Jordan, Mark, et al, I have a some of information on the subject of using the Motorola Spectra-TAC voter in a non-Motorola environment. Unfortunately, this information exists in many emails and is not a complete representation of all of the concepts that were discussed in a past thread. That being said, I will offer to either forward the emails I have or make a web page (as hap-hazard as it may be) to convey the information I gathered on the subject.
Since I never completed the voter project I set out to do, it is only information and guidelines and won't be the detailed conversion article I would rather it be. Let me know and I'll put something together... Kevin Custer N9WYS wrote: > Jordan, > > You are correct when you say that, in *standard* configuration, they do > require a 100% status tone on the line. HOWEVER, there was a discussion a > while back about using the SpectraTAC system and modifying it so you didn't > need the status tone to vote... but I can't find where that was right now. > If my memory serves me (and at times, it doesn't <grin>) the mod wasn't all > that involved. > > I use a SpectraTAC system on my 444.550 machine, but I also have a definite > advantage in that the county where the repeater is located is allowing me to > use up to three voice channels on their microwave backbone (MUX?) to bring > remote RX audio back to the comparator at main repeater. So I'm using the > status tone. ;-) > > I only experienced two issues with my system - power supply failures in the > receivers (I've had to rebuild two of them so far), and SQM cards. This is > probably due to the fact that this came out of an old VHF Low band system > that was in use since the early 70's. (And yes, I did convert the receivers > over to UHF with different RX boards. "Plug and play" for the most part...) > > The replacement electrolytic caps (23D83093G13) I received from Motorola > were substantially larger (physically) than the ones that came out of the > old power supply, so I had to modify the receiver cabinet (cut a notch) so > the supply would go back into the cabinet after the repair. But there isn't > even a HINT of AC in with the DC voltage now. (Saw 0.9VAC on the 13.8VDC > before the repair... caused the status tone to vary all over the place.) > hehehehe > > I've also rebuilt five of my SQMs - I had a total of six altogether - so I > now have what I hope will be good spares... Had to replace the 3 > electrolytic caps on the boards - the electrolyte was actually coming out of > the ends of the caps. Check them - the "aging" effects will be visible. > (Or at least they were to me...) > > One caution - I was told by a Motorola tech NOT to "mess around with" (i.e., > replace) the one 2% tolerance cap the board. Apparently changing it can > wreak havoc in trying to get the card working properly again if you don't > get the exact same value. > > Interfacing it to my Kenwood TKR-820 repeater was a bit of a challenge, but > has been successfully done - thanks to the assistance of those here on the > list. > > Good luck - and I'm sure someone here will be able to remember the > discussion about the modification better than I. > > Sorry... > 73 de Mark - N9WYS > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com On Behalf Of twoway_tech > > Has anyone had much luck with a specra tac voter? I found one at a > good price, but I was wanting to know if it would be worth messing > with for my amateur repeater. I was told that they require a 100% > transmit on the links, but someone else also told me that they could > be used normally as well. (when a remote receives a signal, the link > keys up) > > Any info at all would be appreciated. > > Thanks, > > Jordan
