I'm using an unused port on my controller for the weather radio and do exactly that - use the timeout timer. It simply times out that port until the radio resets. Works for my application anyway.
Many controllers have user programmable timers that could also be utilized and, instead of using the COR input, it would use an alarm (logic) input. Or, you could build your own timer circuit. Chuck WB2EDV ----- Original Message ----- From: Mike Besemer (WM4B) To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 3:13 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Weather Receivers - follow up Trying to think of a way to have the controller shut it down without timing out, but right now I can't Mike WM4B From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chuck Kelsey Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 11:50 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Weather Receivers - follow up There won't be "dead air." You'll hear weather. If you want the duration to be shorter than the preset of the receiver, have your controller shut it down sooner. Chuck WB2EDV ----- Original Message ----- From: Mike Besemer (WM4B) To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 8:10 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Weather Receivers - follow up Well pooh! I really don't want to tie up the repeater for X-minutes with dead air. especially when there could be severe weather involved. VOX? Mike WM4B From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chuck Kelsey Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 7:34 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Weather Receivers - follow up It will transmit the NOAA radio for the duration, unless you shorten the length with your controller. Chuck ----- Original Message ----- From: Mike Besemer (WM4B) To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 7:21 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Weather Receivers - follow up Mark, I understand that Ext. Alert does not follow the NWS signals (specifically for End of Message), but stays high for a period of time and then drops. Am I understanding that correctly? If so, if the message is shorter than the timer on the Ext. Alert, does the repeater then just transmit dead air, or is the Ext. Alert forced low with the EOM signal. Dang. it's hard to test all this when the radio never goes off. 2 weeks ago, I'd have been going off every 5 minutes! Mike WM4B From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Mullarkey Sent: Monday, May 26, 2008 5:59 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Weather Receivers - follow up Mike, If your controller has the ability to use speaker audio take it off the external pc connection and run that into the receiver input of the controller. I have not opened my unit yet so not sure where the discriminator connection would be. The ext alert works great for the COS input. Mike Mullarkey (K7PFJ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Besemer (WM4B) Sent: Monday, May 26, 2008 2:03 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Weather Receivers - follow up Where are you grabbing audio from, Chuck? My original thought was to pull it off the volume pot. Mike WM4B From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chuck Kelsey Sent: Monday, May 26, 2008 2:33 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Weather Receivers - follow up Just to cover my faulty memory... it might be longer than 2 minutes, but it is several minutes - longer than I need. I simply have the controller shut it off when I want - with the time-out-timer for that port. Chuck ----- Original Message ----- From: Chuck Kelsey To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, May 26, 2008 2:23 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Weather Receivers See below. ----- Original Message ----- From: Mike Besemer (WM4B) To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, May 26, 2008 2:07 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Weather Receivers I just picked up a Midland WR-100 weather receiver to replace my sickly Radio Shack unit here at the house. I've been toying with interfacing a weather receiver with our repeater for a while and was considering getting another WR-100 (they're only $29 locally) for that purpose, but I have a couple of questions. 1) I see on RBTIP page that Midland WX receivers have a built-in fault because they will mute before receiving the EOM signal from NWS. Does anybody know if this is true of the WR-100? It doesn't follow the EOM. However, if you set it to "tone" it will stay active for about 2 minutes. 2) Does anybody know what types of alerts will trigger the External Alert function on the receiver? Obviously I want to capture Watches and Warnings, but would rather not catch the periodic tests. I know that I can tap into the lights, but if the External Alert function does what I want it to do, there's no point in reinventing the wheel. The external jack will pull low for watches and warnings, but not for tests. It will hold at a low state for about two minutes if the radio is set to "tone." If you pick up the audio inside the radio, that stays active all the time, allowing you to command the WX on and off as needed. You could also configure your own timer with your controller. 3) Anybody using this receiver in a repeater application? Any hints? Yes, I feel it works perfectly adequate for my application. Thanks in advance es 73, Mike WM4B
