-----Original Message-----
From: James
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2004 12:41
PM
To:
[email protected]
Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder]
Maxtracs as Repeaters, some Questions (no flames included)
Maxtracs, GM300, and CDM series are all good radios!
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
As the title suggests, I have
a couple of questions about the use of Maxtracs as repeater radios, links,
etc. I'm a die hard Micor man with 3 Micor and 1 Mastr II repeaters on
the air so forgive me as I move from 1970s to 1990s technology! Hi
Hi!! I hope these don't sound to elementary.
All the time. If yours will allow you to program the pins .. its easy.
I have used S-com, and Link-Comm controllers on Maxtracs, CDM series, GM series
radios.
1. I've seen the
MRT articles for linking 2 maxtracs together, besides the RICK and these
adapters, has anyone rig a full blown controller, say a Scom 7k to these
bad boys using the 16 pin plug on the back?
2. Under the software
control of these radios (RSS) can the RF power out be dialed down low enough as
not to mess the finials and still drive an external PA? Low enough maybe
to drive a Micor 60-100 PA. (In the Micor, if you turn the power down to
low the finals don't like it... a lot!)
Is your radio a 40 or 45 watt version ... then it will only go down to
20 watts and still hold specs. If it is a 20 watt version, then it will go all
the way down to 1 watt
(model # beginning with D44 is UHF high power, D43 is VHF hi power, D33 is VHF
low, D34 is UHF low)
3. Not being as robust as
a micor/mastrII, what about heat, cooling, fans? Do these radios have any kind
of continuos duty rating?
I use cooling fans on even the ones that are just link radios. I also
run them at 20 watts for hiigh power units, or 10 watts for low power units.
4. Some have called these
radios "barn doors" for being so wide open on the front end.
Has this been a problem? Can they be preselected? This was a good
thing on the Micors!
I preselect them using bandpass cavities, or you can use the DCI
filters or celwave preselectors (the latter mentioned is sold as an option with
this type unit for repeater use.)
5. What other pit falls
have I missed?
Check the PA transistors, I usually resolder them with silver solder.
If you do not do this, and they get a little too warm, they will unsolder
themselves. The silver solder gives you a little more temperature range.
A couple of Club members
in our weather spotter group are crossbanding an UHF to VHF maxtracs to get
back to the repeater and it sounds good and is surprising simple (KISS) to rig
and operate. It almost seems to simple.
I know this is basically
a GR300 so how do they compare?
A GR300 is just two GM300 mobiles in a box with a Rick interface and
usually a celwave notch only duplexer with 15 amp supply.
They have done their homework
so now I need to do mine!
Keep the flames to a
minimum!
PS ... OH
Boy! SMT! Just what I need with Bifocals!
