GTX 900 MHz

Radio Information,
Notes, and Tips
-Mobile Section-
By Robert W. Meister WA1MIK

You can click on most of the images for a larger view.
Model Specifications:
These are the specs from the GTX service manual that included the LCS2000 models
These are the specs from the newer GTX LT!"##$onl%
service manual
Model Number Charts:
& t%pical GTX '2$watt mo(ile model num(er is )''*G+,C-'&.. The ,th character of the
model num(er must (e /*/ for use in the 000 )12 (and. The /)''344.../ models cover radios
that operate in the 500 )12 (and. Conversion is ver% difficult if not impossi(le due to the
e4tensive use of surface$mount components on (oth sides of the circuit (oard and the lack of field$
installa(le or upgradea(le firmware. 500 )12 )a4Tracs can (e successfull% converted to 000
)12 service6 (ut not 500 )12 GTXs. There are also high$power 70$watt versions8 these have the
letter /!/ in the 9th position of the model num(er instead of /G/.
These are the model num(er sheets from the newer GTX LT!"##$onl% service manual
Display:
The GTX mo(ile radio has an LC+ displa% capa(le of showing three seven$segment characters
plus nine icons around the outside. &ll segments and icons will (e shown when the radio is first
turned on6 then the displa% shows /tSt/6 then it displa%s the last used channel num(er. These first
two screens are shown in the photo (elow
The various icons6 starting at the upper left corner and working counter$clockwise6 are
: Loudspeaker s%m(ol $ Carrier S;uelch or )onitor )ode
: Circle"Slash $ unused
: -ell s%m(ol $ <4ternal &larm
: +own &rrow $ #1=.< (utton pressed
: +own &rrow $ SC&. (utton pressed
: +own &rrow $ C&LL (utton pressed
: >$$$?> $ +irect or Talk$&round )ode
: !ectangle $ #rogramming )ode
: /@/ A@ig$@agB s%m(ol $ Scanning activate
To the left of the displa% there are three other colored indicators6 which are all lit upon power$up. Crom top to
(ottom6 the% are
: !ed $ the radio is transmitting
: &m(er $ the radio is receiving something6 not necessaril% with the correct #L"+#L
: Green $ spare6 unused
Programming:
The GTX mo(ile uses the same !D- ca(le as for a )a4Trac6 !adius6 G)7006 S)906 etc.6 and it still plugs into
the front panel !E$,9 )DC Fack.
There is nothing adFusta(le inside the radios. &ll alignment and settings are done with !SS output power6
deviation6 low fre;uenc% compensation6 fre;uenc% warp6 and s;uelch. #ower and deviation are aligned at eight
fre;uencies in each of the 509.9 to 002.9 )126 and 079.9 to 0,'.9 )12 (ands.
=ne program handles the 500 )12 and 000 )12 GTX mo(iles and handhelds6 all variations. Dt does seem to
(e *indows$friendl%6 however D have not programmed a radio (% running it in an%thing other than pure )S$
+=S. The software permits programming of all conventional and some trunking features6 viewing of all
trunking controlled parameters6 and contains some helpful service aids for trou(leshooting purposes. The
)otorola GTX !adio Service Software A!SSB !G.$,'906 !elease 0,.00.0'a A0H$=ct$00B for #rivac% #lus A##B
" LT! currentl% supports the following mo(ile radio models
Operating Deficiencies or Restrictions:
The GTX mo(ile has a )=. (utton on the front panel. #ressing it will put the receiver into carrier s;uelch and
a small loudspeaker icon will appear on the displa% when this is done. You can not force open the s;uelch on
the receiver (% twisting a kno( or pressing or holding a (utton Alike %ou can do with the )a4TracB. The )=.
(utton and the speaker icon onl% operate under specific circumstances
The radio remem(ers how man% times %ouIve pushed the )=. (utton6 and even though it ma% not have
an effect on some modes6 its state will (e remem(ered and it ma% (e active if %ou change modes.
)=. is not possi(le on trunking modes.
)=. is inherentl% active on carrier s;uelch modes6 (ut the speaker icon will not appear.
)=. is availa(le on conventional modes programmed with #L"+#L decode. The speaker icon will (e
displa%ed to indicate that the radio is in carrier s;uelch receive mode.
The speaker icon is displa%ed when the microphone hang$up line is ungrounded6 if the current mode
re;uires #L"+#L decode. This is an CCC re;uirement Alisten on the fre;uenc% (efore transmittingB.
S;uelch level is adFusted with a soft$pot on one of the !SS screens. There is no ph%sical Ai.e. user$adFusta(leB
s;uelch pot6 and while it would (e nice to have one6 adding one is not practical as the discriminator audio
output and the !SSD signal are fed to a custom audio DC which is tied to the microprocessor. Cirmware in the
radio decides when to s;uelch or un$s;uelch the audio. &ll the decision work is done in the special DC and the
microprocessor. DIm sure someone could kludge something into the circuit to fake it out6 (ut the surface
mounted components are ;uite tin% and are on (oth sides of the (oard. The interior of a GTX mo(ile looks like
the% took a handheld and unfolded it onto one circuit (oard.
The GTX mo(iles do not properl% regulate or control their output power when the radio is transmitting outside
the 50H$002 or 079$0,' )12 ranges. Cor e4ample6 if the radio is aligned with !SS to put out '2 watts6 it will
continue to do so on 002.,'29 )12 and 002.,5J9 )12. 1owever6 it might output 0.5 watts on 02J.9000 )12
and '0 watts on 02J.,5J9 )12. Dt might also output '0 watts on 02J.H000 )12. *hatever it decides to make
is what %ouIll get. The pro(lem seems to alwa%s occur6 regardless of code plug hacks6 if scanning is ena(led.
+eviation doesnIt seem to suffer this kind of irregularit% (ut the deviation will usuall% (e lower on the talk$
around fre;uencies. & companion article e4ists for adding manual power control to a GTX mo(ile.
Speaking of power6 the 000 )12 GTX mo(ile uses an !C power amplifier module6 )1*252'$26 to develop
up to '0 watts of output power. D have found these for sale on a popular auction site for a(out K20 each. The $'
part is for the 500 )12 radio and wonIt work properl% in the 000 )12 radio. =ne radio D had would onl% make
'Standard' full-featured 'o!-Po!er' mobiles"
Model Number Description #and $ Po!er
)''3G+HC-'L. GTX"## )o(ile 500 )126 '9 *att
)''*G+,C-'L. GTX"## )o(ile 000 )126 '2 *att
)''3G+HC3'L. GTX"LT! )o(ile 500 )126 '9 *att
)''*G+,C3'L. GTX"LT! )o(ile 000 )126 '2 *att

'Standard' full-featured '%igh-Po!er' mobiles"
Model Number Description #and $ Po!er
)''3!+HC-'L. GTX"## )o(ile 500 )126 79 *att
)''*!+,C-'L. GTX"## )o(ile 000 )126 70 *att
)''3!+HC3'L. GTX"LT! )o(ile 500 )126 79 *att
)''*!+,C3'L. GTX"LT! )o(ile 000 )126 70 *att
H watts6 and even at that level it would drop off after '9 seconds of transmission. !eplacement didnIt take long6
(ut getting the old module out is difficult. DtIs well$soldered to the (ack of the main circuit (oard and it takes a
heat gun to remove it8 all of this heat also tends to destro% the (ad module6 and if %ouIre not careful6 the solder
on near(% components will also melt and parts *DLL go fl%ing off the (oard.
There are two sets of up"down (uttons on the mo(ile front panel the larger ones on the right of the displa%
choose the talk group8 the smaller ones Aunfortunatel%B on the left side of the displa% choose the channel.
Scan lists must (e set up via !SS. Scanning is ena(led with a (utton on the front panel. You can lock out
channels from the front panel (ut if the%Ire not selected ahead of time6 %ou canIt add them manuall% Alike %ou
can do with the )a4TracB. ThereIs no /priorit%/ channel either. 3nfortunatel%6 the one mandator% trunking
channel will also (e monitored when %ou ena(le scanning.
The transmitter output power settings can (e adFusted through the (oard replacement procedure6 such that %ou
can get an error if %ou later tr% to adFust the output power through the alignment menu. !SS shows an error
message on the screen6 similar to this
WRONG COMPENSATION ADDER VALUES
MUST READJUST COMPENSATION ADDERS
Your onl% choice is to press C2 to continue6 which puts %ou right (ack into the service menu. The compensation
adders seem to (e related to the 'H individual settings for the output power in the (oard replacement procedure.
You can (lank and reinitiali2e the (oard6 which will fi4 it6 (ut thatIs rather drastic. &nother solution that seems
to have worked for several people is to go (ack into the (oard replacement menu and run through all of the
adFustment sections in order6 pressing C5 to accept whatIs alread% there6 e4cept for the output power cali(ration
screen adFust each value to a(out mid$scale on each of the 'H alignment points. &fter saving the alignment
data6 go (ack to the output power setting on the service menu and it should operate normall%6 without an% error
messages. You can go (ack and readFust the individual alignment points if necessar%8 Fust donIt push them to
vastl% different values. T%pical num(ers are a(out 2"7rds of full scale.
D discovered another strange condition. =ne of m% radios has seven modes programmed6 two of which have
1earClear ena(led A0' and 09B. These two modes are also the onl% entries in the radioIs scan list. D added one
more mode A0JB that duplicates one of the scanned ones6 (ut with 1earClear +DSa(led. Df the radio is scanning
and hears activit% on mode 0'6 D manuall% change to the non$1earClear mode A0JB6 while leaving ever%thing
else the wa% it is. Cor some reason6 the radio still has 1earClear ena(led6 even though the mode DIve manuall%
selected does not. &dditionall%6 if D manuall% select the non$1earClear mode A0JB6 turn on scanning6 and the
radio hears a signal on the non$1earClear mode A0JB6 it will stop scanning on that mode (ut will still have
1earClear ena(led. Df D turn off scanning6 1earClear gets turned off and the mode operates as itIs (een
programmed. *hatIs more interesting is that if DIm transmitting6 D can still turn scanning off via the front panel
(utton and even change modes. <ither operation properl% sets the 1earClear setting on the non$1earClear
mode. D havenIt tried scanning two modes where 1earClear is ena(led on one (ut disa(led on the other.
&isible Model Differences:
The low$power radio has a two$pin +C power connector mounted to the main circuit (oard. Dt sticks out
through the heat sink on the rear of the radio. 1ereIs an image of the (ottom and rear of the low$power radio
The high$power radio has a two$pin +C power connector mounted on a short +C ca(le that fits through a
molded grommet in the heat sink. The wires are soldered to the main circuit (oard. The heat sink itself also has
more fin area to assist in cooling the radio. 1ereIs an image of the (ottom and rear of the high$power radio
Mobile 'ccessory (ac) Configuration:
The ph%sical accessor% Fack on the (ack of the GTX mo(ile has 'H pins and is the same one used on )a4Tracs6
!adiuses6 and G)700s6 and pro(a(l% other )otorola radios. The functions are similar to those used on the
a(ove radios. The pin assignments6 however6 are ;uite different. You must not put an accessor% plug configured
for a )a4Trac into a GTX radio without changing the Fumpers. 1ereIs a view of the (ack of the radio with an
accessor% plug inserted Aclick on the image for a larger viewB. .ote that the plug in the photo has (een
prominentl% la(eled for use in a GTX radio
D found this la(el on a GTX radioIs accessor% plug. &ll grammar aside6 it conve%s the message rather plainl%
This view is looking at the radio accessor% connector on the (ack of the radio6 with the (ottom of the radio
Afinned heat sinkB down. #in ' is in the lower left corner6 pin 2 is in the upper left corner6 pin '9 is in the lower
right corner6 and pin 'H is in the upper right corner.
The ta(le (elow summari2es the location and usage of each pin. See the Dnternal
Configuration Switch section for more information on the rows with red te4t6 as
these signals ma% have alternate functions in some radios.
.=T< Clarification on the
use of speaker pins '6 '76
and 'H
To ena(le the internal radio speaker6 connect pin '7 to pin 'H.
To use an e4ternal speaker6 connect it to pins ' and 'H6 and +=.IT ground either side. This means that
an% audio test e;uipment Asuch as %ou would use to make a ;uieting measurementB must (e on the far
side of a , ohm or 5 ohm '' audio transformer. Good car stereo shops are one source of these.
Simultaneous use of (oth an internal and e4ternal speaker is not recommended.
1ereIs part of the schematic showing the accessor% Fack circuitr%. .ote that the rear audio inputs are onl%
activated when the rear #TT line is grounded. The microphone on the front panel is onl% live when its #TT
(utton is pressed.
*+, Mobile 'ccessory
(ac) Pin Orientation
oo)ing -rom +he Rear
+op of radio housing
2 , H 5 '0 '2 ', 'H
' 7 9 J 0 '' '7 '9
*+, Mobile 'ccessory (ac) Pins and Signals
Pin . Signal Name Description and /sage
' <XT S#M! $ Connect to an e4ternal speaker with pin 'H
2 <XT )DC &3+D= )icrophone$level audio input
7 <XT #TT #ush$to$talk input
, <XT &L&!) &ctive low output to drive a rela%
9 CL&T TX &3+D= Line$level audio input
H SCD +&T& D. .ot used
J G!=3.+ Ground for #TT and audio $ .=T C=! S#<&M<!
5 SCD +&T& =3T .ot used
0 <)G S*DTC1 Low input activates alarm functions in radio
'0 DG.DTD=. CT!L )ust (e pulled high to let radio turn on
'' CL&T !X &3+D= Clat receive audio output
'2 G# D"= .ot used
'7 D.T S#M! Connect to pin 'H to activate internal speaker
', 1==M Low input to activate !X #L"+#L
'9 !SSD -3C &nalog output of rcvd signal strength '.9 $ ,.9 G+C
'H <XT S#M! N Connect to an e4ternal speaker or pin '7
Dn addition to the Fumper from pin '7 to pin 'H mentioned a(ove Awhich ena(les the internal " front panel
loudspeakerB6 %ou will also need to suppl% N'7 volts to the Dgnition Control input6 pin '06 to get the radio to
turn on. This ma% (e left on all the time or connected to a vehicleIs ignition circuit through a '& fuse to turn the
radio on and off with the ignition. Df %ou do not use or want ignition control6 %ou can Fumper pin '0 to pin ,6 the
<4ternal &larm output Aan active low signalB6 which has a pull$up resistor on the main (oard and which will
satisf% the Dgnition Control input logic. 1ereIs a detailed photo of these two Fumpers underneath the accessor%
plug
0nternal Configuration S!itch and Other Differences:
The newer radios have a two$section +D#$switch mounted inside on the main circuit (oard6 (ehind the
accessor% Fack. Section ' Apins 2$,B connects a resistor to the Dgnition Sense line Aaccessor% Fack pin '0B6 which
pulls that line to a source of continuous (atter% voltage6 eliminating the need for an e4ternal Fumper on the
accessor% plug. Section 2 Apins '$7B alters the function of several accessor% Fack signals for use with certain
accessories. These changes are detailed in the ta(le (elow. *hen looking down at the radio6 section ' Apins '
and 7B is closest to the outside AleftB edge of the radio6 and the =. position is towards the rear. 1ereIs a photo of
that switch6 with (oth sections =.6 on a '2w radio owned (% Men .'M.
Cor operation with a !emote +esk Set6
#u(lic &ddress6 or <4ternal &larm6 switch
'$7 should (e =.. Cor operation with a
+ata )odem6 switch '$7 should (e =CC.
#in '9 now indicates S%stem -us% Adirectl% from the &udioL#&L<na(leB and is low when the radio is passing
receive audio. This is as close to a C=! as the radio is ever going to (e a(le to provide. To have the +C !SSD
signal on this pin6 a couple of internal components must (e removed and inserted. The service manual has the
details. Dt seems that !SSD is now a Special &pplication signal.
Other Common *otchas:
*+, Mobile 'ccessory (ac) 1 D0P-S!itch Configuration
Pin . 0n1Out Section 2-3 O-- Section 2-3 ON
7 Dnput +ata #TT ALowB #TT ALowB
, =utput Transmitting ALowB <4ternal &larm ALowB
'' =utput Clat !X &udio )uted"+e$<mph !X &udio
'2 Dnput Speaker )ute ALowB #u(lic &ddress ALowB
Dn the partial schematic a(ove6 notice the components attached to the <XTL#TT signal on pin 7. ThereIs a 9.'G
@ener diode6 G!0,296 thatIs directl% across this line6 and a ,.Jk pull$up resistor6 !0,27. The <XTL#TT line is
active when pulled to ground (% an e4ternal source. Df %ou pull it up to N'2G6 %ou *DLL instantl% destro%
G!0,29 with over$current. Dt will short out6 grounding the <XTL#TT line. The shorted @ener will put the radio
into constant transmit mode as soon as %ou turn it on. The )otorola designer forgot to put a current limiting
series resistor (etween the input signal connector pin and the rest of the radio $ that one addition would have
prevented this pro(lem. Df %ou remove the main (oard and look underneath near the accessor% Fack6 %ou will see
a small6 %et o(viousl% damaged6 component $ this will (e G!0,29. You can remove it (% touching the contacts
with a soldering iron8 once out the radio will return to normal operation. DIve seen or heard a(out this pro(lem
on at least four radios so far6 and each has (een returned to active dut% once G!0,29 was removed. .ote that
removing it and not replacing it removes the protection the diode is there to provide6 so %ou need to take (etter
care of the radio ne4t time %ou hook it up. =n the )a4Trac accessor% Fack all input signals run through
transistor inverters with (uilt$in input resistors. =n the GTX some input signals go directl% into the &SDC or
microprocessor with onl% a shunt @ener for protection. Df %ou plan on using the accessor% Fack for repeater
controller interfacing Aor an%thing elseB %ou might want to add the series resistorAsB to %our radio (efore
something happens. DtIs as eas% as cutting a trace and (ridging it with a 'M Aor soB resistor. Yes6 removing the
@ener restores operation of the radio6 (ut also leaves the <XTL#TT line completel% unprotected for over$
voltage6 static6 or an%thing else. *hat would %ou do if %ou popped the &SDC or microprocessor chip Athe% arenIt
socketedBO #ersonall% DId figure out some wa% to place a resistor in series with an% logic input pin plus tack a
replacement @ener diode in place. Some protection is (etter than none.
#in '2 AG# D"=B goes to the &udio Special Cunction Dntegrated Circuit A&SCDCB in the radio6 which is managed
(% the internal microprocessor. The !SS makes no mention of accessing this signal. The service manual Fust
sa%s itIs one of si4 signals that come out of the &CSDC which are used to ena(le"disa(le internal circuitr%.
ThereIs no wa% to program this pin to do something useful6 such as #L"+#L or Carrier +etect.
*hile the descriptions in the ta(le a(ove mention several useful signals6 not all of them operate the wa% %ouId
e4pect. Cor e4ample6 the CL&T TX &3+D= input doesnIt seem to work at all on m% radios8 ma%(e itIs reserved
for special AS#B applications.
*+, Mobile 'ccessories:
The GTX mo(ile radio uses the same two$pin +C power connector as )a4Tracs6 G)700s6 and !adiuses. Dt
draws a(out five amps when transmitting at '9 watts. This connector is on the end of a short ca(le on 70$watt
radios. The antenna connector is the same mini$31C female Fack used (% other recent )otorola products.
The GTX mo(ile radio can use the same microphones as )a4Tracs6 G)700s6 and !adiuses. #ro(a(l% an%
)otorola (ase or hand$held microphone with an 5$pin !E$,9 plug will work. The )DC connector pin$out is the
same as on the a(ove radios. A)icrophones wired for a +esktrac (ase will not work.B =f the eight pins6 si4 Apins
2 through 5B are the same as on )a4Tracs with the following e4ception the headset audio output Apin 5B is
.=T at a constant level8 it varies as the front panel volume control is rotated. #in ' Aspare on a )a4TracB is
pulled to filtered &N AN'7GB through a 'k resistor. #in 2 Aspare on a )a4TracB goes nowhere. There are no
spare wires in the ca(le (etween the control head and the radio. These microphones are specificall% listed for
use with the GTX mo(ile radios
+esk microphone A(lackB 1).7000
)o(ile +T)C non$(acklit microphone Afull si2eB 1).70'7
)o(ile microphone AcompactB 1).7,'7
)o(ile microphone Anoise$cancelingB 1).,0'H
<4ternal loudspeakers must (e connected (etween accessor% Fack pins ' and 'H. +o not ground either of these
pins as the audio amplifier DC drives (oth pins6 and it will (e damaged if %ou ground them. AThis is not the same
as a )a4Trac where one side is grounded.B &n%thing with 7.2 =hm impedance or greater will work.
The mounting (racket for the '2"'9 watt GTX mo(iles is onl% availa(le as part of the GL.J7'J Trunnion Mit6
which includes two thum(screws to hold the radio and several sheet$metal screws for attaching the (racket to a
vehicle. The kit costs around K22. The GTX is H$9"5 inches wide A'$7", inches tall and J inches deep including
the kno(sB (ut the )a4Trac is J inches wide6 so the )a4Trac (rackets wonIt reall% fit the GTX radio. AD
suppose %ou could use it with some washers as spacers.B
The mounting (racket for the 70"79 watt GTX mo(iles is onl% availa(le as part of the 1L.0H,0 Trunnion Mit6
which includes two thum(screws and appropriate hardware. This (racket also supports the rear of the radio at
the heat sink. The retail price is a(out K20 in late 200J.
Differences bet!een the *+, and the CS4555:
This entire section6 including photos6 was su(mitted (% )ark .0*YS.
The LCS2000 front panel looks a lot like the GTX6 (ut the two radios are distinctl% different.
These differences are that the GTX (uttons across the (ottom of its panel are la(eled in te4t. The LCS2000 uses
graphic depictions and the order is slightl% different. Going from left to right on the GTX6 the functions are
la(eled )=.6 #1=.<6 SC&.6 C&LL6 and )<.3.
The LCS2000 function (uttons are la(eled !ed +iamond A/<)<!G<.CY/B6 #hone handset A/#1=.</B6 the
/@/ )otorola uses to depict /SC&./6 a musical note A/C&LL/B and what looks like a dou(le$hung window
A/)<.3/B.
+epending upon what functions %ou have ena(led in the radio6 the )<.3 (utton does several things. Dt toggles
#L on and off. Dt also will +<Lete a channel from a Scan List Aknown (% )otorola as /.uisance +elete/B. Dt
also displa%s the function /S#G/ for viewing the Scan #roGram. These are some of the screens %ou ma% see
when pressing the )<.3 (utton
#L =CC
=r
#L =.
=nce %ou get to this point6 %ou will need to press the /Channel$3p/ (utton to the left of the displa%6 the one
with the arrow that points down and left Alike the <.T<! ke% on %our computerB to accept the change and
return the displa% to /normal/ to see %our channel num(er. Df %ou have the 3serIs Guide for the GTX mo(ile
radio6 the menus and displa%s are identical.
#rogramming the LCS2000 is a(out as straight$forward as the GTX6 (ut of course6 it uses a different !SS
A!G.,'9H-B6 which will need to (e hacked for out$of$(and fre;uenc% entr%.
Dn order to make this radio full% operational6 %ou will need to Fumper the same connections on the accessor%
Fack as the GTX #ins , and '0 for Dgnition Sense6 and #ins '7 and 'H for Dnternal Speaker. You can also
Fumper #ins J and ', to ena(le #L operation without a microphone hang$up (o4 A13-B or clip6 depending on
the microphone %ou decide to use.
'c)no!ledgements and Credits:
Some of the information a(out he4$editing this file was o(tained from -ruce MCJG! and other sources on the
we(.
)a4Trac6 GTX6 LCS20006 #L6 +#L6 !adius6 G)7006 !SS6 /!adio Service Software/ and 1ear$Clear Aand a
(unch of other thingsB are registered trademarks of )otorola6 Dnc.
+ave .'=CE and D have (oth repaired mo(ile radios that were stuck on transmit.
Men .'M. owns the radio with the +D#$switch inside. The radio was loaned to me for programming.
)ark .0*YS su(mitted the LCS2000 section and corresponding photos.
Schematics6 specifications6 and other scanned data sheets came from )otorola manuals and documents.
Cop%right on these items is retained (% )otorola.
Contact 0nformation:
The author can (e contacted at his$callsign P at Q comcast P dot Q net.
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3p one level AGTX inde4B
3p two levels A)oto inde4B
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This page originall% posted 07$+ec$0J.
Last edited on 'J$Ean$20',