[Repeater-Builder] Re: Does anyone else think of Power Factor like SWR?
Good point Nigel. Back in the '60s I designed a video distribution amplifier for receiver video to tape recorders, O scopes and the like and I matched the input impedance to prevent reflections on the video line from distorting the signal. The output impedance of my amplifier was as low as I could get it, and it worked very well. I did not design the output impedance to be 50 ohms, the impedance of the cable we used to distribute the video. I depended on the load to be 50 ohms resistive to prevent any reflection. On the other hand, the audio distribution amplifiers were not matched on the receive end. I also designed the output impedance of an audio amplifier to be as low as I could get it, and was able to switch multiple loads on the output without changing the level. The input impedance of the audio circuits was always 600 ohms or higher. The power distribution grid is more like the audio and video situation than the SWR problems we see at RF. 73 - Jim W5ZIT --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Nigel Johnson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Very interesting theory. I am teaching SWR at present to my third year college students. Could be a good discussion point since they have already studied power factor. However, SWR can exist with a purely resistive mismatched load, so it needs a bit of modification to take all into account. 73 Nigel ve3id
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Zetron
John, there is a manual on line at the Repeater-Builder site, but your unit may be an earlier version of the EPROM than the one documented in that manual. The default decode sequence is 12345# if it is in the factory original state. I had several that were not, and found that I could remove the RAM chip from the Dallas Semiconductor battery back up for a few minutes and have the processor come back up in the defauld condition when it was replaced and could program from there. You have to put the processor back into the RS-232 access mode after this step, and you have to have a special cable (not standard RS-232) in order to program it via computer. The cable is documented in the manual and you will find that older units will operate a sub-set of the commands shown in the manual. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: Maire-Radios [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, 14 Jul 2007 11:59 am Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Zetron can any tell me the default program codes for the: Zetron model 38 and Zetron model 38A thank you, John Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- Unlimited storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection. =0
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Hello...
Do an ebay search for ge mastr. You will find a large number of GE Base stations at the present time that can be operated as repeaters listed. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: lou_c1357 [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 6:43 am Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Hello... All, Thanks for the comments... Looks like I have plenty to research and keep me busy for a while. I notice alot of people here use converted comercial radios for repeaters. How available are these?? A quick search on e-bay did not show a large number of hits... but maybe the availability is cyclical... Thanks again, Lou --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Nate Duehr [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Lou, I'll throw out my wishes for you to have fun and enjoy building a repeater, but I'll also throw up in the air my usual comment to all budding repeater-builder type folks... Find a local club that needs help. There's ALWAYS someone locally that needs help with an existing repeater or system! (Or move to Denver, we'll put you to work!!) Repeaters need maintenance, not a lot, if they're built right, but there's always something to be done/checked every year or so. And every few years, you might have some tower/antenna work to do, and every few other years maybe some measurements to take critically with good test gear to see if the repeater is still performing to baseline specifications that you measured a few years before that... and... things fail... or get blown up by lightning... Well, the list goes on and on... it never stops, really. After you get picky about audio you can start obsessing about that, and come up with a project list twice as long and difficult as the just get it on the air and working list! There's always something to analyze, think about, and try to make better... without making it worse. Many clubs/organizations are short of qualified folks to work on their systems. There's lots of radio operators out there, happy to use the systems, but the number of techs who'll work on them -- it is a very small group of people in most populated areas. In rural areas, you really might find 3-4 people total who REALLY do repeaters right. (Hint: Pick repeaters in your area that seem to have better performance than others in the area and then look up the callsign. Find out who owns/operates it and approach those people. FIND THOSE techs... they did it right.) If you read up on EVERYTHING you find at the Repeater-Builder website about your club/local organization's repeaters, and all the general information there -- and there's a LOT!... Then start asking around to find out who the REAL repeater techs are in your local organizations (hint: it's not always who talks about it the most on the air!), you'll probably find some of the best people you've ever met in Ham Radio. Try to meet a few people that do this stuff... get a feel for the local community of repeater builders. Many people think the folks in charge of certain clubs don't work with other clubs in the area, and often -- although not always -- this isn't true. Most of the folks doing this stuff do know and work with each other on problems, even if their clubs compete. Many repeater builder types are willing to Elmer new folks along in return for some help on their systems. NOT ALL are, though -- some are crotchety old grumpy coots who won't talk to anyone. Don't worry about it, all aspects of this hobby have both types. (GRIN) And their biggest turn-off will be if you show up once, and never come back. Make a commitment to stick around for a while, you'll learn some interesting things. Repeaters are fairly different from many types of Amateur Radio... a specialty if you will, within the hobby. And can be quite challenging to get right. Showing someone the ropes kinda requires a commitment from both sides that is a little notch above this just being a hobby. Especially if a lot of folks are counting on a particular repeater or repeater system. Okay, off the soap box... plenty of well-wishers here, and folks who'll answer questions. Off ya go! Find a repeater that needs fixing! (By the way, no harm done building a typical back-yard repeater to do some learning. Hopefully your area has some frequency pairs set aside for experimentation and/or non-protected use. Those are a great open playground where you can learn a lot, and not have to deal with coordinating the repeater at first... just be courteous to others also using those pairs, if your area has them.) Nate WY0X Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- Unlimited storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Acronyms-a little OT
You guys have missed one that I saw used repeatedly over the working years. It is SWAG - we would SWAG a bid on a task, and everyone knew what we ment. scientific wild ass guess 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: n9wys [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, 7 Jul 2007 11:23 am Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Acronyms-a little OT Thanks, Mike. I had to bookmark that page! One I use occasionally is BSEG which stands for Big $h!% Eating Grin. H... Wonder why it didn't make the list there. HAHAHA Mark - N9WYS -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com On Behalf Of Mike Morris WA6ILQ A very complete list of email, cellphone texting and IMing abbreviations is at http://www.netlingo.com/emailsh.cfm One that is like is CRTLA I found out about that from another speaker at a local meeting location... I was there to teach a tech session and got there early, and killed the time until my time slot opened up by standing in the corridor listening to the gentleman in an adjacent meeting room... he was doing an overview of the internet for parents and mentioned IMing and cellphone texting, and posted that web site on the projector attached to his laptop as a resource for translation of the chat logs... Mike WA6ILQ Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- Unlimited storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Acronyms-a little OT
How about TU (Tango Uniform) for any item, box, chip that was dead. (Txxx Up) 73 - Jim - W5ZIT -Original Message- From: Mike Morris WA6ILQ [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, 7 Jul 2007 12:47 pm Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Acronyms-a little OT At 12:28 PM 07/07/07, you wrote: Well, let's not forget the grand daddy of them all: WTF! It's already on that list... Mike WA6ILQ Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- Unlimited storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Retuning 11.2 Mhz oscillator on MASTR-II
If you are talking about the RCA jumper from the RF front end to the IF, be aware that the B+ for the mixer is carried to the RF deck through this jumper. Also, be aware that you will be hooking your RF signal generator output to the regulated +10 coming from the IF board if you input a signal to the RCA input on the IF board. This might account for the burned resistor mentioned. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: ve7ltd [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, 29 Jun 2007 8:30 pm Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Retuning 11.2 Mhz oscillator on MASTR-II The number is: PL19C320523G2 Rev A There is no direct hit for it, bit it is a 75Watt UHF mobile, with UHF exciter (non-tripler). The IF oscillator is dead, but I would like to troubleshoot it. The receiver tunes up fine until I get to pin 7 and I get zero volts. I hooked my HP 8920A to the RCA output port on the IF oscillator and I get no output on 11.2Mhz. Upon closer inspection, the slugs in the tuning coils in the the IF tuning sections are loose, to the point that I flipped the reciver upside down and two of the three of them just fell out. I have never touched or tweaked the IF before, and I have not seen a step by step tuning. Thanks Dave Cameron --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Eric Lemmon [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dave, What is the number stamped in black ink on the edge of this module? If the LBI covering your module is not already posted on the GE Master Index, I probably have it in my microfiche file. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of ve7ltd Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 8:57 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Retuning 11.2 Mhz oscillator on MASTR- II For some reason, the MASTR-II UHF receiver I have is missing the slugs out of the tuning coils in the 11.2Mhz IF oscillator. Also the 1 ohm resistor is cooked, but still 1 ohm. Everywhere I look, the LBIs say to tune the capacitor and coils, but doesnt give any reference or anything. Does anyone have a good method to tune this oscillator? I have an HP 8920 and a working system to compare to, but a step by step tuning process for this IF oscillator must exist someplace. Thanks Dave Cameron - VE7LTD Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- Unlimited storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] First repeater?
I have a buddy (WA5QKE) who had a repeater on the air in Conroe TX before they were legal. He was headed to a site with an FCC engineer one day when it got keyed and the squelch tail was plainly audible along with the ID. He had to take it off the air for several years until they were legalized. 73 - im W5ZIT -Original Message- From: mch [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 8:31 pm Subject: [Repeater-Builder] First repeater? I know this is somewhat controversial, but I'm looking for the date/year the first ham repeater was put on the air. Anyone know of a webpage with repeater history? Would like to have this info tonight for a presentation tomorrow. Joe M. Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] OT: Need to find a product to develop goodwill at a tower site(s)
One thing that can be done is have a receiver with the PL tone used to open the gate located at the office. Any time that tone is received, the office would know that someone was accessing the site. If it were not authorized, law enforcement could be dispatched to the site. A controller interfaced to the radio at the office, such as the Zetron 38A, with a relay that can be controlled by a particular tone could alert the office that an access was in progress. Also a log of the access would be kept in the Zetron and could be read out at any time. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: Paul M Schmitter [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, 26 May 2007 8:20 pm Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] OT: Need to find a product to develop goodwill at a tower site(s) Biggest problem I can see is security. Anyone can receive the frequency and the tones. Simple to program a ham radio to the same freq and tone. Anybody with any radio experience will be able to open the gate(s). Might as well just leave the gates open. --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello to All, I am starting to develop a future ham repeater relation with a tower site(s) owner and recently got a request for something unusual. The company has a fleet of VHF radio equipped vehicles. They want to pull up to a site, enter a touch-tone sequence on the mike, and open a security gate at the site. I could kludge together something, but would rather find something commercially available. Anytime I have kludged something together, I have ended up having to repair it for longer that I expected. Something with a VHF receiver, TT decode and relay contact output would be great. Any ides if this is even made commercially? I know that some fire/ambulance departments use a similar idea to open and close the firehouse door. Some also have the ability to control traffic control lights on their way to a situation. 73, Joe, k1ike From: John Sichert [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] IFR COM-120A Manual Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 23:11:28 + - lweter, I know where I can get a COM-120B manual. I am not sure what the difference is. The service manual is $50 + shipping. John At 11:09 AM 5/24/2007, you wrote: I just recently acquired a used IFR 120A but it needs calibration and a manual. Does anyone know where I can obtain some version of the IFR COM-120A oeprations manual for a reasonable price if not free? Yahoo! Groups Links Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] CSI -32 info for the group (SOT)
I had a problem similar to yours in gaining access to some older Zetron 38A controllers. I found that the RAM where the access code was stored was battery backed up using a Dallas Semiconductor battery back up chip. I found that I could remove the RAM chip from the battery back up chip and the access code would reset to factory default. After a few minutes, plugging the RAM chip back in resulted in a reset to the original factory access code, and factory parameters. From there is was follow the manual to set them up to the parameters I wanted. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: n3dab To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, 29 May 2007 5:00 pm Subject: [Repeater-Builder] CSI -32 info for the group (SOT) Many months ago I asked the group about a back door method for the CSI-32 multi-tone controller panelto enter the progamming mode, as I had a friend with a CSI-32 in which the access code was reprogammed and the new code had been lost or forgotten. I recieved several replies from the group but nothing seemed to work. Fortunately we were able to pull the chip out of one I had, read and copy copy it and insert it into my friends unit to get it working again. Below is copy of a procedure that I recently forwarded to another friend with a CSI-32 who had a similar prolem, this will work with out copying someone elses chip, (The info below should be edited and posted in the CSI section of the RB site for future reference.) This may also work on the CSI-32 super and CSI-32Plus as well. The link below will take you to the Repeater Builder Website and the .PDF file for the CSI- 32 Controller Manual. If you don't have a copy of the manual, print out a complete copy for yourself first. Then carefully read paragraph 5.10 on resetting the Programming Access Code. The Default setting is35687. It states that you can only change the last 2 digits of the code, however you can also use the A,B and D characters from the 4th row of the DTMF pad in the modified the access code string. If you can't enter the program mode using the Default No. 35687 then enter 35600 thru 35699 (100 combinations) or 356 A/B/D 0 thru 9 (30 combinations) or 356 0 thru 9A/B/D (30 combinations). There are 160 total combinations. You must wait 5 seconds between entering these combinations. After you finally locate the correct combination to unlock the Controller and place it into the programming mode write that number down on a peice of paper, and/or reprogram the access code back to the Default No.35687 so you don't have to go thru the whole process again if you lose or forget the code. Hope this helps someone else out there who has a CSI controller collecting dust because they can't reprogram it. 73 Doug N3DAB http://www.repeater-builder.com/other-mfrs/csi-32.pdf Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: [Fwd: [SCOM-Controllers] 7330 pricing and other news]
I bought one of Al's early release controllers and have had it in service for six months or so now. He was nice enough to replace my first firmware with an updated version to fix a bug or two, although whatever he fixed had not caused me any problems. My repeater is interfaced into EchoLink, and I documented my interface and sent a schematic and writeup along to Al to post on his web site when he has a chance. I am using the CTCSS decode in the PSE508 controller to control access to both the repeater and EchoLink, and works like a charm. I was able to pull the GE decoder out and go with just the PSE508. He has another neat option in the PSE508-2 which allows in-band linking to EchoLink or IRLP. He encodes CTCSS and has the option to terminate the encode as soon as a user unkeys, so the ID and squelch tail/bubble up are not transmitted to the linked system. This is one of the few controllers to offer this option. I have an old Zetron 38A on a repeater with an inband link using this trick and works like a charm. 73 - Jim W5ZIT Nate wrote: You also forgot to mention Al Psion's GE card cage controller too -- it's a NEAT product for a stand-alone GE MASTR II station-based repeater. He's already put out a few different versions of firmware and has some nifty ideas for that controller up his sleeves too. Recently an e-mail I sent him lead to a very nice phone conversation about how an IRLP node might be linked into his controller, and while it'd take some effort, Al was more than willing to offer up ideas and point out things about the controller on the schematic that I hadn't noticed in passing. I can say wholeheartedly that Al is definitely another good guy to have building controllers in our hobby, and if I ever find enough time to finish up my personal backyard repeater, it'll probably have one of Al's controllers in it -- I don't need anything fancy, and of course, I'm a big MASTR II fan... just because I'm more comfortable with them than anything else... so Al's controller in a card slot will probably do just fine for what I'm looking to do. Hopefully, I can return his thoughtfulness and document anything I come up with that works well for hanging IRLP off the station with his controller in it. - WY0X Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Repeater Antenna Question
I have a friend who used just this combinatin and a splitter like you mentioned. The VHF repeater was a Mastr II with a Sinclair 202G duplexer and the UHF repeater was a Yaesu 7000 with the Yaesu duplexer. The combination worked just fine on 2 meters but the 440 repeater receiver was desensed when the 2 meter repeater was keyed. The 440 repeater seemed to work OK when the 2 meter repeater was not keyed. The 2 meter repeater outputs about 20 watts from the duplexer and the 440 repeater was operated at the 10 watt level. The range of the 2 meter repeater was far superior to what he had with only the 440 repeater connected directly to the antenna. He has now done away with the 440 repeater and operates the 2 meter repeater with a direct connection from the duplexer to the GP9 antenna and is very happy with the performance. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:12 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Repeater Antenna Question I am not sure if we ever visited this question before, If we have sorry... Here is the story, I have a Comet Dual Band Antenna GP9 VHF/UHF, works for me and I like the quality and price. I have a UHF Repeater and soon to have a VHF Repeater at the same location. I have no more space or money to run the cable for another antenna, to the top. How could I run both repeaters off the same antenna, I have a wacom duplexer 4 can base type (not the cheap mobile kind) for one and the other is a Telewave VHF 4 can (same type but VHF). Is it possible? Could I use one of those splitters (450/150 mini duplexers) attached to both duplexers? Or would I need something else? This is probably simple I just am not sure? Thanks in advance? JA Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Repeater Antenna Question
I have been building my own cross-band couplers for years. Two meters and 440 work fine as long as you stay away from harmonically related frequencies. My cross band coupler consists of a standard Tee section tuner for 440 with a series cap on the input, a shunt inductor, and a series cap on the output. The two caps are tuned for the best SWR on the input into the existing antenna system - even if there is some SWR. For two meters I use a series inductor, a shunt capacitor, and a series inductor. The two meter output inductor is connected in parallel with the 440 output cap, and again the two meter section is tuned for best SWR back to the two meter load. Tune the 440 section first, and you will find that the very small capacity on the output of the two meter section is no problem. Likewise, the inductor back to the two meter section poses no problem to the 440 output. Spreading or compressing the turns on the two meter coils will allow a good match when tuning the two meter capacitor. This system provides a two band to one band combiner, along with antenna matching for each band. The 440 section is hi pass while the two meter section is low pass, and each band is actually tuned to resonance Z matcher style. We operated a 440 repeater through one of these combiners to a GP-9 type antenna along with a two meter remote base. An MVP at 12 watts was the 440 repeater, and an Icom 22S was the remote base. It worked great with no interaction that we could tell. I added six meters to one of these couplers by simply putting a capacitor and inductor in series with no ground connection with the inductor connected to the output side of the combiner and had good operation on all three bands at the same time. The capacitor stator was connected to the six meter input. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 8:58 AM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Repeater Antenna Question I don't think any of them have cavities in them. I would suspect that the telewave is built very similar to the diamond etc. Mostly lumped circuit tuning (capacitor and coils) and maybe some 1/4 wave stub tuned coax rolled up inside. For a long time most commercial manufactures like telewave Sinclair etc. stayed away from cross band couplers between 150 and 450 bands but readily did it between 800 and 450 or 800 and 150. The problem with 150 and 450 is that they are harmonically related. A quarter wave length cavity on 150 is a three quarter wave length cavity on 450. A three quarter wave cavity resonates just as well at three quarter wave as it does at a quarter wave but of course has more selectivity as a three quarter wave. Most of the better transmitter combiners for 800 and 900 MHz used three quarter wave length cavities in them. Most of the cross band couplers use capacitors and inductors to form low and high pass filters to get around the 3rd resonance mode of cavities. Cross band couplers open the door for intermode problems as those 3rd harmonics are not attenuated all that much in the couplers. They do work but sometimes may cause problems. DUPLEXER / DIPLEXER A duplexer and diplexer are very similar. A diplexer is what it is usually called when two transmitters are combined together. If a transmitter and receiver are combined then it is called a duplexer. The cross band couplers I suppose could be called either as they do combine two transmitters but they also combine two receivers and allow duplex operation. You could have a 450 receiver working at the same time as a 150 transmitter so that would be a duplex situation. Maybe they should be called duo-duplexers. :) 73 Gary K4FMX -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Repeater- [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of crackedofn0de Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 9:34 AM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Repeater Antenna Question --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 4/26/2007 4:39:57 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: cross band coupler Thanks that sounds like the ticket. Seems like the way to go JA How about a diplexer from Comet or Diamond? I looked into this recently for a similar application and couldn't tell the difference between the expensive Telewave crossband couplers and the dime-a-dozen amateur diplexers. The specs given for the diplexers even indicate about twice the isolation compared to the crossband couplers. While the designs appear to be different (tuned cavity vs. tuned circuit), I can't find any information that would indicate any pros or cons between the two in practice. Anybody? Both Comet and Diamond call their diplexers duplexers. I have no idea why. They get it right when they call their triplexers triplexers. I was thinking about going with a Diamond product
Re: [Repeater-Builder] DB-264A or DB-224 ?
You can modify the DB-224 antenna to bring it down from the 155 mHz area to the ham band by adding two inches of tubing to each end of each element. I use tubing from a scrapped TV antenna and flatten it where I wrap it around the bottom and top of each loop and secure it with a screw through the flattened tubing. I then measure the length projecting from the end of the loop and cut it back to two inches. I have not had to modify the harness to get satisfactory operation in the ham band. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, 24 Apr 2007 9:38 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] DB-264A or DB-224 ? As of today though, I have a more pressing problem. I discovered that the antenna on what will be the new site (water tower) is a custom DB antenna cut for 155.37 inter-city. Argh. The repeater TX will be 147.36 , 147.96 RX SO, I know I need to change antennas. I have a DB-224 and a DB-264A to choose from to put on the water tower at 150 ft fed with 1/2 heliax. One point of note that may be worth mentioning... the antenna will be side-mounted on the North railing of the water tower. Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Sinclair Q202 tuning problem
Eric, I had the identical issue with this duplexer. Eric Lemmon helped me solve the problem by commenting that the arrangement that Sinclair uses has a reject notch on both sides of the cavity resonance. A sweep of the cavity will show the two notches that can be moved in unison around the pass, with both notches moving the same direction as the stub is adjusted. What you are missing is that the first piece of cable from each cavity to the Tee is part of the tuned circuit. My cavities were in the 170.xx range and the first cables were 10.5 inches. I increased the first cables from the cavity on the lower side from 10.5 to 12.5 inches and they tuned just fine in the ham band. Eric scanned the manual for my duplexer and I can send you a copy if you are interested. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, 21 Apr 2007 10:31 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Sinclair Q202 tuning problem I am having an issue tuning a Q202 duplexer. I reviewed the past 144 or so posts regarding Q202 issues, but haven't found any past posts mentioning the following issue. The unit was originally on 165MHz. It has the horizontal copper/dielectric reject stubs which screw into the T-box on top of the cavities. The target frequencies are 146.800 tx, 146.200 rx. The high side (tx)tunes just fine. I'm measuring about 1.5db insertion loss and 80db rejection on the tracking generator. The low side is the issue. The pass (146.200) tunes just fine, with 1.5db or so of insertion loss, but reject is an issue. The cavities on the low side act as if they are another set of high-side cans. The reject rods appear to tune properly, and I can get 80+db of rejection 600KHz low of 146.200, but no matter what I do, the reject will never go ABOVE the pass frequency. I doubt the cable harness lengths would cause this, no? From the past posts I read, it sounds like if I were running out of room on the reject rods, then the cable lenghts might be the issue. But my issue is that the low side's reject is sitting below the pass, not above the pass where it needs to be. The duplexer swept ok before I started retuning it. Any ideas? Would being an inch or so short on the L cables at the new frequencies really cause the reject to be on the wrong side of the pass, just on the low side only? The high-pass side tunes fine, allthough the clear rods are only out of the copper tubes by about 1 or so. Thanks Eric KE2D Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Service Monitors
Jack, I used an older Bearcat hand-held scanner as a signal generator for years. It has a 10.8 mHz IF and you can calculate the offset frequency that has to be entered in the scanner to give you the frequency you want. To prevent stray radiation and provide a means of attenuating it, I program it and then put it in a cake pan with an aluminum flashing cover that I fabricated, and put in-line attenuators on the feed through BNC on the cake pan. Just used the source as the normal receive input for the scanner, as it had plenty of radiated LO from the antenna connector. That served me through the '70s and '80s until something better came along ( an analog Motorola signal generator ) I still use the Motorola to tune duplexers, as it has a better shielded generator than the service monitor I use. I use an Icom hand-held as the receiver for duplexer tuning, as it works quite well as long as there is zero radiation from the signal source. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, 21 Apr 2007 9:20 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Service Monitors I suspect the accuracy of the deviation measurement depends on how the scope is calibrated. I too have for many years used a scanner as a pseudo service monitor. I have used both a calibrated FM signal generator and the local public service channels for reference. The DC coupling of the scope was adjusted to give a center line reference for frequency from the scanner's discriminator and the vertical gain controls were adjusted for a convenient deviation scale. Haven't measured it, but suspect the IF bandwidth on my scanner is fairly broad. Using a calibrated service monitor to compare this scheme indicated no difference in readings. Assuming we can get over that hurdle, the next one would be how to make an RF signal generator from the scanner. Could we use the scanner's image through a broad band amplifier block into a rudimentary attenuator? 73 de Jack - N7OO Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] CAT-1000 Controller - Audio Response Change
Most of the CAT controllers that I have delt with have no provision for deemphasizing the audio in the controller. You can not feed discriminator audio directly into them without using a de-emphasis circuit in the audio path. One way is to take the discriminator audio through a 15K series resistor with a .22 mFd cap to ground on the output side of the resistor and feed that into the CAT receiver audio terminal. That should give you flat audio for the TT decoder to see and good sounding audio on the repeater output. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 7:34 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] CAT-1000 Controller - Audio Response Change On a CAT? I'm not sure that's possible. You may end up changing the entire audio path. ;- Joe M. Tony L. wrote: Does anyone know how would I go about changing the audio response on a CAT-1000 controller? I'm seeking to make the audio flat. Thanks. Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Linking question
Bill, there is no problem doing in-band linking on 2 meters these days. What you need to do is keep the squelch tail and IDs from the two meter repeater from being repeated on the 440 repeater. You may not have that problem in that your 440 repeater probably has the same callsign as the 2 meter machine, but if they were different the following system would keep them separate. Set up the CTCSS transmission on the 2 meter repeater so it would only be transmitted when a user is on the input of the 2 meter repeater. Then use CTCSS decode on the 2 meter link radio to shut off the audio and COS from the 2 meter repeater as soon as the 2 meter user unkeys. This is a common problem when linking a repeater to EchoLink or IRLP and this solution seems to work best when the link is in-band. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:29 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Linking question Howdy, New to this group today. I am the control operator for two of our ham club repeaters. A 2m Motorola and 70cm Motorola. We had them next to each other hard wired linked with antennas on a very tall commercial tower in Austin. The UHF antenna was turned to dust by a lightning strike. The machine survived however the cost of a tower climb exceeds our cub funds so I have moved and coordinated the UHF machine 20 miles west to my home QTH tower. This works out nice as I am on a big hill and cover the local state park very well. I would like to link the two together by installing a 2m mobile rig on the UHF controller linking radio I/O and link it to the VHF machine. This would take the audio out of the UHF machine and transmit it on the mobile rig to the input of the VHF machine 20 miles east via a small 2m yagi. The RX audio on the 2m mobile rig would then be transmitted out on the UHF machine. This is all easy to do with the controller I have. The question is this legal now on the ham bands? I think up until early this year you could only link with UHF until the FCC changed the law enabling the Kenwood sky command to be legal on 2m thus allowing what I am planning. What are the group members thoughts on this? Thanks, Bill N5ZTW Central Texas. Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Linking question
Sky Command does not do any control on 2 meters. This aspect of the rules has not changed. What did change is that an auxiliary link can now be used on 2 meters. This makes it possible to link into a 2 meter repeater in-band without violating the rules. I think that rule discussion is not permitted on this list, and apologize for this response. But a common misconception about Sky Command is that it does some control on 2 meters. In fact, it only uses the 2 meter band to transmit the receive audio from the remote installation. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 7:04 AM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Linking question What you are doing is a remote base The whole skycommand deal was over remote control on 2m and doesn't apply to what you are doing. William Delbert Ellis wrote: Howdy, New to this group today. I am the control operator for two of our ham club repeaters. A 2m Motorola and 70cm Motorola. We had them next to each other hard wired linked with antennas on a very tall commercial tower in Austin. The UHF antenna was turned to dust by a lightning strike. The machine survived however the cost of a tower climb exceeds our cub funds so I have moved and coordinated the UHF machine 20 miles west to my home QTH tower. This works out nice as I am on a big hill and cover the local state park very well. I would like to link the two together by installing a 2m mobile rig on the UHF controller linking radio I/O and link it to the VHF machine. This would take the audio out of the UHF machine and transmit it on the mobile rig to the input of the VHF machine 20 miles east via a small 2m yagi. The RX audio on the 2m mobile rig would then be transmitted out on the UHF machine. This is all easy to do with the controller I have. The question is this legal now on the ham bands? I think up until early this year you could only link with UHF until the FCC changed the law enabling the Kenwood sky command to be legal on 2m thus allowing what I am planning. What are the group members thoughts on this? Thanks, Bill N5ZTW Central Texas. -- Jay Urish CCNA Network Engineer Home)972-691-0125 Cell)972-965-6229 Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: OT: Cell Phone Yagi - More Info.
Be prepared to have your sweet spot move around due to different atmospheric conditions and foliage variations. It may not work 365 days a year. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 8:42 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: OT: Cell Phone Yagi - More Info. The situation I have here follows: We live approx. 7 miles from the main cell site which is on a 3700' mountain top. Between us and the cell site is a smaller hill, the top of which is just cuts the line of sight. Typical of communication at these frequencies, if I stand in a particular spot and hold my arm just right, I can opbtain full-scale signal on the cell phone. So, I'm thinking that if I install a Yagi on a pole and move it around, I should be able to find the sweet spot and permanently mount the antenna there. It would then be connected directly to the cell phone, no BDA or repeater would be required. The longest run of coax would be under 30 feet so I should be able to use LMR-400 for the feed line. The one thing I'm not sure about is how to connect the coax to the phone. Is there an adaptor that would go between the little jack on the phone and then to one of the more common coax connectors like a TNC or SMA or some such thing? Hopefully this explains the situation a bit better and thanks for all of the replies so far. Doug VE7DRF Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Zetron 38 vs. 38a
Be aware that the Zetron 38 has been around for a long time. It has gone through many revisions and depending on what version you are getting, lots of features you might find in the manual will not be there. For instance, I have a Zetron 38 that will not operate on just COS. It must have CTCSS to function. It only has the 38 tones, not the 50 tones that later models will recognize. Mine will not do DCS either. So depending on the firmware release a unit may be all over the place so far as features it provides. I took the on line manual and went through my unit and revised the feature list to just what my unit provided, so I could navigate the commands. In most cases, features were added with no change to the older features, so the manual is good as long as you get rid of the parts that do not apply. For the features my unit had, the manual commands worked just fine. Also, be aware that the older Zetrons used a battery back up for the RAM from Dallas Semiconductor that is no longer available. The new lead-free rules prevent them from importing the original part from the Philippines. If you have a Zetron and do not have the access code to change the parameters, just remove the RAM chip from the battery back up device and re-insert it after a minute or so and it will go back to factory default for the access code, along with all the other parameters that were stored. The battery back up may not work any longer if the unit is older than about ten years. Also, Zetron does not support the older units. No repair or firmware upgrades are available beyond a few years back. A unit sent in for repair will be returned without a repair, beyond a certain firmware version. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:20 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Zetron 38 vs. 38a Hello and thanks for having me on the group Does anyone know/is there any difference between a Zetron Model 38 and Model 38A, aside from the obvious descriptor change? I can only find a manual on the Zetron website for the 38A and want to know for sure before buying a 38 that it is the same/very similar animal Thanks in advance Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Mastr II mobile in repeater service Noise in receiver
Did you order a receive crystal on the high side injection for the new frequency? The GE receivers can do some strange things with a low side injection crystal in the 443.xx range. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 2:51 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Mastr II mobile in repeater service Noise in receiver Ok all you helpful folks. I need some ideas. I have a UHF mastr II tuned to the ham band. I am using a NHRC-3/M2 controller. I have a 2 meter remote base on the 2nd port of the controller. I have both audio delay boards installed. I am running a TS-64 ctcss board in full encode/decode. My output is 25watts out of the cavities. I am using a set of TX/RX Varinotch cans. I am running a ARR preamp. The problem I have is this. Sometimes on the receive signal it sounds crunchy. A signal will be full quieting and then it will get crunchy and then slowly clear up. On weaker signals the crunchy sounding audio will just stay that way. I thought maybe this was caused by the AD but it was still there when i removed the delay board. This system was on 444.450/449.450 for abt 7 years with no problems. I moved and had to change the frequencies to 448.450/443.450. I also had a IFAS board fail a few months ago and swapped it out with one I had from another UHF Mastr II. Thoughts? ideas? places to start? Bring it on!! I need to make this thing work rght or take it off the air. Dan Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
[Repeater-Builder] Heath HW-24 Question
Jim, you may be my last hope. I have an HW-24 talkie and need to change the encode/decode tone frequency. Most functions are pretty straight forward, but for the life of me I can't remember how to set the tone frequency. If you could enlighten me, I would sure appreciate it. 73 - Jim W5ZIT Jim Barbour wrote: I still have a Heath HW24 mobile (made by Standard) that only does encode in repeater mode, and only does decode in simplex...huh??? Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: OT: anyone a member of the MSF5000 group?
Same thing happened to me when I tried to join Ken Arcs RC-110 group. I got two messages back that said the moderator failed to allow me in the group. Guess I must be a troublemaker or something. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 11:43 AM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Re: OT: anyone a member of the MSF5000 group? Ken, Doug and all... I've had a similar experience with the Spectra group. I wanted to subscribe, since I am in the process of converting several Spectra 900 radios for ham use. I have tried three times to subscribe, and each time my request for subscription went unanswered and not acted upon. I got a message each time that my request had expired due to the non-action of the moderator. I was given the opportunity to re-submit my request, which I did twice. There will not be a third time. I don't know if my experience was because the moderator was too busy, unable to moderate due to other factors (illness, extended vacation) or if for some reason I have been black balled -- who knows... but it certainly left a sour taste in my mouth when I found a group that I felt I could be an active contributor to and learn from, and was not allowed - for whatever reason - to become a member of said group. Sorry for the tirade/rant. This subject struck a sensitive chord with me. I also apologize to this group's moderator for my off-topic comments. Mark - N9WYS -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com On Behalf Of Doug W7FDF Hello Ken: I am a subscriber of the MSF5000 list and just a few minutes ago [6:15am MST Friday], I went over to check the most recent activity. There have been two new members added between March 22 and March 27 and, several posts have been made between March 20 and 23rd. So indeed, the MSF5000 list is NOT dead. Now why the list Owner/Admin person has not added you to the rolls, is beyond my comprehension. Doug W7FDF Vail,Arizona U.S.A. RC210 Owner 927.8500/R 449.925/R IRLP node 3850 -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ken Arck Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2007 5:10 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] OT: anyone a member of the MSF5000 group? Once more, could I ask some kind person who's a member of the MSF5000 list on Yahoogrups to stir the pot and ask the list owner to approve me? It's been well over a week since I joined and I guess I'm not used to being ignored! (yea I know.. I should be used to it by now.) Ken (never afraid to kick someone in the ass to get their attention once in a while) Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection. =0
Re: [Repeater-Builder] AntiKerchunk ??
I had exactly this same problem when I used an RCA TAC-200 radio as a repeater. It would let small slivers of squelch COS through to the controller and would key up the tail on the controller. In my case it occurred every 10 or 15 minutes and was an artifact of the radio squelch circuit. I solved the problem with a CMOS gate circuit. I used a CA4011 and put a 1 meg resistor in series with the input to one of the gate inputs with a cap to ground. The resistor was connected to the other gate input, and as the input COS went positive to both gate inputs, the delay caused by the resistor and cap on one half of the gate would prevent the output from transitioning until the cap charged. A simple circuit and I could draw you a schematic if you need. It completely cured the intermittent keying I had experienced, and I could run the squelch as loose as I wanted and still get reliable operation. In later years I have used the anti-kerchunk capability of the CAT-300 to do the same thing. Setting it to a half second does the trick. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 9:29 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] AntiKerchunk ?? We have a 440 repeater with a Six meter remote base setup. On the Six meter receiver we constantly get little pops that key up the repeater and is quite anoying. The Pops are created by very close TV station transmitters at the site and appear to be on channel so filtering is not an option. Our controller does not have a antikerchunker circuit for this second port. I wonder if anyone has a QUICK and SIMPLE circuit for a delayed keying of the conttoller on the COS line? I believe something on the order of 1/4 to 1/2 second would be sufficient in our case. If the receiver COS line keys up, it would not be seen by the controller until the predetermined delay time from this little magic circuit. Anyone out there have any ideas on this? GARY - W5GNB Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: 4 bay folded j pole questions
I have modified several of the DB-224 antennas to the 2 meter band by adding a short stub to lengthen each end of each dipole. I make the stubs from the tubing salvaged from an old TV antenna, and it is easy to flatten one end and wrap it around the curved end of the DB-224 dipole. I drill a hole and add a screw and nut to clamp the addition to the original dipole without drilling any holes in the original. After mounting the stub, I measure 2 inches from the dipole and cut the added stub to that length with a bolt cutter. I have needed no modification to the original harness to get things to work with a low SWR in the 2 meter ham band. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 12:40 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Re: 4 bay folded j pole questions -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Repeater- [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Morris WA6ILQ Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 1:56 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: 4 bay folded j pole questions At 06:11 AM 03/27/07, you wrote: Thanks i found out its a Andrew dB224 - 155-165mhz, i was hoping it would be in the 145mhz - 2 meter ham band range but it seems you cant adjust this type of antenna. Not without a hacksaw and a TIG ? MIG ? welder. How about some clamps and a small aluminum rod attached to each end of the dipole? That should move it down enough. Be careful about drilling holes in the element ends as someone suggested. Some antennas run the feed line through the element all the way around. The phasing harness may end up being too short though. If the phasing harness has connectors in it they can be lengthened by installing some right angle connectors in each leg to lengthen them a bit. I once did this with a Sinclair hybrid ring duplexer to lengthen the stubs to get it to tune to 2 meters. 73 Gary K4FMX Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Distance
That sounds about right to me Nate. I have a repeater with a low antenna (abt 65 ft) in the flatland around the Dallas area that does about 12 miles, so not a bad rule of thumb for that low antenna. But I also have a repeater with an antenna at about 300 ft in that area that does a lot better than the 27 or so miles the rule of thumb would suggest. More like about 35 miles to the best of my knowledge. So maybe the rule does not work all the time - (or the tower is taller than I think it is) 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 3:12 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Distance On 3/25/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: as far as range goes.. take the square root of the distance from the ground to the base of your antenna and multiply it by 1.5 and that would be your range higher mo better allen In what units, Allen? Didn't you have an obnoxious math or physics teacher holler at you about providing the proper units (or deriving them) for a particular problem in school? Distance from the ground to base of antenna in ... Feet? Inches? Miles? (that last one's a joke... but I can do it with a couple of repeaters here, if you count the mountain they're sitting on...) That will be your range in what... miles? Kilometers? Inches? Astronomical Units? Need to be a little more specific there to help him out... I did some fast numbers to try to figure out how your rule of thumb works... I decided to try the tower hight in feet... Assuming... A 5000' tower (mountain)... that gives a number of unknown units of 70.7106781. Multiply that by 1.5, you get... 106.06601715. So ... assuming the height WAS supposed to be given in feet, it would appear to me that the answer is in miles? 106 miles of coverage is the only thing even close to being in the ballpark for one of our mountaintop systems. I can tell the answer's not in Feet or AU's! (GRIN) Nate WY0X Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] A Monday Laugh
Off subject, but do you remember a time back in the '70s that this repeater was shut down due to a duct to Hawaii that let an 82 repeater in Hawaii come booming through in LA. I had a Wilson handi-talkie with a 1/4 wave ant taped to the roof of my rent car in LA and worked a guy walking on the beach in San Diego using a talkie through the Hawaii repeater. Still my longest distance DX on 2 meters. 73 - Jim -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 9:55 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] A Monday Laugh The 146.82 repeater in Los Angeles has been on a 30 second timer since the late 1960s. 30 seconds is longer than you think - you can get a lot of info across in that much time if you think before you start talking. Mike WA6ILQ Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Tone squelch vs. carrier squelch
A lot depends on the performance of the tone decoder you use. I have a couple of repeaters using Zetron 38A controllers that detect the tone way down in the noise, and one of them is operating with the squelch open so it is only controlled by the tone. It will stay keyed reliably with no discernible voice coming through, just sounds like open squelch noise. But in fact there is a weak signal there transmitting the correct tone. The only problem that I have with that is the long open squelch burst at the end of each transmission. So, depending on your tone detector performance, you will probably get reliable operation down into the noise with the tone detector only controlling your repeater. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 8:05 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Tone squelch vs. carrier squelch Ok, I know all the usual reasons for using input tones on a repeater, but I have more of a theoretical performance question. Again, I'm putting together a portable VHF repeater out of a pair of Icom mobiles (IC-F121) for search-and-rescue use. Since it's for temporary, emergency use, my primary concern is weak-signal performance, particularly being able to hear someone out in the field with a 5W handheld and a rubber duck. Here's my question: For the best chance of allowing my repeater to hear that weak signal, am I better off using an input tone and turning the receiver squelch way down (perhaps even all the way), or using no input tone and plain old carrier squelch (at a higher level)? I'll almost certainly end up using a receive tone on this thing anyway just to minimize interference potential, but it seems to me that doing so might help improve my ears as well. Comments? Brian K9JVA Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Antenna gain specs
But don't mount it upside down. The base is not waterproof when inverted - I learned that the hard way! 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, 20 Feb 2007 3:19 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Antenna gain specs When it comes to gain, the Diamond probably really has 8.3 dBi. That's probably true Bob. And the grapes to grapes comparison would suggest that a DB224 also has ~8.3dbi of gain. The real difference between the two antennas is pattern shape (DB224 has a cleaner pattern; the dual-band antennas have deeper nulls below the horizon), Can't argue there. and of course the mechanical ruggedness of the DB224. Bob NO6B For sure. Try top mounting one of the long, slender fiberglass sticks and you'll probably be replacing it sooner than you'd like. Side mounted and supported with at least one stay somewhere above halfway, it'll last a long time. Laryn K8TVZ Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection. =0
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: 1953 Motorola BaseRadio for 6meters
I still have one of those beasts sitting on the shelf in my storage building. I converted it to AC power, and used it on 52.525 in the early '60s. I don't remember the TVI aspect on this particular rig, but I do remember having plenty of TVI back in those days. I had to equip all my neighbors with 6 meter traps in the 300 ohm antenna leads to the outside antennas. That seemed to clear up most of my TVI problems. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 1:12 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: 1953 Motorola BaseRadio for 6meters I remember having a similar 6 Volt Tx/Rx version in the mobile. That vintage Xmtr used 807's in the final for 50 Watts output and an AT cut FT243 xtal running at 1.0943 MHz with 48 times multiplication to get adequate deviation of +/-15 kHz. The xtal would rattle in it's holder. (that was normal) It was a MONSTER TVI generator in it's day because it put out spurs +/- 1.09 MHz either side of the main carrier for about +/- 5 MHz. They were only down about 20 dB due to the large 48x multiplication and not enough selectivity in the stages to eliminate the unwanted emissions. (There's a story here how I ended up on 6M FM back in ~1961 on 52.525 52.640; wow, it's been a long time!) George, WA2VNV. Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: S-Com voting encoder
I have had several RCA TAC-200 radios (flat layout like the GE Mastr 2) in service on 2 meters for almost 20 years. They work great and are as easy as the GE radios to convert to full duplex. Even has instructions in the manual for where to put the jumpers ect for full duplex service. I have used them on 440 also, as I gathered some out of a metal scrap yard and put them in service. Fins knocked off ect from being thrown out of the back of a truck to a scrap pile but still worked OK for the most part. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 9:56 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: S-Com voting encoder Some day I'll get those RCA radios out of the back room to see what they do... they looked like GE Master radios and I could bear to see them go into the dumpster when they arrived as trade in... some day... s. n3dab [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Can anyone furnish a copy of the service/operation manual for a S-Com voting encoder , Model # VEC-2B, Mfg. by S-Com/TPE in Sun Valley, Ca. TIA for any help. Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Zetron 38 controller
Looking at the inside of an older Zetron 38A I thought I was looking at the original Apple II. Same processor, same amount of memory ect. If you find a schematic, let me know. I have not found one either. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 1:49 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Zetron 38 controller I wondered if anyone has a schematic for the Zetron 38 controller. I have found the manual on the repeaters build site but the schematics are not visible. Thanks N3GH George Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection. =0
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Help CG Decoder Mastr ExecII
I am not familiar with your particular CG decoder, but I would guess that it is a phase lock loop type decoder, and you are adjusting the pot to set the center frequency of the PLL decoder. I have had best luck when adjusting this type decoder by having the normal discriminator noise at the input of the decoder and adjusting the loop frequency with a counter on the PLL test point. Fish around with a scope and find a place on the decoder that you can count, using a 10:1 probe to avoid loading the test point, and put the same 10:1 probe on your counter for the final count adjustment. I have a digital multimeter with an internal counter function that will count the low frequency just fine. When the adjustment is finished, input a signal generator with about 12 dB quieting and modulate it with your 103.5 tone at 500 Hz deviation and verify that the tone is detected. Then change the tone frequency to 100 Hz and verify that this tone is not detected, and likewise change to the 107.x tone and verify that it is not detected. If the tone above or below the correct frequency is detected, remove the input signal from the receiver and adjust the at-rest frequency up or down to favor the direction the detector needs to go. Then repeat the process to check for proper decode of only the desired frequency. A final test is to put the 103.5 tone back in the generator and add a 1 kHz tone at the same time and bring the total deviation up to 5 kHz and verify that the decoder is still working. If you have a level control between the decoder and the discriminator input you can jocky with the level to allow decode while the input deviation is varied over the range you expect to see. Sometimes a PL type decoder will drop out under voice peaks if the level to the decoder is set too high. I hope this helps - 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wed, 31 Jan 2007 9:35 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Help CG Decoder Mastr ExecII Hello, anybody of you can tell me how can I retune the band pass filter on CG Decoder into Mastr ExecII? This module is made by Glenayre for GE and the part # is 134D6663G1 (G2 G3) The module is set to decode CG only. I want to tune at 103.5Hz. and I use another encoder for the TX. Maybe the best procedure is to put jumper to force the module to encode at 103.5 and after adjust the band pass decode pot for the best decoding… If you have other solution, let me know. Thank you. Eric VE2VXT Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] COS output for Kenwood
I have had good luck using an opto isolator to interface a radio that I don't have the internal schematic for. The radio usually has a LED indicator for receive, and is easy to find. Place the diode section of a 4N36 isolator in series with the receive indicator LED and the transistor portion of the 4N36 will allow interface to your controller. It provides an open collector closure to the emitter when the LED on the radio is lit. Applying +5 or +12 volts to the collector will provide a positive going output on the emitter of the 4N36 when the LED is lit. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 10:59 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] COS output for Kenwood I have a TM-431A which I want to use as a half-duplex link. I can easily get audio in and output, but I'm stumped on how to get a voltage change when the squelch opens for COS (Carrier-operated-squelch) Ideally I'd like a voltage that swings only when the CTCSS is detected as well as squelch open, but I'd settle for one that is just the squelch. My controller is an ICS linker. Does anyone know the proper point to connect to, or does anyone have a service manual for this unit? Thanks, Jeff WB0LRX Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Reverse Burst Comments (Com Spec RB-1)
Actually, the electronic CTCSS decoders react about the same as the old reeds. The physics of the matter causes the filters that can discern for instance - 100 Hz from 97 Hz or 103 Hz to be very narrow, and they ring - even when the driving tone is removed. By reversing the tone phase for a short period of time, the energy in the filter is driven to zero very quickly, and if the tone is removed from the decoder input at the right time, the tone decoder closes very quickly, and you get very short squelch bursts at the end of a transmission. There is no 'reverse burst decoder' per se in a tone decoder - it is just driven with the out of phase energy long enough to cause it to close very quickly. All tone decoders react to the reverse burst, not just one that is specially configured to react to a reverse burst. I don't know of any special circuitry in a tone decoder that makes it more susceptible to a reverse burst than a normal tone decoder. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 2:27 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Reverse Burst Comments (Com Spec RB-1) --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, skipp025 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Re: Reverse Burst Comments (Com Spec RB-1) If you add a circuit like the Com Spec RB-1 board to the typical repeater system using a ts-32/ts-54 board... the tx ctcss is not disabled or removed before the RB-1 delayed ptt line drops. So you have the phase inverted ctcss present for at most up to 200 ms typical before the tx drop. If you don't remove the ctcss source the inverted ctcss remains up until the tx off/drop... Any of you actually running the RB-1 board with a true reverse burst type ctcss decoder (built into your radio)? Is a true reverse burst decoder in your commercial radio completely fooled by the phase inverted ctcss before carrier drop function. Or do you actually still hear some minor difference from the rb-1 type operation vs an original true Motorhead (Motorola) encoder - decoder operation? Thinking out-loud about having to possibly mute the ctcss at some time after invert and before the delayed ptt drop as a requirement to get the full/true reverse burst quiet squelch close. Any of you been down that road already? skipp Skipp, I find your comments interesting in that the purpose that Motorola had in using reverse burst of the PL tone was to quickly damp the mechanical reed in the PL decoder to close the squelch and eliminate the user from hearing the noise burst. But of course you knew that. However, in later model radios there is no mechanical vibrating reed to abruptly dampen and stop the vibrating from being detected. So where is the need for a inverted burst if there are no receivers using mechanical reeds as PL tone decoders? Incidently Motorola did not use an inverted reverse burst of 180 degrees. Their designs used 270 degrees since the PL reed then stopped vibrating faster and the amplitude of the burst was also increased to hasten the reed to stop. Don't modern day receivers use electronic circuitry to detect PL tones, and aren't the detectors not using a ringing decoder? If so isn't the purpose of having a reverse burst unnecessary? I can remember many years ago that some hams used a circuit which they refered to as polish PL which turned off the PL tone before the xmtr dropped and had no reverse burst. It seems like I'm hearing more of the same. Where am I going wrong here? Allan Crites Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] minor formula typo in formula switching power supplies
Keep in mind that the current times voltage measured on the input of a ferro resonate power supply does not represent real power. The current is not in phase with the voltage, and the ferro resonate supply returns a lot of the current to the source so this power is not dissipated in the supply or its output load. This is the same phenomenon that the power company combats when it places a bank of capacitors on a power pole connected across the power line. They are trying to correct the voltage/current phase to try to keep the power factor as close to 1 as they can. Any deviation from 1 means that the extra current flowing on the power line causes extra power loss in the resistance of the line, and also means that the power line cannot carry the same load as it would with the power factor at 1. The ferro resonant supplies do not have a regulator on the output like a normal linear supply - so there is no drop across a regulator to cause extra dissipation in the power supply. Very good efficiencies can be obtained with a ferro resonant supply - with acceptable regulation. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, 15 Jan 2007 3:01 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] minor formula typo in formula switching power supplies One other thing that has not been mentioned here, this time. The idle current that the Ferro-resonant supplies exhibit on the input without a load that the switchers don't. Every way I have looked at the problem I can't get past that idle current even when the repeater is not on the air. Wish someone could explain that in a way I could understand. Paul Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] AEA Isopole data needed at repeater-builder... file cabinet checking time...
Back in the '70s we built an antenna for the VHF repeater in Commerce, TX that used the same type design as the Isopole, although I have never examined an Isopole in detail. (I think it came along much later) We ran across the design somewhere and it used a combination of 3/4 and 1 inch steel electrical conduit. The antenna was very simple, with a 1/4 wave stinger sticking out the top and connected to the center of the coax. A 1/4 wave section of 1 inch conduit was welded to a washer that had been cut out to clear the top and was welded to the top of the 3/4 inch conduit main mast, and was air insulated from the weld at the top down to the open skirt at the bottom. The shield of the coax was connected to the top of this first 1/4 wave section. Then 1/4 wave below the first skirt, another 1/4 wave section of 1 inch conduit was welded to the mast at the top and open at the bottom, using another washer cut out to clear the mast. Another 1/4 wave below that was another 1/4 wave section of one inch tubing welded to the mast at the top. The article as I recall mentioned that the lower sections of the antenna were 'shock' excited by the top section, and contributed in phase to the overall radiation of the antenna. We had excellent operation with this antenna until the first lightning strike which took out the coax all the way back to the duplexer. Absolutely no ground provided by the antenna to the center conductor with this lash up. Excellent SWR and bandwidth from this simple antenna until the demise of the coax. It was located on top of a light standard at the football field. Electrically the antenna was three half waves in phase, but the three sections were not fed equal power. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sun, 14 Jan 2007 10:51 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] AEA Isopole data needed atrepeater-builder... file cabinet checking time... In 1979 Mike Lamb, N7ML, founder of AEA once published a brief by Don Reynolds entitled 'Facts About Proper VHF Vertical Antenna Design' which describes the Isopole design in detail. If I recall correctly the design falls under patent # 4352109 (viewable at the U.S. Patent website). Later this week I will try to scan the published brief and send the images to Mike, perhaps he can assemble them into a folder or .pdf on the RB website. Both the patent and the brief describe the design in detail and I hope they answer your questions. Oh, the Isopole was only offered in 2m, 220Mhz, and 440Mhz as well as a few commercial bands. Gary [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Yes, I see that from the prior posting of the instructions. I guess that's why it didn't work well for me. I thought it was supposed to be a dipole equivalent so figured the 1st cone goes right at the feedpoint. Now I'd like to know the theory behind the correct cone placement. Bob NO6B Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] E-prom Reader-Writer for Phoenix
I use a programmer I bought from RFGUYS on Ebay. I have programmed Phoenix and Rangr radios with it so far. You have to remove the EEPROM from the radio and plug it into a small board plugged into the parallel port of a DOS computer, but it works like a charm. I have been programming EEPROMS with mine, and only require someone sending along the EEPROM and return postage to program one. Drop me a note if you are interested. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, 12 Jan 2007 10:50 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] E-prom Reader-Writer for Phoenix Looking for an inexpensive way to program my Phoenix Radios. Yes Im Frugile. (better word than Cheap)Would be nice to find someone willing to part with the Suitcase Programmer, but they are Scarce Expensive.Heres Hoping. Wesley AB8KD Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] E-prom Reader-Writer for Phoenix
The software the RFGUYS sent is from Niles Radio Communications, and the software actually used to program the EEPROM with the hex file the Niles program generates is custom for their chip interface hardware. Both are DOS programs, and a computer with a parallel interface is required. You can read an EEPROM and view it with the Niles program as well, but it is a two step operation. First to a hex file, and then load it into the Niles programmer. I use an old IBM laptop as the programming computer. The Niles program shows to be public domain and can be freely reproduced. A nice PDF manual is included also. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, 12 Jan 2007 11:27 AM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] E-prom Reader-Writer for Phoenix What software are you using with this RFGUYS programmer? - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 11:16 AM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] E-prom Reader-Writer for Phoenix I use a programmer I bought from RFGUYS on Ebay. I have programmed Phoenix and Rangr radios with it so far. You have to remove the EEPROM from the radio and plug it into a small board plugged into the parallel port of a DOS computer, but it works like a charm. I have been programming EEPROMS with mine, and only require someone sending along the EEPROM and return postage to program one. Drop me a note if you are interested. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, 12 Jan 2007 10:50 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] E-prom Reader-Writer for Phoenix Looking for an inexpensive way to program my Phoenix Radios. Yes Im Frugile. (better word than Cheap)Would be nice to find someone willing to part with the Suitcase Programmer, but they are Scarce Expensive.Heres Hoping. Wesley AB8KD __ Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Battery backup
A really simple circuit that I have used in a couple of repeaters uses three power diodes and a resistor. Select diodes that will carry the repeater load at about 50% of their rating. Place one diode in series with the power supply to the repeater. This one keeps the voltage from backing up into the power supply when power is being supplied from the battery. Next, place a power diode in series from the battery to the repeater. Then place a power diode in series with a 10 ohm power resistor (50 watts or so) from the power supply to the battery. This keeps the battery charged. The resistor limits the inrush current from the power supply in case the battery gets discharged. It also limits the maximum current the power supply has to deliver when bringing up a discharged battery. Adjust the voltage from the power supply to float the battery at 13.5 VDC, or as close to that value as possible. Do this after the batteries are charged and power is being supplied to the repeater from the power supply and not the battery. This will minimize electrolyte loss while providing a reasonable capacity from the batteries. Hope this helps - 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 9:31 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Battery backup Hi, New member here. Thanks for allowing me to join. Our club has acquired some large lead-acid 12v batteries we would like to use to back up our repeater in emergency situations. Does anyone know of a good (but simple and inexpensive [we are a very small group in a very small town]) circuit to accomplish this? Any input would be appreciated. Danny WM5C Heart Of Texas Ham Operators Group (HOTHOG) Brady, TX www.hothog.org Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Need: 131.8 Versatone for GE EXEC Board 190430740G, also information
I have had an EchoLink system up and running for a couple of years using Mastr Exec and MVP radios with 85.4 CTCSS access. I use a stock 85.4 decoder in the 440 repeater and have a 440 MVP with stock 85.4 encode/decode as the link radio. I have a Mastr Exec 2 meter remote base on a simplex frequency for the main interface (also with a stock decoder). A user transmits a 85.4 tone which is decoded in the 2 meter Exec and passed through a NHRC-4 controller to the 440 Exec transmitter (along with the audio) and is received by the MVP to put it on EchoLink. A user may use the 440 repeater to get on EchoLink also, as the tone is required to key up the repeater and is passed through to the MVP for EchoLink access. I have had no problem with users being able to access either the repeater/remote base or get all the way to EchoLink. I did have another system with an encoder/decoder that allowed the user PL to get through to the link radio and the tone decode at the link would drop out on a regular basis during a transmission. I speculated that the reason was the user tone beating with the repeater transmit tone and going in and out of phase thus defeating the tone decode at the link site. That problem cleared up when the repeater was modified to get rid of the user tone before the transmit tone was added. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 5:06 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Need: 131.8 Versatone for GE EXEC Board 190430740G, also information At 1/4/2007 05:57 AM, you wrote: n9lv wrote: I am in need of at least five 131.8 versatone boards for the following GE tone board. Also, I need to know, are these board just encode, and is there a way to make them decode. I put one in one of the radios, it does send pl out the transmitter, however I do not get any audio from the speaker out of the receiver. Problem I am having is that the GE converted radios will not allow the PL tones to pass through them. I can take the repeater out of PL and the radios work just fine, and the audio is just fine. Any sugesstions? Thanks Mathew I think you are you using these radios for voting remote receivers? If that's the case, are you sure you want to introduce yet another PL response time into the equation? If not, consider FM'ing the transmitters, and installing some sort of audio processor designed to do the job of clipping and HPF'ing that fits the situation. While FMing definitely improves the low-frequency modulation performance of PM exciters, I've experienced good performance with my stock MVP PM exciters. I know from Dave Karr's experiments (or was it Virgil at S-Com, can't quite remember who did the tests a while back) that the harmonic distortion at low modulating frequencies and high deviation levels is a bit high. However, CTCSS deviation levels are quite low in practice (should never be more than 1 kHz). If the output from the RX discriminator is de-emphasized so as to match the pre-emphasis curve of the phase modulator, a very flat audio response that includes the CTCSS frequency range can be obtained. Basically this means lowering the break point of the de-emphasis network from the usual 300 Hz to just below the low end of the CTCSS range (40 Hz or so). The AP-50 is one such animal. Most commercial equipment audio chain in good from only 300 to 3000 cycles; it won't pass PL and it won't pass the high-end audio that the voter relies on to properly vote. The phase modulators that most of this equipment utilizes won't properly follow audio that is recovered from the discriminator, and is why I choose to install a real FM modulator in the radio set. A better sounding, better working radio will result; one that is transparent to the system. I have never tried to FM a EXEC II; we've always used MASTR II's for remote satellite receiver - link-back transmitter combo's, but, I don't see why it can't be done. IMO the AP-50 is an excellent final output processor that enables a near-perfect balance between keeping the output clean and preserving repeat audio fidelity. However, for a remote receiver link I think you'd want to make it a 1:1 link with no limiting or filtering whatsoever. For that you could simply FM your TX, or use the CG HI (direct to the PM modulator) apply the de-emphasis as described above. I've done this for my system which has a total of 3 links in the repeat path have been told by some local FM purists that it sounds quite respectable. My ears do detect a bit of subtle low-pass filtering taking place somewhere; I believe it's due to the combined low-pass roll-off of each RX in the system as a result of the IF filtering but I could be wrong. Bob NO6B Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] dual band antenna
I have just this arrangement working for a 440 repeater and a 2 meter remote base. I took a DB-224 and added four bays of a DB antenna for 440 (never knew the part number) and put a two band duplexer at the antenna and ran a single feedline. A two band duplexer at the cabinet split out the 2 and 440 signals. This never worked very well, but works just fine now that I added a separate feed line for each antenna with no 2/440 duplexer used. I do not see any interaction between the two antennas, however I am sure that the 440 transmitter couples into the 2 meter receiver due to the third harmonic relationship. I have not seen any degradation on the 2 meter receive, however using GE Mastr Exec II radios. Power on 440 is limited to 20 watts. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, 6 Jan 2007 3:48 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] dual band antenna I realize that from time-to-time this subject has come up: the want of a commercial-grade dual band antenna. The DB314 is one option that has been mentioned before, but the gain figures are not what we'd like them to be. And we'd really like to find something other than a multiple-section ham dual bander. Our ham club is wanting to add 440 capabilities to our current repeater site. The tower is a golfball-on-a-tee style water tower, and we are allowed only one mounting location. So we find ourselves in this same situation. We are currently using a commercial fiberglass stick on the low end of it's 2:1 curve for VHF and we are allowed to replace it with whatever we want to pay for. hi hi Has anyone ever tried 'interlacing' a DB224 and a DB408 or DB420(or similar) on a common mast? and use suitable diplexers at the top and bottom ends of the line? or would there be too much interaction between the bays, using that physical arrangement? or would it result in goofy patterns? Or is the DB314 the only workable method of doing this? and is it worth it at ~1200 bucks? Thanks. 73 Paul Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Cavity Filter advice
Jim, there is one notable exception to your statement. In the older Sinclair Q202G duplexers, the cable from the can to the first tee is part of the tuned circuit. If that length is not right, the sliding dialectric notch tuning will not work. In moving some 170 mHz duplexers down to the 146 mHz region, I had to lengthen that cable on each can by 2 inches, from 10.5 to 12.5. The notch would not tune till that was done. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, 2 Jan 2007 2:19 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Cavity Filter advice Jim wrote: If the cavities are tuned correctly, and have no internal issues, those cables lengths are irrelevant, except for losses. If the length _is_ a factor, then either the cavities are tuned wrong, or they have a problem. -- Jim Barbour WD8CHL Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Welcome to 2007...
Nate, I was putting in some new speed dials for the autopatch on a CAT-300 a few years ago and had a similar experience. The only solution I found was to go switch the controller into the initialization mode and start all over with the programming. We had a nearby lightning strike that did not damage any equipment, but probably scrambled some of the memory so that when I was trying to program it went astray. It was working just fine till I tried to enter the new speed dials, but after that nothing worked except the initialization. Been working fine ever since, by the way - 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 7:37 AM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Welcome to 2007... * Mike Morris WA6ILQ [EMAIL PROTECTED] [2007 Jan 01 03:07 -0600]: Happy 2007 to all the readers of this mailing list. May the new year be better than the old one. Yeah, I started it off right. Last night I was changing the ID on my CAT-200B and mis-punched a key. Now all I get is a loud rushing noise. I'm not sure if it's the controller or the audio chain (sounds like the squelch is wide open). Yeah, I got '07 heading in the right direction... :-/ 73, de Nate -- Wireless | Amateur Radio Station N0NB | Successfully Microsoft Amateur radio exams; ham radio; Linux info @ | free since January 1998. http://www.qsl.net/n0nb/ | Debian, the choice of My Kawasaki KZ-650 SR @ | a GNU generation! http://www.networksplus.net/n0nb/ | http://www.debian.org Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: audio equalizers for repeater audio
You put the capacitor on the wrong side of the resistor. Put it on the output side. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, 30 Dec 2006 3:26 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: audio equalizers for repeater audio Disc. 15K 0-/\/\/\/\/\0 output | | .2 uf. (point 2 microfarads) | | 0 ground The .2 uf capacitor takes the “highs” to ground. Some people like to use a 6.8K series resistor, but a 15K provides perfect roll off on highs. Play with this value if you want to “tweak it”. Bill Hudson W6CBS Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Solar Powered Repeater
Our antenna pole and repeater blew down in a storm three years ago and when we investigated getting electric power restored it looked like about $500 to restore the power using a licensed electrician, so we looked into solar power. (A local ordinance forbid anyone but a licensed electrician from touching the new installation) For the $500 we could get two solar panels and built a shunt regulator for the battery system. We used an RCA TAC-200 mobile as the repeater, running about 40 watts on transmit, and powered it from a Wal-Mart deep cycle battery. After a few months we decided to change over to two of the large deep cycle batteries, and operation has been successful this last year. The home brew shunt regulator is used to dissipate any excess energy if the battery voltage trys to go above 13.5 VDC. We did install a switch to disable the regulator and allow the full current from the solar panel to the batteries in order to 'stir' the electrolyte several times a year. We let the battery voltage get just above 15 VDC before switching the shunt regulator back into the circuit. Our solar panels generate about 4 amps of current into a 12 volt battery. Excess power is dissipated in a large heat sink with four large TO-3 transistors with equalizing resistors in the emitter circuit - similar to what you use in a regulated power supply. When the output voltage reaches 13.5 volts a Zener diode starts to drive a TO-220 emitter follower transistor to drive the the base circuit of the four output transistors, thus shunting the excess energy to the regulator transistors and heat sink and holding the maximum battery voltage to the 13.5 volt float voltage. Shunt regulation was chosen in place of the usual switching regulators that are marketed for solar panels to help extend the battery life. Several references I found at the time showed that the pulsing switching regulators do not take care of the battery as well as a shunt system and may generate some unwanted RF noise. A series diode was placed between the solar panel/regulator to keep any current from the batteries from backing up into the panel or regulator under low light conditions. No low voltage disconnect was included in this installation as we could disable the repeater if the voltage got too low. This has not proved necessary so far. An extended monsoon with lots of cloudy days this last summer proved that the system was adequate to keep up with a moderately used repeater. Average use was less than an hour a day most of the time. Wintertime operations with some snow has not caused any outage yet this year. Snow slides off the solar panels for the most part and does not collect. Hope some of this info helps - 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, 30 Dec 2006 6:02 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Solar Powered Repeater To start the new year out on a positive note anyone on this list have any experience building a solar powered repeater system? I'd like to get a better understanding on the use of solar panels, charging system, type of batteries used and duty cycle. I'd like to experiment with a totally new subminiature repeater [my own design] powered by solar energy and stashed somewhere out here in the desert southwest, for local Ham communications. Any ideas and thoughts on this?? **Happy New Year** Doug W7FDF Vail, Arizona U.S.A. Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Bi-Polar Prom Programmer Wanted (please)
Skip - one point of interest - I bought a programmer from RFGUYS for the GE radios, and it works fine to program the X2212 EEPROMS. Even though the hex generator program they supply is for GE, it turns out that they supply a simple program that transfers a hex file to the EEPROM that has nothing to do with GE. If they have a programmer that works with your prom - and you can generate the hex file you want to put in it - you can use their adapter plugged into the parallel port of a DOS computer to program your chip. It would have nothing to do with GE, Motorola, or whatever. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wed, 27 Dec 2006 1:09 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Bi-Polar Prom Programmer Wanted (please) Hi Andy, Thanks for your reply... If I have to work with the eprom adapter I might get that far... but I'm trying to stay original in this project. I've found an easy cheap source of the original proms so I'm stocked up just fine. I just want to program the new ID'er proms. Yeah I've seen the adapters for the Syntors and MCX radios. You, rfguys and a few others have them available after-market. RFguys on ebay sells a drop-in eeprom replacement for the prom (with the programmer). But the software is set up for Motorhead Radio stuff, which is not helpfull for my id'er task. If I can find a prom programmer... I'll be able to burn proms for all the vintage id'er units I have autocode, CW-50, spectrum repeater yadda yadda... still on the hunt... cheers, skipp Andy Brinkley [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Skipp - I would suggest building an adapter rather than buying a prom burner. The cost of proms (when you can find them) has gone out the roof. E-mail me direct if you are using 82s129s or 82s131 Proms as I have an adapter already built to handle these proms (they were used in the Motorola Syntor and MCX-100 radios) See: http://www.brinkleyelectronics.com/adp/adp_fr.htm You can also build the adapters by hand, all it requires is a header and a socket and some time matching the input and output pins. The cost of the eprom adapter is about what you would pay for a couple of proms. Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] NHRC-2 DTMF Problems
Did you put a simulated speaker load on the speaker jack? Some audio systems have problems unless they are properly loaded. A 10 ohm resistor across the audio output jack might help. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, 21 Dec 2006 8:39 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] NHRC-2 DTMF Problems Hello to you all! I bought the NHRC-2 controller Kit (Rev-E). My plan was to hook it up with an ICOM IC-F410S. Everything works fine, but i can not get the DTMF-decode to work. The audio comes from Speaker-jack and i use NO deemphasis on the controller. The MT8870 decodes some tones, mostly 0 and # (3 never works). I have tried different levels from the radio with no success. The Audio output is very good from the repeater, no distortion whatsoever. Anyone has any ideas? Merry Christmas from Sweden de Christofer, SM6URQ Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] GE Mastr II Station
Bill, I have converted several of those units for use with an external controller, and they seem to work fine. Just put the switch on the panel in the position to disable the controller, and connect your external controller to the proper pins on the rear interface connectors on the left side of the rear of the front panel rack. You will need a manual to run down the pins, but I found everything there I needed. I think I might have used a couple of pins on a connector on the rear half of the new controller for one function, but don't remember what it was. Maybe it was receive audio? All the docs are available at the Repeater Builder LBI site if you do not have the manuals. The GE controller needs to be left in place to control the transmit signals for the exciter, but otherwise no functions are used with the external controller. It is convenient to listen to local audio and use the transmit switch for local testing. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 10:24 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] GE Mastr II Station Hi! Does anyone have repeater conversion info on the newer style GE Mastr II stations with the all in one controller, metering and speaker (19B234871). I have a VHF station I wish to convert but I would like to keep the local station controls, speaker, mic and metering. Thanks! Bill N6YMZ Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Newbie Information Time - Mystery Signal
In addition to Neil's comment - you would screw up the APRS operation if you do not listen and prevent your own APRS broadcast from going out during another APRS transmission. You could key up on top of the ongoing transmission and both your own and the other packets would be QRMed. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, 14 Dec 2006 10:34 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Newbie Information Time - Mystery Signal In my opinion, is a slight flaw in the voice operation on 144.39 MHz below ... the FCC requires you to monitor the frequency in a non-CTCSS mode prior to transmitting. And, if you have your 144.39 MHz receiver locked up on CTCSS decode, your receiver won't hear the packet operations ... Thank you for your time, Neil McKie - WA6KLA - Original Message - From: Max Slover [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 4:58 pm Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Mystery Signal In case I confused anybody, this is what I am refering to with APRS and a 100hz tone --- VOICE ALERT: This simply means that you do not turn the audio down on 144.39, but instead leave it at high volume and then simply set CTCSS tone 100 to mute the speaker. This way, you dont hear any packets, but ANYONE can call you with VOICE on 144.39 to alert you by using PL 100. You will rarely use this, and only use it to tell someone to QSY to another voice channel, but it is one way of assuring that ANYONE running APRS in simplex range of you can ALWAYS be contacted with a voice call... You wont hear any packets except maybe one or two when another VOICE- ALERT mobile is in range (about 3 miles or so). But even then, he is only beaconing once every 2 minutes and so it is not bothersome at all.. In fact, it is nice to hear when someone is nearby! Its like a free radar for other mobile APRS operators that are in simplex range AND listening. --- --- Max Slover [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Doh, this just hit me. It would most definitely be an APRS setup due to the 100hz subtone. In APRS you set the subtone to 100 so you can do voice alert. Man, why didn't I think of that part when this was first mentioned. Sorry for being a bit late on that but I figured I'd toss my 2 cents on this. Max... Public Information Officer -- St. Louis Suburban Radio Club K0AZV - Amateur WPWH-650 GMRS St. Louis County ARES St. Ann MO EM48tr Yahoo! Groups Links Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Mystery Signal
I can remember getting my Yaesu FT-5100 into some strange mode that sounded exactly like that every time I keyed down. Three DTMF digits (I never knew which ones) but the tones did not change between digits. Sounded exactly like your wave file. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, 12 Dec 2006 3:40 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Mystery Signal Didn't Kenwood radios have a DTSS system? My old TH-77 did, The default code was also 000. Although I have never heard of a radio just beaconing. On 12/12/06, Scott Overstreet [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dave--- That is open squelch (White Noise) before and after the approximately one second presence of the signalthe data, if there is any, is thought to follow the third tone and finishes before the signal carrier, with PL, goes away. Scott - Original Message - From: Dave Schmidt To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 12:02 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Mystery Signal In the wav file is that white noise or data bursts before and after the dtmf? Dave / N9NLU On 12/12/06, Jaime [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Sounds like a digital signal. Could it be one of those new d-star rigs that some one has activated the autodial feature on the dtmf pad too? The DTMF sounds like it is coming from an autodial feature. My HT has this feature and so does my mobile rig. Jaime-KA3NXN - Original Message From: Scott Overstreet [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Cc: Scott Overstreet [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Dave Platt [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 2:10:08 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Mystery Signal Hello All An interfering mystery signal has suddenly appeared on the input (144.670 mhz.) of our repeater. Using a five kc. wide FM detector---The signal is approximately one second in duration opens with 100 hz. PL (which continues throughout) and then three DTMF zeros follow in rapid succession and then possibly a short period of some sort of data. The signal repeats exactly two times an hour and the source is off in between transmissions. This goes on continuously without interruption or apparent change. Our area is between urban and big city and the signal is strong enough to be heard over a wide area using only an HT. A wave file of the mystery signal is at: http://www.radagast .org/~dplatt/ hamradio/ Signal_3. wav using an FM detector with wide open squelch. We are obviously very interested in identifing this signal and its origin What is it ? Thanks-- Scott, N6NXI Any questions? Get answers on any topic at Yahoo! Answers. Try it now. Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
[Repeater-Builder] Radio Terms
I am trying to use a programming system originated by Niles Radio Communications and the Rangr radios have two fields called: CCT (a number is required) STE (Yes or No) What are these two terms referring to and what are the functions? Thanks - Jim W5ZIT Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Radio Terms
Thanks Jeff. The information you gave me is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, 11 Dec 2006 4:49 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Radio Terms CCT = carrier control timer, i.e. PTT time-out timer. IIRC, it's in multiples of 30 seconds up to and including 210 seconds. Enter a 0 for no time-out. STE = squelch tail elemination, i.e. reverse-burst --- Jeff -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 5:10 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Radio Terms I am trying to use a programming system originated by Niles Radio Communications and the Rangr radios have two fields called: CCT (a number is required) STE (Yes or No) What are these two terms referring to and what are the functions? Thanks - Jim W5ZIT __ __ Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection. Yahoo! Groups Links -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.15/581 - Release Date: 12/9/2006 Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] GE Exec II, I want to make a portable repeater, is it all the same
Mathiew, A VHF/VHF system that was local controlled in a portable repeater set-up could be built using the identical circuits you used for the remotes. If you ID the repeater along with the user, it could serve in an emergency. It gets a bit dicey to let the users ID a repeater for long periods of time though, and not recommended for any extended use. As cheap as the simple controllers are these days, inserting one in the system would make a lot of sense. In that case, get one that has the audio de-emphasis built in, like the NHRC-3, and it will output the audio back to the mic input with no problem. The vol/sq high is used as the input to the controller. Use the CAS signal as the carrier input to the controller, and the PTT is supplied by the controller, so no circuitry is required in the radio. Plenty of room to mount one of these controllers where the CTCSS board was removed and wire direct to the terminals you used for the cross-band units. I have seen other controllers in kit form with very basic control capabilities that could be used, but I am not familiar with them. If you want a really high-sensitivity repeater for your portable, think about separating the transmit and receive and use another cross-band (440 in and 147 out) at the 2 meter transmit site. With enough separation of the input and output sites, you can have a really high-performance repeater without a lot of the problems caused by a portable repeater, like poor sensitivity for receive and low transmit power without desensing the receiver. About the only solution for a portable with a reasonable sized duplexer is to use a wide transmit/receive separation, which means that all your users will have to program a non-standard split to use the repeater. Lugging a full size duplexer around for 600 kHz split 2 meter repeaters would be a bit of a bother. By the way - did you manage to get the repeated audio up to where you wanted it for the remote radios? I think you will remember that we mentioned that an emitter follower could be added between the receive audio which was de-emphasized by the 15K series resistor and the shunt .22 UFD cap. Just add the emitter follower base at the output of the 15K/.22 with the emitter to the 1 UFD cap going to the mic input, with the collector of the transistor going to the +10 from the SAS board. Put a 1K resistor from the emitter to ground. A common 2N can be used, and the loading provided by the MIC input bias resistor will not bring the audio down so much. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 3:12 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] GE Exec II, I want to make a portable repeater, is it all the same I recently finished converting some GE Exec II's for crossband operation. Want I want to do is make a repeater from one, in the VHF band. Would everything be the same as when I did the crossband. Will there be any other issues that I might encounter? This is going to be on a VHF unit in the 147 Mhz range. Thanks. Mathew N9LV Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] repeater antenna suggestions
I inherited a DB 8 bay antenna 25 years ago and have been using it ever since. On top of a 300 ft tower, no less. Still working great. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 9:54 AM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] repeater antenna suggestions If you call never having to touch it in the past 27 years as a maintenance nightmare then, yes, I'd avoid them. Chuck - Original Message - From: Steve Hutzley To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 8:59 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] repeater antenna suggestions Hello all, I know I'm asking a loaded question. A Decibel Products DB series - I hear are maintenance nightmares. Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder]Repeater Controller (new)
The 27C64 is a low power version of the 2764 so it depends on the design of your controller as to exactly what will happen if you try to substitute the higher power version. They are pin for pin interchangeable. Generally the high power version requires more TTL drive while it provides more drive on the output. If you have access to a UV eraser, why don't you erase the existing 27C64 and reprogram it? Digikey has the 27C64 if you think you need to go that way. I erased the EPROMs in a Tait 800 and reprogrammed them with the new frequency info. Some of the older EPROMs will erase, and you will find that some won't erase at all. You just have to give it a try. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, 24 Nov 2006 11:21 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder]Repeater Controller (new) I am helping the club bring an repeater back up on air, and I am working on the controller. I am trying to change the callsign in it, I have found what info I need, but my question to the group is- The controller uses a 27c64 EPROM, and all I have is 2764 types? Can I use the ones I have, or do I need to get the right one? I am new to the EPROM world, so I don't know much about them. It goes to show one is never too old to learn a new part of the hobby... 73 Mike - N7ZEF Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Has anyone interfaced a Yaesu FT-8500 to be a remote base on a repeater?
I did a DR-600 remote base by letting the DR-600 listen to the repeater output on 440 and controlling the freq on 2 meters using the standard TT control for the DR-600. Audio was interfaced to the mic and speaker, and the 440 port on the DR-600 was connected to a dummy load. The 440 port was only used to select the frequency, not as a cross band repeat. I only used the memory select codes to control the DR-600 as there was no way to select the CTCSS frequency from the remote. You could change to VFO control if you did not need a CTCSS tone. The control codes were shown in the radio manual. It worked very well, and there is no way to get out of sync since the control code sent to the radio selects a particular preset memory channel. 73 - Jim W5ZIT -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 3:11 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Has anyone interfaced a Yaesu FT-8500 to be a remote base on a repeater? Alinco almost got it right, at least with the DR599 and possibly the DR600. The radio can be remote controlled if it has the DTMF decoder option board via RF. I think you can also remote control it by applying the remote control DTMF tones to the mic input without keying the radio (I haven’t tried but I think that’s the way the DTMF mic sends commands to the radio). The only snafu is that they didn’t include a provision for setting offset and the radio doesn’t do it automatically. Now that I’ve found the book for mine, it may be time to do a little more investigating. Jamey Wright Systems Analyst Morgan County EMCD 911 Decatur, AL 256-552-0911 Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
