Thanks Tom. I will check into this. Sounds like it wouldn't be as complicated as I though after all, but I'll reserve final judgement until after I actually do it.

Not for any of the Astro models, there isn't, but for the analog Spectra it isn't a s/w or h/w hack at all. Search on the Web and you'll find it. Basically you're just fooling the RSS with how many modes are in the list.

Pull the TCXO from a 900mhz unit, sure, or buy new. Then you need to replace or retune your Rx filters for essential selectivity. It's not that easy, unless you know some other way of doing it. If so I'd sincerely like to hear about it.

Yep, the Astro Spectra's are great. The only drawback for some is that scan lists are limited to 15 modes and the selected mode. The analog Spectra's can have greater than 16 modes. I don't know what the limit is but I've seen guys have 40+ modes in a scan list. For amateur use being able to scan a lot of modes (freqs) is really nice to have.

MPL is not in all Spectras, just like Zones. It depends what features the MLM has. You can add features to a Spectra but that takes special s/w and the know-how. As for that Hi-Low power button, I'd like to know how you did that because there is no Hi-Lo feature that can be assigned to any button on the Spectra.

FWIW, I forget what chip it was but one chip had 2 legs with some corrosion on it. I must have missed it when I did the caps but now that I cleaned them up and rechecked everything all is well again. It's a shame the Spectra's aren't narrow bandable, only the Astro models, because I still think it's one of the best transceivers ever made. Since most amateur's I know are still running wideband the Spectra is an excellent choice for a mobile if you can get the caps changed over. They're starting to be had on Ebay for cheap.

Use a 20A fast-blow glass fuse of the appropriate length. That's what I use in all my radios, fused on both the pos and neg leads.

Well that's weird. W9MMS's response wasn't there when I replied. Well 2 heads are better than 1, eh? :-)

Thanks guys. I've washed down boards before and always use 100% iso alcohol, plenty of q-tips and a magnifying glass. I'll take a look at the VCO solder joints. Tom, I had AI4JI's link but forgot about him. I'll email him about alignment. Thank again.

Yep. They are one of the best transceivers ever made, but the capacitor leaking can be a big or little problem...you might just get lucky after doing the recap that the VCO and everything else still works fine. Still, an alignment should be done but most don't do that as long as the radio appears to be working fine after recapping.

Hey Mark. Well, IIRC the average was about $100. To me that seems exorbitant since they're telling me it "will probably take, at most, 45mins-1hour to tune it." I could get another Spectra for that much, but with the capacitor problems the Spectras all have they all need the recapping and might need an alignment. The thing is, I've had this radio for years and I know it's history. It was working fine and then started to error. That prompted me to open it up and see that the caps were indeed leaking so hence the recapping I did myself. I've done electronics work over the years so I'm very good with board work. For not too much more $ I could get a new amateur mobile. So I guess it's a toss up.

Guys, just to clarify here.. I'm not looking for a freebie job (but that'd be great )  I'll gladly pay for the tuning... I just hope it's not an arm and leg. ;-)  Thanks.

Guys, I've got a vhf Motorola Spectra that I recapped and getting the "Fail 001" error upon Tx. Also, the radio is not always stopping on channels with activity during scan, doesn't matter if PL or CSQ in on the channel(s). I'm hoping all it needs is an alignment/tuning. I've tried a few shops in the area but either (A) they won't do one radio, especially when you mention "amateur radio" or (B) they want outrageous $ to align one radio. Is there anyone here that can align a Spectra or recommend someone in the New Jersey, USA area? Thanks.

Forget the cabin power taps, go straight to the battery terminals. Look real good on the driver's side under the dash. There's bound to be a grommet there somewhere, maybe up high by the steering column. I've not done any Explorers in a while so memory's not helping me here, sorry. If need be, knock the PL259 off the cable, drill a small hole in the firewall and route the coax thru it. Protect the coax with either rubber or plastic tubing.

At the very least check the capacitors, as others noted, to see if they were already replaced. If not, here's a very good site with lots of Spectra info, mainted by Robert W. Meister WA1MIK: http://www.repeater-builder.com/motorola/spectra/spectra-index.html   There are two sections pertaining to recapping Spectras on that site. Spectras cannot do narrowbanding so with the FCC deadline coming you'll be seeing them flood the market. Most of the times these radios have not been recapped. They are great radios but those capacitors are little ticking timebombs and if they're already leaking then the acid is pro'lly damaging the board(s) and/or other components and the radio will soon be toast. BTW, after recapping you should realign the radio for obvious reasons, and sometimes realignment will need to be done if you get the dreaded "Fail 001" pll unlock error.

Your best bet is seeing about a modified lip mount on the hood, passenger side. FWIW, common safe allowable Tx distances are 4.5' for vhf, 3.9' for UHF away from the antenna. I would take the lip over mag mount because you still need to get the coax inside the cabin. With a hood lip mount you can bend back the sheetmetal lip to get the coax inside the engine compartment and then thru the firewall to the cabin/radio. Run + and - power cables thru firewall and fused at the battery. You'll be good to go.