Thanks, Fred! I'm learning a lot from this discussion. You can guess what I'm sure. 73 and Thanks again AC0Y
--- In [email protected], "Fred Flowers" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Why don't you holier than thou hams just stuff your spectrum & Coy bashing. He has forgot more about radios than yo'all will ever know. He is doing the best he can with what he has. Yes the spectrum is a POJ. I wouldn't have one on a bet. So > > give it a rest. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Virden Clark Beckman > Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2003 6:28 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [RE: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHFManual]]] > > I am suprised nobody offered to sell the spectrum fixer some wingnuts? > Maybe he already has some or slides with hairpin cotters? > > JOHN MACKEY wrote: > > > > WOW!! Coy said he went with the spectrum because of money. Now this > > offer of a straight trade is one he can't pass up due to the money issue!! > > > > "Kevin King" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > If money is your limiting factor. I will trade you a mastr II mobile for > > the > > > spectrum. Just so I can keep it off the air. I have been the recipient of > > > interference from one of those at a site I use to manage. > > > > > > Kevin > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: ac0y5 [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Sent: Friday, November 28, 2003 11:56 AM > > > To: [email protected] > > > Subject: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF > > > Manual]] > > > > > > > > > Thanks for the input Tony. > > > The primary reason that I'm going to try the Spectrum is It's what I > > > can afford now and It's something I havn't ran into before. If this > > > one gives as much trouble as indicated by thoes of you who have > > > owned them then I'll do something different. But for now it sounds > > > like a challange and it's real cheep -$0.00-. I unexpectedly came > > > into two 2 meter pairs at the same time. Here in Central Florida > > > getting a pair is like finding hens teeth so the first pair got the > > > MASTRII and the second pair will get the Spectrum until I get tired > > > of tweeking it or until I get a replacment, another MASTRII. I can > > > only afford a little at a time. > > > 73 Tony and Thanks > > > AC0Y > > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], Tony King - W4ZT > > > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > First let me start out by saying that I currently have an SCR1000 > > > in > > > > service on 2 meters but the Mastr II is cooking on the bench and > > > will > > > > replace the Spectrum as soon as I finish the box to move the CAT- > > > 1000 into. > > > > > > > > At 08:43 PM 11/26/2003, ac0y5 wrote: > > > > >It seems a lot of the complaints are from oscillator drift and > > > > >tuning drift. I have a few questions Does anyone know if the main > > > > >problem resides in the exciter, or the power amp? > > > > > > > > I have replaced the PA in this SCR1000 because the old one > > > failed. This is > > > > a 75 watt model which has the power control board (which gives you > > > high/low > > > > power switching). The manual tells you that you MUST re- align the > > > exciter > > > > to make it work properly on the reduced voltage. I always found > > > it to be a > > > > bit unstable so it always stayed on high power. If you tune the > > > PA, you'll > > > > find some instability there also. I don't know the answer to the > > > question > > > > of bad components or bad design. I'd rather stick with what I've > > > got > > > > personal experience with. > > > > > > > > As for oscillator drift, the SCR1000 was available with a crystal > > > oven but > > > > mine didn't come that way. It's lived its entire life in the house > > > where > > > > there have been no extremes of heat and cold. Yet, it would still > > > move > > > > around some. I did place a small light bulb (in series with a > > > resistor) > > > > right in the oscillator portion of the exciter board and it seemed > > > to > > > > become more stable. > > > > > > > > >My plan would > > > > >eliminate all problems related to the oscillator because the Tx > > > and > > > > >Rx will be generated from a pair of Numerically Controlled > > > > >Oscillators well filtered. I have already designed the entire > > > > >circuit. Now, if Anyone knows where the problem may lay then I > > > will > > > > >be able to take care of the problem an external PA that I have or > > > an > > > > >exciter that I can buy cheaply. The power supply should be okay > > > > > > > > I had problems with the power supply. In the 75 watt model the > > > power > > > > resistors which are mounted on terminal strips between the > > > transformer and > > > > the large heat sink on the back get so hot that they will melt > > > their leads > > > > right out of the solder. That compounds the problem and led to > > > erosion of a > > > > resistor lead and supply failure. The entire supply is horribly > > > > inefficient, generating more heat than the entire unit consumed in > > > its > > > > electronics. I finally removed the transformer, the resistors and > > > the > > > > large heat sink with the pass transistors and powered the unit > > > externally. > > > > > > > > >and > > > > >it has been stated that the receiver is quite sensitive. If > > > > >necessary I can add a 5 or 7 pole helical resonator to the front > > > end. > > > > > > > > It's sensitive if you can get it tuned without desensitization. > > > That's the > > > > biggest problem with the receiver. It isn't as sharp as > > > commercial > > > > receivers like the Mastr II or Micor so don't expect that kind of > > > performance. > > > > > > > > From your many other posts it would appear you have considerable > > > repeater > > > > experience which makes me wonder why you would want to take this > > > on. It's > > > > not a joy to work on. The controller is junk (I replaced it with > > > a CAT1000 > > > > over a decade ago). It's just old technology that doesn't come > > > close to the > > > > old technology you find built by GE and Motorola. If you must > > > redesign the > > > > oscillators, replace the exciter and PA, redesign/modify the > > > receiver, come > > > > up with a controller, perhaps replace the power supply, hope the > > > switches > > > > aren't intermittent (like some of mine), replace the meters (the > > > originals > > > > were useless), toss the local microphone and get something better, > > > what's > > > > left? It WAS a pretty box. I just spent the evening drilling a > > > front panel > > > > for my new VHF controller box which will contain the CAT1000, some > > > > interface stuff, a TS64, 4-LEDs, a volume control, a squelch > > > control, > > > > enable/disable and simulate switches for COR, CTCSS and PTT, a > > > speaker, a > > > > fuse, and on/off switch, and two test jacks to access the speaker > > > leads > > > > from the front. It will look and function almost identically to > > > the > > > > controller (containing a CAT250) that I use with the UHF Mastr > > > II. The > > > > Spectrum is going away... finally. > > > > > > > > Good luck with your project. I'd be interested to know how it all > > > works > > > > out for you. > > > > > > > > 73 and Happy Thanksgiving everyone! > > > > > > > > Tony W4ZT > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > -- > 73...Clark Beckman N8PZD > > Pursuant to U.S. Code, title 47, Chapter 5, Subchapter II, �227, > "Any and all nonsolicited commercial E-mail sent to this address > is subject to a download and archival fee of $500.00 U.S.". > E-mailing denotes acceptance of these terms. > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
