On Tue, 16 Mar 2010, Paul Plack wrote:
> Russ, you may have to spend more on whatever you're using for power
> than you're saving with those radios, as they pull 1.6 amps combined
> even on standby receive. Also, develop a plan to keep the transmit
> radio's heatsink cooled, even in low power mode. But plunging ahead...
Suitcase repeaters require either power efficient radios, or low-duty
cycles. Otherwise you're carting out battery boxes bigger than the radio
box.
> Your controller can work with either COS ("carrier-operated switch")
> or derive that signal itself. If you can find COS in the Icom radio,
> you don't need discriminator audio, and can couple audio from anyplace
> handy, including the external speaker jack if it won't be accessible
> to passersby. You will need to lift one side of a capacitor on the
> controller board to use de-emphasized, non-discriminator audio. On
> the other hand, if you can provide the controller discriminator audio,
> you don't need COS - the controller will make its own. The CES docs
> actually seem to favor this approach. The 2200 doesn't provide the
> needed signals on its accessory connector, but there are leftover pins
> there you could use to get disciminator audio and COS out of the radio
> cleanly. Get the owners and service manuals, available through online
> search. 73, Paul, AE4KR
None of this is going to work if his objective is repeating D-STAR
information.
--
Kris Kirby, KE4AHR
Disinformation Analyst
