The Syntor X9000 is a fancy Syntor, with some of the control features of a Spectra. Since it is RSS programmed, we will give it its own page.

General Information

To program the Syntor X9000, you need this cable, along with the proper RSS. You will also need a "T" connector to convert the plug on the drawer to a DB25. This could be a stand alone "T" connector, or you could use a Siren/PA Cable that has the "T" already built into the drawer connector.

Another, excellent, source of info for these radios can be found atMike's Syntor Page. Mike should have a model chart that will help, just click here to see it. If there is something you want to know about these radios, this is probably one of the best people to ask.

The Syntor X9000 radios were also able to be programmed with the Epson HX-20. See the Epson page for more information.

To use Syswatch II with the Syntor X9000E, you need to use a RIM (radio interface module), which is just about impossible to find.

If you want to use a PAC-RT with the Syntor X, check out this schematic.

In order to program a VRS in these radios, you need version 6.00 or higher of the radio and control head RSS. VRS is one of the options on the SYSTEM CONFIGURATION SCREEN where you select it and on the SYSTEM MENU SCREEN where you program it.

The YLN-4077 option board for a Syntor X9000 is a singletone encoder.

The HCN1063A and HCN1073A Systems 9000 control heads both use Surface Mount Device (SMD) integrated circuits (i.e. flat pack ICs). They also both use a soldered in SMD 8K EEPROM at U0005 (the ATMEL AT28C64-20J1 is the one we have encountered) and these have no jumpers or provisions for any different size EEPROM. The firmware for these control heads has been moved into a separate one-time programmable PROM chip that fits in a 32 pin PLCC socket at U0007 (the ATMEL AT27C256R-20J1). The firmware used to be inside the microprocessor at U1 on the older control heads. If you try using one of these newer heads with a Syntor X9000, it may or may not work, it depends on if it has Spectra firmware or Syntor X9000 firmware. In theory, you should be able to change the firmware from one to the other to make the head work in your application.

For more control head information, see this page.

For out of band hacks, check here for more information. It looks like you will need to get your hands on some hacked RSS in order to program the radio out of band. No one has been able to supply us with the modifications for the standard RSS, yet, to change the bandsplits.

The pinout of the DB25 on the HLN1196A (maybe also HLN1206) Auxilliary Switch Panel (wildcard box) is as follows:

   DB25 Pin		Description
	1     		A+ for lamp power
	2    		SW5 N.O.
	3    		SW5 Common
	4    		SW5 N.C.
	5    		SW7 N.O.
	6    		SW7 Common (Momentary)
	7    		SW7 N.C.
	8    		SW8 N.O.
	9    		SW8 Common (Momentary)
	10    		SW8 N.C.
	11    		SW3 N.O.
	12   		SW3 Common
	13    		SW3 N.C.
	14    		SW6 N.C.
	15    		SW6 Common
	16    		SW6 N.O.
	17    		Ground for lamps
	18    		SW4 Common
	19    		SW4 N.O.
            		Note: SW4 N.C. contact is not brought out to the connector
	20    		SW1 N.O.
	21    		SW1 Common
	22    		SW1 N.C.
	23    		SW2 N.C.
	24    		SW2 Common
	25   		SW2 N.O.

The service sheet for the Auxiliary Switch Panel is 68-80101w13. This is not a DEK, it is a series of 6 locking and 2 momentary single pole double throw switches rated at 1A @ 13.8 volts used for controlling low current devices, ie relays. The IC and transistors inside are used for lamp illumination only.

SP99 Option

Beware of the SP99 option, as in a T34KEJ7J04AKSP99.

When you open it up you will find it has no transmitter! If you look at the factory build decal on the lid of the radio, and it shows a single receive frequency (matching the one in the radio) with ???? as a transmit frequency.

Close inspection reveals that the mounting holes for the various transmitter assemblies in the radio have never had screws in them. The high current leads which would normally go to the PA are cut off flush at the capacitor.

You can program it up with 32 channels and it is a fully functional scanning receiver. :)

We can only assume that this thing was either used as a stand-alone receiver, or it was mated with another X9000 in some kind of weird dual radio setup for data or a monitor channel which couldn't be changed. The factory program was for a single channel.

Setting up Siren Options

The following will tell you how to wire the horn ring for the "manual" button and horn transfer on the siren.

In the control head programming program vip input #1 as horn ring. Program vip ouput #3 as horn transfer. Pin 4 of the vip plug on the back of the control head will be the horn ring which should go to terminal #87 of the relay. Pin 34 which is the horn transfer should go to pin 85 of the relay. Pin 35 of the vip plug should go to pin 86 of the relay. Pin 87a of the relay should go out to the vehicle horn (where you disconnect the following connection). Pin 30 of the relay should go to the vehicle horn switch (steering wheel switch, and it must be a ground signal to activate).

The drawer unit will need to be programmed for what you want it to do when it is activated. Choices are air horn, wail or yelp.

Systems 9000 Control Head Tricks

Received via email...

I bought a HCN1055B head off of Ebay and when it arrived I discovered it was a trunked head. I cannibalized the buttons and case from it thinking I would just pitch the boards, when I decided to try something.

When I tried to read the head with conventional head software, I got an "Unknown EEPROM Size" error message. Just for the hell of it, I pulled the EEPROM out of the head and noticed that it was a ceramic package instead of a plastic package. ALL of the 2K EEPROMS I've pulled out of conventional heads were plastic packages. So I'm wondering if this might be a 16K or some other strange size EEPROM.

So, I dropped a blank 8K EEPROM into the head and loaded it. It worked! I have a fully functional conventional head.

Next, I was trying to get a dual control head setup to work, and was dealing with HCN1033 heads with old firmware which would bomb on loading. Since in my application I don't care if the front and rear speakers change over, and since I don't care if either head has exclusive control over the radio, I just loaded both heads with the same single head load and hooked them up with the dual head T-cable.

Both heads work fine, both control the radio, and both track each other, each displaying what the other has called. I have not tried more than two heads, but I wouldn't be surprised if it worked too.

My application involves using an X9000 in a multiple position dispatch setup as a battery backed up control station. Several dispatchers may wish to access specific frequencies. While they can't all do different frequencies, any of them can call a channel from their individual heads.

As an extension of the multiple head-on-a-radio concept, I have an X9000 in one of our vehicles which also has a siren. It is irritating to have to trade-off functionality because of the limited button complement on the head, and I don't want to put DEKs on the radio.

So I programmed one head to control the scanning, TBSCN, MPL, DTMF, and DIR functions on the indicator buttons; and the direct mode selections on the keypad buttons for the 9 most important modes in the system; along with DTMF dialing. I programmed the other head to be exclusively an option control head.

The second head controls the siren, the PA, and the VRS. The second head's channel name list is empty, as is it's MPL name list, so it stays dark when the first head calls a channel or an MPL code, and conversely the first head is not programmed for any siren or option functions so it doesn't do anything when any of those options are called from the second head. The only time when both heads indicate the same thing is on a volume change.

Lastly, just because you have a 2K control head, it doesn't mean it won't control an 8K radio. The scanning functions and scan lists are in the radio, not the head; so if the radio scan lands on a channel above 32, the head just says "Mode 33" or whatever. The head will still take the radio to Mode 33 with the mode rocker, you just can't put in a mode name. Of course, you can't do any functions that require 8K like DEKS, VRS, or that stuff.

Converting a Syntor X-9000 from 32 to 64 channels

To change from 32 to 64 channels there are two chips that get changed, one is in the control head, and the other is in the radio. These chips are 2kx8 EEPROMS. You need to put in 8kx8 EEPROMS. Additionally a couple of jumpers need to be changed to reflect the new addressing. The jumper changes are in the manual if you have one. The newer control heads that use surface mount components do not need the EEPROM upgraded, it is already an 8kx8.

Dual Radio Option (HHCH)

The Syntor X9000 was available in a configuration (known as SP04) that allowed the control of 2 radio drawers with only one control head.

It involves using a Hand Held Control Head (HHCH) with a switch for R1/R2 (Radio1/Radio2). The part number of the head is YCN4018A.

There are some other parts that you will need. The part number for the cable from the head to the junction box is YKN4237A. The part number for the junction box is YLN1120A. The part number of the cable from the junction box to radio is YKN4238A. Now, if anyone has schematics of the above cables, please contact us. The service manual that covers all this is 68P07992D43-O. It has schematics on everything in the system except for the drawers and security housings, though it does have all the interconnect wiring diagrams.

Unfortunately there is a catch. You need SP (SP01) RSS that supports this option in order to program the control head as well as the master and slave radios. The SP01 RSS contains the "System Unit Interface" Programmer (for the control head) and D7.01.SP01 Radio Programmer (32/64 Channel Capable). You also need the HLN5027ASP04 firmware for the radios and the control head. Both of which are NLA from Motorola.

As a side note, there was also a SP06 option used by the Washington State Police. This option allowed the control of a Spectra and a Syntor X9000 from a single control head. It may use HLN5027ASP06 firmware, which is still available from Motorola. We do not know what RSS this setup would use or any other information about it. What we do know is that the Spectra is only used as an auxiliary receiver, not as a transceiver (this has been confirmed). So this combination is really a Syntor X9000 transceiver with a piggy-backed Spectra auxiliary receiver.

The difference in the firmware is the way that the control head addresses the drawer units. In a standard configuration the radio is known as group zero while in the dual radio configuration the master radio is group 1 and the slave radio is group 2.

The special firmware in the drawers is in the U501 EPROM chip. You can see where that chip is located by looking at the HLN5299B Personality Board layout (thanks Mike).

You use the exact same HLN5027ASP04 (the part number on the EPROM is probably 01-06710T70) EPROM in both radio drawers. You hook them up one at a time on the main control head cable for programming, with the dual radio RSS.

Dual Radio Option (Systems 9000)

Here is the rundown on the Syntor X9000 Dual radio setup with the Systems 9000 control head (Spectra A9 Type Head).The "special" equipment needed for this is:

• YKN4214A - Cable that goes from the primary radio to the secondary radio.
• HCN1063A Systems 9000 control head with the SQUARE 8K EEPROM, not the rectangle one (newer style head). We have heard that the 1073A Spectra A9 has been converted work with this setup, but we do not have the specifics
• Special firmware chip for each drawer unit, HLN5027ASP04 (same as for the dual drawer, HHCH version above). It can be copied with an EEPROM burner once you get an image. This replaces the chip next to the codeplug EEPROM in the drawer
• U502 8k EEPROM upgrade to both drawers
• No special chip or jumper change is required for the control head

Otherwise, the setup uses two speakers, one microphone and a standard drawer unit to control head cable. You still need to run a second speaker from the other radio because the setup does not combine the audio. This setup allows 64 channels on each radio.

As far as the YKN4214A cable goes, it closely resembles a Siren Cable (with the exception of pins 6 and 7) that went on a diet and lost some pins.

Control head - The button programming is the same between both the primary and secondary radios. For instance, on the top row, you cannot set it up for.DTMF, Scan, DVP etc on one, and then Call, Page, Scan for the secondary radio. It's the same for both radios. The control head is programmed with an "ALT" button to toggle between the two drawers units. Also, a good tip would be to add a second button that only the SP RSS supports, a "MUTE" function, which will mute the unselected speaker. MUTE is optional, but it very handy.

Everything function wise, is the same. When you press the "ALT" button to select the other radio, you control everything like you would if they were on single heads. Scanning is also selectable on a "by radio" basis. If you hit scan, it will only scan one radio, unless you select the other radio, and scan on the other one as well. The display names will still show the name of the channel that it is receiving on scan, even if both are scanning. We are not sure what priority is given to the names that are displayed. It seems random which one will display first.

As for adding a siren to this setup, program the primary radio for siren operation. Do not program the alternate radio for either siren or just PA operation. Program the control head with the appropriate siren buttons. The siren T-cable end should be hooked up on the primary radio with the siren cable closest to the drawer unit. The 1185A siren will not work with the set up. If you have an 1185B or later siren, remove the top cover and then the metal enclosure over the option board area. You will see an area with approximately 10 or so jumper locations. Only one of these jumpers with have posts coming up from the circuit board. It should be jumper #8. You must install a jumper on these posts for the dual radio set up to work properly. Everything should work then. The control head will operate the siren no matter if you are on the alternate or secondary radio.

To our knowledge, this will not work with the X9000E, or trunking radios. Band does not matter...you can have low band/800, vhf/uhf etc.

The RSS on the Motorola site is for the HHCH setup, and does not support all the radio features such as enhanced MDC calling/paging etc. It will support securenet, singletone, but no other options. In order to program this setup, you need the following RSS:

• Radio 4.03.SP03
• Control Head 4.03.SP04

We've been told that the SP03 may work with the HHCH as well, but don't know for sure.

A really interesting table appeared in the Syntor X 9000 Error Codes pages. It is titled "Device Address Codes Single/Dual System":

The above are the first 2 digits of an error code (i.e. ERROR 01/90).

128 Mode Operation and Beyond

There is a 128 mode option for these radios. This option required a firmware change and some SP software (RSS). There is also supposedly a 256 mode option for this radio, which also required different firmware and RSS.

To program the radio with 128 channels, you need SP05 RSS. There is a version 4.00SP05 that programs both the radio and the control head with 128 mode images.

The changes are in mapping the locations of the SCAN list. Some people who have attempted to mod their radios for 128 channels have no scan above mode 64. This is a firmware problem that is corrected with the proper 128 mode firmware for the radio. The same applies to the 256 mode option... no scan above 128 (yeah, it SAYS it is scanning but it won't stop on a non-priority channel, just priority).

If someone has a copy of the 256 mode SP firmware, please email us!.

Syntor X9000 Error Codes

These codes come from the 68P80100W94-0 service manual, which covers VHF and UHF radios.

The manuals for the X9000 are supplemental to the Syntor X manuals. The RF sections are the same, just different computers.

What follows are the fault codes for the Siren/PA.

The following error codes are from the 68P80102W05-0 manual:

Miscellaneous Error Codes

We have also found out that error/failure codes starting with "12/xx" are for the VRS. Also, a fail code of 0F/10 for the DTMF option is listed in the troubleshooting flow chart. The DTMF can get an "ERROR 0E/10", an "ERROR 0E/02 or a "FAIL 0F/10" according to the 6880101W21-O manual.

Syntor X9000 Option Codes

Syntor X9000 Button Part Numbers

These part numbers are for standard Systems 9000 Control Head buttons shipped on units after June 1987. Selected buttons have bold graphics compared to prior to June 1987 Buttons.

Function Buttons

Mode and Volume Rocker Buttons

Direct Entry Keyboard Buttons

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