Steering the PLL in the synthesizer is not the only thing you need to do. PL/DPL encoding and decoding is all done in software. Unless you want to add another encoder like Joe did you can't take that approach.
I did a similar project for the Syntor X, but I decided to emulate the removable code plug in those radios rather than driving the synthesizer directly. By replacing the EPROM with a suitably programmed PIC you retain all of the original functions of the radio including it's superior priority scanning. The radio can be restored to stock in about 3 minutes. My primary interest was in remote base radios so my controller speaks the Icom CI-V and Doug Hall protocols so it can be interfaced to a repeater controller. I never did a fancy control head for mobile use. One reason for the choice of the Syntor was that a group of hams had already decoded the code plug format before I discovered the Syntor. If the low level deals of the layout of the EEPROM in the Spectra were known or reversed engineered a similar approach could be taken with the Spectra. Of course there's a lot less space in a Spectra for add on things, but it's probably possible. If you are interested in my project you might want to checkout http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xcat/ . The 800 Mhz Syntor is not currently supported, and probably never will be. Syntors require fairly extensive modifications for 900 and are 5Khz radios. At least in my area everything is on 12.5 Khz channels and with 900 Mhz Maxtracs going for $20 it seems pointless to mess with Syntors. 73's Skip WB6YMH --- In [email protected], Doug Bade <k...@...> wrote: > > The reason it died was more apathy in the amateur > world when a ham can buy a full featured vhf or > uhf or even 6m radio off the shelf that did more > for less and required no surgery... Joe and I had > discussions on porting it onto 900 radios at the > time which were only available as commercial > feature starved radios( mostly with no mods > available at the time like we have now) and at > the time 900 was such slow growth.. no one chose > to show interest. If you look back in discussions > on ar902mhz you will find queries of interest.. > there was none so the project was never pushed... > > What needed to be done is build a self contained > head and finish it as a complete unit.. it was > not really complete although it was operational. > Some of us had issues when we tried to remote > control a radio from a remote head as the line > drivers had poor immunity to noise... > > Most assembled were hand wired as boards were > only available later in the project.. > > A replacement project is worthy ( and quite > doable ) but I am not sure Joe would care to > participate.. as he was pretty dejected about the > reception by the amateur community... Timing is everything as they say... > > Many radios such as Maxtrac and almost ALL the > GE-et-al 900 radios share a common PLL chip.. it is not magic to program.... > > Doug > KD8B > > > > At 02:50 AM 3/2/2010, you wrote: > > > > > >Oh, BTW, I saw nothing for the Spectra there. > > > >Joe M. > > > >Chuck Kelsey wrote: > > > There was, but it's all gone now. At one > > point a link to his site was posted > > > on the Repeater Builder site. Joe made > > several posts to this list and became > > > discouraged at the lack of interest. The > > documentation would be of no value > > > as you need the programmed microprocessor chip to make it work. > > > > > > Chuck > > > WB2EDV > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "MCH" <<mailto:mch%40nb.net>m...@...> > > > To: > > <<mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com>[email protected]> > > > Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 8:44 PM > > > Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: 900 meg Spectra radio > > > > > > > > >> Interesting. I wonder if there is some tech info on this that is > > >> available. Any idea how much the cost was and what mods were required? > > >> > > >> Or, perhaps some tech data on the synthesizer as far as what pins > > >> control the frequency, as well as any binary-to-frequency info. > > >> > > >> Joe M. > > >> > > >> Chuck Kelsey wrote: > > >>> > > >>> Joe Burch was his name. It was a frequency agile control head that could > > >>> be set up for most any type of synthesized commercial radio. You entered > > >>> the frequency and tone via a keypad. > > >>> > > >>> Chuck > > >>> WB2EDV > > >>> > > >>> ----- Original Message ----- > > >>> *From:* Chuck Kelsey <mailto:wb2...@...> > > >>> *To:* > > <mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com>[email protected] > > >>> <mailto:[email protected]> > > >>> *Sent:* Monday, March 01, 2010 8:20 PM > > >>> *Subject:* Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: 900 meg Spectra radio > > >>> > > >>> Been there, done that. There was no interest in the ham community. > > >>> Why? It required modifications that most were not willing to tackle. > > >>> At the moment, the name of the guy escapes me, but I did one of his > > >>> modifications to a 6-meter Delta-S several years ago. He has since > > >>> given up on the idea, but it worked on most any radio. > > >>> > > >>> Chuck > > >>> WB2EDV > > >> > > >> ------------------------------------ > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> Yahoo! Groups Links > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > > > > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > > > Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2717 - Release Date: 03/01/10 > > > 14:34:00 > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
