Astro Spectra
Programming Cable Parts
All part numbers are from Mouser
- 15 pin back shell - 152-6015
- 15 Pin D-Sub connector - 649-DA15P064TXLF
- Speaker connector shell radio side - 1-4803180
- Speaker female socket radio side - 571-606171
- Speaker connector plug speaker side - 1-4803190
- Speaker male pin speaker side - 571-606181
Programming Software (CPS)
These radios program using the latest CPS R05.03.00 which can be tough to source online... (Thanks /\/\) Given the fact that these units are far past EOL and are becoming more popular in the HAM and GMRS communities it would be nice to see it become easier to acquire.
Here is a handy google search...
These things are more aggrivating to program than the XTL/XTS series radios even though the CPS looks similar between the two. You must create personalities for each "mode" and then in a seperate section of the CPS attach that personality to a "Zone Chanel Assignment". None of the frequency/pl/scan/signalling information can be changed in the ZCA screen. Unless it is a bulk sale, I do not offer programming for these besides a few test channels to the buyer.
Windows CPS Out of Band
With the advent of Motorola switching to more Windows based RSS (CPS), the time has come to develop new out of band hacks, again.
Hopefully, the information presented below should get you started in modifying the RSS for out of band operation. Development is still underway and the hacks have not been fully tested. So, take the necessary precautions!
- Astro Mobile
This example is for the Astro Spectra:
Load AstroMob.exe into Hex Workshop
Open the Base Converter
Set the mode to Intel unsigned long
Search for your band limit in Hertz, example = 136000000
The first occurrence should be around 0x00AEDD8C
If you keep searching you should end up finding all the following tables:
00AEDD8C 136 403 450 830 136 146 136 136 403 438 450 453 433 00AEDDD4 136 403 445 830 133 142 136 136 403 438 440 453 475 00AEDE1C 136 403 450 825 136 146 136 136 403 438 450 450 482 00AEDEF4 136 403 450 830 136 146 136 136 403 438 450 453 482 00AEDF3C 136 403 445 830 133 142 136 136 403 438 440 453 475
The limits have been rounded off from Hz to MHz. There are lots of 800/900 MHz band edge info outside the table ranges shown here. They are still under investigation.
These first five tables look like lower band edges while the last two (below) are top band edges.
OK, so we've found some low band edges, lets look for the high band edges. Starting with 178 MHz we find this around 0x00AEDF84.
00AEDF84 178 470 520 915 162.55 174 174 174 433 470 482 490 512 00AEDFCC 179 477 521 915 171 175 174 174 441 470 491 490 515
Which, of course, are the top edges.
Now you know where all the tables should be. Now you can go ahead and modify the limits as you require to stretch the bandsplit for the radio you are trying to program. But be careful, don't change every occurrence unless it is clearly in a sequence of band edges at the top or bottom edge as required! You need to inspect either side of your suspected band edge to make certain it is not actually a bit of code you've found.
VHF/UHF Astro Spectra frequency ranges published in the service manual are:
136-162 146-174 403-433 438-470 450-482 482-512
- Astro Portable
OK, now for the Astro Portable Windows CPS (R01.00.00)...
The process is the same as used above on the mobiles. The only difference is the location of the bandsplit tables.
The lower edge tables should be located as follows:
00AC47EC 136 403 450 830 136 146 136 136 403 438 450 453 482 00AC4834 136 403 445 830 133 142 136 136 403 438 440 453 475 00AC487C 136 403 450 825 136 146 136 136 403 438 450 450 482 00AC4954 136 403 450 830 136 146 136 136 403 438 450 453 482 00AC499C 136 403 445 830 133 142 136 136 403 438 440 453 475
And the upper limit tables as:
00AC49E4 178 470 520 915 162.55 174 174 174 433 470 482 490 512 00AC4A2C 179 477 521 915 171 175 174 174 441 470 491 490 515