As a controller designer I can recommend the following:
For a single stand alone repeater: NHRC-2
This controller is an excelent value featuring real voice storage.
For a repeater with a link port: NHRC-4
No voice, CW only. But it will run a remote base or link radio and is
cheap so who cares?
For multiple links/repeaters: Arcom RC-210
Features upgradeable in the field firmware and individual DTMF
decoders for all three ports, plus PL decoder logic inputs. Also
includes a big ISD voice storage chip for a nice package all the way
around. I don't own one personally, but have interacted with a couple
in the past 6 months to know they are designed extremlly well, with
about the only thing I don't like is some of the status LED's
occasionally have a slight glow when not active, but if this doesn't
bother you...
Featuring an autopatch: NHRC-10
Basicly take a NHRC-2, NHRC-4 and slap on an autopatch and add more
speech storage and other stuff. This will also interface with certain
radios to provide frequency agile remotes.
Controllers to stay away from:
I've tried ICS a time or two and didn't really like it. I have an ICS
linker and it is a pain to program. kinda buggy too, When you change
the CW ID speed the inter character spacing still stays at about
10WPM, Very humorous. Gonna replace it with a NHRC-4 when I get around
to it.
CAT-300's have good autopatches, but that is about it. Their software
is buggy too. Known to skip letters in the voice ID's unless they
re-wrote it, and it is still that same old school texas instruments
voice from the speak and spell days. Also they will not release their
coding wanting approx $100 to send eproms for a upgrade. I have heard
If you have a friend with a "DX" version you can clone its prom and
change out the clock module and swap a jumper to transform a plain 300
to a 300DX. Programming is a pain, if you forget one charector you
have to start over on a ID string "Keypad data error", unless you pony
up the $60 for the programming software. I have no experience with
their other controllers though, so take a chance!
CES, Need I say more?
Middle of the road:
ACC RC-850's are just plain cool! But generate alot of RFI. Plus the
company is out of buisness so it is a act of congress to find one
living and breathing and if it breaks, it ususally stays broken unless
you wan't to spend the $250 to send it to "The Guy". Programming is
fairly easy with the message editior and most of the commands work
without ABCD touch tones. It is back to the speak and spell days
unless you have a functioning DVR, but on the plus side it can
generate DTMF tones in the courtesy tone generator, you will spend
countless hours driving your local channel cops insane as you play hip
hop DJ and change CT's just cause you can!
Remember: These are my opinions only and you should not base your
buying decision soley on them.
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