The only reason I would say that Simulcast couldn't be done would be very hilly or mountainous terrain. That type of terrain would cause TDI (time domain interference) that would be hard if not impossible to eliminate. I'm NOT an engineer so that is only an assumption. M/A-COM systems can be one of several varieties. From a single site, single channel trunking (SCAT) all the way up to 20 channel 16 site (I'm not sure, I don't remember exactly) simulcast, or 32 sites in a multi-site site network. A simulcast system looks like a single site to the IMC (Integrated MultiSite Controller) so you could in theory have 32, 20 channel, 16 site simulcast systems attached to one IMC. If you need more sites add a Star Gate and a 2nd IMC and start over again. I just hope you have MEGA bucks. On our system here, the City FD, EMS, Rescue Squad use it for voice comms. The City PD is patched to a TG but they have been slow to make the change. They use it for mobile data/AVL and that uses a lot of resources. All of the VFDs have at least one EDACS radio and there are a couple of small PDs that use it as well. On our 10 channel site, we see about 2.15 million PPTs per month; 3/4 of those are data.
For the record though, for my Ham systems, I still run Mastr II repeaters. Jamey Wright Systems Analyst/EDACS Administrator EDACS Master Technician Morgan County EMCD 911 Decatur, AL 256-552-0911 > -----Original Message----- > From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Repeater- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron Wright > Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 1:06 PM > To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: RE: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Mastr III - Anybody using one? > > Jamey, > > One thing I forgot to mention about our county EDACS system...it is 800 > MHz. I think they make Mastr IIIs for 800, not sure about IIs. > > About every county department needing radio comm is on the system. The > traffic light system to force us to stop at every light is on 900 mulit- > channel system, but comes off the same antennas, but not part of the > EDACS. > > The unusual thing about the system is it is 3 site simil-cast...3 complete > 8 channel systems broadcasting at the same time. Mot said it could not be > done and then GE did it. I do like Mot, but sometimes they guide the > customer to Mot's benfit first. > > 73, ron, n9ee/r > > > > >From: Jamey Wright <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Date: 2007/07/26 Thu AM 09:13:51 CDT > >To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com > >Subject: RE: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Mastr III - Anybody using one? > > > > >Based on the year you specified, it was probably Mastr II or Mastr IIE > >although it could be Mastr III. I'm not sure when the Mastr III were > >introduced. I could set our system to rotate the control channel but it > >seems to take care of itself. It changes between Channel one and Channel > >two due to occasional interference. If the system was 900 Mhz, it would > be > >using the Prism Mastr which is a totally different animal. Even the new > P25 > >systems are Mastr III. Actually, they are Mastr III Advanced Digital > >Capable stations. The main difference is that there is a 2nd DB9 on the > >front panel for programming the DSP card and a DSP card that handles all > of > >the P25 stuff. For P25 trunking, add a SitePro to the Mastr III. The > >SitePro is basically a replacement for the GETC used in EDACS. There are > >some differences but they aren't relative to this topic. > > > >Jamey Wright > >Systems Analyst/EDACS Administrator > >EDACS Master Technician > >Morgan County EMCD 911 > >Decatur, AL > >256-552-0911 > > > > > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Repeater- > >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron Wright > >> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 8:54 AM > >> To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com > >> Subject: Re: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Mastr III - Anybody using one? > >> > >> Jamey, > >> > >> I am still playing with the Micors and Mastr IIs, but of those with the > >> Mastr III they love them just like the Mot MSRs and MSFs. Great > radios. > >> The programming becomes a problem with some. > >> > >> On our EDACS county system, a 8 ch 3 site similcast system put in > service > >> about 1988, they rotate the data channel each day. I am sure to spread > >> the 100% duty around. However, not sure of the RF package. I guess I > >> thought since something like EDACS it would be some sort of space age > >> equipment, but Mastr IIIs make sense. > >> > >> 73, ron, n9ee/r > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> >From: Jamey Wright <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> >Date: 2007/07/26 Thu AM 08:13:18 CDT > >> >To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com > >> >Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Mastr III - Anybody using one? > >> > >> > > >> >EDACS guy here. I have 13 that I take care of. Of those 13, 10 have > >> been > >> >online for the last 5 years with no real problems. I had one PA to > burn > >> up > >> >but that was because I forgot to reconnect the coax. The EDACS > control > >> >channel transmits 24/7 and has been on Channel one 95% of the time for > >> the > >> >last 5 years, so continuous duty is no problem. If you do have a > >> problem, > >> >M/A-Com has TAC which is free tech support M-F 8-5 Eastern. I think > they > >> >even have a flat rate module swap as well. Don't hold me to this but > I > >> >think the Lynchburg, Va ARC is using MIII repeaters. As far as where > to > >> get > >> >one, check www.fmr-inc.com. There are a few stations on there now. > Just > >> be > >> >prepared to lay out some big $$$$. > >> > > >> >Jamey Wright > >> >Systems Analyst/EDACS Administrator > >> >EDACS Master Technician > >> >Morgan County EMCD 911 > >> >Decatur, AL > >> >256-552-0911 > >> > > >> > > >> >> -----Original Message----- > >> >> From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Repeater- > >> >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nate Duehr > >> >> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 6:21 PM > >> >> To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com > >> >> Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Mastr III - Anybody using one? > >> >> > >> >> Tony L. wrote: > >> >> > Does anyone out there have a VHF Mastr III in service as a ham > >> repeater? > >> >> > > >> >> > Feedback - good or bad? Sources for purchase of > used/reconditioned? > >> >> > >> >> Not personally using one here, but know of people who are. They're > >> >> solid machines, if you have the proper programming software and > know- > >> how > >> >> to set them up correctly. (I don't.) GE / Ma/COM / Whatever they > want > >> >> to call themselves can be as touchy about that as Motorola is, if > they > >> >> hear about the software running around in the wild. Something to > think > >> >> about, as always, with ex-commercial rigs these days. > >> >> > >> >> AFAIK, the nicer part about GE's software from everything I've read > or > >> >> seen is that there's no screwing around with modifying it in Hex or > >> >> other silliness to make it go out of band, like much of Moto's > stuff, > >> >> and I doubt it has the same goofy limitations of hacked up Moto RSS > >> that > >> >> causes failures if you read a radio with one version of software, > where > >> >> you can't always write with another... generally GE stuff I've seen > >> >> doesn't have that level of annoying stupidity... but I can't say for > >> >> sure on any of that. > >> >> > >> >> I let someone host one at one of my sites (my basement) for over a > >> year, > >> >> for a link, and it never did anything "inappropriate" during that > >> >> timeframe. It just sat there and ran, and I ignored it. I have > >> typical > >> >> above-ground (pole) power service with the resulting outages, > >> >> brown-outs, etc... and it always rebooted and came online normally > >> after > >> >> anything the power company threw at it. > >> >> > >> >> From a user-only perspective, the ones I've used as a user have > >> sounded > >> >> great, and seem to always "be there"... no major maintenance items > on > >> >> them that I'm aware of, or any comments of same from the folks I've > >> >> known were running them. In fact, now that I think about it, I > haven't > >> >> heard any of those folks EVER do any maintenance on them, that they > >> >> mentioned. Some have been on-air in my local area for about 5-6 > years > >> >> now, on and off. (I say on and off, because the folks using them > have > >> >> reconfigured things, moved things, experimenting... just the nature > of > >> >> their systems.) > >> >> > >> >> Of course, Public Safety folks use quite a few of them also, if you > >> >> could find some EDACS-heads on a list more used to seeing that type > of > >> >> discussion, or even P25 folks that have the add-on P25 card, they > could > >> >> probably tell you more about long-term maintenance items and/or > >> failures > >> >> they've seen. > >> >> > >> >> Nate WY0X > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> Yahoo! Groups Links > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> > > >> > > >> > >> > >> Ron Wright, N9EE > >> 727-376-6575 > >> MICRO COMPUTER CONCEPTS > >> Owner 146.64 repeater Tampa Bay, FL > >> No tone, all are welcome. > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> Yahoo! Groups Links > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > > Ron Wright, N9EE > 727-376-6575 > MICRO COMPUTER CONCEPTS > Owner 146.64 repeater Tampa Bay, FL > No tone, all are welcome. > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > >
