mode to talk to the SRIB and enable flashing the firmware. The SRIB runs it's own firmware and gets a firmware update every time it's run if needed. Select the firmware CVN file for your radio, and then ensure the bootstrap code and SRIB software is selected. You will go to depot and flash radio this will bypass the iButton check. Mototools is a program that can read and write the code plug in binary format directly to the radio. This will allow you to recover it if needed. It's suggested you backup your radio with mototools in binary format and save the CPS codeplug too. Open the CPS and test that you can read and write the radio codeplug, and the flashport config. Install Unzip the firmware files and have them ready. You cannot have the regular CPS installed with the Depot CPS, so remove that first if you need to. Install the Depot CPS, and ensure you do a custom install without the tutorials. This is reversed from all other RIB power supplies, and you must ensure you use the SRIB with a center negative supply.Īdditionally you will need a DE9M to DE9F cable to connect the radio the PC and the full test/programming cable for the radio. If you fuck this up, it will fry the SRIB. READ THIS: The SRIB requires a 9v power supply Center Negative on the DC jack. ![]() You may need to open it up to verify this. NOTE: you must ensure your SRIB is a version D or later, as this has the larger SRAM chip that support the 1 meg radios. ![]() The CPS will write the firmware to the SRIB and then the SRIB will handle writing it to the radio once the CPS puts the radio in bootstrap mode. This is not only a level converter for TTL to serial, but contains a flash memory that will write the firmware to the radio. You will need an SRIB or Smart-Radio Interface Box. This is the laptop that just works, and it is modern enough to still "surf the web". As of 2021 the D620/630/820/830 are going on ebay with 32bit XP and 2-4gb of ram for 100 dollars. You will need a windows XP 32 bit computer with a real serial port.
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