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Motorola® Spectra® FAIL and ERROR Codes Compiled By Robert W. Meister WA1MIK

The Spectra radios report most problems detected during the self-check on power up. These will be shown on the control head's Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD). They will be in one of three formats:

• ER xx/yy or ERROR xx/yy
• FL xx/yy or FAIL xx/yy
• FAIL nnn

Where "xx" and "yy" will be hexadecimal characters (0-9, A-F), and "nnn" will be a decimal value (000-999).

Problems displayed with the "xx/yy" format consist of a two-digit prefix ("xx") that identifies the source of the problem followed by a two-digit code ("yy") that specifies the particular problem. For example, a radio FAIL code may look like this: "FAIL 01/90", where the first two digits ("xx" in the format above, "01" in this example) identifies the source of the error and the second two digits ("yy" in the format above, "90" in this example) is a unique error code that identifies the particular problem or trouble.

Problems displayed with the "nnn" format are usually associated with temporary conditions that may go away if a different mode is chosen.

A FAIL message is fatal and the radio will usually not work at all. Many ERROR messages will still allow the radio to work at reduced capacity, depending on the identified problem. For example, a disconnected external device or accessory will cause an ERROR message but the radio may still operate just fine without it.

NOTE: If you get the dreaded "FAIL 01/82" message after writing a code plug to the radio, read the code plug from the radio (F2) then immediately write it back to the radio (F8, F8). This usually fixes the checksum problems.

The A9 control heads can display 11 characters. Problems will be shown with the full word "ERROR" or "FAIL", followed by the error code prefix and error code. All other control heads with eight-character displays show the message beginning with "ER" or "FL". Hand-Held Control Heads (HHC) display errors with their two seven-segment LED characters by first flashing "Er" or "FL", then the error code prefix, then the specific error code. For the three-digit fail codes such as FAIL 001 or FAIL 999, the HHCH displays "FL 00 01" or "FL 01 99".

These lists contain all the FAIL and ERROR prefixes and codes I could find in the manuals I have, but there are probably more. Use this list as a quick reference for locating problems. For example, if a radio is programmed to use the Siren/PA and you see an "ERROR 08/10" for a moment when you power up the radio, it means the Siren/PA Option is either not connected or is not working.

Spectra Error and Fail Code Prefixes:

Code	Device Generating Or Causing The Error
01	Radio (single system)
02	Digital Signal Processor (DSP)
03	Multiple PL (MPL)
04	Internal Radio Options
05	Control Unit (Control Head or SIU - single or dual system)
06	Trunking Siren/PA Option (HLN1184A)
07	Control Head Extensions
08	Siren/PA Option (single system)
09	SecureNet Option (single system)
0A	MDC-600 Full Feature or MDC-1200 Option (single system)
0B	MDC Full Feature Option
0D	MDC-600 PTT ID or MVS Option
0E	DTMF Option Board
0F	DTMF Option Board
10	Trunking System
11	Trunking Options
12	Vehicle Repeater System (VRS) (single system only)
13	Vehicle Repeater System
14	Single-Tone Option (single system)
15	Single-Tone Option
16	Vehicle Location
17	Data Option
18	Trunked Deskset
19	Metrocom
1A	Control Host (i.e. programming software)
1B	Vehicular Adapters
1C	Tone Remote Control Option
21	Primary Radio Drawer (dual system)
25	Control Unit (Control Head or SIU when error detected on primary radio)
28	Siren /PA Option (primary radio - dual system)
29	SecureNet Option (primary radio - dual system)
2A	MDC-600 Full Feature or MDC-1200 Option (primary radio - dual system)
32	Not Used
34	Single-Tone Option (primary radio - dual system)
41	Secondary Radio Drawer (dual system)
45	Control Unit (Control Head or SIU when error detected on secondary radio)
48	Siren/PA Option (dual system) - programming problem, see below
49	SecureNet (secondary radio - dual system)
4A	MDC-600 Full Feature or MDC-1200 Option (secondary radio - dual system)
52	Not Used
54	Single-Tone Option (secondary radio - dual system)

In general, device codes 00-1F are for a single radio system. These will have 20 (hex) added to them for the primary radio in a dual radio system (20-3F) or 40 added to them for the secondary radio in a dual radio system (40-5F).

It is common to find used radios displaying error messages when a new owner powers up the radio for the first time. This often happens if previously installed options have been removed or are not included with the radio. These errors should disappear when the radio and control head are correctly reprogrammed with the missing options disabled in the code plugs (sometimes a Personality Board also has to have its internal jumper settings changed).

Even though the manuals do not say so, a "2F/yy" error code would probably be the DTMF board in a primary radio. Likewise, a "4F/yy" error would probably be the DTMF board in a secondary radio. If you take a close look at the codes in the list, you can see the repeated pattern in the primary and secondary radio error codes. The same would apply to the MDC options, however, the VRS is not available on dual radio systems. Of course the "yy" in these examples will actually be the real error code.

The 48 code prefix means you have programmed the Siren/PA option into the secondary radio of a dual radio system. To fix this condition, remove the Siren/PA programming from the secondary radio. The Siren/PA option should only be hooked to the primary radio and only programmed in the primary radio.

Spectra and Astro Spectra Error and Fail Codes:

This list was extracted from the Astro Spectra Basic Service Manual. There is some duplication and redefinition of codes due to extra circuitry in the Astro Spectra radios.

Error Code	Description	Corrective Action
ERROR 01/02	External EEPROM checksum non-fatal error	Reprogram the codeplug
ERROR 01/02	FLASH ROM Codeplug Checksum	Reprogram the codeplug
ERROR 01/12	Security Partition Checksum	Reprogram the security partition
ERROR 01/22	Tuning Codeplug Checksum	Reprogram the tuning partition
FAIL 01/81	ROM checksum failure	Reprogram the FLASH memory
FAIL 01/81	FLASH ROM Checksum	Reprogram the radio firmware
FAIL 01/82	External EEPROM checksum failure	Reprogram the codeplug
FAIL 01/82	FLASH ROM Codeplug Checksum	Reprogram the codeplug
ERROR 01/84	EEPROM is blank	Program the EEPROM
FAIL 01/88	RAM failure, not a checksum failure	Turn the radio off, then on
FAIL 01/88	External RAM Fail	Turn the radio off, then on
FAIL 01/90	General hardware failure	Turn the radio off, then on
FAIL 01/92	Internal EEPROM checksum failure	Reprogram the codeplug
FAIL 01/92	Security Partition Checksum	Reprogram the security partition
FAIL 01/93	Flashport AUTHENT CODE Failure	Replace the VOCON board
FAIL 01/98	Internal RAM Failure	Replace the VOCON board
FAIL 01/A2	Tuning Codeplug Checksum	Reprogram the tuning partition
ERROR 02/10	DSP support IC checksum non-fatal error	Turn the radio off, then on
FAIL 02/81	DSP ROM checksum failure	Reprogram the FLASH memory
FAIL 02/81	DSP ROM Checksum	Reprogram the DSP firmware
FAIL 02/82	DSP RAM 1 failure	Replace the VOCON board
FAIL 02/84	DSP RAM 2 failure	Replace the VOCON board
FAIL 02/88	DSP RAM failure, not a checksum failure	Turn the radio off, then on
FAIL 02/90	General DSP hardware failure (DSP startup message not received correctly)	Turn the radio off, then on
FAIL 02/A0	ADSIC checksum failure	Replace the VOCON board
ERROR 05/10	Control head not communicating with radio	Turn the radio off, then on
FAIL 05/81	Control head ROM checksum failure	Replace the control head
ERROR 06/10	Aux Control Head Hardware Error	Turn the radio off, then on
FAIL 06/81	Aux Control Head ROM Checksum Error	Replace the aux control head
ERROR 08/10	Siren/PA not communicating with radio	Turn the radio off, then on
ERROR 08/10	Siren Hardware Error	Turn the radio off, then on
FAIL 08/81	Siren ROM Checksum Error	Replace the siren
ERROR 09/10	Secure option not communicating with radio	Turn the radio off, then on
FAIL 09/90	Secure Hardware Fatal Error	Replace the secure module
ERROR 12/10	VRS Hardware Error	Turn the radio off, then on
FAIL 12/81	VRS ROM Checksum Error	Replace the VRS
ERROR 1C/10	TRC Hardware Error	Turn the radio off, then on
FAIL 1C/81	TRC ROM Checksum Error	Replace the TRC

The following list was extracted from a 900 MHz Spectra Basic Service Manual. Note that many of the displayed codes are similar to those in the Astro Spectra radios. Some of these errors may not apply to all models or bands.

Display	Possible Cause	Remedy	Cond
ERROR 01/02 ERROR 01/82	Radio has an error with its EEPROM; one or more modes in the radio have an incorrect pattern in the Memory Board EEPROM. Radio will function normally until a corrupted mode is accessed; then "FAIL 002" will be displayed (see below)	a. Reprogram EEPROM from ARCHIVE file if available b. Replace Memory Board	U
FAIL 01/81	The pattern stored in the Memory Board ROM is incorrect	Replace Memory Board	A
FAIL 01/82	The pattern stored in the Memory Board EEPROM is incorrect	a. Reprogram EEPROM from ARCHIVE file if available b. Replace Memory Board	B
FAIL 01/83	Radio has conditions A and B		C
FAIL 01/84	Memory Board EEPROM is blank Microcomputer EEPROM is blank	Replace Memory Board Replace Command Board	D
FAIL 01/85	Radio has conditions A and D		E
FAIL 01/86	Radio has conditions B and D		F
FAIL 01/87	Radio has conditions A, B and D		G
FAIL 01/88	Memory Board RAM defective	Replace Memory Board	H
FAIL 01/89	Radio has conditions A and H		I
FAIL 01/8A	Radio has conditions B and H		J
FAIL 01/8B	Radio has conditons A, B and H		K
FAIL 01/8C	Radio has conditions D and H		L
FAIL 01/8D	Radio has conditions A, D and H		M
FAIL 01/90	Serial Bus Failure. May be control head failure, a radio command board failure, or a cabling failure	a. Troubleshoot Control Head b. Check rear options connector cabling c. Replace Command Board	N
FAIL 01/92	The pattern stored within the microcomputer EEPROM is incorrect	Initialize EEPROM	O
FAIL 01/93	Radio has conditions A and O		P
FAIL 01/94	Microcomputer EEPROM is blank	Replace Command Board	Q
FAIL 01/95	Radio has conditions A and Q		R
FAIL 05/81	Control Head ROM is defective	Replace Control Head Board	S,AA
FAIL 05/82	Control Unit EEPROM corrupted.	Troubleshoot Control Unit	AB
FAIL 05/84	Control Unit EEPROM blank.	Troubleshoot Control Unit	AC
FAIL 05/88	Control Head RAM is defective	Replace Control Head Board	T,AD
FAIL 05/90	Control Unit serial bus failure.	Troubleshoot Control Unit	AE
FAIL 08/10	Siren/PA serial bus failure.	Troubleshoot Siren/PA Unit	DA
ERROR 09/10	SecureNet serial bus failure.	Troubleshoot SecureNet Unit	BA
FAIL 09/90	SecureNet serial bus failure.	Troubleshoot SecureNet Unit	BA
ERROR 10/02	Trunking EEPROM corrupted	Troubleshoot Trunking Option	CA
FAIL 10/10	Trunking serial bus failure	Troubleshoot Trunking Option	CC
FAIL 10/82	Trunking EEPROM corrupted	Troubleshoot Trunking Option	CA
FAIL 10/84	Trunking EEPROM blank	Troubleshoot Trunking Option	CB
Blank display	Display malfunction, TX and Busy LEDs light up	Replace Control Head Board	V
FAIL 001	Synthesizer out-of-lock condition	Troubleshoot Synthesizer	W
FAIL 002	The mode being accessed has an incorrect pattern in the Memory Board EEPROM. (Refer to ERROR 01/02 above)	a. Reprogram EEPROM from ARCHIVE file if available b. Replace Memory Board.	X
FAIL 003	EEPROM data does not match control head configuration	Change control head configuration to match radio and reprogram
FAIL 999	Serial number in the Memory Board and the microcomputer do not match; Radio will not function but will enter test mode	Replace the Memory Board with the proper one	Y

Spectra System Interface Unit Error Codes:

These were found in a dual radio system HHCH instruction manual. Note that these codes use individual bits to indicate the various failures, and these bits are turned on to indicate the various problems in the SIU (device code 08). These form a 1, 2, 4 weighted pattern for the right digit of the error code, as follows:

	Left Digit				Right Digit
Bit #	8	4	2	1	8	4	2	1
Value	0	1	0	1	1	?	?	?

In the columns of the right digit in the above table, the "1" bit is turned on for Memory Board ROM Pattern problems, the "2" bit is turned on for Memory Board EEPROM Pattern problems, the "4" bit is turned on for Defective Memory Board or Microcomputer RAM, and the "8" bit is always turned on for these bit-mapped error codes. The table below expands on this desription. I suspect that other devices utilize the same format for error reporting (see the table above).

Display	Possible Cause	Remedy	Cond
FL 05/81	Memory Board ROM pattern incorrect	Replace Memory Board	A
FL 05/82	Memory Board EEPROM pattern incorrect	a. Replace EEPROM from ARCHIVE file if available b. Replace Memory Board	B
FL 05/83	SIU has conditions A and B		C
FL 05/84	Memory Board EEPROM is blank Microcomputer EEPROM is blank	Replace Memory Board Replace SIU board	D
FL 05/85	SIU has conditions A and D		E
FL 05/86	SIU has conditions B and D		F
FL 05/87	SIU has conditions A, B, and D		G
FL 05/88	Memory Board RAM is defective Microcomputer RAM is defective	Replace Memory Board Replace SIU Board	H
FL 05/89	SIU has conditions A and H		I
FL 05/8A	SIU has conditions B and H		J
FL 05/8B	SIU has conditions A, B, and H		K
FL 05/8C	SIU has conditions D and H		L
FL 05/8D	SIU has conditions A, D, and H		M
FL 05/8E	SIU has conditions B, D, and H		N
FL 05/8F	SIU has conditions A, B, D, and H		O
FL 01/90	Serial Bus Failure. May be a control head failure, a radio failure, or a cabling failure	a. Check SIU b. Check connector cabling c. Check radio(s)	P
Blank Display	Display malfunction	a. Check power cables/fuses b, Replace HHCH c. Check SIU	T

Miscellaneous Error / Troubleshooting Codes:

These codes were also found in the Advanced HHCH manual. There may be some duplication of codes in the tables above.

Display	Description of Problem	Remedy
ER 00/02 FL 00/02	Mode error in EEPROM	a. Reprogram b. Replace radio memory
FL 01/81 FL 01/82 FL 01/84	Radio Problem	a. Reprogram EEPROM b. Check J501/502 c. Replace U502
FL 01/83	Radio Problem	a. Reprogram EEPROM b. Check J501/502 c. Replace U501
FL 01/88	Radio Problem	Replace U500
FL 01/89	Radio Problem	Replace U501 and U502
FL 01/8A	Radio Problem	a. Reprogram EEPROM b. Check J501/502 c. Replace U500
FL 01/8B FL 01/8D	Radio Problem	a. Reprogram EEPROM b. Check J501/502 c. Replace U502
FL 01/8C	Radio Problem	Replace U502
FL 01/90	Serial Bus Failure	Check cable kits
FL 01/99	Not Programmed for HHCH/SIU Serial number mismatch	a. Reprogram b. Replace MLM card
ER 08/01	Siren/PA ROM failure	Replace U7
ER 08/08	Siren/PA RAM failure	Replace U7
ER 08/09	Siren/PA ROM/RAM failure	Replace U7
ER 08/10	Option serial bus failure	See Siren/PA instruction manual
ER 08/10	Siren/PA Bus failure	See Siren/PA instruction manual
FL 08/90	Siren/PA Fatal error	See Siren/PA instruction manual
FL 09/90 ER 09/10	Option serial bus failure	See SecureNet instruction manual
ER 0A/10 ER 0B/10	Option serial bus failure	See MDC-600 instruction manual
FL 14/10	Option serial bus failure	See Single-Tone instruction manual

Motorola, Spectra, Astro Spectra, HHCH, SecureNet, VRS, and a whole bunch of other terms are trademarks of Motorola Inc.

The author can be contacted at: his-callsign [ at ] comcast [ dot ] net.

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This page originally posted 27-Dec-07.

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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.