I'm looking for a dual band mobile with black screen, and colored LCD
(I hope I'm saying that right)...

For example: http://www.rigpix.com/icom/icdelta100.htm

Another example would be something like the Motorola Spectra (shown at:
http://images.batlabs.com/mobiles/speca9.jpg) - but you can't get those
in dual band.

Like the dash in my Cherokee, the only part that lights up are the
numbers, etc - unlike most common radios which light up the back, and
then have the characters/info in black.

In the end, I'm trying to find the smallest and least conspicuous head
to mount in my car. Something with a black face would match my current
instruments (and those in most cars I would think), so I'm hoping for
suggestions.

If not, my backup plan is to go with Icom's IC-208h because of its
small size & alpha display. I wouldn't mind some suggestions on small,
detachable face, alpha display, wide receive mobiles as well if anyone
has any thoughts - but first I'm trying to find something with a black
screen - thanks for the help all.

richard
n0tzc

In article .com,
says...

snippety

Another example would be something like the Motorola Spectra (shown at:
http://images.batlabs.com/mobiles/speca9.jpg) - but you can't get those
in dual band.

Ahh... As the owner of a pair of Spectras, and as a tech who works
on them almost every week, I can assure you that their displays are not
"color LCD."

The closest they come is, on the Astro Spectras, a monochrome LCD
panel consisting of 2 lines of 16 characters each.

The standard 'Systems 9000' head is nothing more than a blue VF
(Vacuum-Fluorescent) display tube with 15 segments per character instead
of 7.

While it is true that individual Spectras were never made in a
dual-band configuration, the same functionality was achieved by using
two radio drawers (VHF and UHF), a handheld control head, and a
specialized system interface unit to tie it all together. Such setups
were frequently used by government agencies, most of whom went under
three-letter abbreviations.

Now, with that said... I would be curious to know if you turn up
something along the lines you describe. I'd like to look at it myself.

Happy hunting.


--
Dr. Anton T. Squeegee, Director, Dutch Surrealist Plumbing Institute.
(Known to some as Bruce Lane, ARS KC7GR,
kyrrin (a/t) bluefeathertech[d=o=t]calm -- www.bluefeathertech.com
"If Salvador Dali had owned a computer, would it have been equipped
with surreal ports?"

a ' specialized system interface unit ' ? this sounds interesting...
can this all be connected to an A9 display?

do you have the Motorola part numbers for the interface and the
handheld head you mentioned? If i could route two spectras to an A9
head and put that on my dash, it would be perfect.

thanks,

richard
n0tzc

"Dr. Anton T. Squeegee" wrote in message
...
In article .com,
says...

snippety

Another example would be something like the Motorola Spectra (shown at:
http://images.batlabs.com/mobiles/speca9.jpg) - but you can't get those
in dual band.

Ahh... As the owner of a pair of Spectras, and as a tech who works
on them almost every week, I can assure you that their displays are not
"color LCD."

The closest they come is, on the Astro Spectras, a monochrome LCD
panel consisting of 2 lines of 16 characters each.

The standard 'Systems 9000' head is nothing more than a blue VF
(Vacuum-Fluorescent) display tube with 15 segments per character instead
of 7.

While it is true that individual Spectras were never made in a
dual-band configuration, the same functionality was achieved by using
two radio drawers (VHF and UHF), a handheld control head, and a
specialized system interface unit to tie it all together. Such setups
were frequently used by government agencies, most of whom went under
three-letter abbreviations.

Now, with that said... I would be curious to know if you turn up
something along the lines you describe. I'd like to look at it myself.

Happy hunting.


--
Dr. Anton T. Squeegee, Director, Dutch Surrealist Plumbing Institute.
(Known to some as Bruce Lane, ARS KC7GR,
kyrrin (a/t) bluefeathertech[d=o=t]calm -- www.bluefeathertech.com
"If Salvador Dali had owned a computer, would it have been equipped
with surreal ports?"

Might I ask if you have a source for used Astro Spectras?
I may not be able to afford such (I have no idea how much they cost since I
never see them as "used". But I do have a use for one or two if I can find
them.

73

Jerry

The spectra VF display has been addressed by others here. My comment is
regarding your search for an "inconspicuous" control head / display.


Are you aware that most of the LCD backlit displays have a DIM feature
which will in essence turn the back light off completely? Of course the
info displayed will not be visible either, but simply adjusting the DIM
display momentarily when you need to see the display might work for you.


Also, some of the new small HF - VHF - UHF rigs do have color TFT
displays...... I know the new Icom IC-7000 is probably something that would
fit your bill, even though it does HF too:

http://www.icomamerica.com/products/amateur/7000/


Ed K7AAT