RE: [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder
I must be missing something, there are several MFG of encoders/decoders still around. You are correct on the stability issue. You will find it much less frustrating to just buy off the shelf or get the one for your radio than trying to build one that is stable. Oh there is the cost of the new ones so that has to be figured in. Stan From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of James Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2010 9:36 AM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder Hi Guys, We have been experimenting with building CTCSS Units using the 567 Tone Chip and good components, i.e. Caps, multi turn pots etc. The stability is not good in my opinion. We will set it to 107.2 and the next time you check it is off enough to where it won't decode until it is re-tuned slightly. I am wondering what your experiences may have been with this CTCSS Chip. Many articles say they work well with the addition of a stable voltage regulator, so we added a five volt regulator, no difference in stability. Any comments and experiences with this and other chips would be appreciated. The availability of CTCSS Chips seems limited.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder
On 5/6/2010 10:35 AM, James wrote: Hi Guys, We have been experimenting with building CTCSS Units using the 567 Tone Chip and good components, i.e. Caps, multi turn pots etc. The stability is not good in my opinion. We will set it to 107.2 and the next time you check it is off enough to where it won't decode until it is re-tuned slightly. I am wondering what your experiences may have been with this CTCSS Chip. Many articles say they work well with the addition of a stable voltage regulator, so we added a five volt regulator, no difference in stability. Any comments and experiences with this and other chips would be appreciated. The availability of CTCSS Chips seems limited. I've never seen anyone have real succes with those chips in that application. Frankly, I think the internal components in the IC do not have the tolerance and stability to handle it, so no amount of high-tolerance components on the outside will make it usable. They were never designed for that purpose anyway. They were for broad decode app's in the audible range...cheap. Like a 1050Hz decoder in a weather radio.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder
Many many years ago when I was finishing college electronics, my final year project was a repeater controller. The danged thing worked really well, I used 567s for the DTMF decoding, but they really drifted around with temperature. Took about an hour to stabilize, and then still needed to be retuned. I eventually replaced all that with an SSI chip that did the decoding with a crystal as reference. It was rock solid. The Hamtronics repeater REP-200 uses a 567 circuit for its PL decoder, but its real wide. You can use 3 different tones at the same time. Check their website. The schematic should be on there for the PL decoder. May give you some ideas. Get an off the shelf unit so as not to have any issues 73 Ian VA2IR At 11:03 AM 5/6/2010, you wrote: On 5/6/2010 10:35 AM, James wrote: Hi Guys, We have been experimenting with building CTCSS Units using the 567 Tone Chip and good components, i.e. Caps, multi turn pots etc. The stability is not good in my opinion. We will set it to 107.2 and the next time you check it is off enough to where it won't decode until it is re-tuned slightly. I am wondering what your experiences may have been with this CTCSS Chip. Many articles say they work well with the addition of a stable voltage regulator, so we added a five volt regulator, no difference in stability. Any comments and experiences with this and other chips would be appreciated. The availability of CTCSS Chips seems limited. I've never seen anyone have real succes with those chips in that application. Frankly, I think the internal components in the IC do not have the tolerance and stability to handle it, so no amount of high-tolerance components on the outside will make it usable. They were never designed for that purpose anyway. They were for broad decode app's in the audible range...cheap. Like a 1050Hz decoder in a weather radio. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.437 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2857 - Release Date: 05/06/10 06:26:00
Re: [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder
Hi Ted and Stan, It all started with new hams and old 2-meter rigs w/o PL. I bought a couple of TD-1 Ramsey Kits to get the Hams into the local repeater. The kits were not stable so we started to experiment, thinking it would be nice to improve on the CTCSS Tone filter in the TS-32 which we have many of, and build a encoder/decoder board with the new and improved filter on it. There are several enc/dec units available, we just thought it may be fun to build a few boards and save a few bucks, but found the 567 didn't work like many articles said it should. We then started looking for JUST THE ENCODER/DECODER chips, but it appears that most chips are from the UK. Just experimenting guys. On Thu, May 6, 2010 at 10:55 AM, Stanley Stanukinos ka5...@swbell.netwrote: I must be missing something, there are several MFG of encoders/decoders still around. You are correct on the stability issue. You will find it much less frustrating to just buy off the shelf or get the one for your radio than trying to build one that is stable. Oh there is the cost of the new ones so that has to be figured in. Stan *From:* Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto: repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] *On Behalf Of *James *Sent:* Thursday, May 06, 2010 9:36 AM *To:* Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com *Subject:* [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder Hi Guys, We have been experimenting with building CTCSS Units using the 567 Tone Chip and good components, i.e. Caps, multi turn pots etc. The stability is not good in my opinion. We will set it to 107.2 and the next time you check it is off enough to where it won't decode until it is re-tuned slightly. I am wondering what your experiences may have been with this CTCSS Chip. Many articles say they work well with the addition of a stable voltage regulator, so we added a five volt regulator, no difference in stability. Any comments and experiences with this and other chips would be appreciated. The availability of CTCSS Chips seems limited. -- Jim Cicirello 181 Stevens Street Wellsville, N.Y. 14895 (585)593-4655
RE: [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder
At 07:55 AM 5/6/2010, Stanley Stanukinos wrote: I must be missing something, there are several MFG of encoders/decoders still around. You are correct on the stability issue. You will find it much less frustrating to just buy off the shelf or get the one for your radio than trying to build one that is stable. Oh there is the cost of the new ones so that has to be figured in. We have CML Micro MX-828s in stock if the OP is interested in purchasing one or two (or 3 or 4 g). Contact me offlist about them. And yes, NE567's (or their derivatives) were never designed for use as a CTCSS decoder as they cannot possibly maintain the frequency stability (nor have the narrow bandwidth) required for that use. Ken -- President and CTO - Arcom Communications Makers of repeater controllers and accessories. http://www.arcomcontrollers.com/ Authorized Dealers for Kenwood and Telewave and we offer complete repeater packages! AH6LE/R - IRLP Node 3000 http://www.irlp.net We don't just make 'em. We use 'em!
Re: [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder
Anyone got any FX-805J or MX-805J in the PDIP package? I built a 1000 Hz decoder once based on the 567, it would swing between 950-1070 depending on the mood it was in. The ATV guys use these to create a video squelch, looks at the frequency of the horizontal sync which is 15,374 Hz. Work fairly decent for that I understand. On Thu, May 6, 2010 at 8:22 AM, Ken Arck ah...@ah6le.net wrote: At 07:55 AM 5/6/2010, Stanley Stanukinos wrote: I must be missing something, there are several MFG of encoders/decoders still around. You are correct on the stability issue. You will find it much less frustrating to just buy off the shelf or get the one for your radio than trying to build one that is stable. Oh there is the cost of the new ones so that has to be figured in. We have CML Micro MX-828s in stock if the OP is interested in purchasing one or two (or 3 or 4 g). Contact me offlist about them. And yes, NE567's (or their derivatives) were never designed for use as a CTCSS decoder as they cannot possibly maintain the frequency stability (nor have the narrow bandwidth) required for that use. Ken -- President and CTO - Arcom Communications Makers of repeater controllers and accessories. http://www.arcomcontrollers.com/ Authorized Dealers for Kenwood and Telewave and we offer complete repeater packages! AH6LE/R - IRLP Node 3000 http://www.irlp.net We don't just make 'em. We use 'em! Yahoo! Groups Links
Re: [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder
Waste of time and effort. Very old technology that never worked well. Chuck WB2EDV - Original Message - From: James ka2...@gmail.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2010 10:35 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder Hi Guys, We have been experimenting with building CTCSS Units using the 567 Tone Chip and good components, i.e. Caps, multi turn pots etc. The stability is not good in my opinion. We will set it to 107.2 and the next time you check it is off enough to where it won't decode until it is re-tuned slightly. I am wondering what your experiences may have been with this CTCSS Chip. Many articles say they work well with the addition of a stable voltage regulator, so we added a five volt regulator, no difference in stability. Any comments and experiences with this and other chips would be appreciated. The availability of CTCSS Chips seems limited. Yahoo! Groups Links No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.819 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2857 - Release Date: 05/06/10 02:26:00
Re: [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder
Remember the Heathkit touchtone microphone for the 2036? Didn't it use 555s? Sorry for the rocky walk down memory lane! Tim
Re: [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder
Grab an old Standard HX300 or C734 etc. off ebay for practically nothing(if you find one) the enc/dec board is a plug in w/wire leads, very small, dip select, and rock solid. I have one kickin around with the schematic if your interested. I have adapted these to many old crap radios and they always work perfectly. Just a suggestion :-) --- On Thu, 5/6/10, James ka2...@gmail.com wrote: From: James ka2...@gmail.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010, 10:35 AM Hi Guys, We have been experimenting with building CTCSS Units using the 567 Tone Chip and good components, i.e. Caps, multi turn pots etc. The stability is not good in my opinion. We will set it to 107.2 and the next time you check it is off enough to where it won't decode until it is re-tuned slightly. I am wondering what your experiences may have been with this CTCSS Chip. Many articles say they work well with the addition of a stable voltage regulator, so we added a five volt regulator, no difference in stability. Any comments and experiences with this and other chips would be appreciated. The availability of CTCSS Chips seems limited.
RE: [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder
At 5/6/2010 08:22, you wrote: At 07:55 AM 5/6/2010, Stanley Stanukinos wrote: I must be missing something, there are several MFG of encoders/decoders still around. You are correct on the stability issue. You will find it much less frustrating to just buy off the shelf or get the one for your radio than trying to build one that is stable. Oh there is the cost of the new ones so that has to be figured in. We have CML Micro MX-828s in stock if the OP is interested in purchasing one or two (or 3 or 4 g). Contact me offlist about them. And yes, NE567's (or their derivatives) were never designed for use as a CTCSS decoder as they cannot possibly maintain the frequency stability (nor have the narrow bandwidth) required for that use. Actually, the chip itself is inherently just stable enough - ~+/- 1%. Just have to use stable timing components. They also can be made as narrow as you want by selection of the loop filter capacitor value. The problem is the decode time @ 1% BW, which can be as long as 2 seconds @ 100 Hz according to the datasheet. Bob NO6B
Re: [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder
I would look for something else. About 30 years ago I used some for a DTMF decoder for an autopatch on a repeater. They were stable enough for that. There was a problem with the input amplitude to them. Seems that very small changes in the input voltage of the tone comming to them would make a differance as to a good decode or not. - Original Message From: James ka2...@gmail.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, May 6, 2010 10:35:36 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] CTCSS Encoder/Decoder Hi Guys, We have been experimenting with building CTCSS Units using the 567 Tone Chip and good components, i.e. Caps, multi turn pots etc. The stability is not good in my opinion. We will set it to 107.2 and the next time you check it is off enough to where it won't decode until it is re-tuned slightly. I am wondering what your experiences may have been with this CTCSS Chip. Many articles say they work well with the addition of a stable voltage regulator, so we added a five volt regulator, no difference in stability. Any comments and experiences with this and other chips would be appreciated. The availability of CTCSS Chips seems limited.
