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Radio Equipment

Compiled by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
Web page maintained by Robert Meister WA1MIK
I know nothing about this equipment so please don't ask!

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Midland Land Mobile Radio (LMR/Commercial) Products

The Midland commercial repeaters, mobiles and portables are showing up in the used market in increasing larger quantities. Repeater-builder.com is looking for information on the various models and would like to have someone supply an overiew of the products - i.e. just what is a Syntech, or an XTR, or a 70-045, or a 70-342, or a 70-7030, or a 70-565, or a 70-1340B? We have a model chart below, but it's short on overview information - what makes one particular model better over another (maybe a better front end)? We'd like to present some combination of:


Midland Commercial Equipment

One rule of thumb: The Syntech I radios use EPROM Modules and a hardware programmer, while both the Syntech II and XTR radios program with a PC, like modern radios.

. Installation and Setup Tips for the Midland 70-1488W-CD Windows Programming Software By Sean Smock KC1IJS
For the XTR and SynTech II Mobiles. Does not apply to the DOS software.
. 70-1308A Programmer - Here's the schematic of a Syntech II and XTR programmer courtesy of Brett Kitchens KF4SQB
Unfortunately the wiring of the MAX233 IC is incorrect. There is another 70-1308A programmer diagram on the web, based on the MAX232 IC, and it's just as incorrect.
. Does anyone have any information on the Midland Programming Interface 70-1052A ?
It is used to program the 70-045 / 70-065 / 70-165 / 70-265 / 70-166 / 70-266 series portables.
Or of the 70-1080 Programmer ?
. Midland Base, Repeater and Mobile model table   courtesy of Bill Janes, N9SII
. Midland Portable model table   courtesy of Michael James KC5JDG
. The Midland 70-201BD radio is a relabeled Maxon SD-125 UHF.
. 70-336 8 channel VHF Syntech I Alignment Section   176 kB PDF file
Donated by Mark N1MG
. 70-336 8 channel VHF Syntech I Schematic   2.6 MB PDF file
Donated by Mark N1MG
. 70-340A/B and 70-440A/B Syn-Tech 20-40W VHF-HI Mobile Transceiver Service Manual   8.8 MB PDF file
Actual manual number 70-136174 dated 10/82
. 70-0351A/B/C and 70-0355A/B/C 60W VHF-LO Mobile Transceiver Manual   3.0 MB PDF file
Actual manual number 70-351355 dated 7/91
. 70-0371A/B/C and 70-0375A/B/C Syn-Tech XTR 110W VHF-LO Mobile Transceiver Manual   5.1 MB PDF file
Actual manual number 70-371375 dated 7/91, contributed by Randy W3RWN
. 70-1336A/B 15/30W VHF-HI Mobile Transceiver Manual   2.7 MB PDF file
Actual manual number 70-133600 dated 4/91
. 70-1340A/B and 70-1440A/B 2-40W VHF-HI Mobile Transceiver Manual   4.7 MB PDF file
Actual manual number 70-134144 dated 12/94
. 70-1395A/B and 70-1495A/B 2-110W VHF-HI Mobile Transceiver Service Manual   4.5 MB PDF file
Actual manual number 70-139149 dated 7/93
. 70-2103A and 70-2104A DTMF Mobile Microphones   341 kB PDF file
Scanned by Dave K7QT
. 70-2914 CTCSS / CDCSS Encoder for the Syn-Tech II 70-3400AD/BD and 70-5300AD/BD   2.1 MB PDF file
This kit also adds a timeout timer, carrier delay timer, courtesy beep and high-pass audio filter to prevent retransmittion of the incoming CTCSS tone or CDCSS digital code. The actual board number is 70-07519.
Actual manual number 70-999936 dated 9/92
. 70-3400 and 70-3800 Syn-Tech II 40-watt and 110-watt VHF-HI Radio Service Manual   4.1 MB PDF file
Actual manual number 70-340381, date unknown. This is part 1 of a 3-manual set and contains info about Accessories/Options/Models, Programming, Installation, and Repairs.
. 70-3400 and 70-3800 Syn-Tech II 40-watt and 110-watt VHF-HI Radio Service Manual   2.4 MB PDF file
Actual manual number 70-340383, date unknown. This is part 2 of a 3-manual set and contains information about the Deluxe Control Heads.
. 70-3400 and 70-3800 Syn-Tech II 40-watt and 110-watt VHF-HI Radio Service Manual   11.7 MB PDF file
Actual manual number 70-340380, date unknown. This is part 3 of a 3-manual set and contains information about the TX/RX units.
. 70-3400AD/BD and 70-5300AD/BD Syn-Tech II Duplex Mobile/Base/Repeater for VHF-HI or UHF band   4.9 MB PDF file
Actual manual number 70-340530 dated 1/93
. 70-530A/B/C/D/E and 70-653A/B/C/D/E Syn-Tech UHF Mobile Radio Service Manual   3.9 MB PDF file
Actual manual number 70-406512 dated 3/83
. Complete Service Information for the Syn-Tech III P25 STP-105B VHF Portable and STP-404(A)(B) UHF Portable   4.92 MB PDF file

The Midland Base-Tech series (possibly the entire product line) is made in Japan by Hitachi. These are crystal-controlled stations. Jeff AL1Q donated this two-manual set for the 50 and 100 watt UHF base/repeater stations, which cover the UHF band in two splits. The manuals were scanned, cleaned up, and stitched together by Bob WA1MIK. The first part had color X-ray views; the second part was obviously a reprint and the X-ray views were already in gray-scale. Both parts were scanned in gray-scale.

. Base-Tech UHF Service Manual part 1   6.5 MB PDF file
This contains the operating and installation information plus service information for the non-frequency dependent equipment which is common to the entire Base-Tech line, such as the control circuitry, power supply, and cabinet. 10/88 revision.
. Base-Tech UHF Service Manual part 2   25.4 MB PDF file
This contains specifications, troubleshooting procedures, technical data, and drawings for the transmitter, receiver, and RF power amplifiers of the 71-4050 (50 watt UHF) and 71-4120 (120 watt UHF) stations. 7/94 revision.

The Midland / Icom relationship:

The Midland 70-154A and B handheld are clones of the Icom H16 (16 channel high band, front panel programmable) and are identical except for the color of the plastic and the name on the housing. The 70-254A and B are clones of the U16, the UHF version. The programming instructions for the H16 and U16 that are on the Icom page at this web site will work for the Midland clones.

The following information came from Chris Baldwin KF6AJM:

The Base Tech II and III series base stations and repeaters are OEM by Kyodo-West in Japan. The rumor mill says that when the recent tsunami hit Japan, the Kyodo-West factory was destroyed. Prior to the ICOM takeover, units were also manufactured with "Securicor" branding, as well as a few other obscure brands, most likely for overseas service. ICOM now manufactures the Base Tech III stations as the FR-9010 (VHF 110W) and RF-9020 (UHF 110W) P25 stations.

The Base Tech II is an analog-only station, available in VHF-Low, VHF-High, and UHF in multiple band splits and power output levels. The Base Tech II has a light gray front panel with an orange "SHIFT" key.

The Base Tech III is a dual mode analog/P25 station, available in VHF-High and UHF in multiple band splits and power output levels. The Base Tech III has a dark gray front panel with a teal "SHIFT" key.

Both are extremely well-built, well-designed, attractive radios. Full LCD display and keypad make local control easy. Remote control is easy via interface to a fully documented DB25 connector. Both are programmed using Windows software (which runs in Windows 7 just fine), and I personally use a Midland factory USB-to-TTL converter that uses an FTDI chip.

Midland band splits for VHF and UHF Base Tech II & III stations are as follows:
VHF "A": 136-156 MHz
VHF "B": 146-174 MHz
UHF "A": 400-435 MHz
UHF "B": 440-475 MHz
UHF "C": 465-500 MHz

Base Tech II product prefix is 71, Base Tech III product prefix is 91.

71-0110 = Base Tech II Lowband 110W
71-3050A = Base Tech II VHF 50W 136-156 MHz
71-4110B = Base Tech II UHF 110W 440-475 MHz
91-1110B = Base Tech III VHF 110W 146-174 MHz
And so on.

Modules can be swapped around to create cross-band stations, at least with the Base Tech II. I've seen it. Some units come with the 71-8885 options housing, which depending on the housing model can contain a power supply with or without charger, a tone remote adapter, etc.

The stations can slide around in bandwidth within reason. A VHF "B" station *should* work down to 144MHz reasonably, it may or may not require a VCO adjustment. The nice thing is that the stations are available within the amateur bands on VHF, UHF-Low and UHF-Mid.


Midland Amateur Radio Equipment

Since Midland is out of the amateur radio market, and no longer offers any amateur radio equipment manuals for sale, if someone can PDF the service manuals for these older radios it would be appreciated. The models that we do not have include the 13-500 (2m crystal) mobile and all of the amateur handhelds.

All of the amateur market Midland radios were carrier squelch only, but they had a four pin accessory connector on the rear of the radio, and the signals available included switched +12vDC on transmit, transmitter modulator audio in and PTT in. A common modification was to replace the rear accesory connector with one that had additional pins. Some folks used the connector for powering DTMF encoders, some for CTCSS encoders, some (like the author) for both. The most common CTCSS encoder used was made by Communications Specialists, commonly known as Com-Spec, and they have their own page at this web site.

The stock accessory connector connections had pin 1 to microphone audio, pin 2 to audio ground, pin 3 to +12 on transmit, and pin 4 is RX audio. In my mobile I disconnected the wire connected pin 4 and taped it off. I connected a piece of RG-174 mini-coax to pin 4 and pin 2, ran it back to the transmitter module, to a 100k resistor and then conencted the other end of the resistor to the base of TR28. I them connected an external tone encoder to pin 2, 3 and 4. I initally used a model TS-1, then added a rotary switch and additional tone elements, then switched to a TE-32 and later upgraded to a TD-64 just for the display. I later upgraded the 13-509 to a 13-513 and moved the TD-64 to that radio.

. The 13-500 was a two meter version of the blackface 13-509 twelve channel crystal controlled radio, offering 10 watts or 1 watt output. No manual on file; anybody want to scan theirs or loan it for scanning?
. 13-509 User's Manual   5.1 MB PDF file donated by Ray Wolfe K9RI   front panel photo
This radio is a 220 MHz version of the 13-500, and also was marketed as the Clegg FM-76 and Cobra Model 200 (with cosmetically different front panels).
This file is a PDF of the manual that was shipped with the radio. The schematic is inside the back cover. The Midland branded units were made with three different colors of front panel: initially black, then tan and then chocolate brown (shown in the front panel photo above). There were some slight component value changes between the vintages / colors.
. 13-509 Service Manual   1.7 MB PDF file donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
Yes, this file is smaller than the owner's manual, but that is due to a better scan and better compression. This is the manual that was sold by Midland as a service manual... for two dollars plus postage.
. Notes on a repeater based on the Midland 13-509   1.9 MB PDF file   by Chuck Adams WB5WRR
. Midland Radio Conversions for Links and Repeaters   by Karl Shoemaker AK2O of the Spokane Repeater Group (http://www.srgclub.org)   (offsite link)
While this web page is oriented to the 220 MHz Midland 13-509 radio much of the information is applicable to the 2 meter 13-500 radio as well. The theory and comments are well worth reading.
. Improved Squelch Action for the 13-500 or 13-509   Donated by Bob Dengler NO6B
A simple modification (two caps and 1 resistor) that results in much better squelch action on these radios. This mod is also applicable to the 13-500 2 meter version.
. 5 watt Low-power Setting for 13-509 and its variants   Donated by Larry Clore WB9F
A simple modification for changing the low power setting from 1 watt to 5 watts for link duty on the 13-509 and its variants.
. 13-510 Owner's Manual   9.5 MB PDF file
2 meters, 1w / 10 watts / 30 watts synthesized.
. Anybody have a PDF of the 13-510 Service Manual ? Or one we can scan?
. 13-513 Owner's Manual   3.9 MB PDF file
This is a 220 MHz version of the 13-510 and when coupled to a ComSpec TD-64 dial-up PL encoder was considered THE ideal 220 mobile radio for years. RF output was 1 watt / 10 watts / 25 watts synthesized.
. 13-513 Service Manual   3.2 MB PDF file
The 13-500, 13-509, 13-510 and 13-513 were designed by Miguel Emilio "Mike" Santana WA2AZX / WB6TEB (SK May 24 2016). Mike was Vice President of Engineering of Fanon-Courier Corporation and also did contract designs for a number of Japanese companies. He designed several of the "President" line of CB radios. Mike was a neighbor of the author of this web page (Mike WA6ILQ).


Midland Consumer Equipment

The Midland Weather radio model WR-300 (and probably other WR series receivers) is not suitable for use as a source of the weather "Watch", "Warn", or other type of alert message in a repeater system. The SAME protocol that is broadcast by the NOAA transmitters has digital trigger codes for each geographical area in the country plus a "turn off" code that is sent at the end of the alert time period. The intent was that the "Watch" or "Warning" signals unmute the speaker, and the radio would talk until the "turn off" code was received. An indicator (usually a red LED) would stay illuminated until reset with a pushbutton.

The decoder design of the WR-300 does NOT support the "turn-off" code, hence once the receiver squelch is opened by a "Watch" or "Warn" signal the receiver just chatters until an internal timer expires (about 5 minutes) and then mutes the speaker. If a long message was received, or a second "Watch" or "Warn" signal was received the timer could mute the audio right in the middle of it.

Anybody have any info on the Midland 74-109 Weather radio?
Is it timer based or does it understand the "turn off" code?

There is some additional Weather Receiver info on the Radio Shack page at this web site.

Plus there is a another web page devoted to generic Weather Receivers, including detailed info on the SAME system.

There's some useful Midland programming software, manuals, and schematics at YO4HFU's Midland page here.

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Text, artistic layout and hand-coded HTML © Copyright 2005 and date of last update by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
This page originally posted on 14-Sept-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.