--- In [email protected], "skipp025" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
>
> I did all the sms radio stuff last year on a project and can
probably
> provide some limited information to help you along. Yes they are
> a pain the fanny to work with, but they can be modified. I also
> made up a repeater and installed ctcss operation into the unit
through
> an external connection (not easy to do).
>
> I was able to get the dos software to work in windows in the MS-Dos
> mode, but much of that depends on the specific hardware of the
> computer you install windows 95, 98, 98se onto.
>
> back later as time allows...
> skipp
>
> > "wb7cjq" <wb7cjq@> wrote:
> >
> > This is a tough one. Not much info. available. I have the
programmer
> > schematic, frequency plan (FCC), the programming software, etc.
But
> > this is a trunking radio - it doesn't like non-trunked stuff.
Just
> > today, after a year's worth of research, I got a pair of them
working
> > simplex.
> >
> > As you may or may not know, the trunking units wait for a
response
> > from 'daddy' before they'll go key-down. So that was the first
hurdle -
> > get TAC working. Done...
> >
> > I'm still learning about these beasts, so can only offer what
I've
> > discovered thus far... You probably know most of this
already... They
> > are designed to TX below 900, RX in the 935 range. TAC puts the
TX up
> > into the 935 range. So, from the TX perspective, these units
could
> > easily do 900 ham frequencies.
> >
> > The programming software wants an FCC channel number, then
(apparently)
> > the radio translates that into a frequency. I'm not sure about
this
> > part just yet... Could be that the software does the translation
and
> > ships the result to the radio... Not sure...
> >
> > If you don't already have it, you need the programmer and the
> > software. At least at that point you can get into test mode.
Once in
> > test mode, you can adjust squelch, encode/decode levels, etc.
Plus,
> > you can get simplex up and running. The test mode data is
firmware
> > within the rig - so you can program all you want - break it 9
ways from
> > Sunday - but if you invoke test mode, that data is still right
there!
> > This one saved my butt!!!
> >
> > Please advise if I can help at all. RELM has only one guy that
knows
> > this radio and the programming software, so, obviously, he's
> > swamped!!! I have a good dialogue going with him, and have
nearly all
> > of the stuff that Uniden issued for this particular model.
> >
> > Building a programmer is key. You gotta go do that!!! The
Uniden
> > programmer is over $300... I built mine for maybe $10 tops...
> >
> > The circuit uses a MAX-232 chip, 3 2N2222 type transistors, and a
run-
> > of-the-mill PNP transistor. Also a 5v regulator of some sort...
A few
> > resistors, a few caps., you're done!!!
> >
> > The software wants to run under DOS. NOT a DOS window - PURE
DOS. I
> > tried it from numerous versions of Windows, and on numerous PCs.
> > NOPE!!! Boot up via DOS 6.22 and run from a floppy! Trust me -
it
> > will save you DAYS' of work!!! I debugged my programmer 4 times
before
> > deciding to try the floppy route. Days and days wasted!!!
> >
> > At this point, after a year of fighting with these guys, I'm
thrilled
> > to have a signal on the air, anywhere!!! So now, the issue
becomes how
> > to move them into the ham band???
> >
> > According to RELM, there's a data stream issued upon transmit.
And,
> > the receiver is looking for a particular data stream as well.
There
> > are over 2000 possible combinations.
> >
> > If you're looking to put up an analog squelch type repeater,
you're
> > probably going to have to go to the innards of the rig and
circumvent
> > the rig's squelch processing - firmware... For a repeater,
that's
> > easy - tap the discriminator and build an external COS circuit.
> >
> > I tried this today: Keyed up a different rig on a 900 channel,
and
> > then tried to key up the Uniden on the same freq. It refused to
go.
> > It also DID NOT open the squelch! So, the receiver is seeing the
900
> > signal, but the squelch processing is refusing to open the
squelch.
> > Hence my recommendation to pick a signal off of the disc. and
process
> > it externally.
> >
> > The next oddity is that there's an odd offset built in.
38.9MHz... My
> > freq. counter confirms. And RELM confirms. So, the freq. meter
reads
> > 10KHz off from the FCC assigned frequency. Go figure. Now this
only
> > happens under certain programming parameters, and this one I
still
> > don't understand...
> >
> > I programmed channel 15 into one rig and it came out on the
assigned
> > freq. of 935.1875. I ADDED channel 15 to another rig and it came
out
> > on 935.1865!!! I reversed the radios, programmed again, etc. ---
all
> > day long today - and STILL got these odd results.
> >
> > I finally gave up tonight and programmed both of them back to
channel
> > 15 ONLY, and they're BOTH on the assigned freq. according to the
freq.
> > counter. Go figure... There's something in there about the
group,
> > home repeater, TAC channel, something - that causes the offset to
> > occur. Wish I knew what it was !!!
> >
> > Anyway, if I can help with the software, schematics, FCC channel
> > assignments, etc., please advise.
> >
> > Now what I don't know, and what we ALL LOVE to know, is how to
get them
> > into the ham band! They'll go below and above, so it is either
reverse-
> > engineering the programming software, or getting into the radio
and
> > changing the tables that are in the PROM in there, or inserting
another
> > uP in there (as they had to do with the Motorola MTX-900)... At
the
> > moment, I can't say which will happen. My first guess is that
the
> > programming software needs to be hacked as it won't take anything
> > beyond the FCC assigned frequencies. That tells me that the
software
> > has a translation table that could be edited... This is VERY old
code -
> > 1980's-1990's... Written for XT and AT type PC's...
> >
> > I no longer have all of those low-level programming tools. But
the
> > first thing I'd do if I did, would be to crawl through the built-
in
> > table and modify it. An educated guess is that one could get the
radio
> > to take ham frequencies. I'm almost positive that the "cramp" is
the
> > programming software itself.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Dave.
> >
> >
> > Hi again...
I'm still looking for prgrammer / programming data as I only
want to use the radio in receive mode as a trunking receiver, no
CTSCC nor trsansmit functions needed.
I did buy a Operations / Service Manual, but that is only a start!
However I still have had no replies and the email addresses I've
tried to respond to are not good.
It's kinda frustrating!!! Would really appreciate a reply..!!
Best,
Dick, W7TIO
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> >
> > --- In [email protected], "kf4vgx" <kf4vgx@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Need programing information on this radio to setup as a
repeater.
> > >
> > > Any information is appreciated. 73 John
> > >
> >
>
