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Information On and Modifications For Motorola® Equipment

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.