Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Running a Mastr II Repeater QRP
Installed a MSTR II VHF repeater in a six foot cabinet on top of a 17 story building. The elevator got me to the 14th floor but it took 4 of us to get it the other 3 flights. It is possible to haul without a hoist. Next time I do something like this I'm going to remove the repeater and power supply and carry the parts, not the whole repeater. ..._._ Aug 31, 2010 01:14:00 AM, Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com wrote: On 8/30/2010 7:01 PM, Paul Plack wrote: I already know I'd love to have a MII, and the bulk won't be an issue getting it home or storing it, but the proposed site is on a rooftop. That part could get interesting. I may need to devise a truss...and something to hoist the repeater, too! (Rimshot.) LOL! Especially if you're using the MASTR II power supply. Be aware that the M2 PS will draw quite a bit of current even at idle... if you're paying the power bill, or care about someone who does... I have one on in my basement for a link all the time, and live with it... :-)
Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] dumb question: what is purpose of lock on Mitrek?
I was able to have a couple made at Lows. I can't remember the number of the key but they did find one that came very close and it worked ok. Aug 30, 2010 01:06:54 AM, Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com wrote: Ah yes...the old BF-10aI have one.. a little beat up, would love to have a pristine one, just in case. KM3W From: MCH To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sun, August 29, 2010 4:52:58 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] dumb question: what is purpose of lock on Mitrek? GE = BF10A RCA = CH751 Joe M. Pointman wrote: Like most of the commercial stuff of that era, the unit was locked into a car or truck instead of bolted in. It made for an easier repair to just unlock it rather than unbolting everything. It sat in a cradle with the locking mechanism that WAS bolted to the car body. GE and RCA also had their keys...GE's was a B210/810? Maybe..? its been a while since I handled any of that old stuff KM3W -- *From:* Chuck Kelsey wb2...@roadrunner.com *To:* Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com *Sent:* Sun, August 29, 2010 12:50:18 PM *Subject:* Re: [Repeater-Builder] dumb question: what is purpose of lock on Mitrek? It simply locks the cover in place. You'll want a key anyway. Chuck WB2EDV - Original Message - From: KP3FT kp...@yahoo.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2010 12:09 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] dumb question: what is purpose of lock on Mitrek? Hi, I know it's a dumb question, but after scouring the internet for info, I find everything about locks and replacement keys for Motorolas and other radios, but I still don't know what locking the Mitrek actually does. Does it kill all power to the radio, or disable certain functions? I'm asking because I just acquired a low-band Mitrek that I need to power up and verify its working condition. It doesn't have a control head, so I need to use the front panel pins, but if the radio is locked, I may end up getting nowhere and still not know if it's either the radio that is bad, it is locked out, or I wired it wrong. This is the first Mitrek I've had. Thanks for any help. Jeff KP3FT Yahoo! Groups Links -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com http://www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3100 - Release Date: 08/29/10 02:34:00
Re: [Repeater-Builder] OT? OT? OT? email notifications
Use outlook to pull your mail. Go to tools and then rules and send those messages to your delete folder. Otherewise you need to use your delete key. Aug 27, 2010 04:56:33 AM, Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com wrote: Can someone please tell me how to stop the email notifications when a new file is posted to the group? Every time a new file is posted in any of my active yahoo groups, not just this one, I get an email notification that the file has been posted on all of my email accounts (three of them!). I've searched until I'm nearly blind trying to find a setting in my yahoo profile and this membership page, that I can change, to no avail. My membership settings on all my groups also indicate NO email. I just don't know where else to look. HEEEL! Thanks, Tom
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Help ID'ing this board
Don't know the LBI but the one on the right is the mixer board with noise blanker. Does the same as the one on the left except it has the noise blanker. Normally I have seen these in Lo-VHF stations but were also made for Hi-VHF. David Aug 4, 2010 04:14:25 AM, Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com wrote: Hello Group! I have this board (the one on the RIGHT) in a high band MASTR II station operating as a 2M repeater. The board on the LEFT is out of a sister station, which I have information on. I can not find information on this board (RIGHT) doing a search of the LBI's on the RB site. A Google search only comes up with a MASTR Exec II vehicular repeater, which none of the boards in it resemble this board. It appears to have a preamp built into it, and is part of the receiver IF section, but that's about all I can figure out looking at it. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance! Steve KD8BIW KD8BIW/R 224.580 PL 110.9 Sponsors: KA8GKT, KD8FTR, KD8IYX http://www.kd8biw.com
Re: RE: [Repeater-Builder] OT- Dispatcher injured by lightning strike
Had a similiar problem when I was chief engineer at an AM-FM radio station. The antenna tower was within 250 ft of the building. The prior engineer connected a copper strap from the automation equipment to one of the tower legs. Whenever we had a lightning strike on the tower you can see the lightning dance across the equipment. Due to the lightning many time I had to replace parts in the automation controller. I finally found the copper strap and removed it from the tower. No longer did I get any calls due to lightning causing automation equipment failure. I then got the owner to get an engineering crew to measure the tower to ground and found that the original grounding was falling and needed to be fixed. After that no longer had issues either with the FM transmitter or TV transmitter at that site. Also added lightning protestion on the AC coming into the building. David Aug 1, 2010 03:43:37 PM, Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com wrote: Whenever I read a report like this, I have mixed emotions. I am surprised that the injury occurred, which is impossible if the facility was properly designed and islanded in accordance with numerous standards, including NFPA 70, NFPA 780, and the Motorola R56 Manual. I am also angry that an official issued the statement that ...the communications system, including its 400-foot radio tower, are grounded in accordance with industry safety standards. That official, and the idiots who designed the communications center, should be fired and/or brought up on criminal charges. The key to a safe installation at a location with an on-site tower is to ensure that all utilities pass through a window where a common ground reference exists. Ideally, the tower should be right next to the facility, so that the same ground reference is used for both. The power transformer that feeds the control room should be in that room, not hundreds of feet away, and the secondary neutral of that transformer should be bonded to the same ground that is used by the telephones, radio system, cable TV, satellite system, and raised-floor supports. If executed properly, the design of the control room creates a Faraday Cage within which all occupants are safe from injury due to GPR (Ground Potential Rise) from a nearby lightning strike. Likewise, all the electronics within the control room are protected against surge damage. It is obvious from the news report that the dispatcher was injured because her headset was at a different potential from her body. The GPR resulting from lightning striking the tower led to thousands of volts difference between the radio control system (the headset) and the floor and counter in the control room- and the chair she was sitting in. It is also obvious that this difference in potential could not exist if the tower and the adjacent control room were grounded in accordance with industry safety standards. Some common sense and credible engineering skills are essential elements in a proper control room design. Many moons ago (late 60's), I was Chief Engineer at radio station WLRW, a 50 kW FM station at Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. During my watch, the station control room was relocated to a building next door. It was my job to supervise the cabling installation within the building and to the transmitter at the base of the tower, which was just over 100 feet away. All of the remote circuits and network feeds came through a grounding window that was common with the power and the tower grounding system. I remember arguing with the Illinois Power foreman about how we needed a separate transformer to power the station, and it had to be installed right at the side of the control room and not in a vault several hundred feet away. The value of designing the entire installation to comply with established industry standards and sound engineering practices was proven many times, when the tower was struck by lightning during a storm, and no damage or injury occurred. Although the station was on automation most of the day, we had live talent from late afternoon to early morning, and at least one lightning strike occurred while on-air talent was at the board and wearing headphones. The lights blinked, but the board operator felt nothing and the show went on. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of tracomm Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 9:48 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] OT- Dispatcher injured by lightning strike A dispatcher was treated for electrical shock on May 2 after lightning sent a power surge through the dispatcher's headset. http://richmondregister.com/localnews/x1255109983/Lightning-surge-injures-91 1-dispatcher http://richmondregister.com/localnews/x1255109983/Lightning-surge-injures-9 11-dispatcher
Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Repeater transmit levels at the receiver?
Agree on the MSTR PRO 4EF5A1. Had one in service on the amateur band (VHF HI) and it ran withoout a burp for 8 years. Would like to find another one to use with the MASTR II. David Jul 30, 2010 03:39:08 PM, Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com wrote: Larry - I didn't. The 250 watts is produced by a GE MASTR Pro/II 4EF5A1 capable of 330 watts continuous. The MICOR high-band tube amplifier, IMHO, is junk compared to the GE 4CX250R based VHF power amplifier. The 4EF5A1 is designed to operate from 144 to 174 MHz. without modification. Obtaining proper drive for it was the fun part. Read all about it here: http://www.kuggie.com/ahra/hmft.html Pictures of it here: http://www.kuggie.com/ahra/hmft.html Kevin Kevin - how did you get the MICOR 250 Watt VHF Amplifier to go down to 2-Meters? Or was it a factory 140-150 MHz range unit originally? I see plenty of the 100-watt (I think they're a TLD-1692) amps that are factory 2-Meter range PA decks (I have a few spares, in case I ever need them) but haven't ever seen a factory 140-150 range 1/4 KW PA. I know they do exist, and a few people have them. I just haven't found one, or found anyone who can move the 150-170 MHz range units down to 2-Meters. Thanks and 73, LJ
Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Recommendations for a Voter Link
If you have a GE VOTER use the COS from the Receiver to key a relay that will apply the E/M voltages to the Voter. remote transmitter down, no voter action. remote transmitter up Voter working. We used the tone for microwave hops and telephone lines. David Jul 26, 2010 03:37:47 AM, Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com wrote: On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:34:58 -0700 Ross Johnson kc7...@comcast.net wrote: I'm in the exact same boat working on a remote receiver. I don't want the link keyed 24-7 either. I now there are some voters out there that don't require 1950hz and some that don't need it present 100% of the time to keep that voter port active. But are there any other voters in the used or DIY market that's in the HAM budget. That do not require the 1950hz tone at all. Here one I found on RB but I will need eventually 3 ports. http://www.repeater-builder.com/rbtip/wb2whc.html Can one more port be added and has anyone had good success with this unit? What about a Doug Hall voter? http://www.dheco.com/voter.htm
Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] fcc violation notice???
Back in the 70's I was working for the Jefferson County Police in Louisville Ky. We had a hi-band system and when the University of Cincinnati football team came to town to play against the UofL team they brought their portables and would you know they were on our input to one of our repeaters and had the same tone. In the evening we recorded much profanity between two users who didn't know they were being broadcast on our repeater. Not sure what happened after turning it over to the FCC but I'm sure some heads did roll. David Apr 30, 2010 05:15:54 AM, Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com wrote: This is a complex Problem. Wal-Mart corporate management KNOWS radios require a FCC license. In reality Wal-Mart should have a person on staff that requests licenses for EACH AND EVERY Wal-Mart location.He should ship the correctly programmed radios to the correct locations.But what do you do when the LOCAL store manager takes things into his own hands? Scenerio #2 Roscoe owns a plumbing company in CALIFORNIA. He was issued a license for several mobiles and handhelds on a 470Mhz splinter channel.So far..so good... Roscoe says to hell with California (and it's taxes) and moves his business to Las Vegas, Nv. Roscoe takes the radios with the business.There are NO REPEATERS in las Vegas on 470Mhz due to TV channels on that part of the band (470-476 and 506-512).Roscoe operates the radios (Simplex) in Vegas, causing interferance to the TV channel and getting slammed by the wideband digital signal they put out.Happens more then you think! Bottom line These people dont care where they fire up or who they interfere with. When Mom and Pa open a corner market or booths at the swapmeet you better hope they dont score a good deal on a few 2 meter walkies on 146.520 ! Another Problem in Las Vegas While this one is not a huge problem, it happens too. Visitors come to Las Vegas from a lot of foreign countries. People in the UK have whats called PMR radios. It's their FRS service. The radios are all simplex, 8 channels on 6.25Khz splinter channels starting at 446.000 Yep! if you scan those channels here you DO hear activity on them! Now our output channels are 445.000 to 449.975Mhz, but * IF* we were high in,low out this would be a problem. Here is another good one For some odd reason POLICE DEPTS. think they are exempt from any frequency co-ordination!! There is one Law Enforcement agency here in Las Vegas that has a Robot device that receives it's commands on 154.570Mhz !!! WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING This freq is MURS-4, it's unlicensed, but it IS a licensed channel used by damn near every fast food eatery for it's drivethru window!! Can you possibly think of a poorer choice of RF freq to control a Robot on Dont get me started on the fact they use 439.250Mhz for the Video feeds!!! besides it being used for HAM ATV it's a very common cable TV channel!! For people that are very Smart they could not be dumber when it comes to choice of frequencies!! They COULD order it with a VHF channel licensed to the very same dept and the video COULD be in the 1700Mhz area set aside for FEDERAL use (or even 4.9Ghz). Carry a Nearfield scanner in your pocket, it will blow your mind where stuff pops up!. On Thu, Apr 29, 2010 at 8:05 PM, wd8chl wd8...@gmail.com wrote: Ted Bleiman K9MDM - MDM Radio wrote: since those radios wander from store to store having the frequency programmed in as a convenience for the store personnel, I would not, find out of the ordinary or particularly in violation of the FC C rules. And that I would think is a legitimate defense for them. But not being a Lawyer practicing bvefore the FCC might disqualify my opinion. Practicality has no place in the FCC rules...obviously... and never has. mdm Nope, not a legit argument. They were using the frequency at that store, which is a violation.
Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: A warning to Land Mobile Radio Dealers
You would go to Jail. Apr 29, 2010 05:11:58 PM, Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com wrote: So if I had a UHF Saber, and programmed it to a Police frequency for the purposes of TX EMERGENCY info only like 911, then its required to have authorization? What if I was involved in a wreck and my radio was the only thing in reach over my cell? John Hymes La Rue Communications 10 S. Aurora Street Stockton, CA 95202 http://tinyurl.com/2dtngmn - Original Message - From: kd6aaj To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 9:58 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: A warning to Land Mobile Radio Dealers Strange, considering the GMRS can come with radios you buy, before you even have the license. I guess you have to be one of the BIG boys to sell radios preprogrammed with those freqs. and there is an EXCEPTION: Title 47: Telecommunication PART 90PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SERVICES Subpart NOperating Requirements § 90.427 Precautions against unauthorized operation. (a) Each transmitter shall be so installed and protected that it is not accessible to or capable of operation by persons other than those duly authorized by and under the control of the licensee. Provisions of this part authorizing certain unlicensed persons to operate stations, or authorizing unattended operation of stations in certain circumstances, shall not be construed to change or diminish in any respect the responsibility of station licensees to maintain control over the stations licensed to them (including all transmitter units thereof), or for the proper functioning and operation of those stations and transmitter units in accordance with the terms of the licenses of those stations. (b) Except for frequencies used in accordance with §90.417, no person shall program into a transmitter frequencies for which the licensee using the transmitter is not authorized. and: § 90.417 Interstation communication. top (a) Any station licensed under this part may communicate with any other station without restriction as to type, service, or licensee when the communications involved relate directly to the imminent safety-of-life or property. (b) Any station licensed under this part may communicate with any other station licensed under this part, with U.S. Government stations, and with foreign stations, in connection with mutual activities, provided that where the communication involves foreign stations prior approval of the Commission must be obtained, and such communication must be permitted by the government that authorizes the foreign station. Communications by Public Safety Pool eligibles with foreign stations will be approved only to be conducted in accordance with Article 5 of the Inter-American Radio Agreement, Washington, DC, 1949, the provisions of which are set forth in §90.20(b). [43 FR 54791, Nov. 22, 1978, as amended at 62 FR 18933, Apr. 17, 1997] ---end of CFR regs--- So, what's to stop someone from saying they programmed a freq for emergency use only? Why else have the exception, unless you are expected to have an unauthorized frequency programed in your radio? So, the exception (90.417) clearly makes 90.427 un-enforceable UNLESS you can prove intent to operate on the unauthorized frequency for NON-emergency communications. The school was operating on the frequency, but they don't say what kind of communication was involved. --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, wd8chl wrote: In February, a large two-way radio dealer was issued a Notice Of Violation (NOV) by the FCC for adding a frequency into radios that the customer was not licensed for. The Notice stated that Section 90.427(b) prohibits programming into a transmitter frequencies the licensee using the transmitter is not authorized for. Make sure your customers are licensed for the frequencies you put in radios you sell! Information from Mission Critical Magazine, May 2010. FCC enforcement case NOV 20103298. - Jim Barbour Transcore
Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: RCA service manuals, series 700 and series 1000, 25 - 50 MHz, 150 MHz.
When I worked for the County Police in Ky back in the 70s I had an RCA 1000 four channel crystalled up for 2 meter ham. 100 watts worked great from the county vehicle. No mods were necessary. David Feb 2, 2010 03:37:20 AM, Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com wrote: I'm not surprised at all by this story although it is quite entertaining to say the least! These are some tough radios to tune up. I use a spectrum analyzer along with my service monitor to assist in tune up. I've already run into the issue of getting the multiplier stages tuned correctly in the radio and, being a 30 - 36 MHz radio; the mult's simply don't want to operate at 29.50 MHz. Nor does the PA stage. 73's de KC5DBH Matt From: Wayne To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sun, January 31, 2010 6:52:34 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: RCA service manuals, series 700 and series 1000, 25 - 50 MHz, 150 MHz. --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Matt Harker wrote: Hi everybody, I am looking for any old RCA service manuals for the Series 700 and Series 1000 radios whose operating range was as follows: 25 - 30 MHz 30 - 36 MHz 36 - 42 MHz 42 - 50 MHz Hello Matt Be careful how you tune up the PA in the 700. Here is a fumy story on myself. I tuned up a 700 for 52.525 MHz and the radio put out the rated power with my Bird into a good dummy load. When I connected it to my side tower mounted ground plane, cut for 6 meters, the SWR was terrible. I spent a couple of days checking the antenna and feed line and every thing seemed to be OK. I even made several contacts on 6 meters and every one said the radio sounded good. Later I checked the 700 with a spectrum analyzer and found half the power was going out around 42 MHz! Properly retuning the PA fixed the high SWR and may have saved me an audience with the FCC Wayne, WA5LUY. Yahoo! Groups Links
Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] PGE Smart Meter Program
//Nov 12, 2009 01:13:07 PM, Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com wrote: // A good example would be to shut off your electric hot //water heater for 5 minutes. This would probably have no direct effect //on the customer, but would be a great cost saver for the power company. Gee, when I worked for the Electric Coop in Virginia back in the early 80s we already had devices on the water heaters that would turn them off during peak times. The timers in the device would allow one at a time to shut off so all don't turn off and then back on at the same time. These were controlled by RF in the 150 mhz region. //Using spread spectrum and 900Mhz, the range of this system is amazing. //Very few meters are in dead zones. These bad zones only need a meter //strategically placed on a high building or power pole to become a //repeater. Very impressive system. I wonder if my 900 mhz Spectra would interfere with them sending the data. LOL /73, Joe, K1ike David
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Fw: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] FCC Ruling on Repeater Definition
If it transmits and receives on the SAME frequency (SIMPLEX). David On Tue, Mar 24, 2009 at 6:34 PM, Jeff Condit wrote: What do you call it when messages are recorded and then retransmission begins right after reception ends? By this definition it would not constitute a simplex repeater, right? Jeff Condit - Original Message - From: Tom Azlin, N4ZPT mailto:n4...@cox.net mailto:n4...@cox.net To: Repeater-Builder@ yahoogroups. com mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 8:02AM mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Fw:[DSTAR_DIGITAL] FCC Ruling on Repeater Definition mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Hi Kris, A D-STAR repeater never decodes the voice, it just bitregenerates the signal back to the data stream. Yet it is a repeater forsure per the FCC. I would say a linear transponder or translator is arepeater also. the transmit part is active while the receive part ispicking up the signal. 73, Tom n4zpt Kris Kirby wrote: The only interesting wrinkle in this is that a linear transponder doesn't retransmit . The signal is never decoded to baseband and retransmitted. Or is it? With I+Q demodulation andremodulation, this could be a point of argument. -- Kris Kirby, KE4AHR Disinformation Analyst mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=14hblhg3p/M=493064.12016306.12445698.8674578/D=groups/S=1705063108:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1237951773/L=/B=jmmBxUPDhEE-/J=1237944573002579/K=n5D6xeNkvRMPlukywGfMiA/A=5579904/R=0/SIG=110vban8o/*http://www.handsonnetwork.org/
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Lunch Box Radio
If I remember correctly the Portable Mobile II used ICOMS for the channel elements. Just like in the PE series radios. David On Fri, Jan 16, 2009 at 10:17 AM, Milt wrote: PortaMobile series 2 was based on the GE PE series portables. ICM or Bomar should be able to do the rocks. Batteries or a power supply will most likely be the problem although the supply of parts for the portable on which the radio is based is limited. Good luck it's a nice piece of history. Milt N3LTQ - Original Message - From: Radio Guy ve3...@gmail. com mailto:ve3...@gmail.com To: Repeater-Builder@ yahoogroups. com mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 10:40 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Lunch Box Radio Any one familiar with the GE Porta Mobile two? It is a low band radio, and I would like to have it converted to the 6m band. I send it to a local shop that was familiar with GE products back in the day, they say it is in very good shape. Any ideas on a company that could make the crystals? Is this a worth while project? Showing hams this radio always brings a smile to their faces,a portable radio that is bigger then most HF mobiles! The tech said... if we need to change out caps, it would be a job for younger eyes! -- - - - Ken - - -- Yahoo! Groups Links mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Re: [Repeater-Builder] DTV ch 2 vs 6m
How about the Digital noise being created that wil interfer with 6 meter operations. David On Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 1:03 PM, MCH wrote: If it's like any other digital transmitters, more. Joe M. Paul N1BUG wrote: I think this is on topic for the list since it could affect some 6 meter repeater owners. After transition I will have a local channel broadcasting DTV on their low VHF channel 2 assignment. I'm curious... does anyone know whether DTV will be more (or less) susceptible to interference from ham radio transmissions than analog TV? Thanks 73, Paul N1BUG - - -- Yahoo! Groups Links
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Portable Temporary Repeater
and in an emergency, out-of-band operation is permitted, right? NO On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 10:59 AM, Dave Gomberg wrote: At 02:24 9/30/2008, Mike Morris WA6ILQ wrote: Why not run more repeater offset ? The further away you are the more isolation you have - and it's free. Here in SoCal we have a special portable 2m repeater pair coordinated - it's 144.93 out, and 147.585 in. That's over 2.5 mhz of offset, and you can get just over 3 mhz if you use 147.99 as your input. This brings up a very interesting point. IN A GENUINE EMERGENCY, why not run a huge split, say 145.000 input, 175.000 output. I realize the output is out of band, but MARS mods are widely available, and in an emergency, out-of-band operation is permitted, right? One would want to preselect a frequency where interference with other emergency use is least likely, I also realize that not all HTs have a wide-band receive capability, but lots do. -- Dave Gomberg, San Francisco NE5EE gomberg1 at wcf dot com All addresses, phones, etc. at http://www.wcf. com/ham/info. html http://www.wcf.com/ham/info.html - - - - - - http://www.wcf.com/ham/info.html
Re: RE: [Repeater-Builder] De-Sense and Circulator Question
Be very careful when you put that pass cavity on the transmit side. When I was in Virginia I had a repeater on 147.06 and late at night I would get interference to it. Noticed the same to other repeaters in the area. Narrowed it down to a repeater that a cavity was placed on the transmitter side to help clear up some desense. Looking at the spectrum analyzer you can see when the transmitter would become active it would have a spur running from it assign frequency up the band to the public service area. This happpened when the transmitter was idle for a while. Removing the cavity cleared the problem. Again be careful. David
Re: [Repeater-Builder] GE MASTR II PWR SUPPLY - What dies first?
A few years back I had a problem with the GE power supply similiar to yours. What I found out the fuse was the problem. Replaced the 30 amp fuse and haven't had a problem since. Did you try replacing the fuse? David = From: enjoyacold807 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2008/08/19 Tue AM 01:57:46 WET To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] GE MASTR II PWR SUPPLY - What dies first? Your basic GE Mastr II rack mount pwr supply (ref PL19D436272G1 Rev A) was part of club WA8UXP's 2m GE MastrII (base) repeater (146.985 Mhz) until it started acting up (a few years ago). Basically, the no load voltage looked ok. But, once the 100w PA kicked in the voltage swings made a sunami look like a placid lake. Ouch!! It was then replaced by Astron RS-35A. Now, the club has three (3) choices for the old fella being: boat anchor/scrap, try to fix, or hamfest sale as is. But option 2, hmmm, if economically repairable, maybe we could put it back where it belongs (w/ the repeater) and re-deploy the Astron. Ah, life, so many choices, so little time. BTW - Thanks for reading this far So, rather than spend countless hours finding then pouring over service manuals for this (potenital) boat anchor we wanted to skip to the chase and leverge off the experience of others. If you've been there, done that, and are willing to pass along words of wisdom on this bear then we'd love to hear from you. What two or three things would you look for to fix in one of these power supplies? We promise, no response will go unread (honestly)...! OK to reply to this Yahoo group, or, if you want to take off line then also OK to respond to Yahoo Group [EMAIL PROTECTED] or look up my email on qrz and respond directly.. 73's de Rich AF1K...
Re: [Repeater-Builder] New Repeater Desense Problems
Have you run the repeater into a dummy load and check for desense? David = From: Bill Wilson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2008/07/07 Mon AM 02:24:30 WET To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] New Repeater Desense Problems Greetings Group, I had hoped to be able to purchase off-the-shelf components for a 2 meter repeater for our local club to use. I purchased a Maggoire HiPro R1VHF35, 35 watt version, and with their recommendation a set of FiPlex DVN-1533L Duplexers (6 cans). These were installed with LMR-400 cabling and a 50 foot run to a Diamond X- 50 Dual Band vertical installed about 40 feet above ground. We have a good ground, and the equipment is mounted in an open rack. The controller is a CAT-250, currently with COR receive only, although the CTCSS module is installed but not turned on at this time. I have been told however that the PL is being transmitted on the transmit signal for decode. I also had the Narrow Band IF Filter installed. Ever since we first hooked everything up, we have had receive desense problems. The cans have been retuned 3 times by two different radio shops in the area, and the problem still exists. With the exception of the duplexer and repeater itself, every other component in the system has been swapped out at least once. One observation by the first radio tech (ham) that came out was the very sensitive receiver on the order of 0.10 uv, versus the 0.20 uv as advertised. On the third tune-up of the duplexers, they discovered that the loops were 180 degrees out of phase, and when they turned them, the duplexers came right in. However, the problem persists. Great for in town use, but that's about it. We have used varied lengths of cables between the repeater and the duplexers, without any significant change in results. Next weekend, I am planning on looking at the tuning myself with borrowed test equipment. I know what I'm looking for pretty much, and it's got to be close to correct to work as it does. Any thoughts ideas, etc., would be appreciated. Bill KJ4EX
Re: Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] the scam changes...
Guys, what you mentioned below happens every day. The ones receiving the packages are just the middle man, sometimes not knowing they are receiving stoled goods, and they then send the items overseas to the ones that have used your credit card to get the item. David = From: Dave Gomberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2008/06/18 Wed PM 08:09:51 WET To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] the scam changes... At 04:01 6/18/2008, Ron Wright wrote: Credit card companies are a big problem, but with our ecomonic system it is almost a requirement one takes them. Trying to report a bad card is almost impossible to get any action. They may know exactly where the thief is, but will do nothing. Ron, it is worse than that. I checked my credit card on line and there was a charge from QVC (which I never even watch. much less buy from). I called QVC and they said someone used that card to buy a camera shipped to San Diego (not where I live!). I told them it was a bogus order, they said no harm, they would just ask UPS not to deliver on grounds of fraud. I imagine they use UPS enough to have that power. That is not what I would have done. I would have dressed a couple of guys up in brown jump suits and sent them to the door, This your camera??? If the guy says yes that is when the baseball bat comes out and his hands accidentally get crushed. I'll bet he wouldn't do it again. -- Dave Gomberg, San Francisco NE5EE gomberg1 at wcf dot com All addresses, phones, etc. at http://www.wcf.com/ham/info.html --
Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] FCC Denies Petition to Utilize 2m Sub-Band for Digital
Moto has for trunking a re-group. If the control channel goes down the mobile are re-grouped to a particular repeater. We have a 5 channel trunking system with multiple sites so not all repeaters will go down at the same time. David = From: wd8chl [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2008/05/15 Thu PM 04:39:51 WET To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] FCC Denies Petition to Utilize 2m Sub-Band for Digital Mike Mullarkey wrote: Wd8chl wrote: Understood-the bad news is if the repeater goes down, I'm pretty sure the radios are dead. I don't think there's a simplex mode. If there is, it's NOT TDMA. What happens if a P25 repeater or D-Star module fails.You don't get out unless you have a stack or linked system. Taking just a single station example a UHF. You have a UHF D-Star on the air and the TX radio overheats and dies. You have no local repeat just like P25 or MOTOTRBO as well as ANALOG system. No. If a P25 repeater goes down, you can have a 'mode' (as Moto calls it) that is simplex on the output, and you will be still be heard by any radios in range-IF you're on a conventional system. A trunked system is different, but the radios do still have conventional simplex available, and should be programmed. D* I expect has the same thing. I don't think there is a direct radio-to-radio mode in Mototrbo...I could be wrong tho...
Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] More on Copper theft
Here in Texas you can use deadly force to protect your property, day or night. Might be a good idea to move to the site for security with as big a weapon you can handle. David = From: MCH [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2008/04/22 Tue PM 11:11:04 CDT To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] More on Copper theft But, they don't know the value of that, and likely don't have any outlets to get money from it. But, they DO know the value of copper, and there are plenty of scrap yards.. BUT, you would think that the first few cuts would have deterred them since the majority of the metal is NOT copper - as you can clearly see in the photos. I bet the left the connectors on the strike plate, too (assuming there is one). Joe M. Paul Finch wrote: And left a $200.00 connector. Paul *From:* Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] *On Behalf Of *Juan Tellez *Sent:* Tuesday, April 22, 2008 6:10 PM *To:* Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com *Subject:* [Repeater-Builder] More on Copper theft __,_._,__*/ /*Here is a picture of what happen last week in one of my sites:_ *//* *//* No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.3/1390 - Release Date: 4/21/2008 4:23 PM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.3/1392 - Release Date: 4/22/2008 3:51 PM No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.3/1392 - Release Date: 4/22/2008 3:51 PM Yahoo! Groups Links
Re: [Repeater-Builder] GE MASTRII UHF PA PL19d424895g32 repair
Three areas to look for bad solder connections. 1. Driver on the main PA board (usually Collector) 2. Strap between Driver and PA finals. ( this is on the PA board) 3. Strap from PA board to Filter. I have had all three happen to me on different hiband repeater PAs. David WA4ECM = From: Joe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2007/12/03 Mon AM 09:29:59 CST To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] GE MASTRII UHF PA PL19d424895g32 repair I'm slowly going through all my repeater stuff here and have a problem with the 100 watt UHF PA PL19d424895g32. No output. I checked the exciter into another identical PA and it works fine. Drive is a little low, 100mw, but it drives the other identical amp just fine. The bad PA draws 5 amps when keyed, the power control pot varies this current from 0-5 amps. No output out of the PA. This was a working repeater that is being tested on it's original frequency of a 45/1456Mhz split. No parts look burned or discolored. The straps between the boards look fine, no cracks. I touched them up with and iron anyway just to check. My first thought is to check the output of the 40watt stage. Any words of wisdom before I tear into this beast? Any ideas? I seems to remember reading about a UHF PA common problem but can't find it in any of the reflector archive messages. 73, Joe, k1ike
Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Usage of Linked Repeater Systems vs. Stand Alone Repeaters
Steve, the reason you don't get anyone on the other repeaters is due to you not being known to them. Most repeater users will only talk to ones they know and a different call comes on the repeater they all of a sudden get mic fright and don't answer :) David = From: Steve Stahl [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2007/11/26 Mon AM 10:08:59 CST To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Usage of Linked Repeater Systems vs. Stand Alone Repeaters I'm a Trucker and in my travels it seems that the link systems are about the only place anything is going on I can't tell you how many areas I've been where you open the repeater book, find a bunch of local machines and can't hear or raise a peep out of anyone . On the other hand linked systems like the Win System in California seems to have traffic all the time. Steve ke7ihg On Nov 25, 2007 9:35 AM, Naber, Benjamin L. SPC [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Tony, et al I read through many of the comments everyone has posted, all equally reasonable, and justifiable. I would like to comment on this. Back in 2004, June QST or somewhere around that time, a Correspondence article was published by the ARRL entitled Use what we have. To this day, I will make the stand that by going off that statement is what saved my club from getting disbanded. I don't remember all what I wrote, but I do remember that my point was to do just exactly that - use what we have. In my home area in the Black Hills of South Dakota we have three VHF repeaters, now all linked together and a South Dakota State Link that ties users from the west side of the state tying in several repeaters making to someplace in Minnesota. The local repeaters got more use and the link was active when my voice was on it making some noise or the area's special ham that likes to throw his call out at 3AM or... kerchunck them. Everyone does it, although not very often so there's no reason to make a huge fuss. The guys around the area have an evening weather net around 2100hrs on the state link and on the local repeaters in the areas to help keep activity on the machines and let be known the system does exist. The state link is a wonderful but under used system because of statements that have already been said, and at the same time reverse has been said. The other side was said as well, is that there could be too many machines in the local area. Not everyone will have their radios on scan as I do, most seem to have a favorite spot for their group of friends and be happy with it. We had a small ordeal a few years back about the VHF repeaters and the possible complete removal of them and came to quite the bit of controversy. It was mentioned there were too many repeaters for the area, given the local ham populous of about 200 and it may have been the reason for little activity. From what I see, it all boils down to this. Everyone is going to have whatever they like, repeaters and stuff will come and go, but the two main things are these, and these only - Let us use what we have and always be encouraging others to get on the air - new comers, soon to be licensed and those that haven't keyed the mic in a while. Ask them to press the button and make some noise. That's what we came to do in the first place. ~Benjamin, KB9LFZ From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Tony L. Sent: Wed 21-Nov-07 18:59 To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Usage of Linked Repeater Systems vs. Stand Alone Repeaters Our club operates a RF full-time linked repeater system in metro New York City, currently comprised of four (4) repeaters. We've observed that the addition of a new repeater into the system doesn't always equate to added usage. In fact, we've noticed that many of the linked systems in metro NYC typically aren't as busy as local area stand alone systems. We're puzzled as to why people seem to shy away from most, but not all, of the very wide coverage area systems. The busiest repeaters in our area seem to be the no frills stand alones. Are voice IDs, courtesy tones, and coverage footprints beyond a 25-mile radius just more than people can handle nowadays? Comments anyone? -- KE7IHG
Re: Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Call Sign a nd Sounds like a Ham ÃÂÃÂ , ÃÂÃÂ NOT
Jim, here in Texas your ham plates are yours and when you sell a vehicle you are supposed to go and get regular tags before selling or trading in the car. I have seen a number of cars on used car lots with ham plates. Seems that the owner of the plate and the lot owner does not know the law. Also you must have radio equipment in the vehicle before they will issue the plates. Unfortunatly all you have to do is check the box. DMV does not know if you have the equipment or not. A few of us at the SO are hams so we do look for making sure the owner of the vehicle with ham plates is really a ham radio operator. David = From: Jim Brown [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2007/09/27 Thu AM 05:46:05 CDT To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Call Sign and Sounds like a Ham ÃÂà, ÃÂàNOT I had my car stolen in Las Vegas several years ago, and if I had not brought my license receipt with me to show the secretary who took my report, I would not have convinced her that I had given her the right plate number. ( Stolen cars are so common in Las Vegas, NV that they will not even send an officer out to take a report )  When she ran the plate, she found three motorhomes and two other vehicles with the same plate in Texas. Turns out that when you trade a motorhome in Arizona, they do not cancel the title in Texas when you trade. Two of the motorhome registrations had expired though, and we finally got it straightened out. We travel with the same plate on the motorhome and tow car.  My son's father in law has plate AF1R as a vanity plate. (Air Force #1 Retired)  73 - Jim W5ZIT [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In Texas you can have up to 10 vehicles with the same ham call sign as long as you are the owner of the vehicles. What a mess when you see two cars with the same ham radio plate. David Deputy Collin CO SO WA4ECM = From: Nate Duehr [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2007/09/26 Wed PM 01:28:42 CDT To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Call Sign and Sounds like a Ham , NOT On Sep 26, 2007, at 9:44 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Likewise in Oregon. We were at a ham lunch several times and saw a plate with the letters N4CER. It was some Security company guy, who wanted it to be a cute version of Enforcer - we visited with him and he wasn't aware of what ham radio was and really seemed to care less. I guess if N4CER had moved to Oregon and wanted a Call Letter plate, he would have been out of luck since it was already taken. LJ In Colorado, you can have both a WY0X vanity plate, and a WY0X callsign plate. The price is different, and the real callsign plate will have SCL printed vertically down the left side of the plate in very small letters. (Special Callsign License) Someone without a ham ticket could get the vanity plate, but not the SCL plate. You have to provide a copy of your license to get the SCL plate. SCL plates are also issued for commercial broadcast stations wishing to have their callsign on remote trucks/whatever. For broadcasters with multiple of these semi-vanity plates, a -# is usually added to the plates... KBCO-1, KBCO-2... etc. (Disclaimer: I don't BRknow if KBCO uses the SCL plates or not, just using them as an BRexample of what I've seen on some remote trucks.) -- Nate Duehr, WY0X [EMAIL PROTECTED] Shape Yahoo! in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today!
Re: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Call Sign and Sounds like a Ham, NOT
In 1976 I upgraded to Advanced and got WD4AYD. Gee not a novice or Tech. Dropped that call and requested my secondary call become my primary. David WA4ECM = From: Ron _ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2007/09/27 Thu AM 10:50:40 CDT To: repeater-builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Call Sign and Sounds like a Ham, NOT Jim,  Yes it was novice block (at least in 4 land). This was issued to me as a 'Novice'. It may be that some regions issued to Tech. as well.  To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:52:42 -0400 Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Call Sign and Sounds like a Ham, NOT Ron _ wrote: Don, WD prefixes and WD#xxx formats are not reserved for experimental. It is part of the former novice block of calls issued in the mid 70's.BR RonBR WD4RBJBRBRNot novice-Tech/WBRGeneral.BRI was never a novice.BRWhen I was licensed, they were giving Novices 'WN' calls. -- Jim Barbour WD8CHL Discover the new Windows Vista Learn more!
Re: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Call Sign and Sounds like a Ham, NOT
Funny, when I upgraded to Advanced I got WD4AYD. Dropped the WD4 call and changed to my secondary call (which we could have at the time) WA4ECM. David WA4ECM = From: Ron _ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2007/09/26 Wed AM 10:32:58 CDT To: repeater-builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Call Sign and Sounds like a Ham, NOT Don, WD prefixes and WD#xxx formats are not reserved for experimental. It is part of the former novice block of calls issued in the mid 70's. Ron WD4RBJ  To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 09:31:01 -0500 Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Call Sign and Sounds like a Ham, NOT Don, This is an experimental callsign. The reason I'm familiar with this is IBRtried to obtain a WC9 callsign for my county's EMA Ham Club - that was also denied since WC and WD prefixes are experimentals. (BTW - we ended up with W9WIL.) Which system was he on? SARA, CFMC? I'd be interested in listening to hearBRthis guy some time... Maybe I'd even query him on his callsign. Hehehehe Moderator note: Sorry for the OT thread... Mark - N9WYS -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com On Behalf Of Don Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 2:31 AM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Call Sign and Sounds like a Ham , NOT I found something interesting and Thought Would share, I heard a Ham talking as He was driving through the Chicago Metro area on a large Repeater System , and when I am near the Computer , I Just look up the Call to find more info about the person to see If We might have something in common to talk about I looked up His call WD9XAD On http://www.qrz.com/ and http://hamcall.net/call nothing Found , Sure looks like a Older Call and the Person talked like a Ham But now days who knows so I went to the FCC Site http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/reports7/ Top Search for Call sign Well it came up But NOT A Ham radio call, I doubt very much if it was the Person with the Non ham lic using it, But I found it interesting and Nice to learn something as We get older, it's just remembering it is the Problem Back in the Old Days We just took people at their word , But with the Internet I find things are not always what We think . 73 De Don KA9QJG Invite your mail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Spaces. It's easy! Try it!
Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Call Si gn and Sounds like a Ham  ,  NOT
In Texas you can have up to 10 vehicles with the same ham call sign as long as you are the owner of the vehicles. What a mess when you see two cars with the same ham radio plate. David Deputy Collin CO SO WA4ECM = From: Nate Duehr [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2007/09/26 Wed PM 01:28:42 CDT To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Call Sign and Sounds like a Ham , NOT On Sep 26, 2007, at 9:44 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Likewise in Oregon. We were at a ham lunch several times and saw a plate with the letters N4CER. It was some Security company guy, who wanted it to be a cute version of Enforcer - we visited with him and he wasn't aware of what ham radio was and really seemed to care less. I guess if N4CER had moved to Oregon and wanted a Call Letter plate, he would have been out of luck since it was already taken. LJ In Colorado, you can have both a WY0X vanity plate, and a WY0X callsign plate. The price is different, and the real callsign plate will have SCL printed vertically down the left side of the plate in very small letters. (Special Callsign License) Someone without a ham ticket could get the vanity plate, but not the SCL plate. You have to provide a copy of your license to get the SCL plate. SCL plates are also issued for commercial broadcast stations wishing to have their callsign on remote trucks/whatever. For broadcasters with multiple of these semi-vanity plates, a -# is usually added to the plates... KBCO-1, KBCO-2... etc. (Disclaimer: I don't know if KBCO uses the SCL plates or not, just using them as an example of what I've seen on some remote trucks.) -- Nate Duehr, WY0X [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: subaudibe tones..
Something I don't understand why everyone trouts TONE access as a cure all for interference. The interference is still there and for weak signals they cannot access the repeater because of the interference. Sure the repeater is quiet but it limits the coverage. I maintain an ARMY MARS repeater and was getting interference. I was told to fix the problem was to put CTCSS on the MARS repeater. Come on, the interference is still there causing the repeater to not have the coverage it should have. Problem was solved by finding the offending station and sending then an E-Mail. I do agree that if you have a number of repeaters on the same frequency then tone is the best way to go. Problem with that is if you are working a repeater 75 miles away on one tone and there is another one 25 miles from your location you are still going to interfer with the 25 mile repeater even though you are not heard. Got to be a better way. David = From: Al Wolfe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2007/08/29 Wed PM 08:22:50 CDT To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: subaudibe tones.. It seems Ron, N9EE, is quite proud of the fact that his repeater doesn't use tone squelch. Ron, you are most fortunate to be able to do that. For the rest of us lets get real. From my modest station I can normally hear five or six repeaters on 146.76. Using tone I can work any one of them should I choose to do so as they all use different tones. Think of the chaos that would result if they all were carrier access. Our friends in commercial two way radio figured out about FIFTY years ago that they could get ten time the channel loading using tone squelch. So why are hams so resistant to implementing it? To me it make a lot of sense to use tone squelch. About six years ago at the meetings of the Illinois Repeater Association (general membership, not just the board members) the idea of mandatory tone squelch (CTCSS or DPL) on all repeaters was suggested. After much discussion, a couple of years later the general membership voted, almost unanimously, to proceed with this plan. As of the end of 2005, all Illinois repeaters (29 mhz on up) were required to have available some kind of access other than carrier squelch. Although there are some hold-outs, most think it is a resounding success. Basically, what it means is that any repeater using carrier squelch will get no protection from interference from users of coordinated repeaters, as far as the IRA is concerned. So what about mobiles or other transients? The ARRL and others publish directories that are reasonably up to date. Info is available on line. Most repeaters repeat during their hangtime for emergencies. I don't have a lot of sympathy for those who pi** and moan about their HR2-B not having tone capabilities. Retire it. If you can afford to spend $75 to fill your gas tank maybe you can afford to buy a rig less than thirty years old. Or pick up a tone board off of ebay for $20 if you are really in love with your old rig. (Actually, I have a working G-Strip Motorola base that can use the local repeater because it has the right reeds in it. It's probably 45 years old and still useful. And it came that way, with TONE SQUELCH!) Friends don't let friends use carrier squelch (on repeaters). 73, Al, K9SI
