Re: [Repeater-Builder] Off Topic
We think that *IF* we can find a way to load Win98 via floppy, we can get it to recognize the drive, but for now, the CD is unusable. Problem is, Win98 is 200+ MB... That's over 200 floppies!!! *OR* we need the Win95 device driver for the CD drive. You have two easy alternatives: - Take the HD off and use an external HD enclosure to load up the disks of W98 in a dir. I usually create a dir called win98 and copy all files there. In www.dealextreme.com you can find an enclousre for less than 10 dollars. - Use a parallel laplink cable to load the files thru the parallel port (faster than serial) Does the laptop have a USB port?
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Repeater controller to be used with MSF5000
Not only am I cheap, I'm lazy. Building something takes time. I was mainly interested in a product I could buy that just needed power, incoming audio, and a set of dry contacts that could be stuck inside the MSF5000 cabinet and be ready to use in a matter of minutes. I have that, but in Brazil :o)
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: OT- Digital TV converter box issues
At the risk of dragging this OT thread out a little further, I have a tech question. I need to order a number of converter boxes to use as emergency alert system (EAS) receivers (just using the left/right audio outputs, don't care about video). I need to find boxes that will power up automatically, i.e. if there is a power failure, I need to make sure the box comes on automatically when power is restored, and that it's on the same channel it was on prior to the power failure. I'm guessing most converters have soft power switches, and probably most don't remember what state they were in after a power failure (i.e. on or off), but maybe some remember which channel they were on. Anyone know of any boxes that meet the above two requirements? Jeff, you can do that with a $3 microcontroller easily. PVT me if you need some help.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: OT- Digital TV converter box issues
If you're hinting at sending IR to turn the box on, and change to the desired channel, after the power failure, I thought of that, but I'm looking for an off-the-shelf solution. This is something that needs to be done only once (for all the boxes) and replicated. If you need any help anyways, I'm here to help :o)
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Vertex FTL-1011H CE7 Software Q's
Anybody have a clue as to how to hack the CE7 software for the FTL-1011H 99 channel radio? I have a low split low band model that I would like to use on 10 meters. The low frequency limit is set to 29.7mhz right now. I have been through the software with a hex editor, but can't seem to locate that parameter. Any help appreciated, thanks! The old trick of entering the frequency with SHIFT pressed (only for the numbers, not for the decimal point) doesn't work? :oO
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Used Outdoor Repeater Cabinets?
Does anyone know of any sources for used outdoor repeater cabinets? I've gotten permission from a local tower owner to locate an amateur repeater on their tower but one of the stipulations was no access to the existing equipment room. After a quick search of Tessco I see the cheapest outdoor enclosure is going for around $2k. Does anyone know where one could be found for cheap? Any information is greatly appreciated, thanks. Alex, may I send you by e-mail some photos of a very cheap (to buy and to make) enclosure I'm used to use?
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Need SWR meter recomendation (Bird 43)
In using the Bird 43 outside the bandpass listed on the slug, I have found that the meter works very well for tuning an antenna for minimum SWR. The power readings on the meter are just not accurate when the frequency being measured is outside the slug bandwidth. I have not gone all the way down to HF to make a comparison, since I have some HF slugs, but the variety of VHF/UHF slugs I have work fine to tell me that something is wrong with an antenna or feedline, or even a Z Matcher adjustment when used out of band. You just can't record the power readings as actual. === BTW I could use a 100W VHF and a 1000W 2-30MHz slug here in Brazil :) If someone has a spare willing to sell for a cheap price...Remember I'm a poor third worlder who lives with monkeys on street :oD Greetz :) Pu1BZZ Alexandre
Re: [Repeater-Builder] We all Love Super 33+ - Was Antenna connectors sealing instructions
Whomever locates the best price, post it here. I've always purchased at an electrical supply house and get a box of ten rolls at a time for a slightly better price. The first box I bought was somewhere around $18.50, so you can see I've been purchasing it for a long time. I'm curious if this is the same scotch tape I see in Brazil. I'll try to order a pack to experiment here ;o)
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Registered Sex Offenders
All applications for station licenses, or modifications or renewals thereof, shall set forth such facts as the Commission by regulation may prescribe as to the citizenship, character, and financial, technical, and other qualifications of the applicant to operate the station;. Financial? It means that if someone hasn't enough money to be a ham, he cannot be? :oO
Re: [Repeater-Builder]SCOM 7330 Question
Ken, my problem is that when a company sells me something that turns out to be totally useless and then fails to offer any solution or compensation, it is hard for me to have any confidence in their products. Talk this way to Intel, Nvidia, AMD, ATI or any PC manufacturer? :o) Greetz from Brazil Alexandre Souza PU1BZZ
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Unknow Radio - Anyone can help?
Can you post a photo or two of the interior ? I don't have it, but you can take a look at the schematics on http://www.msxpro.com/py2bbs/esquemateca.php It is the last schematic, the Unitel Patrulheiro III Greetz from Brazil Alexandre - PU1BZZ
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Unknow Radio - Anyone can help?
I went to the site and downloaded the zip file. Figure 8 in the PDF document is a photograph of the interior. I compared that photo to a similar photo in my low-band Mocom-70 manual, and they appear to be identical. While there may be minor circuitry differences to satisfy regulatory requirements of Brazil, the radio in question appears to be a Mocom-70. Thanks Eric, now I have a path to follow :o) Greetz from Brazil Alexandre - PU1BZZ
[Repeater-Builder] Unknow Radio - Anyone can help?
Just uploaded the cover of a brazilian motorola radio to the files area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/files/unitel_p3_450-470mhz-00.gif Can anyone help me to identify this radio? I'm most sure this is an american radio with the made in Brazil sticker :o) Thanks Alexandre Souza (I'll build a repeater...I'll build a repeater...I'll...)
[Repeater-Builder] Hard times, hard place (or: Building a small repeater in Brazil)
Hi you all, here PU1BZZ Alexandre, from Brazil Ok, The repeater builder is a great site (and a BIG thanks for all involved, I donated and encourage all to donate at least a dollar. If all of us donate 10 dollars/month to the sites who help us, what a great net this would be, what is 10 dollars in your monthly income?). But I have some special needs I haven't seen in repeater builder, so I came to ask you: How to build a small group repeater in a very tight budget? I'll try to explain Brazil to the ones who doesn't know it: We cannot afford to import duplexers. The raw material to build it is expensive and hard to come by. Also, hardlines are a no-no-buy here. Forget connectors to be used in hardlines. So, how does we build a repeater? We have a small repeater of our local amateur group. This is a radio (yes, ONE radio) with TX and RX stages separated, two antenna outputs, one mast, one antenna on top (RX) and one antenna on the middle of the mast (TX). No grounding, no duplexer, no special measures. Of course, this is way beyond what I can do, but I need to know better what to do. So I have some questions, and these questions could become a tutorial on repeater builder: How to build a thigh-budget-repeater - What is the vertical (or / and horizontal) separations of the antennas? How can I determine the separations, with the sensibility of my reciver and the power output of my transmitter? - In a tower (we got a 6-meters tower to be installed on repeater site soon), how is the RIGHT way to ground it? I have a franklin lightining arrestor. Should I put it on top or on the side of the tower? If it goes on top, where do I put my antenna(s)? - Having a tx and a rx one near another, I'll have enough RF leakage to have desense on RX? - How can I determine the coverage of the repeater? Is there a SAFE computacional way to do that, or will I need to take my car and taking measurements around the 'peater perimeter? - Any homebrew methods to make a repeater SAFE from lightning? A pair of gilettes, one connected to the coaxial hot wire and another to the ground is said to work, but what are the collateral effects? Will it cause arcing from the TX to ground? - Any tips I should follow? Of course, you don't need to say a duplexer would be better, use poly*, have a better budget, buy better radios and like. I do know all of that, but we DON'T have a way to buy a duplexer, poly* and better radios :o) Thanks a lot, Alexandre PU1BZZ (and yes, I take lemonnade from a rock, that is the way things works in Brazil :o))
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Duplexer cables
(It's easier to see this than to describe it in e-mail. Maybe someone will send some screen-shots of what it looks like someday... I've tried taking photos of my IFR 1500 with my cheap digital camera (4MP point-and-shoot Nikon) and it just doesn't look right. Each message I read makes me more sure I have lots and lots yet to learn before I think I understand duplexers :o) And this is something I NEED to learn. Duplexers are almost impossible to be bought in Brazil. I need to learn how to make them, and how to tune them :oP Ah, United States, Why I wasn't born there?! Greetings from a sunny Brazil Alexandre - PU1BZZ
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Duplexer cables
For RG214 which has a velocity factor of 0.66 at 147 the cables would be about 13.25 inches. Now the type of connectors can influence this in that the connector type might lengthen the cable. N-connectors protude beyond the cable where PL259s do not. Now there is an intersting question from a kind of newbie: Connectors crimped/solded, where does you measure the total lenght of the set (cable + connectors)? On the base? Middle? where?
[Repeater-Builder] FT-5200 parts
Dear sirs, Got a FT5200 with lots of defects. I fixed everything but the 440 RX. To make it a useable radio, I need the following parts: - Encoder from front panel - Got it already without the encoder - Knob of the same encoder - Complete plastic box of the detachable front - I can somehow fix the front part, but the back which connects to the radio is in very bad shape - The small part with the 6 contact fingers who sits on the radio (not the detachable front) Of course, a new motherboard or a complete radio without the power module would also help. Help a third worlder save an otherwise totalled radio ;o) Greetings from Brazil PU1BZZ - Alexandre
Re: [Repeater-Builder] FT-5200 parts
Update: 144 and 440 MHz working like a charm! Now I just need plastic parts and a encoder to make it like new :o) Dear sirs, Got a FT5200 with lots of defects. I fixed everything but the 440 RX. To make it a useable radio, I need the following parts: - Encoder from front panel - Got it already without the encoder - Knob of the same encoder - Complete plastic box of the detachable front - I can somehow fix the front part, but the back which connects to the radio is in very bad shape - The small part with the 6 contact fingers who sits on the radio (not the detachable front) Of course, a new motherboard or a complete radio without the power module would also help. Help a third worlder save an otherwise totalled radio ;o) Greetings from Brazil PU1BZZ - Alexandre Yahoo! Groups Links No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.5.3/1564 - Release Date: 21/7/2008 06:42
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: software repeater controller
two words come to mind when recalling the VIC's 'syntax error'AAAHH ! Mine is fried...I need a parts donor, the PLA went south :(
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: software repeater controller
For multiple audio ports these days I'd recommend using USB audio devices. ISA slots are way gone and PCI slots aren't far behind. For an embedded PC controlling radios 24/7 you want something small, quiet and low power, most form factors that fit that description usually have few if any PCI slots. A PC controlling a repeater?!?!?! What is the problem of using a small microcontroller, with some BASIC programming??? You are using a cannon to kill a microbe he he he
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: software repeater controller
Not at all. Using a PC to control a repeater as complex as the system here with remotes etc. is a perfectly logical choice and allows nearly unlimited flexability. The original controller on the system here back in the mid 1980s was a Commodore VIC-20 :). Any young'ens remember those? A Vic-20 is wyy safer and more stable than a PC. I'd not trust my repeater to a PC. Of course, I have a extense background in microcontrollers. I do hope the one creating this controller make it safe :P Greetings from Brazil Pu1BZZ Alexandre
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Wanted to buy: Panasonic CF-25 laptop or equivalent for radio programming
Sorry - I should have mentioned that I plug the USB drive adapter into my desktop computer, which runs XP Pro. The Laptop isn't going to be operational without a hard drive, is it? Hard Drives? I use it no more on portable dos and like machines :D A CF card with a $3 adapter and I'm done! :oD
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Wanted to buy: Panasonic CF-25 laptop or equivalent for radio programmming
Subject says it all. Thought I had one lined up but the seller flaked. Need a CF-25 Toughbook or equivalent to program my MT-1000 and Spectras. Does it NEED to be a toughbook? I got nice results with DOS programs and the HP 1000CX (a trimmed-down version of the HP200LX). Why not try anything that runs DOS?
Re: [Repeater-Builder] mice at repeater sights
Anyone have some advice on getting rid of the little bastards and keeping them away? Brazilian recipe: Mix something tasteful (in Brazil we use Fubá which is a kind of flour made of corn) with cement. Lots of fubá, and some 20-30% of cement. They will eat and the cement will petrify on their stomachs :o) They love it O:o)
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Sunday at Dayton - Part Deux
There have been a number of items on e-bay I did not bid on just because of the shipping. From Canada is one...the shipping from there to US is much more than from US to US. Once I was looking at a radio that had I remember my Bird 43. Paid $130 on it with shipping to USA. Paid $53 in shipping from USA to Brazil. Almost half the price of the item. But what can I do? The bird here costs around $600-800... :o( There should be an EXTREMELY CHEAP way of shipping. Cheaper than surface :o) Greetz Alexandre PU1BZZ
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Sunday at Dayton
Great review. Sounds like a great time. Wish I had gone. I had heard crowds where good. Maybe better than last year, comments? Why things like that doesn't happens on Brazil? ;o)
[Repeater-Builder] Home-made ressonant cavities?
Anyone into homemade ressonant cavities? These are hellish expensive in Brazil, I'd like to give a try on building one. Anyone experienced? Tips you want to share? Thanks Alexandre Souza PU1BZZ
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Home-made ressonant cavities?
EBAY is a great place to start. Transport something as big as a duplexer to Brazil and fight the customs? Nah...better build it here, it cannot be so esoteric that I cannot build here :o)
Re: [Repeater-Builder] SAV-15 full data sheet
I have a need to throttle down the RF module to properly drive a new post PA. I have not been able to find a data sheet on the SAV-15 to determine the range of control for power output. Anyone got that info? If I'm not mistaken, you can find it on repeater-builder site.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Bad adapter
I have that on my site: http://www.tabajara-labs.com.br/eletronica/gambiarras/ Send me the photos and I'll put there :o) I just got back from a visit to the 'Gambiarras where I fell out of my chair laffing so hard... LOL is putting it TOO mildly Take a look around, there are other great photos scattered over the site. I think the best one is the screw fuse :o)
Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] More on Copper theft
My problem is most of the people that trespass onto my property is kids from the mid to lower class housing development to the West of my property. Even if you're justified in shooting a kid you will be condemned in the press and harassed by the law enforcement officers. Short answer: Make friends. It is unbelievable how good friends can help. If you have a good living and live in a pouch of powertry, you can always help a bit people around you. You'll improve your life, their lives and save your equipment. Because even the drug-heads around them will help to protect your property. They will saye don't mess with Paul's things. He is our friend and always willing to help when we need!. Been there, done that. Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Bad adapter
p.s: I've run across several other technology-groups who like to post 'Wall of Shame' pix - got a few myself. Any interest out there? I have that on my site: http://www.tabajara-labs.com.br/eletronica/gambiarras/ Send me the photos and I'll put there :o)
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Bad adapter
I was really glad I had a new camera from eBay with me for testing. It was unusual that I had it along but I think I should change that and make it a habit to bring one on service calls in the future. Cameras are so cheap nowadays you can always have a disposable 2mpixels camera on your pocket :o)
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Yahoo burp?
Yahoo is ' the ' worst email and forums based group on the planet. Americans says there is no such thing as a free lunch. You get what you pay for :o) Greetings from Brazil Alexandre - PU1BZZ PS: When you take something for free, for a lot of time, people always thinks it is mandatory.
