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Motorola®

Note that the contents of this page, like most here at www.repeater-builder.com, are totally dependent on donations of information.
In other words, the repeater-builder web site and this Motorola web page is what the contibutors make it.
If you have a hint, or a useful trick, please consider writing it up and sending it in.

Note: Any Motorola prices mentioned on any page at this web site should be taken only as a rough guideline. Motorola adjusts prices quarterly, and offers one set of prices to their dealers/service shops, another on their order desk, and a third to major fleet customers that self-maintain.

MICOR Mobile and Station Information - www.micor.info
This page has everything on the MICOR except the Spectra-Tac / Aux Receiver chassis which is further down this page, and the Link Receiver that was built for the MSF5000 and PURC stations (also further down this page in the MSF and PURC section).
Figuring out what you have   by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
Cracking the model / ID number... with explanations of power levels, frequency bands, and a suffix table... (a work in progress, contributions welcome)
Deciphering the AAANNNN Numbering Scheme of Motorola part numbers   by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
A web page compilation the number breakdown table... the data is from four different vintages of the Motorola Buyers Guide publication (a work in progress, contributions welcome).
Deciphering the first two digits of Motorola part numbers   by Robert Meister WA1MIK
A list of the parts categories from a 1976 publication (a work in progress, contributions welcome).
How to order manuals or parts from Motorola®   by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
Mitrek mobile and Mitrek "Super Consolette" table-top base station pages   by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
See the MSR2000 Station pages for the base station version of the Mitrek
MSR2000 Station Pages   by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
Syntor, Syntor X, Syntor X9000, MCX, MCX100, MCX1000 and Mostar Pages
MaxTrac, Radius and GM300 series Information and Modifications
There are Maxtrac, Maxtrac 50, Maxtrac 300, Radius, M10, M100 M120, M130, M208, M214, M216 and GM300 radios. While they look very similar, they are actually quite different internally. Then there are the DeskTrac stations, the DeskTrac repeaters, the GR300, GR400 and GR500 repeaters... This page presents an overview.
Spectra Radios
Motorola has discontinued manufacture and depot service on this radio, and many police, fire and other agencies are replacing them. While Mike Blenderman K7IC has the definitive resource web site on the Spectra radios, we have a few goodies here.
Spectra TAC Receiver and Comparator Index Page
All of the information and articles relevant to the voting comparator and Micor receiver-based Spectra TAC receivers can now be found on this page.
Saber Handheld Radios
Motorola has discontinued manufacture and depot service on this radio, and many police, fire and other agencies are replacing them. Here's an overview.
GTX 900 MHz Radios
Information about the Motorola 900 MHz GTX mobile and handheld ‑ probably the fastest and easiest way to get on 900 MHz.
The MSF and PURC Stations
At the moment most of the information on this index page is UHF, but that totally depends on the information donations that we get... Repeater-builder would welcome additional articles on high-band and 900 MHz units.
The MX Series of radios
The "MX Series" includes several crystal based (actually channel element based) and synthesized products that were first introduced in 1975. These radios including the MX320, MX330, MX340, MX350 and MX360 handhelds, the PX300 and PX500 packsets, the MTR300 firetower repeater, the "APCOR" emergency medical repeater, and several others.
An Overview of the Motorola MaraTrac mobile radio   by Robert Meister WA1MIK and Jim Kalkowski N1GTL
The MaraTrac is like a MaxTrac on steroids. Up to 99 channels, 100-110 watts, remote-mount. This article shows what's inside a UHF unit and a low band unit. The Radius M400 is similar. There are some MaraTrac scans further down in the manual section of this page.
Activating the MaraTrac Remote Squelch Pot   by Robert Meister WA1MIK
It seems many of these low-band radios come equipped with the remote squelch pot, but the radio doesn't know it's there. This article shows what seems to be the problem and how to fix it.
The Motorola Control Cable Connector Virus       by Robert Meister WA1MIK
While this happened to some MaraTracs, it can also happen to a lot of other remote-mount radios that have control head cables and connectors. This article tries to explain which came first: the bent pin or the bad cable connector. It shows the problem and how to fix it.
An overview of the Motorola Radio Service Software (RSS) and the Radio Interface Box (RIB)   By A. Nony Mous and friends
Some problems and some solutions... Compiled from information provided by several knowledgeable folks.
An Overview of the SM50 / SM120 Radios       by Robert Meister WA1MIK
Information about the Motorola VHF and UHF SM50 and SM120 mobile radios.
Adding analog modulation to a 900 MHz Nucleus II paging transmitter for 927 MHz amateur service   By Robert W. Meister WA1MIK
Information and Modifications on the MTR2000 Base Station and Repeater
Info on the GP6x Series of Handheld Radios   by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
This series includes all of the GP6x series (including the GP68) plus the AP73 radios.
Info on the Genesis Series of Handheld Radios   by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
This series includes the HT600, the HT600E, the MT1000, the MTX800, the MTX Classic and the MTX900.
Anybody want to do an article on the Jedi series? (includes the GP900, GP1200, HT1000, HT1100, JT1000, MT2000, MT2100, MTS-LS, MTX838, MTX2000, MTX8000, MTX9000, MTS2000, MTS2010, MTS2013, PTX1200, and the PTX3600)
We do not have a lot on the Jedi but we do have a Jedi model chart (but it does not cover all the models).   We do have a Jedi Antenna Identification Chart, a four page spec sheet, and a 24-page specification sheet, chargers and accessories description sheet as well. BTW, the plastic piece in the Jedi belt clip is hard to break but can be done. If you want to save a few dollars on the repair you can order just the plastic - it is part number 42-05524W04.
Or the Waris series? (which includes the GP320, GP328, GP338, GP338-LS, GP329, GP339, GP340, GP360, GP380, HT750, HT1250, HT1250LS, HT1550, HT1550XLS, GP140, GP320, GP330, GP328, GP329, GP338, GP339, GP340, GP360, GP380, GP640, GP650, GP680, GP1280 PTX700, PTX760, PTX780 ATS2500, MTX850, MTX850LS, MTX8250, MTX8250LS, MTX900, MTX950, MTX960, MTX9250 PRO5150, PRO5350, PRO5450, PRO5550, PRO5750, PRO7150, PRO7350, PRO7450, PRO7550, PRO7750, and the PRO9150)
Note that Moto marketing screwed up and has a MTX900 model in BOTH the Jedi and Waris product lines. If you are buying a MTX900 make sure which one you are getting. They are VERY different.
Using the Motorola GR1225 or GM300 with an IRLP repeater   By Don L. Blanchard, WA7GTU
Plus a few notes about using the R1225 / GR1225 as a full duplex point-to-point link radio
The Quantar and Quantro Stations
A collection of information about the Quantar (standard) and Quantro (high power) base/repeater stations. Repeater-Builder welcomes additional interfacing information, manuals, or articles.
Making your own TRN-4224A PL tone plug   by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
This device is used in mobile radio internal PL boards (i.e. Mitreks, Syntors, Maxar, Moxy, etc.), Systems-90 multi-PL mobile encoders and some other models.
This article is oriented towards the Mitrek and the HLN4181 since I first ran into the TRN4424 when modifying a Mitrek that had an HLN4181 tone board in it. Despite that, this information is valid for any equipment that uses the TRN4224 plug-in tone element.
Making your own TRN-6005A DPL code plug   by Jerry Matthews WAØUZI
A quad DPL board for a Micor base station is shown in the article, but the techinque is universal to any equipment that uses the TRN6005 in the DPL board including Mitreks, Syntors, Systems-90 multi-DPL mobile encoders, the Spectra TAC Receiver, Satellite Receiver, Auxiliary Receiver, MSR2000 stations and others.
This article also includes a table of normal and inverted DPL codes.
Modifying the Moto touchtone mobile microphone for 16-button operation   1.89 MB PDF file  By Jim Reese WD5IYT
The Motorola Portable Test Set Page
Information on several vintages including the P-8501, TU546, S‑1056 / 1057 / 1058 / 1059 series, R1033, RTX4005 and several base station / repeater test sets.
The R100 and MCR100 Repeater Stations
These wall-mount small repeaters are available in VHF and UHF models. Most of the information on this page covers the UHF stations, and it includes PDF scans of the Instruction (service) manuals and other articles. Repeater-Builder welcomes additional interfacing information, manuals, or articles.
Translating the date code on a Motorola battery   by Mike Pugh KA4MKG
Determining Date of Manufacture from the Serial Number   by A. Nony Mous
Info on the T1480 series high band 4-can duplexer / cavity filter panel   1.14Mb PDF by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
This is the official Moto manual that covers the two-cavity and four-cavity models (1481, 1482, 1485A, 1485AF, 1487A, 1487AF)
Info on the Motorola T1500 series 4-can UHF duplexer / cavity filter panel   by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
There's a lot of info on these units, so they have their own web page.
The manual for Motorola's S1318A, S1319A, S1320A, S1321A and S1329A Signal Generators
Manual number 68P81061A75-A, 21 MB in size, PDF'd and donated by Howard Thompson K2LAW
Manual for the Motorola R1013A SINAD meter   401 KB PDF
Manual number 68-81069A81, donated by John Crabtree KCØG
The manual for Motorola's PAC-RT mobile extender   part number 68P81010C06-B, 2.9 MB PDF
This unit is commonly called a PAC-Rat, and it superceeded the PAC-PL and was Moto's answer to the mobile extenders made by Pyramid company.   The PAC-PL and the PAC-RT, like the Pyramid, are NOT mobile repeaters, they function something like a simplex autopatch, only instead of a phone line the unit conencts to a mobile radio on a different band.   Any mobile extender allows a patrol officer to talk on the high power patrol car radio from his handheld.   While this file is of the low band PAC-RT manual, the difference between the low band, high band and UHF models is in which radio board is installed, and that board is essentially a Handi-Com handheld less the case, volume and squelch pots and the final transistor (which lowers the power to 1/4 watt, but the final can be added back in easily).   Changing frequencies is as easy as changing a channel element in a HandiCom, and changing bands is as easy as changing radio boards.     I've seen a PAC-RT that had the radio board missing and cabled to a Midland 13-509 220 MHz radio that had been modified for electronic (relayless) antenna switching.   One major user of mobile extenders is the California Highway Patrol, they have a statewide low band radio system with the patrol cars talking at 39 MHz (repeater input), at 43 (talkaround) and receiving at 43 MHz.   The officers carry HT1000s on 16 channels, one of which is the mobile extender frequency (near 155 MHz).
Moto "Transistorized Dispatcher" radio   7.2 MB PDF   Photo   This is the manual for the 1965 D33CMT series - a 15w 2-channel pre-Motrac model.
Note from WA6ILQ: I have good memories of the CMT - I used one of these as a base station on a couple of local 2m repeaters for several years in the mid to late 1970s / early 80s.   Adding enable / disable switching to the PL encoder took a SPST switch and a piece of wire.   Adding a second encode tone took a DPDT switch, a reed socket and a second reed. Later on it got more frequencies, reeds and reed sockets. The CMT replaced a Link 1905ED mobile that had received power transformers in place of the receiver vibrator and transmitter dynamotor (the Link became my 146.70 RTTY receiver). I also hand ground the FT243 crystals for Link. The CMT was later replaced with a 12-channel Motrola Metrum II (which got the reed switch, additional reed sockets and the reeds).
Moto "Remote Radio Switch"   5.3 MB PDF   This is the manual for a rather unique special purpose receiver (model number C1186B, C1186C, C1240A, C1240B, C1242A, C1242B, C1243A and C1244A). The manual number is 68P81071A85-G.

Miscelaneous Operating / Service / User / Parts / Accessories manuals:
Manuals for radios that have their own pages (like Saber, Spectra, Mitrek, MaxTrac, MSF, MX, HT600 / MT1000, etc.) are on that appropriate page.
AP73 Operators Instructions   420 kB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
The AP73 was a poorly done rehash of the GP6x series commercial handheld for the amateur radio market. If it had been marketed properly, and with a larger battery it would not have flopped. The first few pages are a quick reference card.
CDM1250 User Guide   2.2 MB PDF
CDM1250 Specification Sheet   60 KB PDF
CDM750, CDM1250, CDM1550 Parts Lists and Accessories   381 KB PDF
CDM Series Product Overview   3.3 MB PDF

NOTE: The CDM series is the current replacement for the Maxtrac / Radius / GM300 line, and at first glance you'd think that a Maxtrac microphone will fit.   Yes, It will but you won't like the results   The CDM uses a 10 pin RJ-style mic jack, where the Maxtrac uses an 8-pin. Yes, you can force a 8-pin plug into the jack, but the outer ridges of the plug will mangle the outer two pins of the 10-pin jack.
GP300 Parts List and Accessories List   1.2 MB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
GP640 Users Guide   68P64110B24-A   1.97 MB PDF
GR1225 Brochure   152 KB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
HT50 Brochure   1.1 MB PDF   Donated by A. Nony Mous
HT50 User Guide   6881055C65   2.4 MB PDF   Donated by A. Nony Mous
HT750/1250/1550 Brochure   1.1 MB PDF   Donated by A. Nony Mous
HT750/1250/1550 Basic Service Manual   6880906Z54   5.2 MB PDF   Donated by A. Nony Mous
JT1000 Operators Instructions   583 kB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous    The last page is a quick reference card.
M1225 Catalog Sheet
MaraTrac Sales Brochure   92 kB PDF   Donated by A. Nony Mous
MaraTrac Low-Band Service Manual   6880102W95-O   25 MB PDF   Donated by A. Nony Mous
MC-Micro Service Manual (400Mhz)   68P84828D06-3   6.9MB PDF   donated by A. Nony Mous
The cover page is in German, the rest in English.   The R100 repeater was made from two of these.
Micom 2 HF-SSB Mobile/Fixed Digital Signal Processing Radio Catalog Sheet   213 KB PDF
Micom 2E ALE HF-SSB Transceiver Owners Guide   68P02952C60-O   679 KB PDF
Micom 2 ATU Mobile Automatic Antenna Tuner Installation Manual   6802948c35   126 KB PDF
This is a supplement to Service Manual 68P02948C35-O
L1158 and L1159 MRTI Service Manual   2.5 MB PDF   Donated by Eric Vincent VE2VXT
MT500 Parts List and Accessories List   360 kB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
MT2000 Catalog Sheet   83 kB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
MT2000 Parts List and Accessories List   1.4 MB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
MTS2000 Spec sheet   100 KB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
MTS2000 Parts List and Accessories List   1.98 MB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
MTX9000 User Manual   817 kB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
The original Syntor X9000 Sales Brochure   4.3 MB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
Syntor X9000 Operators Manual   971 kB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
Syntor X9000 Trunked and Conventional Manual   1.14 MB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
Syntor X9000E Operators Manual   1.02 MB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
Syntor X9000 High Band, UHF and 800 MHz Supplement   2.39 MB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
This is the 6880100W94 manual (99 pages) that, when combined with a High Band or UHF Syntor X manual, makes up the X9000 documentation.
Spirit "M" series owners manual   541 KB PDF   6880905Z70   Donated by A. Nony Mous
Triton-20 HF-SSB radio Instruction Manual   68P81044E20-A   8.9 MB PDF
XTN Series User Guide   6864110R04   2.9 MB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
The channel charts in this manual are also applicable to the Spirit M, GT and S series radios.
The replacement microphone coiled cord for the Mitrek, Micor, Syntor and several others (not the Spectra) is part number 083731M01
H23BAC, H23BAM, P33BAC, P33BAM Handi-Talkie Instruction Manual   6.1 MB PDF     Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
These are the hybrid transistor and subminiature tube based high band pack sets (the "luggie-talkies" or "hernia talkies")
Canadian VHF PT300 (1.4w) Manual   6.7 MB PDF     Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
This is for the CP23DDC and CP33DDC radios.
P23DEN PT200 (2w) and P33DEN PT300 (5w) high band Service Manual   9.3 MB PDF     Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
P21DDN PT200 (1.4w) and P31DDN PT300 (5w) low band Service Manual   8.6 MB PDF     Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
P43DEN PT400 (10w) high band Service Manual   10.6 MB PDF     Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
The PT200 was essentially an HT200 in a lunch-pail style box with a big battery and a half-decent antenna. It was very popular with utility workers. The PT200 offered two sizes of ni-cad battery packs and had an optional battery pack that held 10 "D" cells. The PT300 and PT400 had a small RF amplifier - and the manual recommended using only the ni-cad batteries as it could kill the "D" cells rather quickly.
CAUTION: The HT200 and PT200 are positive ground internally. DO NOT use both a cigarette lighter cord AND a mag mount at the same time on a negative ground vehicle or you will have an internal meltdown.
Motorola microphone manual number 68-80309C84: This manual covers the DTMF microphones with the following part numbers:
TDN8305A/B, TDN8306A/B, TDN8307A/BSP, TDN8309A/B, TDN8310A/B (DTMF Maxtrac). The last time I checked this manual was still available.
Motorola microphone manual number 6881085E15: This manual covers the Auto-Dial Touch Code Encoder Palm Microphones with Backlit Keypad with the following part numbers:
TMN6169A - DTMF Maxtrac Conventional, TMN6170A - DTMF Maxtrac Trunked, TMN6171A - DTMF MaraTrac with the A2 and A3 heads, TMN6172A - DTMF MaraTrac with the A7 head, TMN6173A - DTMF Spectra Conventional, TMN6174A - DTMF Spectra Trunked, TMN6175A - DTMF Mostar Conventional, TMN6176A - DTMF Mostar Trunked. The last time I checked this manual was still available.

If anyone wishes to donate additional manual scans or hard-to-get part numbers, let us know. We'd really like to get information (including parts lists and user manuals) for the Saber, Astro Saber, XTL, XTS, MCS and MTS.

20 kHz Spacing on UHF and Motorola Radios     A brief history of the 20 kHz spacing issues in southern California and how some radios deal with it.     Compiled by Mike Morris WA6ILQ


History:
The First Walkie-Talkie Radio, An Affectionate Look Back in Time and Some Thoughts About the First True Fabled Walkie-Talkie   1.6 MB PDF, by Leonard H. Anderson, 25 June 2005
More on what would be considered portable radios than handheld radios, bue still very interesting.   This writeup was sent to repeater-builder anonymously, and I have not been able to locate Mr. Anderson to see if he is an amateur radio operator.
A very interesting web page on the history of Motorola Land Mobile radio
Well worth reading - and yes, 33 MHz was once considered to be the ultra-high-frequencies!   by Geoff Fors, WB6NVH   (offsite link)
The Mobile Telephone In Bell System Service, 1946-1985
  Another page from Geoff Fors, WB6NVH   (offsite link)
Mobile radio as used by the California Highway Patrol from the 1960s to current
  Another page from Geoff Fors, WB6NVH   (offsite link)
California Highway Patrol Motorcycle Radio History
  Another page from Geoff Fors, WB6NVH   (offsite link)
California Highway Patrol Radio 2001
  Another page from Geoff Fors, WB6NVH   (offsite link)
California Highway Patrol Radio 2009     Touch screens while in pursuit ? What ARE they thinking?
  Another page from Geoff Fors, WB6NVH   (offsite link)

If anyone is aware of other land mobile history pages please let repeater-builder know.


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Motorola® is a registered trademark of Motorola Inc.     Logo image used with permission.

Registered trademarks, service marks, or copyrights of Motorola Inc. include the "batwing" M logo, Astro, Astro Saber, Astro Spectra, Channel Scan, Compa-Station, Consolette, Convertacom, Coronary Observation Radio, COR, "Deluxe Line", DPL, Digital Private Line, Extender, Expo, GM300, GR300, GR500, GTX, Handi-Com, Handi-Talkie, Hear-Clear, HT50, HT90, HT100, HT200, HT210, HT220, HT440, HT600, HT1000, HT1250, JT1000, MaraTrac (a.k.a. Maratrac), MaxTrac (a.k.a. Maxtrac), MCX, MCX100, MCT3600, MTC4800, MDC600, MDC1200, Mem-o-Lert, Micom, Micor, Mitrek, Mitrek Plus, MPL, Mocom, Mocom 10, Mocom 30, Mocom 70, Modat, Mostar, Motrac, Motran, MoTrek, MSF5000, MSF10000, MSR2000, MT500, MT1000, MT2000, MTR2000, MTS2000, MPL, Multiple PL, MVA, MVS10, MVS20, P10, P50, P200, Power Voice, Privacy Plus, PT200, PT300, PT400, PT500, PL, Private Line, Privacy Plus, Quantar, Quantro, Quick Call, Quick Call II, Radius, Radio Service Software, RSS, Radius, "Research Line", Saber, Securenet, Sensicon, Sensitron, SM10, SM50, SM120, Smartnet, Smartzone, SP10, Spectra, Spectra II, Syntor, Syntor X2, Syntor X3, Syntor X, Syntor X-9000, Syntor X 9000E, Syntrx, System 90, System 90S, Systems 9000, T-Power, Talkabout, Talkaround, Talkback Scan, Touch Code, Trunked X2, Trunked X3, UniChannel, the stylized and drop-shadowed X on the Syntor X logo, XTS1500, XTS2500, XTS3000, XTS5000, and a big bunch more that I can't remember at 3am as I'm creating this page.   In short, trademarked names belong to the owner and no misuse, violation or infringement is intended.   All usage on these web pages at this web site is in a descriptive or educational use.

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.