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  Motorola Land Mobile Radio
Model Number Information
with a "Rosetta Stone"
table of suffixes

Assembled from information
provided by a number of folks.
Compiled by Mike Morris WA6ILQ in 2003 and updated occasionally
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Contributions and additional listings for the table at the end of this page are both requested and welcome!

Over the years I've worked on a wide number of radios and also had access to many more. Until the Micor products Motorola model numbers were in a standard predictable format that contains information on the radio's frequency band, power level and options of the radio... but they abandoned a good 30-year old system... comments on the new system are further down in this writeup... here's the old system:

Pre-Micor model number example:
  (optional)
Country
Code
Packaging
or Mounting
Power Frequency band Model Suffix - Radio
Options
Revision Accessory
Package
(optional)
Third letter
use unknown
(optional)
Special
Production
Example: One or two letters T 5 4 JJA - 3900 A K Z -SP01

Country Code: In the beginning all manufacturing was done in the USA. After offshore factories were established all of the non-USA-built radios had a leading one or two-letter code added (as a prefix) that identified a radio's manufacturing location. Later on the code of "AA" was added to the USA-built units. A leading "C" indicates Canada (i.e. CT54JJA), but one letter wasn't enough and "AC" also means Canada. Here's the ones that I have seen:

From an email received after this list went up:
I once worked for Mother M in Canada so am familiar (still) with some of the numbering back then.
Particularly the older 'C' and 'M' prefixes indicated Canadian-made models or kits from the Toronto factory.
'C' indicated that it was something identical to the same thing made by M in USA while 'M' indicated that it was very similar but had some sort of difference to it (redesigned slightly to meet different Canadian spec requirements, for example) so a "CTLN1234A" is identical to a "TLN1234A" but a "MTLN1234" would be almost but not quite a carbon copy, for whatever reason.
The transition from 1- to 2- letter country prefixes happened in the mid-to-late 1980s.
Then the 2-letter prefixes took over and there is a very long list of them (that I do not have) covering possible manufacturing locations all over the world. I think that the AC and MB prefixes probably have similar meanings to the older 'C' and 'M' prefixes, but can't recall precisely. They do however, both indicate Canadian-source.
Another very rare single-letter prefix is 'S', used in Canada, to indicate a 'Special'. These were usually very low production volume for customer special system requirements. Products with 'S' prefix would only be found in Canada for Canadian customers. The Special could be anything from a simple mod to a ground-up unique design.
If anybody has more details or even the full country code list I'd like to post it here.

Packaging: The first character of the main model number, a "T" in our example, describes how the radio is packaged:

Power: The next character (the first digit - 5 in our JJA example above) is the power level. Mobile radios come in power levels ranging from zero (either a receive-only unit or very low power - under 4 watts) to 110 watts (330w if it's a base, 500w if it's an SP base), and the numbers and power ranges also vary with the band and if they are handhelds, mobiles or base stations. See the tables after the next section for more information.

Frequency: The next character (the second digit - 4 in our example) is the frequency band:

And unfortunately, knowing that you have a, for example, D34xxx mobile only tells you that you have a low power UHF mobile radio, and not if it is a 406-420 MHz, 438-460 MHz 450-470 MHz, 470-494 MHz, 490-512 MHz, or (dream on) a 440-450 european commercial unit. High band radios could be anywhere in the 132-160 MHz or 150-172 MHz ranges. To determine the range, or "split", you generally have to do one of three things:

  1. Put a dummy load onto it, turn it on, and hold it near a frequency counter while you key it and see where it is transmitting. Most of the time that doesn't work. In the high band example if you saw a frequency around 155 MHz it could be either of the two splits mentioned above. And some high band model series came in three splits. On the other hand, if you saw 139.something it's probably a low split radio.
  2. Pop the cover off and look for a part number on a couple of the frequency determining components (i.e. front end casting, RF board(s), PA deck, etc) and then look that up in an appropriate book. However most of us don't have acccess to the appropriate book. So we post a question on a relevant yahoogroup.
  3. If the radio is synthesized and you have the software you can hook it up to the computer and look at the radio's parameters or look at the frequencies programmed into it (i.e. ask the radio what it thinks it is). But I've seen some eBay radios with 150-170 MHz frequencies programmed into a 132-150 radio... and there are evil eBay sellers who realize that 136-150 MHz radios are of interest only to hams and CAP personnel and force commercial range (150-170) codeplugs into the radio so that when asked, they lie.

Low band radios are usually built for one of four frequency ranges: 25-30, 30-36, 36-42 and 42-50 MHz, but it's really dependent on the model series - for example the low band Mitrek radios came in two ranges, not four... the low range was 29.7 to 39 MHz and the high range was 39-50 MHz. The Syntor-X and Syntor-X9000 family of radios did 25-50 in one range. High band is frequently 136-150, 146-162, and 160-172, but there are differences across product lines... The high band MICOR ran 4 ranges, 132-142, 142-150.8, 150.8-162 and 162-174 MHz. The high band Mitrek ran two ranges: 136-146 and 146-174. In model series that include mid-range radios (66-88 MHz) sometimes they are in one range, others series (especially those sold outside the USA) it's two ranges: 67 to 77 MHz and 77-88 MHz but again there are product line differences, and since the USA mid-band is 74-78 MHz the ranges are frequently structured as 67-78 and 78-88. Some handhelds have multiple splits, others have only one. The breakpoint between splits all depends on the model series and the country of manufacture and the country of sale, and that's usually in the manual.

The most commonly seen mobile and station combinations of power and band are:
Low band

41 30w
51 60w
61 90w
71
and
81
110w
91 250 and 330w
(high power repeaters or paging base stations)
High band

33 30w
43 40w
53 60w
63 75w or 90w depends on product line
73
and
83
110w
93 250, 330 or 375w
500w (SP series)
generally high power repeaters or paging stations
UHF

24 20-25w
34 25-30w
44 40-50w
54 60-75w
64 75-90w
74
and
84
90-100w
94 250, 275 or 330w
500w (SP series)
generally high power repeaters or paging stations
800 / 900 MHz

35 / 27 15w
45 / 37 30w
85 / 87
95 / 97
100w, 150w, 300w, 350w paging stations

The above numbers are product-line dependent, here are a few examples:

Radio Power out (watts)
0x 1x 2x 3x 4x 5x 6x 7x 8x 9x
900 MHz Spectra or MaxTrac mobile   4 15 30            
VHF, UHF or 800 MHz MaxTrac mobile 2     10-25 30-50 60 (1)        
VHF or UHF M120 or GM300 mobile 1-10     10-25 25-45          
UHF BBY station     20 60 100  250
VHF Motrac mobile    2030 6090   
VHF Motrac station    2030 6090   250
UHF Motrac mobile     20 4060   
UHF Motrac station     20 406090  250
UHF Mitrek mobile     10 30 50   75 100 100  
VHF Syntor mobile     40  75110  
VHF MICOR station           60   100/110    
VHF MICOR mobile     25 45 60 90 100 110  
Low Band Mocom 10 mobile     1.5 5 25        
HF SSB Micom mobile           50   125 125  
900 MHz MSF5000 GFB station               75 150  
VHF or UHF MSF5000 CXB station             75 110 250 350 (2)
Notes:
(1) Low band only
(2) VHF only

Handhelds used the same format number, but naturally are an order of magnitude lower in power.

Radio Power out (watts)
2x 3x 4x
High band HT600 or MT1000 handheld   2 5w (VHF)
4w (UHF)
Low band MT1000 handheld     6
UHF HT600 or MT1000 handheld   2 4
High band Saber handheld   1 or 2.5 2.5 or 6
UHF Saber handheld   1 or 2 2 or 5

And then there are the times where the hardware contradicts the manuals... For example, in the Mitrek line none of the manuals mention a T7x model - they jump from 6x to 8x as if a 7x never existed. Yet I personally have seen multiple Mitrek mobile radios with a mix of T74 and T84 model labels at multiple hamfests, with manufacturing dates scattered all across the Mitrek sales life, and the chassis numbers matched a T84 in the manual's model chart. Strange. Or the GP300 VHF 16 Channel handheld with a P93YPC20C2AA model number. P=portable, not handheld (should be an H) but a power level of 9 ???? (that's a new format number, see below)

Model Series or Model Suffix:  The next three characters are a product line specific letter string - and a table of the known suffixes is listed below.


Then there is a "-" dash or hyphen separator, followed by the option codes. Or there may not be a dash/hyphen. Most USA-made radios have it, many that are made by Moto Australia and Moto Israel do not.

Options: The option codes vary with the product line - for example a Motrac mobile whose model number ending with -2160 is different than a MICOR mobile ending with -2160 and is different again than a Maxar ending in -2160, and a Saber that ends in -2160 is very, very different... To fully understand the option numbers on a specific radio you really need the model chart from the manual for that radio series, and note that the option codes are different between station and mobiles, even within the same line. With that said, there are some basic similarities - in almost every radio the first digit is the squelch type and the most common ones are listed here - but remember that there are some product-line-specific variations. For example, a few model series used the "5" code to indicate the "Automute" option, which was a form of single-tone squelch that used several different tone frequencies.

The "Extender" is an optional impulse noise blanker that is usually only seen on low band radios, but you will find the occasional high band radio with it. It is actually an AM receiver that listens to an idle RF channel several megahertz away from the main channel(s) and operates at the same IF frequency as the FM receiver. The extender IF output is coupled into the FM IF with the phase inverted so it blanks each noise pulse in the FM IF. If you are going to run low band, you really, really want the extender option on your mobile - and even more so on your repeater receiver, but don't try and run an Extender-equipped repeater receiver behind a regular duplexer...

The rest of the digits are very specific to the product line and include bandwidth codes (30 kHz / 15 kHz / 12.5 kHz), multifrequency codes and other option codes.
One example is here - for the MICOR line. Note that even within the MICOR line there are interesting quirks: the second digit of the mobile number suffix is the number of frequencies, whereas the same information is delivered in the third digit of the base and repeater station suffix.

With that said, the most common base station / repeater usage (mobiles can be different) for the second digit of the option code is:

The Wideband/Narrowband/half-narrowband bandwidths are the 1980s and 1990s definition. Recently 5 kHz has been considered as "wide" and "narrow is defined as 2.5 or even less.
One example of the "You have to look in the book" situation is the 800 / 900 MHz MSF series of stations. They were designed and built in the era when Moto used the digit "5" to indicate both 800 MHz and 900 MHz (later they switched to 5=800 MHz and 7=900 MHz). They used the second digit of the suffix to indicate which frequency range and bandwidth the radio was built for... for example, (where "n" indicated a digit) a Cn5MSF-n1nn is 800 MHz / wideband, and a Cn5MSF-n2nn is 900 MHz / narrowband.
And more recent product lines have relocated the bandwidth specifier, if it is even there (for example, the MaxTrac does not have the bandwidth info in the model number, the Radius and GM300 do). And the high band and UHF Spectra is wideband only, the Astro Spectra is narrow-capable.

The next two digits are "Model Variation" codes, and are very, very model specific and is even different between handhelds, stations and mobiles - you will have to look them up in the book. However, the most common MOBILE usage in the NON-SYNTHESIZED era is listed below - but if you look at the MICOR example above, even it does not match the list below... these two digits are the most fluid in the entire Moto model number - YOU HAVE TO LOOK IN THE BOOK:

Later (synthesized) radios have modes, not frequencies or channels. Modes in Moto-speak are complete settings of the radio. Each mode includes a specific description of receive frequency, transmit frequency, encode PL tone or DPL code, decode PL tone or DPL code, RF output power, timeout parameters, scanlists, and other options. Radios with talkaround (able to transmit on the repeater output frequency, i.e. simplex) have two transmit frequencies and a receive frequency per mode, and on many models the RF power level can be independently set on each transmit frequency. You can have several modes that contain the same frequency information but other differences which is why they use a different term. Depending on your radio, you may have 2, 6, 8, 12, 20, 32, 64, or 128 modes, and there are a few radio model series (like the Syntor X-9000 mobiles) that can be made to do 256 modes. Most versions of the software want the modes to be continuous numbers without gaps (no mode 16 without 15, no 15 without 14, etc), however there are those that will do it. And in others (like the MT1000) the RSS won't let you do it, but the radio will, and you can hand-edit the codeplug before it's loaded into the radio...

Revision/Version: The last portion of the model number can be none, one, two or three letters. In most radios the first letter (sometimes the only letter) is the production line version or revision indicator. Some of the Motorola product lines started with no letter, and the first production change resulted in the A-version. Other product lines started with the A version and the first change bumped it to the B version. In other words a "C" revision radio could have been manufactured under the the second or third engineering change order, depending on the radio series - again, you have to look in the book.

Accessory Package: If there is a second letter it frequently identifies the "Accessory Package" that was shipped with the radio. On mobiles it is almost always a "(blank)" an "N" a "K", or an "H" but not always. In the amateur radio world the original accessory package identifier is of almost zero interest - but it's worth knowing what they are in case there is a question.

N
or
(no letter)
A fleet spare, or an in-warranty replacement. No accessories at all, not even a users manual, just a "naked" radio in a plastic bag in a padded shipping box and a packing slip. An "N" handheld didn't even come with an antenna or a battery.
K The radio was shipped with the "standard" complete accessory and installation kit. If it was a mobile the kit included a a mounting tray, a control head and a control cable (if trunk mount) or mounting bracket (if front mount), an antenna, a palm microphone and hangup clip and an installation kit of miscelaneous bolts, nuts, screws, tie-wraps, etc. Unless the radio had an internal speaker (like the MaxTrac) the kit also included a mobile speaker (and those that did have an internal speaker could be ordered with external speakers).
H A mobile radio was shipped with the full "K" kit listed above except a handset and hangup cup instead of the palm microphone and hangup clip. The handset accessory pack (the "H-pack") is very common on older railroad radios, and to a lesser extent, transit busses and mountain cable cars.
M This code in the salesman's order book tersely says "Microphone Included", and this code is usually not listed in the model chart in the radio manual. It was invented in the 1960s for public safety agencies that wanted to hide a bunch of extra microphones in a fleet order of new mobile radios. Since microphones (especially microphone cords) are the most frequent fleet failure item, and a simple broken microphone cord can keep a police car, a fire truck or an ambulance out of service, the ability to order the fleet spares as "M" extras rather than "N" or "(no letter)" extras provided that many additional spare microphones for the radio shop's shelf stock and service vehicle stock. In other words, a "M" was simply a bare radio (an "N" code) plus a palm microphone in its cardboard box. Unless the fleet order specified it, the microphone didn't even come with a hangup clip.

A second letter on a base or repeater station is different enough that you HAVE to look in the book. For example, on an MSR2000 station, a typical model number could be C73GSB-3145BT. From the above explanation you can see that it breaks down as:

C = Compa Station
7 = 110 watts
3 = VHF
GSB = intermittent-duty transmitter (see the table below)
3 = PL tone squelch
1 = Narrowband
4 = Supplied with two TX and two RX frequencies
5 = (not in the above, as it's too fluid, but the book for an MSR says a 5 means it has the "DC Remote control" option)
B = Later model
T = additional modifying identifier - in this case a Repeater

The second suffix letter on this particular model series is VERY important. Simply, a C73GSB-3145BT and a C73GSB-3145B are very different... If that last letter is missing or blank, the MSR2000 is a simple Base Station (not a repeater). If the suffix was BT, as opposed to B, then the unit is a repeater, which has some significant hardware differences. For one, the duplex exciter used in repeaters differs from the simplex exciter in that there are rows of filters to keep RF out of the receiver. The station also has some additional shielding that exists only in repeaters. So this is another example of "when you decode the suffix you really need the book".

Some radios have a third letter in the suffix and I have no idea what it means...


On a normal production radio that's it. On anything else, there's a "-" separator, followed by...

Special Products / Special Purpose / Special Production: (the meaning of "SP" varied depending on which book you read or whom you talked to...) The number following the SP- was a simple incremental number, there was no significance to it other than an SP-2 (or -02) was designed later than SP-1 (or -01)... and there were lots of them - I have had an "-SP72" MICOR mobile on my bench, and I've seen the writeup on a "-SP99" Syntor and on a "SP-151" MICOR.

An "SP" radio could be ANY variation of a standard radio - anything from a special color of paint, or a key other than a standard 2135 or 2553 to a weird IF frequency on up to a custom redesign. If the salesman needed a variation of a radio to make a large sale then engineering got to turn that salesman's dream radio (or the customer's Request For Quote document) into shippable hardware. To understand anything but the most obvious SP radio you really need the manual that was shipped with it (which may be an addendum to the regular manual, or a completely different manual specific to that -SP radio), and SP manuals were very limited printing (usually only one press run at the time of production). And some early SP addendums were Mimeo or Ditto printed (and by now the vegetable-based purple dye in the Ditto fluid has faded to blank paper). On some SP manauals there was a copy per shipped radio, on others there was only the number of copies specified in the RFQ or Purchase Order.

The "SP-(some number)" designation was normally used on a less-than-a-production-run-order... if the quantity was large enough to require a entire factory production run of strange radios they frequently were labeled with an "X" in place of the mounting descriptor. The oldest special that I am aware of is a mid to late 1950s X41GGV-3, it was a 6 or 12 volt (jumperable), 12 watts out trunk-mount radio that had two receivers - a low band receiver, a high band receiver, and a low band transmitter (used with a low band-to-high band crossband repeater with the high band mobile receiver for dispatch and the low band mobile receiver for car-to-car simplex, and the channel switch selected which receiver as well as the which channel in the two-channel receivers). A later field modification (which may have been developed by the agency technical group) provided the first simultaneous dual receive mobile...

The first SP that I actually had my hands on was a dual receiver mobile radio originally used by the Los Angeles Police Department - it was an X43HHT Motrac - you may have seen one in passing on the old "Adam-12" TV show. They were a regular Motrac design but with two separate receive chassis in a longer-than-normal case, and the position of the channel switch selected not only which receiver frequency you were listening to but also which receiver chassis was active (or both). Some had a 5-position or 6-position channel switch that turned on one frequency in each front end for simultaneous receive.

Moto also made SP dual transmit radios - the low band radios of the tube era could only cover about 250 kHz from the lowest frequency to the highest, and high band radios could only do 600-800 kHz or so (which is where the 600 kHz offfset used on 2 meters came from). High band commercial and public safety repeaters usually have anywhere from 1.5 to 5 MHz of spacing, so a tube-type mobile that could talk both repeat and talkaround (simplex) needed two separate transmitters to do it. For example, the infamous X71LHT "5-and-9" Motrac built for the California Highway Patrol was made from two separate Motrac mobile radios mounted side by side in the patrol car trunk and cabled together thereby providing 5 receive and 9 transmit channels (four repeat pairs plus talkaround (simplex on the repeater output) plus the statewide simplex (called "blue channel") on one antenna, plus both PL and tone burst, all controlled by one custom (SP) control head. One transmitter chassis was on the repeater inputs, the other had the repeater outputs plus blue channel transmit. The dual receivers allowed simultaneous monitoring of blue channel and the local dispatch channel.

An earlier special was a tube-vintage X53GKT mobile built for the State of California Division of Water Resources in the 1960s which was in a 20 inch wide (normal was 15 inch) case containing two seperate high band transmitter chassis tuned about 2.5 MHz apart (one 3-freq, the other 2-freq) and a 2 freq receiver. Believe it or not Yellow Cab used a similar radio in the field supervisors cars in southern California. For years my own UHF mobile radio was an ex-Arizona DPS (highway patrol) 90w UHF 12-freq wide-spaced MICOR - an SP radio in the stretch case (sometimes called the doghouse case - it was used on a large number of MICOR mobile specials) that had the abilty to hold 12 PL encode and 12 PL decode tones (and the circuit boards were etched for 20 tones on each side and you could install the additional parts - yes, you could have 40 PL reeds in that radio back when list price was $80 to $90 per reed). Another special I've seen was the California Highway Patrol low band MICOR - the X71RTA - a dual receiver unit in a streched case with both a multi-tone PL deck and 7 tones of tone burst. Later on they added a GE (gasp!) high band MASTR Exec-based mobile extender to it (GE was the low bidder on that upgrade project). A few months ago I saw a SP high band MICOR with dual 4-freq front ends and dual PL decoders - in a double height case. And somewhere in my collection I have a photo of an SP HT-220 handheld with a special extra-deep front panel that had a touch tone pad from a Western Electric "Trimline" telephone mounted in it... the first Moto production touchtone handheld.

Then there were the Q-products... they were outside the normal model number system and were designated with Q and a four or five digit number. These were originally special purpose designs that became regular production products that anyone could buy. One example is the QRN8764 - a channel scan module for an MSR2000 control shelf. Yes, you could have a scanning base station. Somewhere in the file cabinet I have a Q-manual for a Motrac control head with a regular Mother Bell 12-button touchtone pad in the face - the commercials copied the amateur autopatches and needed a Motrac/Motran/Mocom-70/Mitrek/MICOR compatible control head with a touchtone pad, so they took the Ma Bell/Western Electric "Princess" series backlit touchtone pad and built a mobile control head around it - and it was Motos first use of concentric volume and squelch controls.

Another Q-product was the MICOR Emergency Medical Systems Duplex / Repeater UHF Mobile Radio - a dual receiver full duplex mobile repeater designed for ambulances. This was not the first factory mobile UHF repeater, but it was the first made in large numbers and with an internal duplexer. Quite a few have been gutted of the front / rear control head switching and the cardiac telemetry boards and the now empty space used for a small repeater controller - i.e. made into very nice 25w emergency communications van repeaters and / or portable special event repeaters.

Yet another Q-product was the Q2935A... Moto engineering took the standard 900 MHz MSF-5000 CLB-series repeater and rewrote the microcode in the control shelf optimizing it for paging applications, then added a 300 watt power amplifier.   900 MHz transmitters make better space heaters then transmitters, and 300 watt transmitters even more so.


Back to suffixes...
In the tube and early post-tube era the three letters individually specified the receiver series, the transmitter series, and the type of power supply. This made sense when the radio was built from three separate chassis bolted into a frame... you could have a (for example) "G" series receiver strip, a "K" series transmitter strip and the power supply strip could be either a "D" dynamotor (high power) or "V" vibrator (low power) strip... for example a T53GAD, or a T43GGV... just mix and match the strips. Later on the high voltage was provided by a "T" transistorized power supply (T53GKT), or in the case of the MSN series Motran (the first 12-volt-only all-solid-state mobile design), "N" no power supply. Yes, the U43MSN radio had an empty chassis in the middle of the radio where the transistorized supply was in the MHT Motrac design (usually a mobile with a xxN model number was an all-twelve-volt design). The first solid-state 12-channel mobile telephone was a 4-freq MSN with the extra sixteen channel elements (8 each for the receiver and transmitter) stashed in the empty power supply area. When it became necessary to identify repeaters and mobile relay stations separately in the product line a "Y" was used in the power supply identifier position - in most cases an xxY unit was an xxB plus a COR, a repeat audio panel and shield kits for the receiver and the exciter, or in some cases the receiver only. When it became necessary to specify an intermittent duty or continuous duty base station - like a dispatch base versus a paging base - the trailing letter "B" was used for the intermittent duty and the "X" was used to signify a continuous duty base ("Y" was already in use for repeaters, which at the time were inherently continuous duty). Some of the handhelds and packsets used dry cells (a "C" was used for that, for example in the H03ANC pager or the P33DEC packset), nicads ("N") in models like a H24FFN, or a transistorized inverter ("T") off of nicads (an early subminiature tube (aka "pencil tube") based packset was a P33AAT). The trailing letter "B" was used for base stations (i.e. primary power of 120v or 240vAC), for example, a D43GGB or an L44BBB. Note that a H23FFN was a nicad powered handheld, and a T43MSN was a 12vdc powered Motran mobile - there was some potential for confusion when the meaning of a letter in one position (the "N" above) was dependent on the leading letter. And at some point a trailing "A" was introduced to identify a 12vDC powered mobile - I have seen, for example, early Mocom-70 mobiles with a BBN suffix and later identical radios with a BBA suffix...

Currently the last letter assignment seems to be:

Note also that many models within a specific product line are very similar - for example, the late model Motrac high power chassis radios - the 51/61/71 (low band), the 53/63/73 (high band) and 44/54/64 (UHF) LHT and MHT series radios were absolutely identical internally except for the stamped number on the model  / serial tag and the position of some plate voltage select jumpers in the power supply chassis (smart hams that got hold of high power (i.e. U7x or T7x series) LHT and MHTs backed them off to 5x levels and made the final tube last a LOT longer... and at over $100 each in the late 1970s/early 1980s that was a lot of money). Likewise the Mitrek high power radios can have any one of eight different model number tags depending on if the output power control variable resistor is set to 60, 75, 90 or 100/110 watts and if you include the presence or absence of the receiver preamp. Frequently when the new contract negotiation teams listened to their radio techs they were able to save some big money (i.e. by ordering "lower powered" radios that cost less - then the techs "retuned" or "adjusted" them as they were bench checked before being installed). Unfortuntely functional intelligence at the management level in many large corporations, organizations or government agencies is against established policy.

Also, some of the radios changed the FCC Type Acceptance number when changing power output. Quite a number of years ago, the FCC Part 90 licensed radios were rated by the DC power input to the final... later they switched to a more sensible method of measuring power output... early 800 MHz and 900 MHz transmitters were so ineficient that it didn't make sense for a 50 watt output low band radio that drew 60 watts of DC in to be placed in the same Type Acceptance category as a 10 watt output 900 MHz radio that also needed 60 watts in. And to this day a 900 MHz transmitter is still a better space heater than it is a transmitter.

When the radios became a single-board design, like in a pager, or the Mocom-70 or Mitrek mobile, the convention of using separate letters for the receiver, the transmitter and the power supply became unwieldy... at some point, I'm not sure when, the decision was made to use the first and second letters (the old receiver and transmitter identifier letters) together as a pair and used as a single Model Series descriptor (as an example, an EAC was an EA series Pagecom pager, the trailing C indicated a dry cell power source or the trailing "N" in an EAN model number meant it was an EA Pagecom shipped with a nicad battery and a desktop charger), and later on it seems that all three letters of the suffix began to be treated as a unified whole - look at the KLF - an Astro Spectra mobile.


Then some marketing guy at Motorola screwed up a perfectly good numbering system that had over thirty years of history... he threw a monkey wrench into the mix... Look at these photos of some recent Motorola model tags:

A Mocom 70 mobile

This is an example of the old numbering system.
A Syntor X mobile

No, there never was a Syntor XX - the logo is supposed to be a single X with a dropped shadow, but... there were "X" series (conventional) radios, "X2" dual mode (trunked and conventional) and "X3" (trunking only) models.
A low power Syntor X9000 mobile

No, there never was a Syntor X-9000. In fact, you will almost never find a hyphen in a Motorola model name.
A high power Syntor X9000 mobile
a Radius GM300 mobile
a Spectra mobile
a Spectra / Desktrac base

The new format "Model number" is TOTALLY different - and the "ID number" now has the relevant information plus they added additional letters and numbers into the ID field - look at the 7JA7 in the Spectra photo (the A7 positions seem to be the control group specifier and the trailing BK seems to be used the same as before). And the new numbering format does not seem to be documented ANYWHERE. This change has caused a lot of confusion in the used equipment market. So nowadays when I send an email to an eBay seller asking about a radio I say "I need both the model number and the ID number if there is one". Thanks, Motorola.

You will find that model-specific or product-line specific articles at this web site (like on the Spectra, or on the MaxTrac/Radius/GM300) have "Rosetta Stone" model number tables in them.


So the above gives some background... but you came here to look up a radio's sufffix, not to read the story of how they came to be...

Note that the table below is laid out so that you can print it and carry it, or cut and paste it into your Palm Pilot or Pocket PC. Some older Palm Pilots have a finite length limit to a memo... don't know about the Pocket PC. On some PDAs you will have to split this list into separate Memo files... at least 3, probably more as it grows.

Abbreviations used in the table below:


This is a work in progress. Please send corrections and updates to Mike WA6ILQ at (callsign) at repeater-builder dot com
If you see conflicting information below that is because this list was built from multiple sources: my own file cabinets plus contributions from others, and if any of the sources conflicted I put in both / all. Over the years I have had access to a lot of radios, but not all of those listed below, so I don't know enough on those models to resolve the conflicts.

- - - - - - - - - - - - #- - - - - - - - - - - - Print this section for the next hamfest, cut here, fold and put it in your pocket - - - - - - - - - - - -

Motorola Land Mobile Radio Lookup Table
Additions and corrections are welcome!
AAB=base station based on "A" series RX and TX strips (late 50s to mid 60s)
AAB=Mocom 10 base station (1970 or so)
AAB=MX-300 series handhelds
AAC=early packset w/ hybrid RX / hybrid TX (subminiature tubes) and 
    dry cells (no relation to AAD mobiles, AAB bases or AAY repeaters)
AAD=high power (dynamotor) version of a AAV mobile (based on AAB base station strips)
AAM=low power mobile based on the AAC packset (6v / 12v power pack)
AAN=Mocom 10 mobile (1970 or so)
AAT=T-power version of a AAM - usually 2 watts (LPI radio) or 3w (motorcycles)
AAU=MX-300 series handhelds
AAV=low power (vibrator) version of an AAD mobile
AAY=repeater based on AAB
ABA=Modar "Triton" highband marine radio ("Modar" was/is Motos marine division). 
    16 channels, one crystal per channel. Seen on a D33ABAI620BK. See "APA" for more info.
AGC=Metrx pager (Tone only)
AGD=tube type 15 inch case mobile (A-series RX, G-series TX, Dynamotor power suply)
AJB=tube-type base station w/ "A" series RX, "J" series TX.
AJD=tube-type mobile (15 inch wide case, w/ "A" series RX, "J" series TX, dynamotor)
AJT=tube-type mobile (15 inch wide case, w/ "A" series RX, "J" series TX, T-power)
AKB=tube-type high band base (the "K" TX was specifically high band only)
AKD=tube-type high band mobile (15 inch wide case, dynamotor)
AKT=tube-type high band mobile (15 inch wide case, T-power)
AKY=repeater version of a BxxAKB / CxxAKB / JxxAKB
ANA=Triton Nautilus 440 (Triton is Moto's marine radio division) (seen on a D33ANA1F20AK)
ANB=receive-only rack-mount or desktop monitor receiver 
ANC=early pager ("Pocket Receiver")
APA=Metrum II 2-meter radios - D23APA and 33APA - derived from the Modar Triton marine radio 
    (this mobile was Moto's only amateur radio product until the AP73 handheld)
AXU=MX-300 series handhelds (encryption capable)
BAB=low power base based on BAC packset (110vAC) "Industrial Dispatcher"
    Seen on the B23BAB-3100 with 800mW out, using 'quick-heat' filament tubes. 
    Key the mic and count to 3 before talking for the tubes to warm up and make power.
    The only transistor was in the transmit audio. There was also the B33 version 
    that made 8W using an instant heat version of the 2E24 as a final.  The 
    BAB/BAC/BAM/BAT were all positive ground inside.
BAC=hernia-talkie packset (updated version of AAC w/ all solid state RX/hybrid TX)
BAM=low power mobile based on BAC packset (6v / 12v power pack)
BAT=hernia-talkie packset (same as BAC but w/ T-supply). Yes, you too can have 
    an official Motorola BAT-radio in your batcave.
BBA=Late Mocom 70 (early ones were BBN)
BBB=Unique scenario - There is some potential confusion here as they used the 
    same BBB model suffix for three different radios - two vintages of bases 
    (all-tube 50s/60s and a later 70s/80s Mocom-70 (post-Motrac) radio, and 
    again for MT-500 handhelds. 
    The 1950s/1960s base station was a UHF base (18w rated in tabletop mode, but 
    only if you are lucky, with a good tailwind and a full moon..., the full sized 
    B, C or J cabinet version used a big tube amp rated at 60w or 100w).
    The later later 70s/80s BBBs were Mocom-70 mobile radio based.  
    On any "BBB" base you really need to see an interior picture.  
    And a H24/34BBB is a short-case MT-500 handheld (post-HT-220 / pre-MX)
BBM=PT-500 packset
BBN=Early Mocom 70 (later ones were BBA) a post-Motrac mobile
BBT=tube-type UHF mobile (10 inch wide case, 18 watts out - supposedly... (a 
    mobile version of a tube type BBB)
BBU=long case version of a BBB series MT-500 handheld (8freq, etc)
BBY=repeater based on "BBB" series all-tube base station
BCB=Mocom-70 based Super Consolette w/ 0.0002% channel elements for GMRS base use
BCU=MT1000 handheld (seen on a UHF 16 Ch. H44BCU7100AN 450-490 MHz w/ scan, Genesis series)
BEC=HT750 handheld low band 29-42 MHz
BEF=HT1250
BEU=HT-50
BLC=Dimension 2000 pager
BMT="Business Dispatcher" mobile (based on a packset design) later replaced by the CMT
BNC="Pageboy" pager
CAC=Pageboy II pager (Tone only)
CCA=Mocom 35 mobile
CCB=Mocom 35 mobile
CEC=HT750 handheld low band 35-50 MHz
CFA=Mocom 35 mobile
CFB=Mocom 35 mobile
CEF=HT1250
CJC=Keynote Voice Memory pager, seen on an A04CJC9468AA
CKA=MTR300 Mountain Top Repeater (a low drain unit based on the MX handheld RF decks) 
    Models include VHF MBC33CKA and UHF MBC34CKA
CLB=early MSF-5000 station (seen on a 900 MHz 150w C85CLB-7206AT and on a 
    UHF C74CLB-7105AT) The CLB series used a 2732 PROM for a codeplug and 
    required the suitcase programmer.
CLB=HT-440 (seen on a H33CLB)  2w highband, 1w UHF
CLU=HT-440 (seen on a H34CLU)  5w highband, 2w UHF
CMB="Alert Monitor" RX - early 70s transistorized monitor receiver designed 
    for volunteer firefighters and similar on-call personnel (lunchbox size, +12v or 
    120vAC power, available as CS, PL, 1+1 tone or 2+2 tone decode). Parts aren't 
    avalable, and they are famous for jammed slugs. Available in low band high band 
    and UHF.  I've had several, the last UHF one jammed a multiplier slug, and the 
    coil form disintegrated. 
CMT=A BMT w/ a better RX - early CMTs were labeled Business Dispatchers ... later 
    were Mocom-30s - basically a CMT was a BMT w/ the front end replaced w/ one from 
    an "L" series Motrac receiver
CNB=later version of a CMB.  Typical model number is M04CNB-3103A.
CUE=Railroad version of an MCX-100 (prom programmed in the 160-162 MHz range, seen on a 
    MBR33CUE1170AD). If it has the 160-170 MHz front end don't waste your time trying to 
    move it to 146 MHz.
CXB=later MSF5000 (replaced the CLB series) Uses RSS to program.  Encryption capable.
DCN=HxxDCN=early HT-200 handheld (low band, high band or UHF) 
    Also the DxxDCN was a mobile that used HT200 handheld boards (called the "Solid 
    State Dispatcher") and the TxxDCN was a motorcycle version of the same radio.
    The PnnDEN was a PT-200 packset (HT boards in a lunchbox style case containing a big 
    battery, either nicad or 12 D cells). The PT-300 and 400 had a 5w PA deck.
    The DCN had reliablilty issues and was replaced with the DEN.
    NOTE: the DCN and DEN series are positive ground internally!!! Don't use a magmount 
    and a cigarette lighter plug at the same time... (the voice of experience speaks...)
DEN=same as the DCN but w/ a better TX
DFA=MCR-100 Motorcycle Radio
DGC=Radius M1225 mobile - seen on a 450-470 MHz 40 Watt M44DGC90J2AA
DKC=CDM 750 mobile (seen on a AAM25DKC9AA1AN) 
DNC=Pageboy II pager (Pageboy two, not eleven)(Tone & Voice)
DRT=late Mocom-30s - UHF TX was a highband TX followed by a varactor tripler
DVC=Dimension IV pager (Tone & Voice)
EAB=Minitor pager (Tone & Voice)
EAC=Pagecom pager (Tone & Voice)
ESN="Advanced Portable Coronary Observation Radio" (APCOR) paramedic radio (seen on a 
    UHF 10 channel P44ESN-3191AN). Some of the APCORs were MX-handheld based. The early 
    MXs were crystal (actually channel element) based, the later ones were PROM programmed
    synthesizer based (i.e. MX-300-S based).
FFN=HT-100 and HT-220 handheld (early 70s) (H23FFN, H24FFN)
FFP=a speaker-mic-only UHF HT-220 w/ the antenna relocated to the speaker-mic housing 
    (also known as the public safety version). Factory FFPs had no speaker grille and 
    were UHF only, I've seen a couple ham-built ones that had grilles, and others 
    on highband/2m.
FFV=an HT220 variant w/ a special Convertacom-compatible front cover
FNB=late 1950s monitor receiver (seen on a L03FNB). Some were rack mount. Some had 
    WWV receivers built in.
FNC=PageBoy II pager (Tone & Voice)
FWA=high power Spectra mobile
FXJ=Syntor X-9000
GAD=tube type 15 inch case mobile (G-series RX, A-series TX, Dynamotor power suply)
GBC=Director pager (Tone & Voice)
GCJ=HT-600E and MT-1000 handhelds (same radio with a different label)
GCR=MT-1000 handheld (seen on a H43GCR7100CN 16 Channel Scan W/Keypad)
GCU=MT-1000 handheld (seen on UHF 16 Ch H44GCU7100BN and a 6 ch low band H41GCU7160AN)
GFB=MSF5000 repeater (seen on a 900 MHz 150 watt C85GFB5203 analog station)
GGB=tube-type low band or high band base (the first tabletop base)
    The early ones were in a slope-front front-mount mobile case with a base supply
    made to fit in place of the vibrator supply, later ones were in a nice case 
    designed for the job. Also the R43GGB was a 30w 117vAC Railroad "Stan-Pac".
GGD=tube type 15 inch case mobile (G-series RX, G-series TX, Dynamotor power suply)
    the W43GGD was a GGD built for Western Electric's MTS (Mobile Telephone Service)
GGT=tube-type low band or high band mobile (10 inch wide case, G-series RX, G-series 
    TX, "T" (transistorized) power supply)
GGV=vibrator power mobile - 10 inch wide case, first use of the 2135 key.
    M31GGV and S31GGV were motorcycle radios 
    W43GGV = a GGV built for Mobile Telephone Service
    also the Rx3GGV was a 12 volt Railroad "Stan-Pac"
    The GGT was simply a GGV with a transistorized power supply.
GJB=tube-type base (two 6146s)
GJT=tube-type mobile (15 inch wide case) - a GGT with a big transmitter, 
    a big power supply, in a big case
GKB=tube-type high band base (15 inch wide case, 5894 final tube)
GKD=tube-type high band mobile (15 inch wide case, 5894 final tube, dynamotor)
GKT=tube-type high band mobile (15 inch wide case, 5894 final tube, T-supply)
GMA=Moxy mobile (saw it on a D34GMA3000BK mobile) (the Moxy is derived from the 
    Maxar but w/ less of a front end and a very poor squelch circuit)
GMB=Moxy base (saw it on a L43GMB6100AM tabletop base)
GMC=M120 (saw it on a 490-512 MHz M44GMC20A5AA)
GMC=GM300 mobile (updated MaxTrac clone)
GMK=GM300
GMR=GM300 with offset IF frequency
GRB=MSR2000 intermittent duty base - see also GSB and KRB/KSB)
GRC=R1225 Mobile (seen on a M44GRC90C2AA and a M03GRC90C2AA). This full duplex 
    mobile radio w/ a built-in simple repeater controller is also used in the 
    GR1225 repeater and is available in either a 1-10 watt or a 25-50 watt model 
    for VHF, and in 1-10 watt and 25-45 watt versions for UHF.  All versions will 
    program into the Amateur bands without modification.
GSB=MSR2000 intermittent duty repeater - see also see also GRB and KRB/KSB)
GXA=encryption capable Spectra mobile - seen on a trunk mount 110watt T83GXA7HA3AK
HEA=Micom and Triton series HF SSB radios
HFA=MTX900 portable (seen on a H25HFA51B4)
HHT=Motrac (A and B series were 12 MHz IF, C-E series were 8 MHz IF)
    (later models were LHT and MHT) HHTs used crystals in ovens
HMB=HT-90 handheld (crystal controlled)(2w highband, 1w UHF, short case, "standard")
HMU=HT-90 handheld (crystal controlled)(5w highband, 4w UHF, long case, "universal")
JAA=Maxar-50 mobile D23/33JAA=6881064E40 (Maxar and Moxy are very similar, 
    and were Moto's low priced radios for many years)
JBF=MTX Portable (seen on a H25JBF51B1AN)
JEA=Motrek (seen on a T73JEA3300AK)  (the Motrek is derived from the 
    Mitrek but "reengineered for a reduced cost of manufacture")
JGB=MTX-800 handheld
JJA=Mitrek mobile, 12v power
JJB=Mitrek "Super Consolette" tabletop base
JKH=MTX-820S  (seen on a H25JKH51C5AN 24 channel 800 MHz handheld, part of the Jedi series)
JLB=PURC-5000 paging TX derived from the CLB series MSF-5000 (seen on a 900 MHz C85JLB-1101A)
JPA=MTX-800S handheld
JPB=MTX-800 handheld
JVC=Spirit pager (Tone & Voice)
JWA=Micom-X HF SSB Transceiver (seen on a D80JWA1X41AK)
JWA=MTX-800S handheld
JWD=MTX-800 handheld
JWF=MTX-800 handheld
JZB=PURC series of paging base stations (MICOR based)
    Seen on a B93JZB-1106A 330w high band station (manual is 6881060E70)
KDC=HT-1000 (seen on a low band H01KDC9AA3DN)
KDC=MTX-838 (seen on a high band H01KDC9DB3AN)
KDC=HT-750 handheld (synthesized)high band)
KDD=VISAR handheld (seen on a H05KDD9AA4AN 16channel 136-174 MHz)
KDD=MT1500 handheld (seen on a H67KDD9PW5_N 48 Channels, 1-5W, VHF (138-174 MHz) 
KDF=HT-1250 handheld (synthesized)
KDG=HT-750 handheld (synthesized) highband w/ keypad
KDH=GP-2000 aka Pro-2150 handheld - made for the latin american 
    market (136-174 MHz in one split)
KEA=VRS (Vehicular Repeater System) for Spectra and X-9000 (seen on a T03KEA3006BA-SP02)
KEJ=Syntor X-9000 mobile
KGA=Spectra mobile (seen on a Smartnet 900 MHz D37KGA5JC7BK)
KGM=Spectra Consolette (seen on a L37KGM5174AM Spectra Desktrac)
KHM=MCS-2000 mobile
KLF=Astro Spectra mobile (seen on a T04KLF9PW4AN)
KLM=MCS-2000 mobile (seen on a M01KLM9PW6AN 160 channel, VHF, 110 watt mobile radio)
KMA=low power Spectra
KME=Railroad Spectra (12vDC/64-72vDC) (seen on a MBR43KME1170AD... the MB indicates
    Canadian manufacture)
KRB=MSR2000 continuous duty base - see also GRB/GSB and KSB)
KSB=MSR2000 continuous duty repeater - seen on a C73KSB-3126B - see also GRB/GSB and KRB)
KSM=MCS-2000 mobile
KXA=encryption capable KMA Spectra
KXJ=encryption capable KEJ Syntor X-9000  (seen on a T74KXJ7J04BK)
KUS=Minitor IV pager, seen on an A04KUS7238AC
LCF=Handie-Talkie based RF Link (seen on a K24LCF1102A-SP03) (each unit contained 
    a small Celwave duplexer, two HT440 boards, a power supply and a controller)
LHB=Motrac base, came in tabletop and rackmount versions 
    (HH series=early, LH=middle, MH series=late) (the LnnLHB tabletop 
    base was the first use of the name "Consolette")
LHT=Motrac mobile (uses channel elements) (middle series of Motrac, see HHT and MHT)
    (low band used a 2.5 MHz IF, high and UHF used 8.0 MHz)
LLB=Motran base (MSN and MST were newer)
LLT=Motran mobile (MSN and MST were newer)
    Low band came in 30 and 50 watts out 
    High band 30 watts only (consisted of the 50 watt lowband radio w/ a varactor tripler)
    The low band version was very sensitive to SWR, had matched sets of four germanium finals
LRA=M100 Radius mobile (retail version of a MaxTrac) (seen on a D34LRA73A5CK)
MAC=Metro-Pageboy pager   (Tone only)
MDB=late MSB w/ a different exciter. Don't bother trying to move the 
    470 MHz ones to 440, they won't go.
MEC=Metro-Pageboy (Tone only)
MGA=MaxTrac
MGC=GP350 handheld - seen on a UHF 450-470 MHz P94MGC20C2AA
MHB=late Motrac base (up to 40w highband or UHF on tabletop, 110w in a floor cabinet)
MHT=late Motrac mobile (no lowband was made in the MH series. 
    MHTs were 40, 60, 90, 110w on high band, 20, 40, 60w on UHF)
MJA=MaxTrac (seen on a D51MJA97A3AK 60 Watt mobile)
MLG=Micom-S HF SSB consolette transceiver (seen on L70MLG1180AM)
MMB=HT-210 handheld (crystal based)
MPB=late Motrac base (came in 50w, 70w, 100w, 120w, 250w, 375w versions...
    basically an MHB w/ very different exciter, and single tube 
    or dual tube PA decks).  There was a 375w one in my living room 
    for a few years... at one point it fed twin 16-el beams pointed at 
    a 2m repeater 10 miles away... was a capture-proof 2m base station.
MPY=an MPB-based repeater - essentially an MPB with a shield kit and a squelch gate card
MQA=MaxTrac (seen on D35MQA5GB5BK two-freq 18w 800 MHz radio)
MSB=Motran base (Motran=all solid state, Motrac=hybrid)
    The high power Motran bases had a tube final on a separate chassis
MSN=late Motran mobile - 12v PA deck (high band - 30w). The UHF model was also called 
    a Mark XII or Mark 12 - a 12 channel UHF mobile telephone (with 24 channel elements)
MST=high power Motran mobile (the 15 or 35 watts output ones had a 24v PA deck powered 
    by a T-supply.The 50, 75 and 90 watt versions had a T-supply and an 8072 PA tube...)
    The R43MST was a 64/12v highband railroad radio
MSY=high power MSB based repeater - produced from the mid 60s to the mid 70s.
    The B24/64MSY was also known as the MR46 "Operational Fixed Radio".
    The C35MSB/MSY was also called the MR92 OFR - it was a 952-960 MHz "microwave"
    radio.
MWA=MaxTrac (seen on a LTR trunked 800 MHz D45MWA5GB7AK)
NMB=HT-90 (seen on a H34NMB-6124A - UHF 2-freq)
NPB=TX-only version of an MPB (a wireline paging base)
PFD=People Finder paging base designed for restaurants, warehouses and 
    businesses (seen on a E34PFD0011CN People-Finder - some models cabled to an 
    existing transmitter (base station), others had an HT-90 transmitter inside)
PHB=Memo Express pager (saw it on a 900 MHz model)
PTU=MT500 handheld
QCH=GP2000 aka Pro-2150 handheld - latin america market (UHF - 403-440 MHz)
QDD=MT1500 handheld (seen on a H67QDD9PW5_N MT1500 48 Channels, 1-5W, UHF (380-470 MHz)) 
QHU=P100 handheld (synthesized) Seen on a highband H43QHU7120AN  4 watt, 2 channel. 
    Also seen on a -7160BN unit. 
QKH=Astro Spectra - P25 digital capable (seen on a L04QKH9PW7AN tabletop base)
QLC=P110 handheld - seen on a UHF P44QLC2OA2AA - 2 chan (the P44QLC20D2AA is 8 chan)
QPU=P100 handheld (synthesized) seen on a UHF H44QPU7160BN 403-430 MHz 4w 2ch
QXN=Saber handheld - seen on a 12 Ch, 6 Watt, 148-174 MHz Securenet H43QXN7139CN
RCB=MICOR continuous duty base or repeater (the "Y" suffix was not used on MICORs)
    The RCB (station), RTA (mobile) and RTB (station) did not support optional encryption
RCH=GP-2000 aka Pro-2150 handheld - latin america market (UHF - 435-480 MHz 
RDC=HT750 handheld (seen on a 16 ch UHF AAH25RDC9AA3AN)
RDC=HT1000 handheld radio (seen on a H01RDC9AA3DN)...
RDC=CP200 handhelds (seen on a UHF 450-470 MHz, 4 Channel AAH50RDC9AA1AN)
RDD=MTS2000 handheld (seen on a 48 Ch UHF HO1RDD9PW1BN)
RDF=HT1250 handheld
RDG=HT750 handheld UHF w/ keypad (seen on an AAH25RDG9AA4AN)
RDH=JT1000 handheld
RDH=MT2000 handheld (seen on a H01RDH9AA7AN MT2000 4w UHF 160ch 403-470 MHz
RDH=MTS2000 handheld (seen on a H01RDH9PW1BN MTS2000 403-478 MHz 160 Ch)
RFU=Radius P-200 handheld (HT600 clone in the Radius line)
RHM=MCS2000 mobile
RKD=Series 1250 mobile
RLB=MSF-5000 repeater (seen on a UHF C24RLB-7106BT)
RPB=MH70 handheld (essentially a second generation MH10) seen on a H23TPB-3140A 4f PL radio
RPU=Same as an RPB except the RPU offered an external speaker-microphone jack
RPY=PAC-PL mobile extender (cheap version of a TTY series PAC-RT, see TTY for more details) 
    (seen on a H13RPY-6110B)
RRB=MH70 Series of VHF "Handie-Com"   see RRU for more details
    (H23RRB=short case - "standard" model)
RRC=Radius SP10 handheld
RRU=MH70 Series of VHF "Handie-Com" Portable, 150.8-174 MHz 2watt handheld 
    (H23RRU=long case - "universal" model) Manual # 6881071A90
RTA=MICOR mobile (late) produced from 1973 or so...
    The RTA mobile did not support optional encryption
RTB=MICOR intermittent duty base (be very very careful of the duty cycle if you make one 
    into a repeater) (trailing "Y" was not used on MICORs) made from 1973 or so...
    The RTB station did not support optional encryption
RTB=Spectra TAC receiver chassis (has nothing to do with the Spectra mobile radio, this 
    is a MICOR receiver in a card cage intended as a satelite voting receiver). Typical 
    model numbers are N03RTB (high band), N04RTB (UHF). A "C" prefix indicated that 
    it was shipped in a cabinet.
RTE=Railroad MICOR mobile (13.6 / 72vDC)
RTH=Railroad MICOR mobile (72vDC only)
RTN=MICOR mobile (early)
RUB=MSF5000 station (seen on a C44RUB7106AT 403-435 MHz 40 Watt Repeater)
RWF=Syntor mobile
RXA=MICOR mobile that did support optional encryption
RXB=MICOR base that did support optional encryption
SAG=Saber handheld (seen on a H43SAG7139AN SABER 1E 24 channel 146-174)
SAK=Saber handheld (seen on a H44SAK7139AN Saber 3 non-secure)
SAN=Saber handheld
SBA=Triton HF SSB shipboard / marine radio or Micom mobile SSB radio 
    (seen on a D70SBA1G20BK "Triton-20")
SBG=Micom SSB base
SCG=Micom SSB tabletop base (seen on a L70SCG1160BM)
SDC=Astro Saber handheld
SDC=HT-1000 (seen on a UHF 16 Channel H01SDC9AA3AN 450-520 MHz)
SDC=HT750 handheld UHF
SDD=MT1500 handheld (seen on a H67SDD9PW5AN MT1500 48 Channels, 1-5W, UHF (450-520 MHz))
SDG=HT750 handheld UHF w/ keypad
SGG=Micom HF SSB (seen on a D70SGG model base station)
SHM=MCS2000 mobile
SHT=HandiCom - this is the new handicom, not the 1970s one (seen on a 
    P24SHT20G2AA 19-channel UHF radio with a build date of November 1994).
SKM=MCS2000 mobile
SMU=MX-300R series handhelds (shipboard/marine version), non encryption capable, see SXU
SOR=Desktrac
SRA=Syntor mobile (early) (not Syntor X)
SSU=MX300-S handheld (seen on a H44SSU 5w model)
SSU=MX-340 and MX-350 (seen on a MX340 H43SSU3140AN and a M350 H44SSU3140A) 
STC="STX" series handhelds - which were made on 800 MHz only (seen on a H35STC-5170CN)
SUM=Desktrac (MaxTrac tabletop base station)
SVU=HT-600 handheld (seen on a VHF 146-174, 6 Ch, 4 Watts H43SVU7160BN)
SXU=MX-300R series handhelds (encryption capable, see SMU), the R in 300R=Ruggedized
TDA=Traxar mobile (seen on a 800 MHz trunked D25TDA5G00AK)
TEC=pager (type unknown)
TLA=Mostar mobile (seen on a D35TLA5G00DK) 
    (Mostar was Moto's first synthesized 800 MHz trunked radio - a 
    real dog - does not use a RIB - requires a Mostar-only MIB, and 
    nobody seems to have a schematic, not even Moto... it's not in 
    the MIB manual)
TRA=Maxar mobile (Maxar and Moxy are very similar). Seen on a D23TRA-3000BK maxar PL mobile.
TRB=Maxar base
TSA=Maxar-80 mobile
TSB=Maxar-80 base
TTB=MH10 series of Handi-Com (see TTU)
TTU=MH10 Series of VHF "Handie-Com" Portable, 150.8 - 174 MHz, 1.5 watts out, 
    seen on H23TTB & H23TTU Series, Manual # 6881002C80
TTY=PAC-RT mobile extender (seen on a H13TTY-3110A)   This is NOT a mobile repeater, 
    it's a 250mw crossband extender that lets a cop use his high power mobile radio 
    from up to several hundred feet away. Uses a Handi-Com RF board (minus the final) 
    as the RF side. You can add the missing final and get a watt or two.
TUK=Systems Saber handheld - seen on a 12 Ch, 2 Watt, 403-433 MHz H44TUK5170CN
TUN=Systems Saber 1 with Securenet - seen on a 16 channel military surplus H44TUN5170CN
TXA=Syntor (secure capable)
UCC=Astro XTS-3000 handheld (seen on an 800 MHz H09UCC9PW5BN)
UCC=MTX-LS handheld  (seen on an 800 MHz H01UCC6DU3AN)
UCC=MTX-8000 handheld  (seen on a H01UCC6DB3AN)
UCD=800 MHz GTX handheld (seen on a model H11UCD6CB1AN) See "WCD" for 900 MHz version
UCD=MT1500 handheld (seen on a H67UCD9PW5_N MT1500 48 Channels, 1-3W, 800 MHz (806-870 MHz))
UCH=Nextel phone (seen on a M02UCH6RR6AM)
UGD=GTX mobile (800 MHz)
UGQ=MaxTrac trunked mobile 
UJQ=MaxTrac-LS trunked mobile (seen on an 800 MHz M07UJQ6FU1AN)
UMC=Minitor II pager, seen on an H04UMC1222AC
URA=MCX1000 mobile (seen on a 30 Watt UHF 403-430 MHz MBD44URA7K00-K)
VBB=Syntor X "Super Consolette" (seen on an 800 MHz tabletop base)
VBJ=Syntor X mobile (not secure capable - see VXJ)
VHB="Flex" pager (saw it on a 900 MHz Airtouch Flex pager)
VLJ=Syntor X mobile 800 MHz Smartnet Trunking 
VSJ=Syntor X2 mobile Trunking (not XX but X2... there were also X models and X3 models)
VXJ=Syntor X mobile (A VBJ redesigned to add the secure option)
WBA=Syntrx Plus (99 channel synthesized Mitrek made by Moto Australia)
WCC=GTX handheld (no display) (seen on a 900 MHz H11WCC4DU1AN)
WCC=MTX-9000 handheld (seen on a H01WCC4DB3AN, part of the Jedi series)
WCD=900 MHz GTX handheld (seen on a 900 MHz H11WCD4CB1AN) See "UCD" for 800 MHz version
WCF=MTS2000 handheld (saw on a 900 MHz model H01WCF4PW1BN/1CN)
WGB=GTX mobile (900 MHz low power)
WGD=GTX mobile (900 MHz) Seen on a M11WGD4CB1AN
WGH=MCS2000 900 MHz 12w Flashport mobile (seen on a M01WGH4PW6_N 
    12.5 kHz 160ch with a hand-held control head)
WGL=MCS2000 900 MHz 12w Flashport mobile (seen on a M01WGL4PW4_N 
    12.5 kHz 48ch Model I with a 8 character display)
WGM=MCS2000 900 MHz 12w Flashport mobile (seen on a M01WGM4PW6_N 
    12.5 kHz 160ch Model II with a 1x14 character display)
WGN=MCS2000 900 MHz 12w Flashport mobile (seen on a M01WGN4PW6_N 
    12.5 kHz 160ch Model III with a 2x14 character display)
WJH=MCS2000 900 MHz 30w Flashport mobile (seen on a M01WJH4PW6_N 
    12.5 kHz 160ch with a hand-held control head)
WJL=MCS2000 900 MHz 30w Flashport mobile (seen on a M01WJL4PW4_N 
    12.5 kHz 48ch Model I with a 8 character display)
WJM=MCS2000 900 MHz 30w Flashport mobile (seen on a M01WJM4PW6_N 
    12.5 kHz 160ch Model II with a 1x14 character display)
WJN=MCS2000 900 MHz 30w Flashport mobile (seen on a M01WJN4PW6_N 
    12.5 kHz 160ch Model III with a 2x14 character display)
WPA=STX series 900 MHz trunking handheld (H35WPA5170DN)
WXA=DVP version of a WBA Syntrx
XBY=a BBY but w/ a Motrac L-series receiver (from Motorola manual #6881056A70
    covering the J54/74XBY-3101AT). Really should have been an LBY.
XPB=Expo portable (seen on a 2 Channel UHF H24XPB3120)
XQC=Radius M130 - a two channel version of a GM300 - (seen on a M43XQC20A2AA 45w VHF)
XTA=Maratrac (essentially a high power 99-channel MaxTrac in a trunk-mount Mitrek package)
XVC=Radius M10 - a single channel version of a GM300 - (seen on a M34XVC20F3AA 10-25 Watt)
XVU=Radius M10 - a single channel version of a GM300 - (seen on a M34XVUC0F3AA 25w UHF)
YMS=Minitor III pager, seen on an A04YMS7238AC
YPC=GP300 handheld
YQT=SP-50 handheld (seen on a UHF 10 Channel P94YQT20G3AA)
ZPC=Radius P1225 handheld (seen on a 2 freq 4 watt UHF P94ZPC902AA)
ZRC=P1225 handheld - seen on a UHF 403-470 MHz P94ZRC90C2AA
ZXA=encryption capable Spectra mobile
ZXM=encryption capable Spectra-based desktrac tabletop base (seen on a L44ZXM5174AM)

- - - - - - - - - - - - #- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Thanks to Neil McKie WA6KLA, Jeff Kincaid W6JK, Craig Kielhofer N9NBO, Jim Barbour WD8CHL, Dennis Boyle KB9RRN, Don Best N6ALD, Tim Eldred, and Nick Beck for their contributions.

Again, this is a work in progress. Corrections, additions, attaboys, etc are welcome. Drop me an email!

Contact Information:

The author can be contacted at: his-callsign // at // repeater-builder // dot // com.



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Text, artistic layout and hand-coded HTML © Copyright 2004 and date of last update by Mike Morris WA6ILQ

This page originally posted on Monday 13-Nov-2004

This web page, this web site, the information presented in and on its pages and in these modifications and conversions is © Copyrighted 1995 and (date of last update) by Kevin Custer W3KKC and multiple originating authors. All Rights Reserved, including that of paper and web publication elsewhere.