Re: [Repeater-Builder] MTR 2000 Help
All original cards are in I assume as I have never taken the radio apart. When I bought it, I successfully programmed the ham band freqs 927.1125/902.1125/tone access, etc. I used it at home as a backyard repeater mainly just learning how to set the audio, etc.. I put it aside for about a year until just recently when it showed the problem after I turned it on. I have never removed any cards from it, etc. never opened it in fact. Roger - Original Message - From: Ross Johnson To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 5:50 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] MTR 2000 Help Are all the original cards in it when it was programmed? If it was programmed with any optional boards installed they must be in place at all times after. Also have you've added any cards after programming that will also cause this fail. Ross kc7rjk From: w5rdw Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 2:57 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] MTR 2000 Help I have a MTR 2000 for the 900 MHz band (hacked to the ham band). It has never been used as a repeater since I acquired it a few years ago, but was scheduled to be on my 927.1125 repeater freq. one of these days. I turned it ON after it had been OFF for a better part of a year (out in the garage but dry). It came on, but instead of the green LED staying lit after it warmed up, the 4 LEDs blinked for sometime and then the red LED (far left) stays lit. The manual says that means a major malfunction. Before I dig into the repeater, does anyone have an idea what has happened? I had just successfully reprogrammed it to a new freq. pair, but this situation has cropped up. Roger W5RDW Murphy, Texas
Re: [Repeater-Builder] MTR 2000 Help
I will take any advice, no matter what. I will look down in the innards tomorrow! I remember when a cat decided to take up residence in my wife's car years ago. It didn't stay long under the hood when she started the car one cold morning! It kinda limped out of the garage! Roger W5RDW - Original Message - From: Kevin King To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 7:35 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] MTR 2000 Help Mouse corrosion? -- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of w5rdw Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 5:58 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] MTR 2000 Help I have a MTR 2000 for the 900 MHz band (hacked to the ham band). It has never been used as a repeater since I acquired it a few years ago, but was scheduled to be on my 927.1125 repeater freq. one of these days. I turned it ON after it had been OFF for a better part of a year (out in the garage but dry). It came on, but instead of the green LED staying lit after it warmed up, the 4 LEDs blinked for sometime and then the red LED (far left) stays lit. The manual says that means a major malfunction. Before I dig into the repeater, does anyone have an idea what has happened? I had just successfully reprogrammed it to a new freq. pair, but this situation has cropped up. Roger W5RDW Murphy, Texas
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: 2M Vertical Dipoles
I just happen to be today building a simple 12 meter 1/4 wave vertical using this PVC I picked up at Lowes yesterday. I am using the pipe for a sleeve to insulate the bottom 18 inches of the Aluminum tubing of the vertical from its mounting pipe. It says on the PVC pipe I purchased ..Rigid Nonmetallic Conduit Aboveground and Underground Schedule 40.. made by Cantex (http://www.cantexinc.com/ I am using a 1 inch diameter PVC with fairly thick walls. The antenna is fairly short and lightweight, being only 112 inches long, so it should hold up well. This is for my 12 meter beacon I will have on the air soon which will be next to my 10 meter beacon already going on 28.2185 MHz. Both antennas are on the top of my metal garage. Roger W5RDW Murphy, Texas - Original Message - From: AJ To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 10:13 AM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: 2M Vertical Dipoles The product I'm looking at specifically is branded as non metallic rigid PVC conduit sold locally at Lowes: http://www.carlon.com/Product_CarlonPlus4080.html On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 9:10 AM, Barry ate...@hotmail.com wrote: some does ,test a piece in the microwave To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com From: aj.grant...@gmail.com Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:05:55 -0600 Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: 2M Vertical Dipoles Does really PVC absorb or RF or just act as a dielectric? The reason I ask is I'm looking at encasing an antenna project for the sake of weatherproofing and PVC would fit the bill rather easily. 73, AJ, K6LOR On Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 9:49 AM, AA8K73 GMail aa8...@gmail.com wrote: AJ, if you replace the steel mast with a fiberglass one, won't you still have the metallic feed line there? Doesn't PVC absorb RF? 73, Mike AJ wrote: On this same topic of the mast-less Antennex/Laird dipole arrays, has anyone attempted to top mount these from a fiberglass mast to minimize interaction with the normal steel pole? I have quite a few surplus fiberglass poles left that would likely work, even for side mounting on 1/2 wave spacing from the tower... On that same note, does anyone have construction plans for a dipole array (not necessarily folded dipoles)? I remember seeing a set of plans somewhere quite a while ago - we're thinking of constructing one but encasing the dipoles in fiberglass or PVC to try to protect from the weather and debris at our site (top of a large farm field)... 73, AJ, K6LOR Click Here View photos of singles in your area
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Need help ID'ing a Tower
Looks very similar to the two 70 ft. towers we have at our club station here in Dallas at the Texas Instruments ARC. Ours has been up since the 1960's, very sturdy. Ours have tapered bottom sections and a couple of straight sections. The ends of the sections have the pads as shown in your pics. You best bet is to post up msg on the Tower Talk mailing list at http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk Our club has been asked the same question of ours and no one was around when the towers were purchased. I worked at TI in 1970 and they were there then. It could be a Tristao Tower. Roger W5RDW Murphy, Texas - Original Message - From: tgundo2003 To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 8:26 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Need help ID'ing a Tower I have posted pictures of this tower in the Photos section: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/photos/album/2113929203/pic/list. Anyone know who's make of tower this is? It's 90' total, Self supporter. The bottom face is 36 and tapers about 6 per section from there. There are 4 20 foot sections and one 10 foot top section. The bottom line is were trying to identify it so we can come up with a fair market value for it. It was to but put up for repeater service by the current owner, but now our group has the opportunity to buy it to put up at our repeater hub. Any input would be appreciated!! Thanks! Tom W9SRV
Re: [Repeater-Builder] RSS for a MSF5000.. Oh Oh Obsolete at Motorola.
Also are fellow hams still using the msf5000 or are they also considering them too old? There have been lots of MSF5000 900 MHz repeaters put on the air on 900 MHz for sure over the last 3-4 years. Roger W5RDW Murphy, Texas Original Message - From: Stephen Rice To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 5:09 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] RSS for a MSF5000.. Oh Oh Obsolete at Motorola. I have been through numerous phone calls with Moto to purchase a legal copy of the programming software to program a MSF5000 repeater and after signing up and also signing a software agreement I now discover the software is obsolete and can not be obtained from Motorola. As you can tell I prefer to purchase the software legally to no avail and motorola's suggestion was to ask fellow hams if they have a copy that they can send me because they simply do not offer it or carry a copy! Before everyone jumps on me for trying to ask for a copy of the software please understand I have done everything I could to obtain a copy through legitimate means and now will take Motorola up on their suggestion and ask if anyone out there has a copy of the RSS for the MSF5000 (should be RVN-4077G (I believe the last version was R05.21.00 according to Repeater-builder site)) could they please contact me. Also are fellow hams still using the msf5000 or are they also considering them too old? I sure thought it was a step up compared to my Micor! Any help would surely be appreciated in my quest as well as any suggestions on these repeaters. Model number of the repeater is C44CXB7106BT now on 453.200/458.200 Thanks Steve N4YZA
Re: [Repeater-Builder] DB-224 patterns on side of tower.
Our 145.43 MHz repeater has been on a self supporting tower 450 ft. high, at the 250 ft. level ( a Stationmaster at first and a dB224 later) and now at the 350 ft. level (dB224). The tower face at both heights was considerable (well over 20 to 25 ft. wide). The antenna was offset from the tower leg a considerable distance in both instances and the dipole elements were orientated for a omni pattern. My guess is that the tower face is so big where we have had the antennas at that the effect off offsetting the dipoles in one direction is minor compared to the effect that the large tower face would have on the pattern. As you would expect, the pattern nulls off the backside are considerable, but not severe enough to limit communications. The higher frequency you go, the less the effect is. We have a 224 MHz repeater (dB224JJ set for an omni pattern) at the 300 ft. level and it seems to do quite well hearing off the backside. Our 927 MHz repeater at 400 feet (using an unused paging antenna) seems to hear off the backside almost as well as it does off the front side. Since beggars can't be choosers, we have over the last 25 years on the tower accepted the pattern deficiencies. I can take a few pics if you would like to see how they are mounted. Roger W5RDW Murphy, Texas DFW area - Original Message - From: tahrens301 To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 2:35 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] DB-224 patterns on side of tower. Hi Folks, We are putting up the DB-224 on the side of the tower, which is one of those large 3 legged towers. (like you see at microwave telephone sites). I have the DB-products data sheet on the 224, and it has some plots for side mounting on the tower. The plot in question is the 224E (all in line, pointed away from the tower). According to DBprod, it would give the appropriate pattern for our desired area. However, one of the old salts here (who has final say-so) says that you really have to put some left and right angulation on the elements to get that pattern. I guess the real question is how positioning on the side of the large tower affects the pattern - if the elements are directly perpendicular to the tower leg, versus having some rotation on the leg. I'm thinking that we will probably just have to experiment with what we get per old-salt's method see how it works. Anybody have any other ideas? Thanks, Tim W5FN
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Bad Isolator
I have never seen your problem in practice, but I know it is possible to have a bad isolator/circulator that will cause intermod problems. Here is an article (pretty technical) describing how isolator/circulators can cause intermod problems. http://m2global.com/cbu/documents/IMD_in_Medium_Power_DropIns.pdf I have seen in the past on this forum posts about similar problems that you are having. Maybe someone will post up later some info. Roger W5RDW Murphy, Texas 224.18, 927.1125 Dallas TIARC - Original Message - From: dallasreact112 To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:49 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Bad Isolator Is there any conceivable way a a bad isolator on an old 440 mhz DB Intermod Panel can cause RX problems that appear similar to desense? Thanks Bernie Parker K5BP
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re:Looking for 220 Repeater Antenna
I ordered a dB224JJ from Hutton Communications a number of years ago. It sounded like they had not built one in quite awhile, but they did build one for our club at Texas Instruments. I remember it took a number of months do the antenna, indicating it was not in stock at the time of the order. It was not cheap, in the $500 to 700 range. I would call them and see if they would do a special. www.huttononline.com 2520 Marsh Ln Carrollton, Texas 75006 972 417-0100 Roger W5RDW Murphy, Texas - Original Message - From: Tim and Janet To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 10:19 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re:Looking for 220 Repeater Antenna We are currently using a G7-220 on our repeater. We did have problems with the first one we put in the air. The current one is also supported near the top with a standoff to help stabilize it. We too have been in search of a better antenna for this band. The DB224-JJ is difficult at best to find used. They and most other commercial manufacturers no longer supply them. The ones that do are priced at well over $1000. If anyone has a good one to sell please let me know. Maybe if we could get a order of several at one time we could convince them to do a production run for us as long as the price is reasonable. Tim N4CKV repeater - Original Message - From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 9:38 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Digest Number 6746[1 Attachment] Repeater Builder Re: Looking for 220 Repeater Antenna Posted by: James Adkins adkins.ja...@gmail.com kb0nhx Mon Jun 1, 2009 9:27 am (PDT) If you can find an Andrew DB224-JJ for the 220 ham band, that'd be ideal on the used market. Our club is using another discontinued Andrew product, a DB-573-EE. It's a 3 dB fiberglass omni. It's spec'd for 217-222 MHz, but we use it for 222.680 receive and 224.280 for TX and it sweeps and works fine. See www.nixahams.net and click on the repeaters link on the left for more info. 73, James Adkins, KB0NHX
Re: [Repeater-Builder] OT: Making PDFs
I also have used the freeware Cute PDF Writer for a number of years. We used it in the 1000's at work. Have it on my home computer now that I am retired. http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp Roger W5RDW - Original Message - From: John J. Riddell To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2009 6:27 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] OT: Making PDFs Dave, try down loading a small program called Cute PDF writer...it's free and will make PDF's for you. It is set up as a printer but saves them to a file on your computer. 73 John VE3AMZ - Original Message - From: Dave Gomberg da...@wcf.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2009 6:55 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] OT: Making PDFs At 15:37 3/22/2009, Kris Kirby wrote: No way around it unless I want to lose PDF authoring capability. Buy a Mac Actually WordPerfect makes beautiful PDF files and has for years... -- Dave Gomberg, San Francisco NE5EE gomberg1 at wcf dot com All addresses, phones, etc. at http://www.wcf.com/ham/info.html -- Yahoo! Groups Links
Re: [Repeater-Builder] 220 Repeater Power Amp
I ran a Mirage C2512G (s/n 30820) for a number of years at a reduced Pout (around 75 watts out of duplexer) and had no problems. The amp case is mounted on a very large heat sink for repeater use. Its only glitch was a nearby lightening strike that vaporized the output cap of the PA. Replaced the cap but never put it back on line as most users never noticed it wasn't there. Roger W5RDW 224.18 MHz Dallas - Original Message - From: Michael Ryan To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 4:12 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] 220 Repeater Power Amp I've had several users indicate that they are using TE Systems Amps in repeater service. I have one of the OLDER Mirage amps, I think it has been around here for 12 or more years at least, perhaps more. This SHOULD be pre-MFJ. My model is 25 in for 120 out. I planned to run 10 watts or so in for 75 or so out. Is this a reasonable choice? - Mike From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Michael Ryan Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 11:51 AM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] 220 Repeater Power Amp Does anyone have some advice about what to use for a power amp in a 220 repeater? MIRAGE makes a 90 watt model they claim is for repeater service. I don't see anything else around. I'd be happy with 60 - 90 watts MAX output with maybe 10-20 watts drive. - Thanks.. - Mike __ NOD32 3935 (20090313) Information __ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re:GLB preselectors again
I think the long lead is the collector (nearest the M on the body of the device). I had one of these preamps years ago and best I remember, the input to the amplifier has one helical resonator, with the other two helical resonators being on the output. Roger W5RDW - Original Message - From: Joe To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 7:29 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re:GLB preselectors again I don't know if this helps, but this is what mine looks like installed and it works. Maybe Skipp will jump in on this thread, he should know. 73, Joe, K1ike neal Newman wrote: Hey guys I have a 2 meter GLB preamp/preselector where the MRF 901 appears to be shot. now the question of the day. which side is the Base of the MRF-901 is it the side with Only 1 helical or does it face the side with the 3 helicals... I think the MRF-901 thsts in there ( which has been replaced a few times. I think its incorrectly installed hence it not working. But the leads were cut. which side does the Long Lead face. Neal Yahoo! Groups Links --
Re: [Repeater-Builder] MTR 2000
I found one in excellent condition on eBay for $800, a 900 MHz 75 watt repeater a few months ago. But I agree with the group, that if it ever needs repair, I may be in some sort of trouble. I do have the manual, but would like more detail. BTW, there are some articles on RB in interfacing the MTR2K to an external controller However, it sure is a neat repeater, very small compared to my giant MSF5000, much, much lighter although not a light weight by a long shot and it just sits there key down and the power out varies nary a bit. I have gotten a tad over 50 watts out of mine at 900 MHz measured at the output of a two can cavity. Roger W5RDW - Original Message - From: John Transue To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 12:36 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] MTR 2000 To help me determine whether the Motorola MTR 2000 is our of my club's funding range, would someone tell me approximately what a ham radio club would have to pay for such a repeater? John -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.549 / Virus Database: 270.9.6/1797 - Release Date: 11/18/2008 11:23 AM
Re: [Repeater-Builder] 900 MHz Repeater
If you can find a MSF 5000 C85GFB5203AT like the one I have modified to the ham band, then all you have to do is read a few of the nicely written articles in the Repeater-Builders website (authored by Bob, WA1MIK) and you will have a fine repeater (in this case with an external controller a CAT 200). I have had mine on the air since the first of the year. They are not that expensive, when you take into account the labor (or lack there of!) in modifying it. They are still available on e-Bay, but horribly overpriced. Other places you can find them for more reasonable prices such as $400 to 500 for a moderately powered station. Roger W5RD Murphy, Texas 927.1125 DPL 432 224.18 110.9 223.82 110.9 - Original Message - From: Luke To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 7:23 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] 900 MHz Repeater I am working on a 33cm repeater for our group out here in Northwest Oklahoma and I was told the best way to set this up was to use a 900MHz Motorola Maxtrac but I do not know if this is so easy or the best way to go. Our group has not done any work with the 33cm band as of yet but several of us guys have felt the need to get a repeater and some stations up on this band to see what all the hipe is all about. We have heard good things and bad but please if anyone has any input as to this repeater we are all ears. We do already have 2 of the Motorola Maxtrac 2 Way (Model # D37MQA5GB2AK HUF1074A) and hope this is the best and easyest way to go with getting started in 900MHz. Thanks for any help, Luke KE5NWW
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Kenwood TM-271A
Over twenty years ago, our repeater receiver, a Spec Comm, finally gave up the ghost after a year or so. Not knowing any better, I took my trusty old IC-22A crystal controlled mobile rig, found the proper signals to interface the receiver portion with the Spec Comm transmitter, and placed it in service, figuring it would do for a month or so until we bought another repeater receiver. Well, you may have guessed the result, the '22A lasted many years and only after a lightening bolt laid it to rest did we repleace it. Roger W5RD 223.82, 224.18 and 927.1125 repeaters - Original Message - From: WA8DBW To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2007 6:14 AM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Kenwood TM-271A Not a 271 but did use a TM-241 when the receiver failed on a local 2 meter repeater. Simply placed one of the garbage can size filters on the input. Absolutely no intermod and better sensitivity than the normal MASTR II that had failed. At the same site I also use a TM-241 as a remote base controlled by an FC-1 with no problems. On the remote I have a notch filter tuned to the frequency of a 1/3 KW transmitter in the 152 MHz range. There are 28 transmitters at the site and within 300 yards there are another 30 transmitters on another tower. Bottom-line is they can be made to work in high RF environments but a receiver with good front-end filtering will work without the need for additional filtering. Dick Reese WA8DBW - Original Message - From: Cory Lee To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2007 8:56 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Kenwood TM-271A Has anyone used a Kenwood TM-271A to make a repeater, I cannot find the discriminator audio for this radio. Any help would be appreciated. Cory Lee KC5EWJ .
Re: [Repeater-Builder] 220 repeater receiver recommendations?
I have 2 Hi Pro 220 MHz repeaters, one I bought used (R1) and one new (E). No problems for many years. One has the Cat 200B controller, the other the 300DX. I started with a Spec Comm. in 1980 ( I did not know any better!) and over its first few years of life, the RX went south (repaired once) and finally the TX (repaired twice). I replaced the receiver with a Midland 13-509 RX and it lasted over 15 years until I replaced the whole thing with the used Hi Pro. I still think the Midland 13-509 or Clegg clone, if you have some minimal building experience, is the best 220 repeater you can build. I have built 2 and they worked great. The receiver sensitivity and front end cannot be beat, even by the Maggiore. They are still around and all you do is take the RX and TX assy's out of their case, put the RX and the TX in RF tight boxes, build a little pwb to house one of the xtals and its associated trimmer cap), connect up a controller and you have a 10 watt repeater. Still plenty of Midland 13-509's around. Roger - Original Message - From: Ken Harrison To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 5:00 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] 220 repeater receiver recommendations? Our group is in need of replacing the receiver on our 220 box and I wanted to solicit some opinions from the group. Our current receiver is a Spectrum using 3rd overtone crystals. We are looking at the following: 1. Spectrum receiver using 5th overtone crystals. 2. Hamtronics R302 Synthesized receiver. http://www.hamtronics.com/r302.htm 3. Hamtronics R100 crystal receiver. http://www.hamtronics.com/r100.htm 4. Hi-Pro R4V http://www.hiprorepeaters.com/Receivers.htm What are you using and are you happy with it? Would you buy any particular one again? Why or why not. Thanks a bunch! Ken KE6N
[Repeater-Builder] 900 MHz MSF5000 up and running with CAT200 controller....
I finally finished wiring in the CAT200 controller in my digital MSF5000 tonight. Followed Bob, WA1MIK's directions in the website, the first time I fired it up after modifying the codeplug for the external controller, it talked to me! Was I excited. I sounded more like a teenager than the 63 year old kid I am (today 63 BTW). Obviously, w/o Bob's many e-mail exchanges, I would not be at this point. His instructions on the MSF page to modify the repeater for the CAT controller are very easy to follow and he is to be commended along with the rest of the repeater-builder hams whose info I have used successfully. Back late last year, I started this journey, not inexperienced in repeaters or this RF range (I am nearing retirement as a microwave engineer at Raytheon here in Dallas), but i knew absolutely nothing about rigs, repeaters, etc. on 900 MHz. I found this website and forum thru Yahoo and a few months later, here I am. Looking back over the journey, it was not hard at all, even for me. But Bob provided the gentle guidance and prodding to get me where I am today. Hopefully, the repeater will be up on the TI tower (antenna around 400 ft. high) in mid February. Look for the W5RD/R DPL 432 on 927.1125 MHz if you come thru town. The TI club also has repeaters on 145.43, 224.18 and 444.025 MHz on the same tower. Roger W5RD
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Antenna on the side of a water tower
This idea was in a ham magazine years ago, to solve a similar problem. It was on a very large tower, with a large face. This particular application used three sets of phased beams (two at each leg, fired tangentially to the tower). You have to start out with a bunch of gain at each leg, not just a dB224 or such. He used 2 five or so element beams on each leg. He fed them with a three way power divider made out of copper pipe to get the proper impedances. I wish I knew where the article was. I am thinking it was not in QST but maybe one of the ham technical mags that is still no longer around. I would search Google just in case a similar application is documented. He said it worked OK and gave him a somewhat circular pattern, albeit no more than 3-4 dB. Now that I think about it, with all the wireless stuff (cell antennas) that I have seen mounted around a water tower single legs (the modern towers), on buildings at each face, etc. , I bet there is info out there that you can tailor for your needs using the phased antenna approach. Roger W5RD - Original Message - From: tony dinkel To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 12:45 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Antenna on the side of a water tower I don't think you are going to be able to model it to your satisfaction with any software you or I could afford. Perhaps you need to adopt an empirical approach, put up an antenna and see what you get. Drive test it, take field strength readings, plot and graph the real world data as much as you want. Then you can add in small tweaks in spacing, heading and gain. I would suggest starting with a low gain antenna, like maybe a 4 bay folded dipole array at the easiest to mount spacing from the tank. After you tweak that in for a while and have a feel for how it works, perhaps you could add a second antenna exactly 180 degrees on the other side of the tank. Try 0, 90, 180, 270 or totally random phase angles between the two antennas. Don't get bogged down in the math. Have fun with it. Last time I checked, ham radio is still a hobby. td, empiricist wb6mie It's hard to put into text. What I'd like to do, is get back to the more omni pattern if at all possible. The way everything is situated, if I put the antenna on the side of the tower facing through most of our coverage area, I think it will end up with too much gain in that direction, twoard another repeater to the northeast. Mostly, I'm just looking for a way to model what happens, ideally in something that radio mobile can digest, and I'll work it out from there. __ Search for grocery stores. Find gratitude. Turn a simple search into something more. http://click4thecause.live.com/search/charity/default.aspx?source=hmemtagline_gratitudeFORM=WLMTAG
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Need Help... where can I buy a DSL-Internet repeater...?
Kevin, good post and something I have not thought of. Roger W5RD - Original Message - From: Kevin Custer To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 9:41 AM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Need Help... where can I buy a DSL-Internet repeater...? Bill, You can send your DSL service wirelessly to your home a number of ways. 802.11B (2.4 GHz) is the cheapest, but requires a good near line of site path. We started using some new 900 cards that seem to work really well in non line-of-site applications. Scott and I have a 900 path that is 6 or so miles and works great. His end is solar powered! There are several ways to manage the path as well. If you wanted to serve other homes than your own, an Access Point will need to be set up at your office, and client devices deployed at the places you want to deliver service. If you have a good path, I'd start with 2, Linksys WET11's and some good 24 dB grids. The WET11's can be bought cheaply from eBay and the grids new from wlan parts in CA. The WET11's can be set up in Ad-Hoc mode and will simply be a radio extended Ethernet cable; and with 1.5.8 firmware is a cheap stable client device for 2.4 802.11B services. There are 2 versions of the WET11, V1 and V2. I prefer the V1 box because it can be modified with higher power cards if needed. While this may be a bit off-topic for this list, I'll allow this discussion as others may want to learn about Internet 'repeaters'. Kevin Custer List Owner Bill wrote: I live in a remote area, where I can receive DSL service in my office via phone company, but not in my home (which is about 2 miles away). Is there something I can buy to send DSL wireless signal to my house?? Thanks, Bill in Mexico
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Need Help... where can I buy a DSL-Internet repeater...?
Dex, that is the path length that just came to mind for my use after I read Kevin's post. Roger W5RD - Original Message - From: Dexter McIntyre W4DEX To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 10:05 AM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Need Help... where can I buy a DSL-Internet repeater...? The best 802.11 units for the money I found are the Senao NL-2611CB3 radios. They run 200mw and there is also a 400mw version. Also the receivers in these units are better than most low end radios. I have a 2.5 mile non line of site path working with these units for two years now with no trouble. Mine came from Pasadena Networks: http://www.wlanparts.com/product/NL-2611CB3 I have no association with Pasadena Networks other than being a satisfied customer. Dex, W4DEX
[Repeater-Builder] Printing from RSS
I am trying to print a copy of a codeplug for my MSF5000 repeater, but have not been successful. I keep getting an error on the RSS screen when I hit the F key to print that says the printer is not ready. I have it hooked up successfully to the laptop (Sony Vaio 1 GHz) and it is printing OK on other files (Windows stuff of course). I can't get past the error code. I must be doing something wrong. Any suggestions? Roger W5RD
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Printing from RSS
Thanks guys. You have given me some food for thought. Have you set-up your printer / print drivers, to print from DOS, instead of Windows? I tried to find this but did not find out how to do it. Although many Motorola RSS programs cannot read from or write to a radio while in a Windows Command Prompt, most will print just fine. Save the codeplug to your root drive, where you can find it easily. Close the DOS program and re-open the RSS in a Windows Command Prompt. Read the archive file and then print it. This works just fine for me. One solution is to run your RSS under DOS to do the download and upload to the radio, and run it in a Windows DOS box to do the printing. I will go try this. It sounds like a simple solution. Also, many thanks for the other help. I did not want to go find an old printer, since I have had many in the past and they are all in the garbage long ago! Roger W5RD - Original Message - From: Mike Morris WA6ILQ To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2006 6:54 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Printing from RSS At 03:40 PM 12/30/06, you wrote: I am trying to print a copy of a codeplug for my MSF5000 repeater, but have not been successful. I keep getting an error on the RSS screen when I hit the F key to print that says the printer is not ready. I have it hooked up successfully to the laptop (Sony Vaio 1 GHz) and it is printing OK on other files (Windows stuff of course). I can't get past the error code. I must be doing something wrong. Any suggestions? Roger W5RD RSS expects a self-contained printer that takes in the single byte of data that represents the letter and prints it. For example, a hex 41 is a letter A. Most modern printers require drivers that live in Windows. These printers, for example, don't print a letter, they print the graphic shape of the letter - and that requires a multi-byte stream that describes that shape in whatever graphics language that the printer understands (HPGL, Postcript, whatever... As they need windows to operate, one derogatory term that is used is that they are winprinters. One solution is to run your RSS under DOS to do the download and upload to the radio, and run it in a Windows DOS box to do the printing. Another is to find yourself a dumber printer - an Epson, Star Micronics, Centronics, IBM Proprinter, or similar printer. Most of these will be dot matrix technology however not all. For example my Laserjet 4 powers up in dumb mode, and works just fine with RSS as long as I force a page feed as needed. Some of the newer printers will work, but the data sheet on the printer has to say DOS compatible. Mike WA6ILQ
[Repeater-Builder] If I can do it, anyone can......!
I wanted to let everyone know that I have successfully tied in my Sony laptop for the first time to my 900 MHz MSF5000 Digital repeater with the Motorola software, RIB and cable I recently received. I admit it was a little scary at first, but after I found the screen that had the repeater freq's on it, I really felt like I had accomplished something. It was not hard at all to navigate thru all the pages to find things. I did not save anything yet, but did make sure the repeater conditions were still the same when I started after I unplugged the computer, etc. from the MSF. I definitely am going to get an external power source for the RIB so as not to rely on the internal battery. The computer I used was a not so new Sony Vaio laptop with an AMD Duron processor (1 GHz). The RAM is 28 MEG. Roger W5RD
Fw: [Repeater-Builder] If I can do it, anyone can......!
128 MEG RAM actually. Roger Original Message - From: Roger White To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 4:47 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] If I can do it, anyone can..! I wanted to let everyone know that I have successfully tied in my Sony laptop for the first time to my 900 MHz MSF5000 Digital repeater with the Motorola software, RIB and cable I recently received. I admit it was a little scary at first, but after I found the screen that had the repeater freq's on it, I really felt like I had accomplished something. It was not hard at all to navigate thru all the pages to find things. I did not save anything yet, but did make sure the repeater conditions were still the same when I started after I unplugged the computer, etc. from the MSF. I definitely am going to get an external power source for the RIB so as not to rely on the internal battery. The computer I used was a not so new Sony Vaio laptop with an AMD Duron processor (1 GHz). The RAM is 28 MEG. Roger W5RD
Re: [Repeater-Builder] FYI: FCC officially issues RO dropping code requirement today
I know when I passed the 13 wpm in 1961 (remember the old tape code players with a 800 Hz tone the FCC Offices used, this one in Houston, Texas) at the age of 17, I was on cloud nine. I was in a room of much older people trying the test. When I heard them send the 20 wpm test, I thought at that time it would take a miracle to pass that. I have to admit, I only used CW because I had to (had a Eico 720 running xtal controlled only)in the early day. Yes, on 15 and 40 meters which was quite a challenge. When I got out of college a number of years later, I finally had the funds to buy a ssb rig (Heathkit HW-100). I tried CW a few other times and then peaked at 20 wpm to pass the Extra and have not had a CW contact since then. I stupidly sold my Vibroplex Bug a number of years ago not knowing it was worth well more than what I paid for it in 1960. I knew that it was a matter of time before the CW requirement would go that away, but it still is re to use if it is warranted to make a QSO. Roger W5RD ex-AJ5L, K5JAJ, KN5JAJ Licensed in spring 1961 - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: repeater-builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2006 1:21 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] FYI: FCC officially issues RO dropping code requirement today One time 35-40? years ago, I was applying for an electronic technician position in Pasadena California. One of the pre-employment test questions was to draw a block diagram of a receiver. As my hobby time back then was amateur radio and I had been studying the Motorola T44A6A 450-470 Mc (not MHz back then) receiver. So, I drew the block diagram of the T44A6A receiver - triple conversion, walking first and second IF's, 455 Kc third IF and AFC circuit. Yes, I did get the job. Neil - WA6KLA - Original Message - From: Glenn Little WB4UIV [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Saturday, December 16, 2006 10:50 am Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] FYI: FCC officially issues RO dropping code requirement today It is now just a matter of time. The problems with hams not understanding what they are doing will increase. Interference will increase. Commercial interests will petition the FCC for the frequencies. The hams will not be able to defend their desire to keep the frequencies. Now the ham frequencies will be sold to the highest bidder. The handwriting is on the wall. Less that 10% of the newly licensed hams can draw a simple block diagram of the radio that they use. Just my opinion, based on my observations. 73 Glenn WB4UIV
Re: [Repeater-Builder] MSF5000 C85GFB5203AT, Type GFB
Many thanks! Very good info. I'll start my search next week. Roger W5RD - Original Message - From: nj902 To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 8:04 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] MSF5000 C85GFB5203AT, Type GFB --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Where I bought the repeater, I was told no manuals were available -- The 900 MHz MSF Analog Plus station manual is part number: 6881084E25 Your source is correct, these are NLA from Motorola. Wierd, but the manual for the older C65CLB/C85CLB stations is still available. If you cannot find the correct manual, much of the CLB station, other than the control tray, would be the same or similar to the CXB station, i.e. power supply, PA, high stability reference, etc. If you had that manual and a manual from any other band that has the CXB style control tray, you would be in pretty good shape. For example, you could order the UHF service manual 6881092E80. The C65CLB/C85CLB manual part number is 6881064E70. MOL lists it for $50.00 list price. The listing calls it an 800 MHz manual but I got the number off an actual manual so I attribute that to the 896-902 coverage stated on the manual cover.
[Repeater-Builder] MSF5000 C85GFB5203AT, Type GFB
I have bought a MSF5000 of the above type. It is set up for 939.4750/900.4750 MHz TX/Rx, trunking. I want to use it with a CAT controller. I have not got the manual yet, but will order it soon. It looks to be in great shape and pegs my 100 watt Bird when I toggle the transmitter. Is this repeater programmable via a PC or by some other method to get it tuned down to the ham band? On a little plastic lid on top of a box, this is written, which looks like some software type: SSCB R05.40, TTRC R05.27, SMARTZONE, RSS R5.16 RQD I am totally ignorant of this type of repeater technology and really don't have the energy to modify it myself. I am looking for the right direction to go. I am in the DFW area (just east of Dallas). This repeater is eager to be hooked up to an antenna up at 350 ft. in Dallas at our location (I-75 and I-635)! Thanks in advance. W5RD, Roger 145.43, 223.82, 224.18 MHz TIARC
[Repeater-Builder] IFR 1600 S Manual
This is a long shot, but I have a IFR 1006S with the 1600 CSA on loan for this weekend. Anybody know of a short version or likemanual that may be available either on-line or maybe someone has one? I turned it onand it looks somewhat self explanatory, but I would like to navigate around it w/o spending a great deal of trial and error. I mainly want to set up my two220 repeaters audio, deviation ,etc. I have a good counter for their frequency and a good Bird for Pout, but want to set the audio other than flying blind. The repeaters are a Maggiore220 MHz R1 and E, essentially identical except for the comptrollers. It looks like it is displaying believable deviation OK, but I don't understand the Distortion meter. These repeaters were used and have been "dicked" with somewhat from thefactory settings, so I am not sure where I am starting from and hate to just raise and lower potsand make the adjustment by listening on my rig. Roger, W5RD Murphy, Texas YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "Repeater-Builder" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Anetenna Help
Not sure of thepost that started this, but I needed a good antenna mount for my pickup and got tired of drilling holes, etc. into the top of the cab and knew that lip mount antennas on the hood do not work because of reflections from the car. I also do not like mag mounts. I took the suggestion of a local ham and put a "headache rack" on the truck. I did not know what that was, but to the uninitiated, it is mounted behind the cab to protect the window from objects coming from the bed thru the rear window when you load stuff back there. It also is useful for tying down long loads (like crappie pole antennas!) to it. But the best use for it is the mounting of two or more antennas to it made easy by the vertical posts most racks have on either side of the bed just behind the cab. Mine hassquare vertical tubes, whereat their top most point, I made a simple aluminum angle piece to mount a 2 meter and a 220 MHz NMO antenna mounts. They are up and above the cab having good radiation views.The antennas dostick upabove the cab the height of the antenna, but they work great. Irouted the cables into the cab at the back lower edge of the doors (thru some rubber grommeted holes in the front of the bed), since I do not have a bunch of traffic in and out of them, it is no problem.The truck is a F-250. Roger W5RD - Original Message - From: Jeff DePolo To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 3:20 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Anetenna Help Somebody, maybe Larsen or Antenna Specialists, used to make a "stiffener" for use with NMO mounts. It was basically an oversized brass fender washer with a 3/4" hole in the center. It was thick enough that it stiffened the body near the mount, but flexible enough that it would take the shape of the concave contour of the roof when you tightened down the NMO. I haven't seen them advertised in a while, not sure if they're still made. I had a Diamond dual-bander act as a can-opener to the roof of one of my previous trucks (Chevy Tahoe). It got snagged on a low-hanging ice-laden branch on the way up to a tower site. The roof gave up before the antenna did. I guess that says something about Diamond mobile antennas...? --- Jeff From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 3:46 PMTo: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.comSubject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Anetenna Help Just about any 5/8 wave antenna mounted on top of a Ford pickup truck. The roof metal is so thin that frequent flexing from antenna sway, wind resistance, low tree branch contact can cause metal fatigue on thecab roof. The antenna NMO mount was installeddirectly above the cab interior light. Nice install but the metal finally cracked about 1/2 inchcircumference further outfrom the outer edge of the NMO mount. The singing problem was resolved by wrapping thin fishing line around the full antenna length at about 1 turn per 1 1/2 inches for its full length. The thinner the whip antenna the higher the audio frequency.Observe automobile antennas and you will see many factory manufactured AM/FM antennas wrapped as mentioned above. Go out and wiggle your mobile antenna. Look at the automobile metal near the base. Watch it flex. The longer the antenna the more flexing. I solved the problem by relocating the antenna using a homemade bracket mounted between the front fender and hoodnearcorner of windshield. Gary K2UQ YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "Repeater-Builder" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Hamtronics T-301 and R-302
Our club bought the R-302 to replace our 20 year old receiver after lightening took it out. I am not impressed with it, especially if you compare it to a good old crystal controlled receiver, like a Magiorre. It has a real touchy squelch and seems to have some sort of a random noise problems. We are going to order a Magiorre 2 meter repeater later this year to replace our kludge 2 meter repeater we have had for many years. I have had no problems with the Magiorre brand of repeaters (two 220 MHz repeaters over the past 10 years). I would recommend their products. Very good customer service. Roger W5RD - Original Message - From: Lee Bahr [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2006 11:11 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Hamtronics T-301 and R-302 How well do the Hamtronics T-301 transmitter and the R-302 receiver work on 2-meters? They seem very appealing because of size and ease of repair. But, do they work? Is there anyone on this reflector having experience with these two boards? I sure would like to hear from you. Lee w0vt Houston Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * 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] Alinco Ham Repeater??????
I'll add my 2 cents worth on the Alinco DR235 220 MHz. I only had one Alinco, but its sensitivity was very poor. Was so noisy at 0.5 uV, it was not until 3-4 uV that it started to reduce the noise. I'll eventually fix it, whether it is the front end device and/or the VCO. My Midland 13-509 (last century type design rig) beat it by a mile and even my ADI AR247 even approaches the Midland/Clegg. Also, my Maggiore receivers are about equal to the 13-509/FM-76. Roger W5RD - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, February 20, 2006 12:17 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Alinco Ham Repeater?? At 2/18/2006 23:03, you wrote: Hello, Has anyone built a repeater using two DR-135, DR-235, DR-435? I was looking on EBAY and say them. Current EBAY item number is 5869101543. I would guess to say would be eazy to build since db-9 to controller? I'd stay away from them. Had 2 new DR-435s returned both due to front-end oscillation problems. Bob NO6B Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * 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/
[Repeater-Builder] dB224 220 MHz antenna up on large tower initial results...
I finally got the dB224 220 MHz antenna up on ourtower this past Monday. As you may recall, this tower isself supporting, 450 ft. tall and our 220 MHz repeater antenna location is at the 250 ft. height, the tower being 25 ft. wide at this location. I made the decision, based primarily on advice on this forum, to orient the dipole elements in an omni manner. The initial reports of a few mobiles isshowing a pretty drastic improvement over the omni 3 dB gain anemic antenna that was being used. It seems to have really picked up off the back of the tower. So, I am glad I made the correct decision. Many thanks! Roger W5RD YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "Repeater-Builder" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] dB224 4 bay 220 MHz Antenna on VERY LARGE TOWER face
Another repeater in the area had a DB224 mounted about 2' off the side of a smaller tower about 400 ft up with thedipoles arranged omni with reasonablecoverage. They went out to about 4' off the side and pointedthe dipoles in towards the tower inline. Performance dropped drastically, didn't take long for them to go back to the other arrangement. I am tending more tokeep the dipoles set up for omni and go at that. We can only go up the tower once a year when there is tower maintenance, so we have tolive with the setup a year! Roger W5RD - Original Message - From: kf0m To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 12:08 AM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] dB224 4 bay 220 MHz Antenna on VERY LARGE TOWER face I can't speak to 220 Mhz but can provide info on the history of our club 2 meter repeater at 1200 ft on a triangle TV station tower. single DB224 on one leg about 2-3' out. mounted straight out form the point of the leg. Worked great 60-70 miles out where you could see the antenna but on the opposite side in the shadow of the tower maybe 20 miles range at best. Not a significant different between omni arrangment in line mounting of dipoles pointed away from the tower. Three DB224one on each tower leg dipoles in line pointed away from the legsantennas close mounted about 4" off the tower leg. You could hear the repeater well in certain areas on all sides of the tower but lots of nulls in the pattern. One of which went right across the major population center.antennas fed in phase with a 3X divider. Bad news setup. DB228 close mounted on one leg of the tower about 2" dipoles in line punted straight out from the point of the triangle.Faces the major population area. DB224 close mounted on one of theother tower legs dipoles in lineperpendicular to the tower face and pointed oppositetheDB228. Both antennas fed in phase with a 2X power divider. 70 mile radius coverage for mobiles no nulls found in pattern. Everyone is happy with the performance. As a side note to another thread it takes 250- 300W Tx power to balance the repeater Rx coveragefor mobiles stations. Another repeater in the area had a DB224 mounted about 2' off the side of a smaller tower about 400 ft up with thedipoles arranged omni with reasonablecoverage. They went out to about 4' off the side and pointedthe dipoles in towards the tower inline. Performance dropped drasticaly, didn't take long for them to go back to the other arrangement. John Lock KF0MWichita KSkf0m at arrl dot net -Original Message-From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Roger WhiteSent: Saturday, February 11, 2006 7:40 AMTo: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.comSubject: [Repeater-Builder] dB224 4 bay 220 MHz Antenna on VERY LARGE TOWER face Monday, I am having this antenna put up on a triangular tower, whose face is greater than 20 ft. across where the antenna is going on one leg. I know from years of operationon this tower (or any tower that is this large), the antenna patternwill have manynulls around the tower. Does anyone have any experience on mounting an antenna on a large towerto minimize the nulls? The antenna will be mounted on a leg (not in the center of the face which may be more preferably). I have the choice of placing the dipoles equally around the antenna mast, all facing the tower or all facing away from the tower. Any suggestions (or does it really matter on a tower of this size)? Roger W5RD YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "Repeater-Builder" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Repeater-Builder] dB224 4 bay 220 MHz Antenna on VERY LARGE TOWER face
Monday, I am having this antenna put up on a triangular tower, whose face is greater than 20 ft. across where the antenna is going on one leg. I know from years of operationon this tower (or any tower that is this large), the antenna patternwill have manynulls around the tower. Does anyone have any experience on mounting an antenna on a large towerto minimize the nulls? The antenna will be mounted on a leg (not in the center of the face which may be more preferably). I have the choice of placing the dipoles equally around the antenna mast, all facing the tower or all facing away from the tower. Any suggestions (or does it really matter on a tower of this size)? Roger W5RD YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "Repeater-Builder" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] dB224 4 bay 220 MHz Antenna on VERY LARGE TOWER face
The existing mount exact size I do not know, but it is at least 3feet off the leg (and offset to make the antenna vertical, since the tower (450 ft. self supporting)slopes slightly). I have had a Sinclair co-linear(6 dB) up at this height a number of years ago and it seemed to have a reasonable number of nulls. I have now a 3dB (ugh!) co-linear that must be really suffering from its anemic gain (its only six to sevenft. tall). I am wishing that the dB224 will at least fill in the nulls somewhat over this lackluster antenna (a 3dB gain co-linear from AntennaX). Our 2 meter repeater antenna, a dB224, has its dipoles set in the omni manner and it seems to work as expected. There are nulls as one would expect. Roger W5RD 222.58/224.18 MHz On the air since 1982 - Original Message - From: JamesMNelson To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2006 11:54 AM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] dB224 4 bay 220 MHz Antenna on VERY LARGE TOWER face Rodger, I have a DB-228 that is mounted in the center of the Northwest face. The faces are 8 across if memory serves me correctly. We are at 635 Center of Radiation and only running 12.5 watts in to the cavities but we are getting 45 50 mile radius coverage from the repeater. I have not noticed any REALLY bad nulls any were in the coverage pattern. I say that but I have also not done a commercial style drive on the repeater either. I really did not see it necessarily at the time but may do one at a later date. When the antenna was mounted, we turned the top four dipoles away from the tower and the bottom four dipoles to the tower. I know that you asked about a DB-224 and not a 228 but maybe this information will help a little bit. The antenna is only sitting 24 off of the face, and you said that you would be mounting off of a leg. Do you know how far off of the leg you are going to be able to get? If you are going to be less that 2 3 I would turn all of the dipoles in to the tower leg. If you can get 4 or more away from the tower I would point each one of the dipoles 90 degrees apart staring at the top and working you way down clockwise. Hope this helps. james// -Original Message-From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Roger WhiteSent: Saturday, February 11, 2006 7:40 AMTo: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.comSubject: [Repeater-Builder] dB224 4 bay 220 MHz Antenna on VERY LARGE TOWER face Monday, I am having this antenna put up on a triangular tower, whose face is greater than 20 ft. across where the antenna is going on one leg. I know from years of operationon this tower (or any tower that is this large), the antenna patternwill have manynulls around the tower. Does anyone have any experience on mounting an antenna on a large towerto minimize the nulls? The antenna will be mounted on a leg (not in the center of the face which may be more preferably). I have the choice of placing the dipoles equally around the antenna mast, all facing the tower or all facing away from the tower. Any suggestions (or does it really matter on a tower of this size)? Roger W5RD YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "Repeater-Builder" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Repeater-Builder] Re: Duplexer tuning with Return Loss Bridge
Inexpensive directinal couplers will not have high enough directivity to give accurate readings. They will work, but the accuracy is degraded over a high directivity coupler. Roger W5RD --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Andy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Is there any reason that a relatively cheap MiniCircuits directional coupler wouldn't work for this? P/N Z30-16-5-75 is $29.95 P/N ZADC-10-4-75 is $54.95 etc. These are a lot cheaper than the Eagles...is there a reason? Andy Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * 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/
[Repeater-Builder] Re: Duplexer tuning with Return Loss Bridge
A good discussion on testing using a return loss bridge should be found wherever the old Hewlett Packard App. Notes are on the web. A return loss bridge in its simplest application is a dual directional coupler with detectors (or power meters) on the coupled ports. The forward port samples the forward power on the line and the reflected port the reflected power coming back from the load being looked at. If you have power meters on both ports, the difference in these power levels is the return loss of the device under test. You can relate return loss to VSWR, of course. If detectors are on the ports, the detector on the reflected port will have almost equal voltage as the forward detector (for a terrible VSWR) and progressively less voltage as the load VSWR gets better (toward 50 ohms). Roger W5RD Couldn't one use a directional coupler instead of a RL bridge? The directivity probably wouldn't be quite as good, but a surplus coupler would be a lot cheaper. Bob NO6B Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * 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] Hamtronics Preamp part ID
Maybe it's a 2N2369? Roger W5RD --- Jim, K8COP [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This transistor is in a Hamtronics Pre-Selector preamp from the 80's. The number on the top of the transistor is 2369E44. Jim, K8COP Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * 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/
[Repeater-Builder] DB 224 Antenna Orientation on a large (?25 ft.) faced tower
I am going to put up a Andrews dB224JJ (220 MHz antenna) on our tower at TI in Dallas. I have had an antenna on this tower up at 250-270 ft. for many years (a 6dB Stationmaster for 145 MHz and a 6dB Stationmaster for 224 MHz). Our 2 meter antenna is now a dB224, with the dipoles situated around the antenna mast as if for a top of the tower mount with an omni pattern. The 220 antena is an anemic 3 dB gain Antenx, which is not much better than a wet noodle with some gain. I seem to remember somewhere (maybe an old dB Products catalog) where for an antenna of the dB224, if you face all four dipoles toward the tower, you stand a chance of getting s more omni pattern (at least it is suppose to have somewhat equal gain ripple around the tower). The tower is 25 ft. wide on each face. The antenna will be offset from one leg around 5 to 6 feet at least. Does anyone have any experience in mounting this type of antenna in this manner? Roger W5RD Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * 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] DB 224 Antenna Orientation on a large (?25 ft.) faced tower
Ok, many thanks. I do not have the old catalog and remember something about the orientation of the dipoles toward the tower. But, I imagine since this tower is so wide, it will affect the pattern no matter what, but the site has cheap rent :), so beggars can't be choosers! 73, Roger - Original Message - From: Eric Lemmon [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, November 28, 2005 8:31 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] DB 224 Antenna Orientation on a large (?25 ft.) faced tower Roger, My Decibel Products catalog shows that a DB224E-JJ antenna can achieve nearly omnidirectional coverage when side-mounted on a tower with a DB5001 Side Mount Kit, with all dipoles pointing inward toward the tower. This kit positions the antenna mast 18 inches away from the tower. Other spacings will probably affect the pattern significantly. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY Roger White wrote: I am going to put up a Andrews dB224JJ (220 MHz antenna) on our tower at TI in Dallas. I have had an antenna on this tower up at 250-270 ft. for many years (a 6dB Stationmaster for 145 MHz and a 6dB Stationmaster for 224 MHz). Our 2 meter antenna is now a dB224, with the dipoles situated around the antenna mast as if for a top of the tower mount with an omni pattern. The 220 antena is an anemic 3 dB gain Antenx, which is not much better than a wet noodle with some gain. I seem to remember somewhere (maybe an old dB Products catalog) where for an antenna of the dB224, if you face all four dipoles toward the tower, you stand a chance of getting s more omni pattern (at least it is suppose to have somewhat equal gain ripple around the tower). The tower is 25 ft. wide on each face. The antenna will be offset from one leg around 5 to 6 feet at least. Does anyone have any experience in mounting this type of antenna in this manner? Roger W5RD Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * 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] DB 224 Antenna Orientation on a large (?25 ft.) faced tower
That is the manner in which our 2 meter dB224 is mounted at present. Roger W5RD - Original Message - From: Paul Guello [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, November 28, 2005 10:00 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] DB 224 Antenna Orientation on a large (?25 ft.) faced tower What broadcasters do to get the best pattern on a large tower is to mount the antenna on the leg coming straignt off the leg. (perpendicular with the opposite face) Paul --- Roger White [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ok, many thanks. I do not have the old catalog and remember something about the orientation of the dipoles toward the tower. But, I imagine since this tower is so wide, it will affect the pattern no matter what, but the site has cheap rent :), so beggars can't be choosers! 73, Roger - Original Message - From: Eric Lemmon [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, November 28, 2005 8:31 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] DB 224 Antenna Orientation on a large (?25 ft.) faced tower Roger, My Decibel Products catalog shows that a DB224E-JJ antenna can achieve nearly omnidirectional coverage when side-mounted on a tower with a DB5001 Side Mount Kit, with all dipoles pointing inward toward the tower. This kit positions the antenna mast 18 inches away from the tower. Other spacings will probably affect the pattern significantly. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY Roger White wrote: I am going to put up a Andrews dB224JJ (220 MHz antenna) on our tower at TI in Dallas. I have had an antenna on this tower up at 250-270 ft. for many years (a 6dB Stationmaster for 145 MHz and a 6dB Stationmaster for 224 MHz). Our 2 meter antenna is now a dB224, with the dipoles situated around the antenna mast as if for a top of the tower mount with an omni pattern. The 220 antena is an anemic 3 dB gain Antenx, which is not much better than a wet noodle with some gain. I seem to remember somewhere (maybe an old dB Products catalog) where for an antenna of the dB224, if you face all four dipoles toward the tower, you stand a chance of getting s more omni pattern (at least it is suppose to have somewhat equal gain ripple around the tower). The tower is 25 ft. wide on each face. The antenna will be offset from one leg around 5 to 6 feet at least. Does anyone have any experience in mounting this type of antenna in this manner? Roger W5RD Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links [EMAIL PROTECTED] __ Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page! http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * 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/
[Repeater-Builder] DB 224 JJ 220 MHz antenna
Where is a good place to buy this antenna w/o having to wait for it to be built? Roger W5RD [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * 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/
