Re: MCC RC-1000v repeater controller Someone sent me their non-working MSR-2000 Squelch Gate Module interface along with a Micro Computer Concepts RC-1000v Repeater Controller.
I worked out the bugs with his Squelch Gate Module conversion and moved on to the controller side of the project. The SQ Module COS output logic requires an added +Vcc pull up resistor (easy enough) to work with the RC-1000v cos input line. And then... The RC-1000v was locked up tight as a drum and not responding to any commands or cos/cor input logic. A phone call to Ron at MCC to obtain the secret master reset (to default) info, which actually worked like a charm. An A+ to Ron at MCC for customer support! For what it is... the RC-1000v Repeater Controller is pretty nice basic repeater controller unit. Per many previous posts I've learned a number of the group members are also interested in small board computers and sb units made into repeater controllers. About the one hardware quirk I found was the controller ctcss detect logic was only set up for active high operation. (yuck!) With an active low ctcss detect line you would need to add an additional transistor/fet inverter stage or as in my case carefully bypass the "extra" Q9 inverter stage on the board. A lot of repeater controllers are set up for nearly flat audio so I could hear some ctcss blowing through the controller voice audio path. It is possible future gremlin source if one is not paying attention to the system details. Level adjustment is another bit of fun... especially if you don't have a service monitor and/or scope to help out. I can see how people quickly become lost without good test equipment around. So the MSR to External Controller Interface is now completed, aligned on a local machine and return sent back out to the Texas Owner. The MCC RC-1000v is typical of a many Small Board Repeater Controllers and quite feature rich for what it is. Details of MCC Repeater Controllers can be found on their web pages. Overall I can say the hardware is as-good as most other similar small board repeater controllers. Based on this and other recent MSR-2000 Squelch Gate Module interface projects completed in the last few months... my original conversion text is due for an update. cheers, skipp
