Astro Specta Plus Home Brew Programming Cables

[JMR061]

WARNING: This will not work for firmware upgrading

I verified that the following works for programming mid power and high power Astro Spectra Plus Radios

High Power W4/5/7/9
No mods needed
Cable Pinout
DB9 (Computer) to DB25 Accessory Port on Radio
2 - RXD - 2
3 - TXD - 3
5 - GND - 18
7 - RTS - 4
8 - CTS - 17
All Jumpers are already in place on the interconnect - Unknown if same for W3
***THIS WILL NOT WORK ON MID POWER REMOTE MOUNT***

Mid Power Units
DB9 (Computer) to Radio Rear 15 Pin Connector
2 - RXD - 11
3 - TXD - 13
5 - GND - 8
7 - RTS - 15
8 - CTS - 1
If dashmounted don't forget to add your emerg. jumper (pin 2 t to 8) and your IGN wire (4) and if you want your speaker added in then Spkr Hi(6) and Spkr Lo(7)

Adding info for Mid Power Remote Mount Modification to Interconnect (HLN6344E)
Remove JU612
Install JU633, JU634, JU635
Jumper Bottom side of JU636 to Pin 17 on Acc. DB25 (this connects to JU627 which is not installed).
Schematic Attached.
Now you can use the high power programming cable.



Again I have tried firmware and it doesn't work for that but at least you can program away.

 

[Alpha]

Firmware must be loaded through the mic connector using an RKN4047A flash cable for all Astro Spectra models except the Plus (ASP) units.

 

[HA5BRG]

A big thank you for JMR061 for posting this. I have checked the DSM (Detailed Service Manual) for more jumper information on the command board. A few years ago I have modified all my radios, replaces some 0 Ohm jumpers on the command board so the radio was able to key-up from the back-side DB15F accessory connector, as I didn't have any spectra-style microphone that could be connected to the control head itself.

To enable Mic HI and PTT lines on the accessory connector (low and mid power radios) I had to swap the following jumpers: JU521/JU513 and JU518/JU500.

90% of the radios I have seen are factory set to so-called 'Non-RS232 Operation' (see DSM at page 259, Table 7.5). You'll have to make the following modifications on the command board to set up the radio for RS232 operation (so you'll be able to program it as described above):

JU518 - IN (TXD)
JU519 - IN (RXD)
JU520 - IN (CTS)
JU521 - IN (RTS)
JU513 - OUT (RTS)
JU500 - OUT (TXD)
JU528 - OUT (RXD)
JU515 - OUT (CTS)

I hope this will help you

 

[Mars]

JMR061 and HA5BRG: Great information, gents. Thank you for posting this. I love it when I see people actually reading the service manuals and figuring things out on their own AND sharing the results with others on the board. You are both assets to this community.

 

[JMR061]

What I find weird about this is that on the the db25 pinouts for rs232 differ from the high and mid power plus units and then the xtl j600 pinouts is even worse

 

[JMR061]

Sorry had to switch to the computer....here is what I mean

------------ AS+High/ AS+Mid/ J600 XTL5000
RS232 RX----->3.........3...............2
RS232 TX ---->2..........2..............3
RTS ---------->4 .........4.............17
CTS ---------->17.........5..............4

Now why would they do this (The mid power Astro Plus requires all the jumper changes, my mod makes 17 CTS instead of 5 which they intended to use).

Now why would you make this all different between the different models?

 

[Alpha]

Probably so they can sell us 3-4 different cables, all "reasonably" priced at $70.00 or higher.

 

[d119]

It should be noted that a RIB is not required for the above programming cables.... I just know someone is going to ask.

 

[HA5BRG]

I started to modify the command board for the RS232 operation. Strange but all of the 4-4 jumpers had to be moved to the poisitions mentioned in my comment (#3). Today I'll get some new SMD 0 Ohm jumpers from my local electronics store and make an RS232 cable to the PC.

 

[JMR061]

I started to modify the command board for the RS232 operation. Strange but all of the 4-4 jumpers had to be moved to the poisitions mentioned in my comment (#3). Today I'll get some new SMD 0 Ohm jumpers from my local electronics store and make an RS232 cable to the PC.

I checked a command board and all are factory installed for rs232.

 

[HA5BRG]

A little history of my radio:

- manufactured in 1995 as an 512k VSELP radio with W4 head ('K' split 146-174 MHz)
- later converted to 2.5 kHz operation with an RF board and command board change. It was also converted to 'J' split 136-162 MHz)
- later again the Vocon was replaced with an 1MEG version board and HOST/DSP was reflashed to the most up to date versions
- and now the radio is converted to an PLUS with a W7 head

I have checked the jumpers mentioned above. All of the jumpers were messed up by the previous owner. It seems that the radio was used with a VRS unit. I have cleaned the command board and put the jumpers back to the original places.

With the cable suggested by JMR061, now I am able to read and write the radio, so....

A very very very big THANK YOU for JMR061! You just saved me almost $190 (that's the price of a HKN6155 + shipping to EU).

 

[JMR061]

Awesone to hear!

 

[Delta_Xray]

FWIW, I can confirm that the high power cable also works on a high power W3. No need to add or change any jumpers.

 

[4n6inv]

FWIW, I can confirm that the high power cable also works on a high power W3. No need to add or change any jumpers.

Do you still have to have the RIB? Mine is a high power W3, but I have a siren attached to the accessory DB-25. I'd have to unplug it to do the programming. I already have the correct OEM cable, but this would be nice to be able to use in a pinch.

Just out of curiosity; does the display blank when you use this cable? When my AS+ was a W7 consolette; it blanked the display until you were done; but with the W3; it doesn't. That; using the OEM cable through the Securenet port.

 

[JMR061]

No rib and no it doesn't blank out the display. The display should say programming or program.

 

[4n6inv]

I built the cable to the above specs, but got the message "Communication with radio failed." when I tried it on the accessory DB-25 on my VHF high power W3 AS+ going straight serial. Sometime when I'm feeling frisky; I may check the jumpers on the command board. It's worth a shot.

 

[HA5BRG]

Yes, always check the jumpers as I wrote before. I am sure it will solve your issue.

 

[4n6inv]

I'll give it a shot when I get some free time. Getting ready to head out of the country for a couple of weeks. Will give it a try when I return.

Thanks for the advice.