[Repeater-Builder] OT OT OT Re: AGM Batteries
I also built an electric only ford escort conversion to run around in. 144 volts dc I'd like to learn a little bit more about this. Could I email you? My email is my call at att.net if you wish to give me instruction on how to contact you. Tom WB6DGN --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, n5sx...@... wrote: tahrens301 tahr...@... wrote: Hi Folks, I got a couple of the large AGM batteries for a solar installation, and was wondering if there is any condition that will lead them to vent inside the enclosure? They are sealed, but probably have one-way valves. Can I put the solar controller in the same enclosure? Figured some of you folks have done solar stuff before. Thanks, Tim Hello TimI do have some experience with batteries. I have some 150 solar powered SCADA radio sites around the Sidney, NE area. Some of our installations have the battery, charge controller, and radio all in one too small metal box. Since they are solar powered, and thay have a radio connected to each one, I have not had an overcharge condition yet. Some of these sites were built by others, and they didn't believe in fuses! If you fuse all power leads close to the battery hot lead and fuse the load, you should be safe. If you have the room to put the batteries in the black plastic boxes that are used for marine battery installations, you have a contailner incase something does cause a battery case to burst. I also built an electric only ford escort conversion to run around in. 144 volts dc!!So I do have some battery experience! Jeff N5sxq
[Repeater-Builder] Re: 50 Watt Repeater
Kind of a delayed reply here, but relevent. I bought my RC210 and TKR-750 from Ken and have run the low usage TKR at 50 watts with no ill effects. Even with moderate key downs it just doesn't get hot. --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Ken Arck ah...@... wrote: At 08:36 AM 12/11/2009, NORM KNAPP wrote: Agreed, but here we have many '750's running at 50watts and have had no issues. Of course, they are not transmitting 24/7. As an Authorized Kenwood Dealer, we have a ton of TKR's that we sold into amateur service, running either 40 (UHF) or 50 (VHF) watts with no ill effects. Sure, they're not 24/7 keydown but since the redesigned PA, we simply don't see failures. And while we can't officially recommend it, we've never seen a problem from doing so. Ken -- President and CTO - Arcom Communications Makers of repeater controllers and accessories. http://www.arcomcontrollers.com/ Authorized Dealers for Kenwood and Telewave and we offer complete repeater packages! AH6LE/R - IRLP Node 3000 http://www.irlp.net We don't just make 'em. We use 'em!
[Repeater-Builder] TKR-750 Crunchy/Grungy Weak Signal Audio
My 2 meter TKR has worked fine for about a year but has always had a problem on our frequent weak signals. We're a mountain community and CERT/RACES/ARES/Skywarn users are often on HT's. There are a couple of towers in the neighborhood at 6,400 feet over southern California (it's kewl living at a repeater site) and on my own gear I don't hear anything on a weak signal beyond the norm. But on the TKR it just sounds dirty. Grungy. Crunchy. There are commercial sites within one mile with high power paging but we've detected no intermod. We did have a bout were grungy audio was breaking PL and hanging until timeout. But that went away. The Wacom 6 cavity WP-642 is tuned dead on and offers excellent isolation and rejection (at a cost of 2-3dB loss on TX sigh). Another TKR user at a high elevation commercial site reports similar experiences. Yet another TKR owner reported that his is excellent and yes the audio is good. Just not for us on weak signals. He suggested perhaps an RFI issue but from where? Our installation is modest and constrained only by my lack of time and funds. My daughter is sick and I live in a hospital with her, so be gentle HI HI. The very large guard dog watches the house. The antenna is a Hustler G5-144 tuned with a MFJ 259, dead on and above the repeater through an insulated roof by about 30 feet. We have no desense. It is fed with LMR-400 just because I haven't put hard line on it. No preamps are installed. At 6,400 feet not much is needed. The receiver is .18uV. The TKR hears very well compared to my FT-847 with an antenna 20 feet lower. Why the grungy audio?
[Repeater-Builder] Mirage B-320-G as a Repeater Amp
Before adding a Mirage 320 our TKR 750 was putting out 50 watts into a 6 cavity Wacom WP-642 at the cost of 2-3dB loss on TX (as the spec sheet said.) The cans are tuned right on the money and the Hustler G5-144 fed with LMR-400 is 1.1:1. This has worked for over a year just fine (except for grungy weak signal audio.) Now add the Mirage B-320-G 200 watt amplifier. It seems to work just fine outside of the repeater chain. On its low setting 3 watts will drive it to 200 watts. On its high setting 50 watts will drive it to 200 watts. We plan on adding two fans on the heat sinks and rack mounting it and running it with only 25 watts drive. The power meter lights up all the way to the red. But as soon as we tune it all up and connect it to the duplexer the Mirage SWR/Drive trips and the amp goes to sleep. A SWR meter between the repeater and the amp shows 1.1:1. The amp to the duplexer shows 1.1:1. The duplexer to the antenna shows 1.1:1. I've lost my mojo. Waz up?
[Repeater-Builder] Re: AGM Batteries
Repeater BuilderBrian, Not to argue but If it is a valve regulated battery it can happen. Some smart Engineer somewhere put that valve in place for a reason... If the battery is charged with a good charger and the health of the battery is ok then normally you are correct but it can and does happen. I have seen and smelled it personally. Just because they use the batteries on power chairs doesn't mean they won't vent. They use the batteries on the power chairs because they are the best battery for the application. Not perfect. Google AGM valve regulated batteries. I know wikipedia is not always a great source but you can start there and then follow the numerous other sites that discuss this. Tim KB2MFS - Original Message - From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 4:03 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Digest Number 7381 1b. Re: AGM Batteries Posted by: Brian Marburger wqgp...@yahoo.com wqgp673 Sun Aug 8, 2010 9:24 am (PDT) those batteries agm are used on power chairs too. they do not vent --- On Sun, 8/8/10, Tim and Janet kb2...@gmail.com wrote: From: Tim and Janet kb2...@gmail.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: AGM Batteries To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Date: Sunday, August 8, 2010, 1:37 PM Valve regulated batteries can and do vent at times. The best way to prevent this is to ensure you have a good charger. We use smart chargers where I work and still occasionally a battery will hiccup. I personally would install the battery outside of the main cabinet. YMMV Tim Campbell (The other Tim) Repeater Builder
Re: [Repeater-Builder] TKR-750 Crunchy/Grungy Weak Signal Audio
Probably the LMR-400 cable is the cause. Well documented and discussed here regularly. Are the other repeaters with the same problem also using the same type cable? Chuck WB2EDV - Original Message - From: Bob - AF6D b...@af6d.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 4:46 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] TKR-750 Crunchy/Grungy Weak Signal Audio My 2 meter TKR has worked fine for about a year but has always had a problem on our frequent weak signals. We're a mountain community and CERT/RACES/ARES/Skywarn users are often on HT's. There are a couple of towers in the neighborhood at 6,400 feet over southern California (it's kewl living at a repeater site) and on my own gear I don't hear anything on a weak signal beyond the norm. But on the TKR it just sounds dirty. Grungy. Crunchy. There are commercial sites within one mile with high power paging but we've detected no intermod. We did have a bout were grungy audio was breaking PL and hanging until timeout. But that went away. The Wacom 6 cavity WP-642 is tuned dead on and offers excellent isolation and rejection (at a cost of 2-3dB loss on TX sigh). Another TKR user at a high elevation commercial site reports similar experiences. Yet another TKR owner reported that his is excellent and yes the audio is good. Just not for us on weak signals. He suggested perhaps an RFI issue but from where? Our installation is modest and constrained only by my lack of time and funds. My daughter is sick and I live in a hospital with her, so be gentle HI HI. The very large guard dog watches the house. The antenna is a Hustler G5-144 tuned with a MFJ 259, dead on and above the repeater through an insulated roof by about 30 feet. We have no desense. It is fed with LMR-400 just because I haven't put hard line on it. No preamps are installed. At 6,400 feet not much is needed. The receiver is .18uV. The TKR hears very well compared to my FT-847 with an antenna 20 feet lower. Why the grungy audio? Yahoo! Groups Links No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3059 - Release Date: 08/08/10 13:57:00
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Mirage B-320-G as a Repeater Amp
Bob - AF6D wrote: Before adding a Mirage 320 our TKR 750 was putting out 50 watts into a 6 cavity Wacom WP-642 at the cost of 2-3dB loss on TX (as the spec sheet said.) The cans are tuned right on the money and the Hustler G5-144 fed with LMR-400 is 1.1:1. This has worked for over a year just fine (except for grungy weak signal audio.) Now add the Mirage B-320-G 200 watt amplifier. It seems to work just fine outside of the repeater chain. On its low setting 3 watts will drive it to 200 watts. On its high setting 50 watts will drive it to 200 watts. We plan on adding two fans on the heat sinks and rack mounting it and running it with only 25 watts drive. The power meter lights up all the way to the red. But as soon as we tune it all up and connect it to the duplexer the Mirage SWR/Drive trips and the amp goes to sleep. A SWR meter between the repeater and the amp shows 1.1:1. The amp to the duplexer shows 1.1:1. The duplexer to the antenna shows 1.1:1. I've lost my mojo. Waz up? We'll assume the Mirage amplifier is either tuned to a 50 Ohm output impedance by any internal adjustments or there are no adjustments to tune the amplifier to match the load. That being said, it is possible that the Mirage Amplifier doesn't like the reactive load presented by the duplexer. If so, you will need to do one (or more) of the following: 1.) Use an impedance matcher (sometimes referred to as Z-Matcher) capable of handling the output power of the amplifier. http://www.repeater-builder.com/db/pdfs/db-z-matcher-tuning-info.pdf http://www.repeater-builder.com/antenna/duplexer-cabling-lengths.html 2.) Use an Isolator or Circulator tuned to your transmitter frequency properly sized to absorb the reflected power. You still might have to use #1 or #3 to aide in matching so you aren't wasting the power reflected back to the transmitter or the power not being transferred to the duplexer, out the antenna port, as seen as a loss greater than the 2 to 3 dB stated by the manufacturer for this duplexer and your interconnecting cabling. 3.) Optimize the cable length from the amplifier to the transmitter port of the duplexer to maximize the return loss (create a better match). http://www.repeater-builder.com/antenna/duplexer-cabling-lengths.html Please also read the note about cabling lengths between the repeater and the duplexer in the section on page 4 of the following document: http://www.repeater-builder.com/wacom/wp6xx-vhf-tuning-instructions-remec.pdf Watch for word wrap... Doing #3 might require doing #4. 4.) Optimize the tuning of the first cavity of the duplexer from the factory setting. BE CAREFUL HERE... Assuming no one has ever tuned the duplexer from its factory settings, and assuming the factory knew what they were doing and tuned the duplexer correctly (tuned it for maximum return loss (best match at 50 Ohms on your frequencies) and best response, or a compromise of both - usually the case in a factory tuned Wacom product. Realize if any cavity is/was re-tuned at any point you are altering the response intended by the factory. It is possible, however, to optimize the cable length and lightly retouch the tuning the first cavity to fix the situation you have encountered. Optimizing the cable length will shift the impedance to create an acceptable match between the amplifier and the transmitter port of the duplexer and retouching the first transmitter cavity will nullify the reactance presented by the line. If you are not willing to re-tune the duplexer, then only consider the solutions in #1 or #2. I'm hopeful Jeff DePolo or Allan Crites will look this over and add correct what ever I missed. Kevin Custer
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Dissasembly of msr 2000 continuous duty amp. How?
Hi Kevin, The desense is a staticy reception of weaker signals( ie an HT at 25 miles) It had gotten worse as it started to affect strong signals too. If the transmitter was turned off, the repeater could hear just fine. Problem is intermittent and often followed a rainy day. We replaced EVERYTHING A UHF repeater on the same tower is unaffected. At this point we think the new antenna is failing. Tower sections have been bonded grounds improved etc etc In a message dated 8/8/2010 9:57:09 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, kug...@kuggie.com writes: _radi...@aol.rad_ (mailto:radi...@aol.com) wrote: Hi Kevin, I have confirmed that 2 of the 4 finals are bad. both are on one side of the push pull. Both open base connection One has collector to emitter short. The other open emitter. I have not yet checked the drivers I might be able to test them without removal. I have a friend trying to scare up a Mitrek Aside from the transistors which I know are hard to find, and the cooked 12 ohm resistors, Is there something else I need to look for? I doubt it. Usually the resistors go because of the imbalance from one or more of the transistors failing. I recommend replacing all of the output together with matched gain transistors, if you choose to repair the PA. We think it was an intermittent Duplexer or antenna issue that caused it to blow. We have since replaced the repeater, amp, and duplexer but a desense condition has returned after a few weeks. The antenna is a 4 bay folded dipole on a 100 foot tower. this Antenna replaced a Stationmaster only about 3 years ago. Tower is Rohn 45? guyed with Phillystrand. Thanks for your help. Marty What kind of desense? Does the repeater properly duplex on a known good dummy load? Kevin
[Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios
DOSBox (www.dosbox.com) is an x86 emulator with DOS. It works great for programming those radios that need old, slow PCs for the software. I use it on my MacBook dual booting into Windows 7 and using an IO Gear USB serial dongle on COM1. So far I've programmed a couple of Radius M1225's and a VXR-5000. A friend of mine has similar results with Windows XP on a 800Mhz PC with a real serial port. -- Tim
[Repeater-Builder] Re: Pager interference
Hi Mike, Since the pager is multi-channel, we were thinking of the DCI window filter on the pager. Then adding what ever else is needed on our ham receiver. On inverting either of the antennas, no chance. The paging antenna is an 8 bay that is about 40 feet in length. We'd have to drop 60 feet to get any vertical separation. Dwayne Kincaid WD8OYG --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Mike Morris wa6...@... wrote: The widow filter on the paging transmitter or on your repeater? DCI will do custom designs for special situations, and yours certainly qualifies. If the DCI is going on yours, make sure and plan ahead - I was told about a guy who had to add a DCI box to his system to keep out a new-to-the-site NOAA transmitter and since he wasn't paying for it he made sure to include in the specs that it would not affect anything in 144-148 Mhz rather than just his 2m pair - just in case he had to change frequencies down the road or he wanted to sell it. Another thought - any chance of inverting one of the antennas? (i.e. let the paging antenna sit above the crossmember and you suspend below the crossmember). Just getting your pattern a few feet below his might make enough dBs of difference and avoid the insertion loss of the DCI, and a few feet won't cost you THAT much coverage. One local system had a piece of pipe center-mounted to the tower, with the 440 antenna mounted to the top of it and going up, and the 2m antenna mounted to the bottom of it and going down. A high power 460 repeater was added and ended up on the adjacent tower position. The cure was to exchange the antenna positions - the 2m took the broadside and the 440 was below the pattern. Problem solved. Mike WA6ILQ At 01:33 PM 08/08/10, you wrote: Hi Mike, Excellent information. It's a new pager and it's a two channel system, no cans. We're the ham guys and have been there for about 5 years, but only as guests. Yes, there is a non-interference clause, but we do not want to go that route. We're all on good speaking terms (tower owner, ham group and pager guy) and since we're the guests, we'd like to help solve the problem (rather than just point fingers). The pager transmitter is running 100 watts to a 9 db antenna that points away from our 6db omni. I agree that we're probably getting only 10 to 15 db of isolation at 15 feet (yes, already checked the RB site). Moving either of the antennas is not really an option. It's only 170 feet and we both want the top (in flat-land Maryland). The DCI box on the pager looks like it will give about 40 db to our rx freq and we'll add a notch (40db) and a pass (30 db) to get the total to just over 100. We added the pass and notch last week and it work on all but the weak signals. So we're thinking a little window filter will take care of it. Dwayne Kincaid WD8OYG --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Mike Morris wa6ilq@ wrote: At 11:38 AM 08/07/10, you wrote: Hi, I've got a new pager issue that has come up on a tower where we have a VHF repeater. It's about 400 watts erp and 15 feet horizontal distance and 4.3 and 4.7 MHz away (it switches). I'm thinking of using one bp/br can that will have the notch wide enough to cover both channels and one pass can on our RX freq. I can also add more pass cans or something like the DCI window filter. The real question is where to these can go and in what order. We have a standard Q-202 duplexer that worked fine before the pager was put in. I'm thinking that the pager cans will go on the RX side of the duplexer, but does it matter if the pass goes on the duplexer side or the RX side of the bp/br can? I'm kinda thinking that it doesn't matter, but want to do it right in case it does. Dwayne Kincaid WD8OYG Is this a situation where the paging transmitter is a new install, or a situation where the paging company consolidated two transmitters, each a single frequency, into one that switches, or a new ham system install? If it's a new paging transmitter install, then 400 watts erp and 15 feet horizontal distance, is too damn close. Your antenna is broadside to its antenna and you have a nice coupling situation. It reminds me of a repeater that was located at an FM broadcast site, and we saw 35 (or so) watts of 90.7 MHz coming DOWN the ham feedline. The ham duplexer was nice and warm... If it's a consolidation I'll bet that the paging transmitter has no pass cavity, or any other filtering - if it ever had any it was probably removed in the consolidation. Digital paging transmitters use square wave modulation and are DIRTY when they have no filtering and local stories have it that the FCC has cited several consolidated transmitter systems. Paging companies are notorious for running overpower. One local situation had a license for 90w and they were
[Repeater-Builder] RE AGM batteries
Just to clarify what was said before about AGM batteries, when an AGM battery vents, it's because something is wrong. Either it was charged too fast or discharged too fast or it is in a condition called thermal runaway, which occurs when a battery is overheated. In an ordinary scenario, it is just fine. I would place it in a cabinet in most cases. In some instances though, it would make sense to have a separate container vented to the outside. It all depends on your appetite for risk, and how you are using and controlling the battery. Cell carriers will place them in the same cabinet as some very expensive electronics, When there is need for a lot of them (AGM batteries), and a separate cabinet makes sense.
[Repeater-Builder] Re: TKR-750 Crunchy/Grungy Weak Signal Audio
Bob - AF6D b...@... wrote: Why the grungy audio? Primary Suspects: 1. LMR Feed-line (gotta go) 2. Duplexer Alignment (verify with the proper test gear) 3. Repeater Pre-selector Alignment. How did the Dealer align the receiver front end? Most people use the peak for max signal method and that's not the best. I reliably work our local 2500ft repeater sites from 25 plus miles distance with a 200mW power setting on an HT inside the vehicle. If the signal is not reliable, I go looking for the reason(s) it is not. s. [the story] My 2 meter TKR has worked fine for about a year but has always had a problem on our frequent weak signals. We're a mountain community and CERT/RACES/ARES/Skywarn users are often on HT's. There are a couple of towers in the neighborhood at 6,400 feet over southern California (it's kewl living at a repeater site) and on my own gear I don't hear anything on a weak signal beyond the norm. But on the TKR it just sounds dirty. Grungy. Crunchy. There are commercial sites within one mile with high power paging but we've detected no intermod. We did have a bout were grungy audio was breaking PL and hanging until timeout. But that went away. The Wacom 6 cavity WP-642 is tuned dead on and offers excellent isolation and rejection (at a cost of 2-3dB loss on TX sigh). Another TKR user at a high elevation commercial site reports similar experiences. Yet another TKR owner reported that his is excellent and yes the audio is good. Just not for us on weak signals. He suggested perhaps an RFI issue but from where? Our installation is modest and constrained only by my lack of time and funds. My daughter is sick and I live in a hospital with her, so be gentle HI HI. The very large guard dog watches the house. The antenna is a Hustler G5-144 tuned with a MFJ 259, dead on and above the repeater through an insulated roof by about 30 feet. We have no desense. It is fed with LMR-400 just because I haven't put hard line on it. No preamps are installed. At 6,400 feet not much is needed. The receiver is .18uV. The TKR hears very well compared to my FT-847 with an antenna 20 feet lower. Why the grungy audio?
OT Re: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios
Finally - another Mac fan surfaces! :-) I have tried using DOSBox on our WinXP, however have had ZERO luck on the serial port recognition. Fromw hat I heard, the emulator will not recognize serial ports. Is that why you have resorted to the USB dongle? I cant remember if DOS ever recognized USB accessories. THats news to me! THanks for the tip! John Hymes La Rue Communications 10 S. Aurora Street Stockton, CA 95202 http://tinyurl.com/2dtngmn - Original Message - From: Tim - WD6AWP To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 7:02 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios DOSBox (www.dosbox.com) is an x86 emulator with DOS. It works great for programming those radios that need old, slow PCs for the software. I use it on my MacBook dual booting into Windows 7 and using an IO Gear USB serial dongle on COM1. So far I've programmed a couple of Radius M1225's and a VXR-5000. A friend of mine has similar results with Windows XP on a 800Mhz PC with a real serial port. -- Tim
Re: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios
Actually this is on topic. Tim - can you relay to me, how your friend has his serial port set up to work with his DOSBox? My efforts were in vain. I think perhaps my XP Machine is too fast and modern? Only a theory. John Hymes La Rue Communications 10 S. Aurora Street Stockton, CA 95202 http://tinyurl.com/2dtngmn - Original Message - From: Tim - WD6AWP To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 7:02 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios DOSBox (www.dosbox.com) is an x86 emulator with DOS. It works great for programming those radios that need old, slow PCs for the software. I use it on my MacBook dual booting into Windows 7 and using an IO Gear USB serial dongle on COM1. So far I've programmed a couple of Radius M1225's and a VXR-5000. A friend of mine has similar results with Windows XP on a 800Mhz PC with a real serial port. -- Tim
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: TKR-750 Crunchy/Grungy Weak Signal Audio
At 10:20 AM 8/9/2010, skipp025 wrote: 3. Repeater Pre-selector Alignment. How did the Dealer align the receiver front end? Most people use the peak for max signal method and that's not the best. I can't answer the rest but this I can. We used the SINAD method Ken -- President and CTO - Arcom Communications Makers of repeater controllers and accessories. http://www.arcomcontrollers.com/ Authorized Dealers for Kenwood and Telewave and we offer complete repeater packages! AH6LE/R - IRLP Node 3000 http://www.irlp.net We don't just make 'em. We use 'em!
Re: OT Re: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios
I think freedos has support for usb devices. It's an open source clone of dos. It works for programming some radios in my experience but I never tried the usb support for a usb-serial adapter. On Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 1:26 PM, La Rue Communications laruec...@gmail.comwrote: Finally - another Mac fan surfaces! :-) I have tried using DOSBox on our WinXP, however have had ZERO luck on the serial port recognition. Fromw hat I heard, the emulator will not recognize serial ports. Is that why you have resorted to the USB dongle? I cant remember if DOS ever recognized USB accessories. THats news to me! THanks for the tip! John Hymes La Rue Communications 10 S. Aurora Street Stockton, CA 95202 http://tinyurl.com/2dtngmn - Original Message - *From:* Tim - WD6AWP tisaw...@gmail.com *To:* Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com *Sent:* Monday, August 09, 2010 7:02 AM *Subject:* [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios DOSBox (www.dosbox.com) is an x86 emulator with DOS. It works great for programming those radios that need old, slow PCs for the software. I use it on my MacBook dual booting into Windows 7 and using an IO Gear USB serial dongle on COM1. So far I've programmed a couple of Radius M1225's and a VXR-5000. A friend of mine has similar results with Windows XP on a 800Mhz PC with a real serial port. -- Tim
[Repeater-Builder] Re: TKR-750 Crunchy/Grungy Weak Signal Audio
Repeater Pre-selector Alignment. How did the Dealer align the receiver front end? Most people use the peak for max signal method and that's not the best. We used the SINAD method There's a sample port in the receiver front-end for use with a tracking spectrum analyzer. The results of the Sinad Method are sometimes less than optimal. s.
OT Re: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios
If your computer will boot to a Thumb Drive, configure the thumb drive to boot dos and run from the external drive when you want to program legacy radios. I don't even bother to slow my fast laptop down when programming old radios (Syntors, etc). But some software only works well when you disable the processor internal cache, which I do with a simple (free) utility. So the same latest and greatest laptop can do both XP ( newer) and boot/run the old stuff. s. La Rue Communications laruec...@... wrote: Finally - another Mac fan surfaces! :-) I have tried using DOSBox on our WinXP, however have had ZERO luck on the serial port recognition. Fromw hat I heard, the emulator will not recognize serial ports. Is that why you have resorted to the USB dongle? I cant remember if DOS ever recognized USB accessories. THats news to me! THanks for the tip! John Hymes La Rue Communications 10 S. Aurora Street Stockton, CA 95202 http://tinyurl.com/2dtngmn - Original Message - From: Tim - WD6AWP To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 7:02 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios DOSBox (www.dosbox.com) is an x86 emulator with DOS. It works great for programming those radios that need old, slow PCs for the software. I use it on my MacBook dual booting into Windows 7 and using an IO Gear USB serial dongle on COM1. So far I've programmed a couple of Radius M1225's and a VXR-5000. A friend of mine has similar results with Windows XP on a 800Mhz PC with a real serial port. -- Tim
[Repeater-Builder] Re: TKR-750 Crunchy/Grungy Weak Signal Audio
No, they use hard line. Other suggestions is a repeater output 15KHz off of our input that is pulling the receive over. I've got hard line just no time. We were buried under snow for months and then when it cleared my daughter started chemo. No time. But I'll have to make time. --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Chuck Kelsey wb2...@... wrote: Probably the LMR-400 cable is the cause. Well documented and discussed here regularly. Are the other repeaters with the same problem also using the same type cable? Chuck WB2EDV - Original Message - From: Bob - AF6D b...@... To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 4:46 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] TKR-750 Crunchy/Grungy Weak Signal Audio My 2 meter TKR has worked fine for about a year but has always had a problem on our frequent weak signals. We're a mountain community and CERT/RACES/ARES/Skywarn users are often on HT's. There are a couple of towers in the neighborhood at 6,400 feet over southern California (it's kewl living at a repeater site) and on my own gear I don't hear anything on a weak signal beyond the norm. But on the TKR it just sounds dirty. Grungy. Crunchy. There are commercial sites within one mile with high power paging but we've detected no intermod. We did have a bout were grungy audio was breaking PL and hanging until timeout. But that went away. The Wacom 6 cavity WP-642 is tuned dead on and offers excellent isolation and rejection (at a cost of 2-3dB loss on TX sigh). Another TKR user at a high elevation commercial site reports similar experiences. Yet another TKR owner reported that his is excellent and yes the audio is good. Just not for us on weak signals. He suggested perhaps an RFI issue but from where? Our installation is modest and constrained only by my lack of time and funds. My daughter is sick and I live in a hospital with her, so be gentle HI HI. The very large guard dog watches the house. The antenna is a Hustler G5-144 tuned with a MFJ 259, dead on and above the repeater through an insulated roof by about 30 feet. We have no desense. It is fed with LMR-400 just because I haven't put hard line on it. No preamps are installed. At 6,400 feet not much is needed. The receiver is .18uV. The TKR hears very well compared to my FT-847 with an antenna 20 feet lower. Why the grungy audio? Yahoo! Groups Links No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3059 - Release Date: 08/08/10 13:57:00
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: TKR-750 Crunchy/Grungy Weak Signal Audio
I'd still start with changing the cable and getting all LMR-400 (or similar) out of the system - no jumpers, etc. There are people who will tell you that they've gotten away using this type of cable, but the manufacturers admit it's not a low PIM cable. And I've seen it cause problems time and time again. If it's not the problem now, it likely will be later. Chuck WB2EDV - Original Message - From: Bob - AF6D b...@af6d.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 2:10 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: TKR-750 Crunchy/Grungy Weak Signal Audio No, they use hard line. Other suggestions is a repeater output 15KHz off of our input that is pulling the receive over. I've got hard line just no time. We were buried under snow for months and then when it cleared my daughter started chemo. No time. But I'll have to make time. --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Chuck Kelsey wb2...@... wrote: Probably the LMR-400 cable is the cause. Well documented and discussed here regularly. Are the other repeaters with the same problem also using the same type cable? Chuck WB2EDV
[Repeater-Builder] Can a KLN 6210A vibrasender be substituted for a KLN 6209A vibrasponder?
I have an MSR 2000 repeater that I want to change the PL frequency on. Does anyone know if a KLN 6210A vibrasender will work in place of a KLN 6209A vibrasponder on the MSR 2000 PL board? Curiously, Brian Henry, WB6QED
Re: [Repeater-Builder] RE AGM batteries
There should be a place on the battery from a small drain tube so that if it vents it can be directed outside the battery box... On 8/9/10, Doug Dickinson dougd...@yahoo.com wrote: Just to clarify what was said before about AGM batteries, when an AGM battery vents, it's because something is wrong. Either it was charged too fast or discharged too fast or it is in a condition called thermal runaway, which occurs when a battery is overheated. In an ordinary scenario, it is just fine. I would place it in a cabinet in most cases. In some instances though, it would make sense to have a separate container vented to the outside. It all depends on your appetite for risk, and how you are using and controlling the battery. Cell carriers will place them in the same cabinet as some very expensive electronics, When there is need for a lot of them (AGM batteries), and a separate cabinet makes sense.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Dissasembly of msr 2000 continuous duty amp. How?
radi...@aol.com wrote: Hi Kevin, The desense is a staticy reception of weaker signals( ie an HT at 25 miles) It had gotten worse as it started to affect strong signals too. If the transmitter was turned off, the repeater could hear just fine. Problem is intermittent and often followed a rainy day. We replaced EVERYTHING A UHF repeater on the same tower is unaffected. At this point we think the new antenna is failing. Tower sections have been bonded grounds improved etc etc To know whether or not the problem is the antenna system, do a desensitization test directly at the antenna port of the duplexer using a good load and a lossy tee or other acceptable method like a coupler slug installed into the Bird Watt meter. If you don't know how to perform a desense test, there are several articles on the website that will assist you. If this proves good, then you have more work to do on the outside. Let us know... Kevin
Re: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios
Tim, Is this freeware, or is there a charge for the software? I looked at the web site and couldn't determine what was what as it had an account / login area. There are so many areas to download from with different OS. I'm using x/p pro and I see that there is a windows download; does this cover all flavors of windows OS? Also, do you have any experience programming MTS 2000 radios using this software? TIA for your reply. 73, Don, KD9PT - Original Message - From: Tim - WD6AWP To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 9:02 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios DOSBox (www.dosbox.com) is an x86 emulator with DOS. It works great for programming those radios that need old, slow PCs for the software. I use it on my MacBook dual booting into Windows 7 and using an IO Gear USB serial dongle on COM1. So far I've programmed a couple of Radius M1225's and a VXR-5000. A friend of mine has similar results with Windows XP on a 800Mhz PC with a real serial port. -- Tim
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: TKR-750 Crunchy/Grungy Weak Signal Audio
Is there a write up on the procedure somewhere or could you explain it here? -- Tim :wq On Aug 9, 2010, at 10:20 AM, skipp025 wrote: 3. Repeater Pre-selector Alignment. How did the Dealer align the receiver front end? Most people use the peak for max signal method and that's not the best.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios
Its Freeware. Most software / Freeware vendors require a free (usually) account to download their software. John Hymes La Rue Communications 10 S. Aurora Street Stockton, CA 95202 http://tinyurl.com/2dtngmn - Original Message - From: Don Kupferschmidt To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 3:23 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios Tim, Is this freeware, or is there a charge for the software? I looked at the web site and couldn't determine what was what as it had an account / login area. There are so many areas to download from with different OS. I'm using x/p pro and I see that there is a windows download; does this cover all flavors of windows OS? Also, do you have any experience programming MTS 2000 radios using this software? TIA for your reply. 73, Don, KD9PT - Original Message - From: Tim - WD6AWP To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 9:02 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios DOSBox (www.dosbox.com) is an x86 emulator with DOS. It works great for programming those radios that need old, slow PCs for the software. I use it on my MacBook dual booting into Windows 7 and using an IO Gear USB serial dongle on COM1. So far I've programmed a couple of Radius M1225's and a VXR-5000. A friend of mine has similar results with Windows XP on a 800Mhz PC with a real serial port. -- Tim
Re: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios
Sorry Don - Hit send too soon. It should cover all flavors of *EDITORIAL* WinBlows *END EDITORIAL*. The link below is a direct link to the XP download, where I got mine. http://sourceforge.net/projects/dosbox/files/dosbox/0.74/DOSBox0.74-win32-installer.exe/download Good luck! John Hymes La Rue Communications 10 S. Aurora Street Stockton, CA 95202 http://tinyurl.com/2dtngmn - Original Message - From: Don Kupferschmidt To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 3:23 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios Tim, Is this freeware, or is there a charge for the software? I looked at the web site and couldn't determine what was what as it had an account / login area. There are so many areas to download from with different OS. I'm using x/p pro and I see that there is a windows download; does this cover all flavors of windows OS? Also, do you have any experience programming MTS 2000 radios using this software? TIA for your reply. 73, Don, KD9PT - Original Message - From: Tim - WD6AWP To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 9:02 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios DOSBox (www.dosbox.com) is an x86 emulator with DOS. It works great for programming those radios that need old, slow PCs for the software. I use it on my MacBook dual booting into Windows 7 and using an IO Gear USB serial dongle on COM1. So far I've programmed a couple of Radius M1225's and a VXR-5000. A friend of mine has similar results with Windows XP on a 800Mhz PC with a real serial port. -- Tim
Re: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios
Hey John, All you have to do is edit the configuration file. You see the location of the configuration file when DOSBox starts. There are pretty plain comments in there as to how to set it up. Going from memory it was something like this: serial1 = directconnect realport:com1 -- Tim :wq On Aug 9, 2010, at 10:28 AM, La Rue Communications wrote: Actually this is on topic. Tim - can you relay to me, how your friend has his serial port set up to work with his DOSBox? My efforts were in vain. I think perhaps my XP Machine is too fast and modern? Only a theory. John Hymes La Rue Communications 10 S. Aurora Street Stockton, CA 95202 http://tinyurl.com/2dtngmn - Original Message - From: Tim - WD6AWP To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 7:02 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios DOSBox (www.dosbox.com) is an x86 emulator with DOS. It works great for programming those radios that need old, slow PCs for the software. I use it on my MacBook dual booting into Windows 7 and using an IO Gear USB serial dongle on COM1. So far I've programmed a couple of Radius M1225's and a VXR-5000. A friend of mine has similar results with Windows XP on a 800Mhz PC with a real serial port. -- Tim
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Can a KLN 6210A vibrasender be substituted for a KLN 6209A vibrasponder?
Brian, Yes, probably. The coils have different impedances, and the armatures have different masses, but they are close enough that in most cases they are interchangeable. That said, Motorola did make them different for a reason- most likely that one was more sensitive as a vibrasponder, and the other worked better as a vibrasender. I recommend that you use the specified part for optimum performance. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Brian J. Henry Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 11:34 AM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Can a KLN 6210A vibrasender be substituted for a KLN 6209A vibrasponder? I have an MSR 2000 repeater that I want to change the PL frequency on. Does anyone know if a KLN 6210A vibrasender will work in place of a KLN 6209A vibrasponder on the MSR 2000 PL board? Curiously, Brian Henry, WB6QED
[Repeater-Builder] Re: Mystery Micor problem
Glenn, Is it safe to say look in the channel element for the bad cap ? Tempeture is not a issue with this unit it was in a heated and A/C garage kept about 65-80 degrees with dehumdifer. I am glad the new site is climate controlled also. Ryan n3ssl --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Glenn Little WB4UIV glennmaill...@... wrote: We had this problem in Johnson radios. What it turned out to be was a plate of a silver mica capacitor coming disconnected internally in the capacitor. This caused the capacitor to shift to a lower capacitance by the amount that the plate contributed to the capacitor. The lower capacitance caused the radio frequency to shift high and outside the tuning range of the netting device. I cannot tell you what capacitor has failed. Check the silver mica capacitors in the tuning circuit and replace the one that is low in value. I also have not been in a Micor element in many years. Hope this helps. This appears to be a somewhat common failure for silver mica capacitor due to the way the capacitor is physically constructed. 73 Glenn WB4UIV At 09:09 PM 8/8/2010, you wrote: Glenn, OZ and group Its a step jump 5 khz up and get - 200 hz of crystal movment. What silver mica Cap is it? I have not looked inside a channel element in years usally send them out and trust the mfg. I also gave the crystal movement a thought but was is a temp controlled enviroment. Ryan --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Glenn Little WB4UIV glennmaillist@ wrote: Was the shift a drift or a step jump? If a step jump, you probably have a bad silver mica capacitor. 73 Glenn WB4UIV At 04:23 PM 8/8/2010, you wrote: Hi Group, I have a Micor mobile set up as repeater. Worked great and was on frequency for over 8 years no problems.(lost rpt site May 2010) and have a new site to get on.The problem i am having is the TX drifted 5 khz up on TX from 145.310 to 145.315. I get plenty of deviation and audio drive and 9.6 v to crystal element. I am not having any luck messing with Netting adjustment i get -200 hz max. I also have a UHF Rx unit for control installed and it is 10khz low on frequency. The 144.710 RX crystal is right on the money for specs. Very odd situation. anyone have ideas where to check or a fluke the crystals are both bad. Ryan n3ssl Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links
[Repeater-Builder] Genesis MVA repair
Hey guys. It looks like some magic smoke came out of my convertacom the other day. While I was sitting in traffic the smoke literally came rolling out of it. After taking things apart, it appears that one of the large 1500uF capacitors in the switching supply of the unit went bad. I can fix that no problem. I just wanted to ask you guys if you thought that there might be anything else I would look at while I had the unit apart. I would hate to get it all back together and find out it was another problem. For the sake of providing further details, the control section of the MVA seems fine. It seems that the charging section has been the most effected. I don't see anything else burnt or damaged. My greatest concern is U1 which is a UC 2843N. In preparation of this also being a bad component, I have been looking for a replacement and haven't had any luck. Any thoughts or comments? Albert KI4ORI
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Mirage B-320-G as a Repeater Amp
Before adding a Mirage 320 our TKR 750 was putting out 50 watts into a 6 cavity Wacom WP-642 at the cost of 2-3dB loss on TX (as the spec sheet said.) The cans are tuned right on the money and the Hustler G5-144 fed with LMR-400 is 1.1:1. I'm guessing that's a G6...? This has worked for over a year just fine (except for grungy weak signal audio.) Is that grungy weak signal audio with the repeater transmitter keyed, unkeyed, or both? Now add the Mirage B-320-G 200 watt amplifier. Egads. If you have problems without a high-power amplifier, seems only prudent that you should deal with those issues first... Unless I'm mistaken, the B-320G isn't a continuous-duty amp, is it? But as soon as we tune it all up and connect it to the duplexer the Mirage SWR/Drive trips and the amp goes to sleep. A SWR meter between the repeater and the amp shows 1.1:1. The amp to the duplexer shows 1.1:1. How do you know the VSWR is 1.1:1 between the PA and the duplexer if the amp shuts down before you can measure it? In other words, how do you know the amp isn't shutting down because it's going spurious, resulting in high reflected power coming back from the duplexer, tripping the VSWR overload? At the risk of disparaging a particular manufacturer in a public forum, my experience with Mirage repeater amps has been horrific. I wouldn't expect the results of one of their non-repeater amps pressed into repeater service to be any better... Before we go spelunking into the dark underworld of making your Mirage play nice, let's work on fixing your original noise problem. Start by answering the above questions and we can go from there... And for the love of John, get rid of the LMR400 before this turns into a Holy War. --- Jeff WN3A
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Mystery Micor problem
If you have another channel element that has a crystal, I would use it to determine if the problem is in the radio or the element. I suspect that the bad capacitor is in the element. What is the part number of the channel element? 73 Glenn WB4UIV At 10:03 PM 8/9/2010, you wrote: Glenn, Is it safe to say look in the channel element for the bad cap ? Tempeture is not a issue with this unit it was in a heated and A/C garage kept about 65-80 degrees with dehumdifer. I am glad the new site is climate controlled also. Ryan n3ssl --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Glenn Little WB4UIV glennmaill...@... wrote: We had this problem in Johnson radios. What it turned out to be was a plate of a silver mica capacitor coming disconnected internally in the capacitor. This caused the capacitor to shift to a lower capacitance by the amount that the plate contributed to the capacitor. The lower capacitance caused the radio frequency to shift high and outside the tuning range of the netting device. I cannot tell you what capacitor has failed. Check the silver mica capacitors in the tuning circuit and replace the one that is low in value. I also have not been in a Micor element in many years. Hope this helps. This appears to be a somewhat common failure for silver mica capacitor due to the way the capacitor is physically constructed. 73 Glenn WB4UIV At 09:09 PM 8/8/2010, you wrote: Glenn, OZ and group Its a step jump 5 khz up and get - 200 hz of crystal movment. What silver mica Cap is it? I have not looked inside a channel element in years usally send them out and trust the mfg. I also gave the crystal movement a thought but was is a temp controlled enviroment. Ryan --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Glenn Little WB4UIV glennmaillist@ wrote: Was the shift a drift or a step jump? If a step jump, you probably have a bad silver mica capacitor. 73 Glenn WB4UIV At 04:23 PM 8/8/2010, you wrote: Hi Group, I have a Micor mobile set up as repeater. Worked great and was on frequency for over 8 years no problems.(lost rpt site May 2010) and have a new site to get on.The problem i am having is the TX drifted 5 khz up on TX from 145.310 to 145.315. I get plenty of deviation and audio drive and 9.6 v to crystal element. I am not having any luck messing with Netting adjustment i get -200 hz max. I also have a UHF Rx unit for control installed and it is 10khz low on frequency. The 144.710 RX crystal is right on the money for specs. Very odd situation. anyone have ideas where to check or a fluke the crystals are both bad. Ryan n3ssl Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links
[Repeater-Builder] 3 repeater link system
just want to ask the group any idea on how you would do this link the simplest and the easiest way, due to budget constraint. purely conventional voice communication. is it possible to do this using a single channel on the user end for the entire system? existing repeater system are 3 cdr 500 motorola vhf using basic rick controller. thanks in advance.
Re: OT Re: [Repeater-Builder] DOSBox to Program Radios
What's the name of that little jewel Thanks, John skipp025 wrote: I don't even bother to slow my fast laptop down when programming old radios (Syntors, etc). But some software only works well when you disable the processor internal cache, which I do with a simple (free) utility.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Dissasembly of msr 2000 continuous duty amp. How?
Hi, Juts a thought: Sometimes certain antennas have a drain plug at the bottom and sometime one at the top. You should remove the drain plug at the bottom for normal mounting or the one at the top for inverted mounting.If you don't water can ingress, then can't escape and build up.Another thing to check is the connector sealing. Peter On Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 4:49 PM, Kevin Custer kug...@kuggie.com wrote: radi...@aol.com wrote: Hi Kevin, The desense is a staticy reception of weaker signals( ie an HT at 25 miles) It had gotten worse as it started to affect strong signals too. If the transmitter was turned off, the repeater could hear just fine. Problem is intermittent and often followed a rainy day. We replaced EVERYTHING A UHF repeater on the same tower is unaffected. At this point we think the new antenna is failing. Tower sections have been bonded grounds improved etc etc To know whether or not the problem is the antenna system, do a desensitization test directly at the antenna port of the duplexer using a good load and a lossy tee or other acceptable method like a coupler slug installed into the Bird Watt meter. If you don't know how to perform a desense test, there are several articles on the website that will assist you. If this proves good, then you have more work to do on the outside. Let us know... Kevin
[Repeater-Builder] Re: 3 repeater link system
In answer to your question is it possible to do this on one user frequency, the best answer that I have right now with the information supplied is maybe. I can tell you from experience that depending on how much coverage overlap there is from your three sites, doing this on one user frequency most likely will not be simple nor cheap. I think it would be easier to answer your question if we have a little more information about your system layout. Are these VHF or UHF repeaters and how far apart are they from each other. If you can give us a little more information, we can give you a better idea what you are up against. Joe - WA7JAW --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, olan olan_...@... wrote: just want to ask the group any idea on how you would do this link the simplest and the easiest way, due to budget constraint. purely conventional voice communication. is it possible to do this using a single channel on the user end for the entire system? existing repeater system are 3 cdr 500 motorola vhf using basic rick controller. thanks in advance.
[Repeater-Builder] Re: Mirage B-320-G as a Repeater Amp
The grungy audio isn't related to the amp. The TKR may be turned down to 20-30 watts and not trip the amp. The amp may easily be made continuous duty by driving it at a lower level and adding fans and blowing on it from an inch or so away, or by sucking on it. I like to use two 6 fans and they keep the amp cool. The 320 has its own fan on the bottom that pulls air in. We know that the repeater, amp and antenna play nicely and show a 1.1:1 SWR. It's just the duplexer and it appears that the tuning was not done based on the reference I was given earlier. We tuned for maximum output and isolation. Yes, it's a G6-144 and I typed in a state of near exhaustion. I'm living in a children's hospital with a seriously ill daughter. The LMR will go when the antenna is replaced with either a DB-224 or a Telewave before first snow. As I've indicated time is not on my side at the moment but I have time to ask questions of more experienced repeater operators and learn whiloe sitting here. --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Jeff DePolo j...@... wrote: Before adding a Mirage 320 our TKR 750 was putting out 50 watts into a 6 cavity Wacom WP-642 at the cost of 2-3dB loss on TX (as the spec sheet said.) The cans are tuned right on the money and the Hustler G5-144 fed with LMR-400 is 1.1:1. I'm guessing that's a G6...? This has worked for over a year just fine (except for grungy weak signal audio.) Is that grungy weak signal audio with the repeater transmitter keyed, unkeyed, or both? Now add the Mirage B-320-G 200 watt amplifier. Egads. If you have problems without a high-power amplifier, seems only prudent that you should deal with those issues first... Unless I'm mistaken, the B-320G isn't a continuous-duty amp, is it? But as soon as we tune it all up and connect it to the duplexer the Mirage SWR/Drive trips and the amp goes to sleep. A SWR meter between the repeater and the amp shows 1.1:1. The amp to the duplexer shows 1.1:1. How do you know the VSWR is 1.1:1 between the PA and the duplexer if the amp shuts down before you can measure it? In other words, how do you know the amp isn't shutting down because it's going spurious, resulting in high reflected power coming back from the duplexer, tripping the VSWR overload? At the risk of disparaging a particular manufacturer in a public forum, my experience with Mirage repeater amps has been horrific. I wouldn't expect the results of one of their non-repeater amps pressed into repeater service to be any better... Before we go spelunking into the dark underworld of making your Mirage play nice, let's work on fixing your original noise problem. Start by answering the above questions and we can go from there... And for the love of John, get rid of the LMR400 before this turns into a Holy War. --- Jeff WN3A
