Re: [Repeater-Builder] Capacitors rated for RF (free capacitor handbook)
Thanks Skip Ralph, W7HSG -- Original message -- From: skipp025 skipp...@yahoo.com Hi Kris, Hard to give a simple answer within the practical limits of a group posting. Capacitors can be and are often rated for RF Applications. The most practical answer I can provide is a reference to the following free RF Capacitor Handbook. http://atceramics.com/technicalnotes/order_capacitor_handbook.asp It's a wonderful reference... cheers, s. Kris Kirby k...@... wrote: Color me ignorant, but what is an RF-rated capacitor? I am familiar with inductors, resistors and so on, but was unaware there is a specific series or type of capacitor that should be used for RF circuits. I can understand being aware of breakdown voltages that are present in high SWR conditions. Kris Kirby, KE4AHR k...@... On Sun, 4 Jan 2009, skipp025 wrote: Reads like my love-hate relationship with Spectrum. The power supplies in their repeaters were not so well designed and their transmitters had some known issues with the wrong type of non-rf rated caps in the final section. ---BeginMessage--- Hi Kris, Hard to give a simple answer within the practical limits of a group posting. Capacitors can be and are often rated for RF Applications. The most practical answer I can provide is a reference to the following free RF Capacitor Handbook. http://atceramics.com/technicalnotes/order_capacitor_handbook.asp It's a wonderful reference... cheers, s. Kris Kirby k...@... wrote: Color me ignorant, but what is an RF-rated capacitor? I am familiar with inductors, resistors and so on, but was unaware there is a specific series or type of capacitor that should be used for RF circuits. I can understand being aware of breakdown voltages that are present in high SWR conditions. Kris Kirby, KE4AHR k...@... On Sun, 4 Jan 2009, skipp025 wrote: Reads like my love-hate relationship with Spectrum. The power supplies in their repeaters were not so well designed and their transmitters had some known issues with the wrong type of non-rf rated caps in the final section. ---End Message---
[Repeater-Builder] Avcom PSA 35 A
Good morning All I have a Avcom PSA 35 A spectrum analizer. I am looking for any service information that might be out there I have a email into the manufacture but don't have much hope. Thanks in advance Ralph, W7HSG
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Mitreks
I would be interested if you have any hi Power UHF 50-100w. I would pay shipping etc. Ralph, W7HSG -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jim, I you have trouble getting rid of a couple of VHF high band Mitreks I will pay shipping. Collin -Original Message- From: Jim, K8COP [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 4:20 pm Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Mitreks I have a stack of UHF/VHF/Lo Band Mitreks. There is some cables, etc with them. Free for pick up ONLY. Located near Muskegon, MI. E-mail me direct [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jim, K8COP ---BeginMessage--- ---BeginMessage--- Jim, I you have trouble getting rid of a couple of VHF high band Mitreks I will pay shipping. Collin -Original Message- From: Jim, K8COP [EMAIL PROTECTED]net To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 4:20 pm Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Mitreks I have a stack of UHF/VHF/Lo Band Mitreks. There is some cables, etc with them. Free for pick up ONLY. Located near Muskegon, MI. E-mail me direct [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jim, K8COP ---End Message--- ---End Message---
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Tram antenna
Eric and all 448.975T 443.975 Rx, Tram 1481 Supposed to be a 11.7 db 8 x5/8 wave on 430-450. feed line 50 ft of LDF 4-50 with a short jumper of 1/4 superflex. Dummy on feed line about a 32 db rl. Desense is seen both on the Micor limiter and observed by use of a iso T test. Rx is about .3 for 20db Q . Limiter reading with no signal is about 25 ua. When transmitter is keyed from computer link or remote tx sw, Limiter goes to 35-40 ua. Soldered all the butt joints inside of antenna except for the set screw connectors. Checked all connectors carefully. Antenna is tunable by moving the radial ring. Antenna does tune but never better than 12-14 db return loss. Ralph -- Original message -- From: Eric Lemmon [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ralph, Not much information to go on... What frequency? What model antenna? What make and model duplexer? What type and length of feedline? What was the return loss with the dummy load in place? How did you measure the desense? Between what extremes did it vary? What troubleshooting steps have you performed so far? 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 6:26 PM To: repeater-builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Tram antenna I am currently in Montana and working on a ham repeater using a Tram antenna. I seem to have a lot of desense. Have checked with a dummy load at the end of the feed line and every thing is fine. The desense seems to vary. I have soldered all the crimp joints. Using an Anritsu shows the best match as 11.63 db or a 1.7vswr. Any ideas. Thanks in advance Ralph, W7HSG ---BeginMessage--- Ralph, Not much information to go on... What frequency? What model antenna? What make and model duplexer? What type and length of feedline? What was the return loss with the dummy load in place? How did you measure the desense? Between what extremes did it vary? What troubleshooting steps have you performed so far? 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]net Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 6:26 PM To: repeater-builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Tram antenna I am currently in Montana and working on a ham repeater using a Tram antenna. I seem to have a lot of desense. Have checked with a dummy load at the end of the feed line and every thing is fine. The desense seems to vary. I have soldered all the crimp joints. Using an Anritsu shows the best match as 11.63 db or a 1.7vswr. Any ideas. Thanks in advance Ralph, W7HSG ---End Message---
[Repeater-Builder] Tram antenna
I am currently in Montana and working on a ham repeater using a Tram antenna. I seem to have a lot of desense. Have checked with a dummy load at the end of the feed line and every thing is fine. The desense seems to vary. I have soldered all the crimp joints. Using an Anritsu shows the best match as 11.63 db or a 1.7vswr. Any ideas. Thanks in advance Ralph, W7HSG
RE: [Repeater-Builder] UHF MICOR Unified Chassis
A simplified way to make it work would be to take out all cards. Modify the station control per Kevins info in repeater builders. Find the Ptt of the transmitter and run to the station control board. I have modified 2 this way and they both work great. I use a separate micor sq chip but you can use the one in the Rx per repeater builder info. Ralph -- Original message -- From: n9wys [EMAIL PROTECTED] Well, the MICOR Community Repeater manual supplement arrived today, and I've been going through it with the proverbial fine-toothed comb. I replaced most of the jumpers I originally removed from the backplane. (According to the jumper matrix in the CR manual, they needed to be IN whereas the regular repeater indicated they needed to be OUT.) I also went through the various cards necessary and checked jumper settings for those. This is where I ran into my next problem(s). First off, the repeater does NOT need a Line Driver card for Community Repeater operation. I does need: Time Out Timer Station Control Squelch Gate Master Decoder and 4-User Control modules. I went through the manual to set the jumpers as necessary, but ran into a snag with the Squelch Gate. Both manuals (Community Repeater and Control and Applications) identify the Squelch Gate card as TLN4662A. I have about a dozen SG cards and they're all TLN8772A, of various vintage. Parts are laid out differently than what is shown in the manuals, and I can't even find some of the jumpers referenced in the manuals on the cards. Specifically, I can't seem to find JU-12, JU-14 or JU-15... if they're on the card, they aren't very marked well. Anyway, I've actually take a step backward with this project, in that once I replaced the jumpers on the backplane, I lost repeater operation with the Line Driver card. (In a way, I kind of expected that, though.) I was able before to key the repeater with the proper input freq and PL, now I cannot. Also if I key the station with the PTT switch on the Station Control card, it does not drop when PTT is released. My first question is: Is there a different version of the Squelch Gate card that I need, or is the TLN8772A a direct replacement? If it is a direct replacement card, does anyone have the manual page(s) for this particular card so I can get the jumper settings and locations picked out? My thinking at the moment is that I still don't have the jumper configuration correct on the SG card... Next, the manual calls out yet a different part number for the backplane: TCN1211A. To reiterate, my backplane is a TRN6421A. I'm getting more confused as time goes on. If Motorola issued upgrades/revisions for the various control cards and the backplane, the documentation isn't contained in any of the manuals I have. My backplane is apparently properly labeled for card placement (according to the Community Repeater manual) but for whatever reason, I'm not making any progress. ---BeginMessage--- Well, the MICOR Community Repeater manual supplement arrived today, and I've been going through it with the proverbial fine-toothed comb. I replaced most of the jumpers I originally removed from the backplane. (According to the jumper matrix in the CR manual, they needed to be IN whereas the regular repeater indicated they needed to be OUT.) I also went through the various cards necessary and checked jumper settings for those. This is where I ran into my next problem(s). First off, the repeater does NOT need a Line Driver card for Community Repeater operation. I does need: Time Out Timer Station Control Squelch Gate Master Decoder and 4-User Control modules. I went through the manual to set the jumpers as necessary, but ran into a snag with the Squelch Gate. Both manuals (Community Repeater and Control and Applications) identify the Squelch Gate card as TLN4662A. I have about a dozen SG cards and they're all TLN8772A, of various vintage. Parts are laid out differently than what is shown in the manuals, and I can't even find some of the jumpers referenced in the manuals on the cards. Specifically, I can't seem to find JU-12, JU-14 or JU-15... if they're on the card, they aren't very marked well. Anyway, I've actually take a step backward with this project, in that once I replaced the jumpers on the backplane, I lost repeater operation with the Line Driver card. (In a way, I kind of expected that, though.) I was able before to key the repeater with the proper input freq and PL, now I cannot. Also if I key the station with the PTT switch on the Station Control card, it does not drop when PTT is released. My first question is: Is there a different version of the Squelch Gate card that I need, or is the TLN8772A a direct replacement? If it is a direct replacement card, does anyone have the manual page(s) for this particular card so I can get the jumper settings and locations picked
RE: Re: [Repeater-Builder] 633-6a-2n notch duplexer
Eric Some day when you have nothing to do, why don't you document with pictures how you use the network analizer tuning the duplexer. Ralph, W7HSG -- Original message -- From: Eric Lemmon [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mark, I assume that Celwave uses a network analyzer when setting the coupling loops, and tweaks them for maximum return loss at the pass frequency. I have never tried to do this myself, since I seldom use or tune mobile-type notch duplexers. A network analyzer has no peer for tuning duplexers or ferrite isolators. A pass hump is rather vague and broad when viewed on a spectrum analyzer, but is a very sharp and prominent dip when viewed as return loss on a network analyzer. Before I got my network analyzer, I used an Eagle return-loss bridge. Although it (the Eagle RLB) is a bit cumbersome to use, it is well worth its cost when the return-loss function is not needed on a daily basis. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of n9wys Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 4:30 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: Re: [Repeater-Builder] 633-6a-2n notch duplexer Eric, I'm curious how this phenomenon would evidence itself on a network analyzer. I ask because I was planning on doing just this (use a notch duplexer rather than Bp/Br) for a low power repeater application I am working on for the future... and the guy who tunes my duplexers locally uses a network analyzer to do the work. I have seen them tune up well in the past, but you now have my curiosity piqued. Thanks in advance! Mark - N9WYS -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com On Behalf Of Eric Lemmon When dealing with a notch-only mobile duplexer, it may be a good idea to mark the connectors Pass High, Notch Low and Pass Low, Notch High, to avoid any misunderstanding about what each side does. About nine years ago, I ordered a Vertex VXR-5000 UHF repeater from a major Amateur Radio supplier (who shall remain nameless) along with the Vertex VXD flat-pack notch-only duplexer. I had ordered the package with the conventional high-in, low-out frequencies, and the vendor did not charge for tuning the Vertex duplexer. When I checked the tuning of the duplexer with my spectrum analyzer, I found that the vendor technician had tuned all of the screws for maximum pass instead of for the deepest notch! It's a good thing I caught this before putting the repeater on the air, because I could have fried the RF amp in the receiver's front end. As for moving a mobile notch-only duplexer from the commercial band down to the 70 cm Ham band, that usually will not work well. Even so, many Hams retune such duplexers to the 70 cm band and believe that they are performing well, when in fact they are not. I proved this to myself by ordering a new RFS/Celwave PD633-6A-1N duplexer, factory-tuned to my 70 cm pair, and comparing its performance to the Celwave PD633-6A-2N (Motorola RFE4000A) duplexer that I had tried to tune down from the commercial frequencies. What an eye-opener! The notches were almost the same, but the pass loss was much greater in the -2N duplexer when operated at 70 cm. A technician at Celwave explained that the coupling loops (under the black plastic hole plugs) must be adjusted for optimum performance at the intended frequency of operation, and that is something that is difficult to do without the proper test equipment and tools. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY ---BeginMessage--- Mark, I assume that Celwave uses a network analyzer when setting the coupling loops, and tweaks them for maximum return loss at the pass frequency. I have never tried to do this myself, since I seldom use or tune mobile-type notch duplexers. A network analyzer has no peer for tuning duplexers or ferrite isolators. A pass hump is rather vague and broad when viewed on a spectrum analyzer, but is a very sharp and prominent dip when viewed as return loss on a network analyzer. Before I got my network analyzer, I used an Eagle return-loss bridge. Although it (the Eagle RLB) is a bit cumbersome to use, it is well worth its cost when the return-loss function is not needed on a daily basis. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of n9wys Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 4:30 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: Re: [Repeater-Builder] 633-6a-2n notch duplexer Eric, I'm curious how this phenomenon would evidence itself on a network analyzer. I ask because I was planning on doing just this (use a notch duplexer rather than Bp/Br) for a low power repeater application I am working on for the future... and the guy who tunes my duplexers locally uses a network
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Sick MSF5000
Hi Sounds like garbage on the 5volt bus. Change the electrolytic caps associated with the 5 volt dc converter. Just use good quality caps and it should solve the problem. You do NOT need the special 3 lead cap that M uses, just a good quality cap (low ESR) Ralph -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have a sick VHF MSF5000 digital repeater. It will not operate and the display cycles through the segment test (all segments test OK). Then shows 5.32 which I believe should be the firmware version. Then L06, L07 and the D07. None of these error codes are listed in the service manual (just my luck!) This cycle is then repeated. Also all LEDs are on. This station has been giving me similar problems for the last month or so. When it did, using the reset switch on the front would bring it out of this error cycle. Instead of trying to trouble shoot the problem, I would rather replace the controller if possible. Anyone have a source for spare parts? Randy WB0VHB ---BeginMessage--- I have a sick VHF MSF5000 digital repeater. It will not operate and the display cycles through the segment test (all segments test OK). Then shows 5.32 which I believe should be the firmware version. Then L06, L07 and the D07. None of these error codes are listed in the service manual (just my luck!) This cycle is then repeated. Also all LEDs are on. This station has been giving me similar problems for the last month or so. When it did, using the reset switch on the front would bring it out of this error cycle. Instead of trying to trouble shoot the problem, I would rather replace the controller if possible. Anyone have a source for spare parts? Randy WB0VHB ---End Message---
Re: [Repeater-Builder] First time spectra programmer
I sure could use the same information. Have Spectra, Software and rib Ralph, W7HSG -- Original message -- From: k5ilf [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have never programmed a motorola before. I have a VHF High band,conventional unit with the A5 head. It currently works on a weather channel. I have a RIB and the appropriate cable as well as some spectra software. I do not want to turn the radio into a 'brick' so I am asking for some direction on my first attempt at programming. I tried to get a programming manual on ebay, but it went for almost $100. Can someone give, or send, me a step by step method of working with this unit. I sure would appreciate it. bill in las cruces k5ilf ---BeginMessage--- I have never programmed a motorola before. I have a VHF High band,conventional unit with the A5 head. It currently works on a weather channel. I have a RIB and the appropriate cable as well as some spectra software. I do not want to turn the radio into a 'brick' so I am asking for some direction on my first attempt at programming. I tried to get a programming manual on ebay, but it went for almost $100. Can someone give, or send, me a step by step method of working with this unit. I sure would appreciate it. bill in las cruces k5ilf ---End Message---
Re: [Repeater-Builder] MSF5000 problem
Check the cap on he control board for the 5vdc converter. If cap is slightly bad, hash will be on the 5v buss and all kinds of things can happen, Use a scope. There are 2 caps bottom left on the control board right below the tin can that houses the 5 volt switcher. Ralph -- Original message -- From: k6kusman [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hello all. I have a msf5000 vhf repeater that might be having a small problem. We think st.elmos fire got into the sscb and fried it. When ya try to boot the repeater it comes up with a flickering 888 in the display and with the test unit hooked up too the test buss it show's FF and no led's in the data area. The power supply is doin both 29vdc as well as 14vdc. The 5v supply seems to be functioning properly and unloaded is putting out 5v though with the sscb jumperd correctly it drops to 3.4v which maybe shows me that the sscb is toasted but ya never know. Any ideas I would be greatful for. Thanks in advance. ---BeginMessage--- Hello all. I have a msf5000 vhf repeater that might be having a small problem. We think st.elmos fire got into the sscb and fried it. When ya try to boot the repeater it comes up with a flickering 888 in the display and with the test unit hooked up too the test buss it show's FF and no led's in the data area. The power supply is doin both 29vdc as well as 14vdc. The 5v supply seems to be functioning properly and unloaded is putting out 5v though with the sscb jumperd correctly it drops to 3.4v which maybe shows me that the sscb is toasted but ya never know. Any ideas I would be greatful for. Thanks in advance. ---End Message---
Re: [Repeater-Builder] 4 Questions on UHF Mitreks
I have been able to move a 450-470 Mitrek down to as low as 420. I use a spectrum analizer to sniff the signal until the meter reads. Yes it is not as sensitive at 420. 0.6 to 0.7 but is great for links. I used a Simpson 260 for years with the correct diameter probes. You don't want them to slip and short anything. A 450 unit will give about .35 or so at 445. The multiplier stage is the key to getting good sens. You really need do the final sens setting by peaking the two adjustments. Ralph, W7HSG -- Original message -- From: emt747 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hello all, 4 questions: 1- Has anybody had any luck tuning the TX down to 438.XXX? 2- What kind of RX sens. is expected on 448.XXX? I am getting around .50uV 2- Does anybody have any tips on tuning the Mitrek without the test set? 3- Does anybody have a test set for sale? I am working with T34JJA3900DK,T34JJA3900DL,T34JJA3900AK Any help or ideas would be great. Thanks, Brent ---BeginMessage--- Hello all, 4 questions: 1- Has anybody had any luck tuning the TX down to 438.XXX? 2- What kind of RX sens. is expected on 448.XXX? I am getting around .50uV 2- Does anybody have any tips on tuning the Mitrek without the test set? 3- Does anybody have a test set for sale? I am working with T34JJA3900DK,T34JJA3900DL,T34JJA3900AK Any help or ideas would be great. Thanks, Brent ---End Message---
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Cushman CE3
Better to replace it with a 10 MHz TCXO with a divide circuit to provide the 5 mhz or 1 mhz you need. 7490's and a buffer of a 2n. Ralph, W7HSG -- Original message -- From: retiredcss01 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi, I have a Cushman CE3 that the crystal heater has died on. Does anyone have a heater or an old CE3 that they are parting out? If so, let me know price and how to contact you. Thanks, Tom Dow W5Blo ---BeginMessage--- Hi, I have a Cushman CE3 that the crystal heater has died on. Does anyone have a heater or an old CE3 that they are parting out? If so, let me know price and how to contact you. Thanks, Tom Dow W5Blo ---End Message---
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Re: FS: IFR Aeroflex 1200
Any body have the IFR 1000s in a pdf etc
Ralph, W7HSG
-- Original message --
From: Richard [EMAIL PROTECTED]
I have it:
http://www.download.n7tgb.net/Misc/IFR1200S_OM.pdf (8 meg file)
and the maintenance manual...
http://www.download.n7tgb.net/Misc/IFR_1200SA.pdf (40 meg file)
Richard
www.n7tgb.net
---BeginMessage---
I have it:
http://www.download.n7tgb.net/Misc/IFR1200S_OM.pdf (8 meg file)
and the maintenance manual...
http://www.download.n7tgb.net/Misc/IFR_1200SA.pdf (40 meg file)
Richard
www.n7tgb.net
-Original Message-
From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Cort Buffington
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 6:09 AM
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: FS: IFR Aeroflex 1200
I JUST GOT a 1200S with a late serial number used from a two-way shop
yesterday. Most things I've figured out, but the tracking generator
eludes me. Anyone have an electronic copy of the operations manual for
one of these dudes?
On Feb 13, 2008, at 5:49 PM, b_totten wrote:
Found this unit for a reasonable price:
http://www.teknetelectronics.com/Search.asp?p_ID=11382pDo=DETAIL
--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Keith, KB7M [EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
These are desireable units, and sell regularly on eBay. The price
will
depend on which sub-model it is ('S', Super-S etc.) and on which
options it
includes. Even basic models often go for well over $2K. Fully
optioned
Super-S models sometimes top $4-5K. There are also dealers that
buy and
sell these, but they will offer you a heavily discounted price (they
are in
the business to make a profit after all).
Just offering it here may likely result in offers for a fair price.
Sorry to hear of the passing of your dad.
Good luck!
--
Keith McQueen
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
801-224-9460
On Feb 12, 2008 10:45 AM, Paul Robichaux [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
My dad, K5EYP, was an active member of repeater-builders. He
bought an
IFR/Aeroflex 1200
to use in his repeater building; I sent it out to be factory
calibrated in
April 2007. Sadly, Dad
is now SK; he died in a motorcycle accident in August. Now my mom
has me
cleaning up his
shack.
I know this is a specialized and expensive piece of equipment.
None of the
family has any use
for it. I'd like to sell it, so I welcome advice on a) fair
pricing and b)
the most likely place(s) to
find a buyer.
73 de KG4RWS
Yahoo! Groups Links
---End Message---
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Off Topic (but with on topic questions): NTIA propaganda
Reality Channels 2-13 will mostly be vacant. There are a small number of stations that will revert back to their hi VHF channel after Feb 17. Hi VHF channels 7-13. Here in Tucson only one station will revert back to their original channel. KGUN on 9. Other VHF stations in Tucson, 4,6,11 13 are all going to stay on their UHF assignment. On the UHF side, stations will pack the 14 through 52 spectrum. Channels 53 through 69 will be given up. Broadcasters are really wanting this mess to be over. My former station, KVOA is spending more than twice as much on elect, cooling etc running two transmitters. One on 4 and one on 23. The stations all want to stop the bleeding of money. The only monkey wrench I can see is congress mandating that we do not turn of on Feb 17, 2009. There seems to be some in congress that feel it isn't going to work. Only time will tell. Ralph -- Original message -- From: Kevin Custer [EMAIL PROTECTED] MCH wrote: will free up airwaves for use by emergency responders.??? The TV spectrum is being freed up by ANALOG stations and the SAME SPECTRUM will be reused by DIGITAL stations. The only spectrum being freed up by TV for PS use is on the 764 MHz + band. (two TV channels, I believe) and has nothing to do with a transition to digital. The same could have been achieved by simply moving those analog stations to other channels. An analog allocation is 6 MHz. A digital allocation is 6 MHz. How is digital saving spectrum? Most VHF analog stations are using UHF for their Digital broadcast. Channel 6 Johnstown is 34 UHF Channel 2 PGH is now on 25 UHF Channel 4 PGH is on 51 (I think) UHF stations have been allocated a different channel for their DTV 53 PGH is on 43 UHF (I think) While it was told that ALL VHF television would move to UHF, I don't believe that is going to be reality. I could be wrong, however Kevin ---BeginMessage--- MCH wrote: will free up airwaves for use by emergency responders.??? The TV spectrum is being freed up by ANALOG stations and the SAME SPECTRUM will be reused by DIGITAL stations. The only spectrum being freed up by TV for PS use is on the 764 MHz + band. (two TV channels, I believe) and has nothing to do with a transition to digital. The same could have been achieved by simply moving those analog stations to other channels. An analog allocation is 6 MHz. A digital allocation is 6 MHz. How is digital saving spectrum? Most VHF analog stations are using UHF for their Digital broadcast. Channel 6 Johnstown is 34 UHF Channel 2 PGH is now on 25 UHF Channel 4 PGH is on 51 (I think) UHF stations have been allocated a different channel for their DTV 53 PGH is on 43 UHF (I think) While it was told that ALL VHF television would move to UHF, I don't believe that is going to be reality. I could be wrong, however Kevin ---End Message---
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Off Topic (but with on topic questions):NTIA propaganda
Stations want to identify by their old channel #. They have spent years telling you to tune to Channel 4 or what ever. The computer in your television set reading the digital code from the stations will take the channel 4 information and translate it to the correct UHF channel such as in Tucson Channel 23. This special code is called the PSIP code and contains other information such as program playing and a TV guide for that channel. Also a lot other info. It also tells the set if there is more than one program stream such as 4-2 might be weather, 4-3 traffic cam etc. Current equipment will allow up to 4 std def channels in one Hi Def space. Ralph -- Original message -- From: MCH [EMAIL PROTECTED] Many of my local channels are using tags that have the ANALOG channel name. For example, while KDKA TV-2 DTV is on channel 25, the tag is 2-1 which is what you enter to see that channel. Either they are going to move back to channel 2 or things are going to get even more confusing if you have a channel 25 station you have to enter 2-1 when there is no channel 2. What happens when a DTV channel 2 comes along (if that should ever happen)? 4 (I forget their DTV channel) is using 4-1 and 4-2. 11 is using 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3. Joe M. Ben wrote: Here is a good list of what the channels will be like when the analog shuts off: http://www.w9wi.com/dtvch/dtvch.html Many are going back to their original VHF channel. Here in Bowling Green, KY it looks like channel 13 will turn off their digital that is on 33 now and stay on the old analog channel 13 as DTV. In Nashville channels 4,5 8 will stay on VHF. If you haven't tried to rx DTV yet it's time you did. I can watch channels now in studio quality that in analog are almost unwatchable by todays standards. HD signals are very nice too! It's easy to pick these channels up with the antenna you have up now and the cost is just going to do down from here. All TV's sold today are required to have DTV tuners. Go to Walmart and look. Several channels in Nashville are running up to 4 or more services on one channel. Here in Bowling Green Channel 40-1 is NBC, 40-2 is CBS, 13-1 is ABC, 13-2 is FOX, 13-3 is UPN(or what ever they call theirselves today), 53-1 to 53-6 are Kentucky Educational Television channels. They run PBS HD on 53-4...so many stations are broadcasting more than one service in that 6 MHz. Ben W4WSM Yahoo! Groups Links ---BeginMessage--- Many of my local channels are using tags that have the ANALOG channel name. For example, while KDKA TV-2 DTV is on channel 25, the tag is 2-1 which is what you enter to see that channel. Either they are going to move back to channel 2 or things are going to get even more confusing if you have a channel 25 station you have to enter 2-1 when there is no channel 2. What happens when a DTV channel 2 comes along (if that should ever happen)? 4 (I forget their DTV channel) is using 4-1 and 4-2. 11 is using 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3. Joe M. Ben wrote: Here is a good list of what the channels will be like when the analog shuts off: http://www.w9wi.com/dtvch/dtvch.html Many are going back to their original VHF channel. Here in Bowling Green, KY it looks like channel 13 will turn off their digital that is on 33 now and stay on the old analog channel 13 as DTV. In Nashville channels 4,5 8 will stay on VHF. If you haven't tried to rx DTV yet it's time you did. I can watch channels now in studio quality that in analog are almost unwatchable by todays standards. HD signals are very nice too! It's easy to pick these channels up with the antenna you have up now and the cost is just going to do down from here. All TV's sold today are required to have DTV tuners. Go to Walmart and look. Several channels in Nashville are running up to 4 or more services on one channel. Here in Bowling Green Channel 40-1 is NBC, 40-2 is CBS, 13-1 is ABC, 13-2 is FOX, 13-3 is UPN(or what ever they call theirselves today), 53-1 to 53-6 are Kentucky Educational Television channels. They run PBS HD on 53-4...so many stations are broadcasting more than one service in that 6 MHz. Ben W4WSM Yahoo! Groups Links ---End Message---
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Micor Repeater (i hope)
Eric and anyone else interested. I don't know where the MSR 2000 came from. This is a micor, looks like a micor and uses micor modules/receiver etc The following is the information requested TLN 4635 Station Control TLN 4662 Squelch Gate TLN 4669 Line Driver TRN 4860 A (84E82352N01) backplane Modified backplane as follows added + -13.8VDC to TB 2 added jumper between Pin 6 and 14 on the RX interface board. Ralph, W7HSG -- Original message -- From: Eric Lemmon [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ralph, Maybe I'm missing something here, but is your station a Micor, or is it an MSR2000? Your subject line and the attachment do not agree. Please advise what backplane you have- there is more than one and they have significant differences. It is always helpful to identify the part numbers (usually stamped in black ink) of each module, so that we all know what you have. Some modules only work with specific backplanes. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2007 2:53 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Micor Repeater (i hope) Hi All Building a Micor Repeater from Scratch Facts. Mother Board (unified Chassis ) origin unknown. Had to add a jumper for +12Volt to RX. Rx with audio works fine. Not using pl board ( control system does PL) Have great local speaker vol and squelch. Exciter, Tripler, PA and circulator all are in working order Have the following modules in the following slots counting from the right front. Audio Line Driver Slot 1 Station Control in Slot 2 Squelch gate in Slot 7 I can Key the transmit on the station control module The exciter and tripler key up and make power PA power comes up about 2 watts and drops off Power Control module check out in a known good complete Micor repeater. Control Transistor is good and plugged in correctly. Checked voltages Missing (- A Key ) minus A Key on the control module. Station Control Module (-A key ) does NOT come up. Station Control Module works in a known good micor repeater. I can add +12 volt to PA control terminal on the PA and PA makes lots of Power on the correct frequency but that bypasses the Circulator SWR protect etc The intent of the whole mess is to use the minimum of the Motorala modules since the Sierra Radio Control system has provisions for Squelch, PTT, RX and TX pl etc any Ideas?? Ralph, W7HSG ---BeginMessage--- Ralph, Maybe I'm missing something here, but is your station a Micor, or is it an MSR2000? Your subject line and the attachment do not agree. Please advise what backplane you have- there is more than one and they have significant differences. It is always helpful to identify the part numbers (usually stamped in black ink) of each module, so that we all know what you have. Some modules only work with specific backplanes. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]net Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2007 2:53 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Micor Repeater (i hope) Hi All Building a Micor Repeater from Scratch Facts. Mother Board (unified Chassis ) origin unknown. Had to add a jumper for 12Volt to RX. Rx with audio works fine. Not using pl board ( control system does PL) Have great local speaker vol and squelch. Exciter, Tripler, PA and circulator all are in working order Have the following modules in the following slots counting from the right front. Audio Line Driver Slot 1 Station Control in Slot 2 Squelch gate in Slot 7 I can Key the transmit on the station control module The exciter and tripler key up and make power PA power comes up about 2 watts and drops off Power Control module check out in a known good complete Micor repeater. Control Transistor is good and plugged in correctly. Checked voltages Missing (- A Key ) minus A Key on the control module. Station Control Module (-A key ) does NOT come up. Station Control Module works in a known good micor repeater. I can add 12 volt to PA control terminal on the PA and PA makes lots of Power on the correct frequency but that bypasses the Circulator SWR protect etc The intent of the whole mess is to use the minimum of the Motorala modules since the Sierra Radio Control system has provisions for Squelch, PTT, RX and TX pl etc any Ideas?? Ralph, W7HSG ---End Message---
[Repeater-Builder] MSF 5000 Magic T Cable
I have built up 2 MSF 5000 and help maintain another. Even with the correct cable, isolation (desense) of the MSF system is not good (about .25 microvolt measured. So far, all of our systems use the stock MSF filters feeding a good duplexer such as the Motorola 4 can pass notch or PD 500 series. I have played with varying the lengths of the arms and main branch. We use RX low and TX high (all 440 systems) Ralph
RE: [Repeater-Builder] MSF5000 TEE Cable
I have one here. The box is simply that. All three cables are soldered together in the box in the form of a T Rx one side, TX other side and the antenna is the center leg of the T. Ralph -- Original message -- From: Eric Lemmon [EMAIL PROTECTED] Glenn, Yeah, I wonder about what's in the box too, but I suspect it's simply a place to solder the three center conductors together, and the impedance bump is ignored. So, what you need seems to be a TLE5772A Yellow tee cable assembly. Wouldn't it be great if someone who has that cable could make exact measurements of it, just as Charlie KC5OZH did for the TLE5732A Green cable? I'd rather not make up such a cable harness with an N tee and N connectors attaching to it, but I might not have a choice- and it should work. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Glenn Shaw Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 1:08 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] MSF5000 TEE Cable Hi Eric I agree on the tee connection in the center being the tricky part. I wonder also if there is anything else that Moto has put into that small box in the middle of the tee. Or could a person just use a regular tee connector and then make up 3 jumpers with connectors on each end and just connect up to the tee. Problem is that after you get done buying all the connectors and the tee to make one yourself, especially if they were type N, you would be at least halfway towards just picking up a new one. I have not seen these in VHF, since the only MSF5000 stations that were able to use a completely internal duplexer setup were the UHF ones that used the high selectivity optional front end receiver filtering combined with the 3 section prefilter and then the 4 section post filter on the transmit amp, all feeding into the special tuned TEE cable. It all seems sort of a kluge but it does work and you can run the repeater off a single antenna without an external standard duplexer. They claim about 75-80 dB isol at 5 MHz separation if tuned right. It has been mentioned that some people have had problems with the system with desense and there are others that have had it work great. I had anolder analog MSF5000 running with Xmt lower than Rcv that worked super with no desense. This is my first attempt at a Xmt higher than Rcv MSF so we'll see if I can get it to tune, otherwise it will be falling back to plan B and use a regular 4 cav Pass Reject duplexer and be done with it. 73 Glenn N1GBY -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com [mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com ] On Behalf Of Eric Lemmon Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 2:27 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] MSF5000 TEE Cable Glenn, I perused the MSF5000 section on the RBTIP and found a sheet titled Combining Tee Duplexer which addresses only the UHF tee cables. I suppose there is another sheet somewhere that documents the VHF tee cables. The above sheet states that the TX leg on a TX-below-RX cable should be about 1/4 wavelength, and the RX leg should be about 5/4 wavelength. However, the dimensions shown for a green tee cable on a file recently uploaded by KC5OZH, do not agree with the above statement. It appears that Charlie's drawing is of a TLE5732A cable. One-quarter wavelength is about 17 cm at 435 MHz, and about 16 cm at 475 MHz. Likewise, 5/4 wavelength is about 86 cm at 435 MHz, and about 79 cm at 475 MHz. Based upon Charlie's measurements, it would seem that the formulas given in the Combining Tee Duplexer sheet are incorrect. I believe that fabrication of the tee cables with RG-400 coaxial cable and readily-available crimp connectors is a simple task. What may be a challenge is making the tee junction without a significant impedance bump. I'd prefer to use a constant-impedance tee, but such an animal may not be available in a three-way (cable-cable-cable) configuration. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY ---BeginMessage--- Glenn, Yeah, I wonder about what's in the box too, but I suspect it's simply a place to solder the three center conductors together, and the impedance bump is ignored. So, what you need seems to be a TLE5772A Yellow tee cable assembly. Wouldn't it be great if someone who has that cable could make exact measurements of it, just as Charlie KC5OZH did for the TLE5732A Green cable? I'd rather not make up such a cable harness with an N tee and N connectors attaching to it, but I might not have a choice- and it should work. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Micor Repeater (i hope)
Hi All Building a Micor Repeater from Scratch Facts. Mother Board (unified Chassis ) origin unknown. Had to add a jumper for +12Volt to RX. Rx with audio works fine. Not using pl board ( control system does PL) Have great local speaker vol and squelch. Exciter, Tripler, PA and circulator all are in working order Have the following modules in the following slots counting from the right front. Audio Line Driver Slot 1 Station Control in Slot 2 Squelch gate in Slot 7 I can Key the transmit on the station control module The exciter and tripler key up and make power PA power comes up about 2 watts and drops off Power Control module check out in a known good complete Micor repeater. Control Transistor is good and plugged in correctly. Checked voltages Missing (- A Key ) minus A Key on the control module. Station Control Module (-A key ) does NOT come up. Station Control Module works in a known good micor repeater. I can add +12 volt to PA control terminal on the PA and PA makes lots of Power on the correct frequency but that bypasses the Circulator SWR protect etc The intent of the whole mess is to use the minimum of the Motorala modules since the Sierra Radio Control system has provisions for Squelch, PTT, RX and TX pl etc any Ideas?? Ralph, W7HSG ---BeginMessage--- Eric, There is a list of the min required jumpers used in the MSR-2000 repeater station included in my MSR-2000 to external repeater controller text found at the www.radiowrench.com/sonic web site. Working from a decafe based hazy memory... there should be 4 to 6 jumpers required on the back plane. And the remaining modules need some specific jumpers and mods depending on your choice of carrier squelch or ctcss (pl) operation, which can be set up as selectable. You're looking at placing the repeater into duplex mode, which normally requires specific modules be in place with a number of jumpers. Buy a used Motorola Micor Repeater Squelch Gate off Ebay, swap the end connector with an unused MSR Module and save big $ The big issue module combination wise is the transmit channel element ground/enable, which can be provided by the wire-line and/or squelch gate module. If you pull the F1-PL/Guard Tone Modules in the wireline tone control combo or the DC-Transfer module in the wireline dc current loop combination... you need to install jumpers JU-5 and JU-6 on the new Squelch Gate Module. You can Email me direct if you have more questions... or I'm happy to answer them through the group if they don't drag out to long and torque off the neighbors. Removing the T/R Relay is no big deal so that's not a problem. Great repeater if you align and treat it right... cheers, skipp skipp025 at yahoo.com Mike Morris WA6ILQ [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At 08:48 PM 12/29/07, you wrote: Hello, I have a VHF MSR 2000, Model C73KSB3146B. I had previously converted it to the 2 meter band, as I needed a 100 watt radio to access a distant repeater. However, I would now like to make it a repeater if at all possible. I have been told by a local Motorola tech that it is possible to do so by adding a Squelch Gate module, and I have seen on this site instructions on how to interface a repeater controller to the Squelch Gate card. Does anyone have any experience in converting a conventional MSR 2000 base station into a repeater? I would also guess that I need to remove the antenna relay, and connect the receiver to the receive side of the duplexer and the transmitter to the transmit side. Of course I would also have to have the channel elements re-crystalled. Is there anything more to it than this? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks Eric K8UHN Did you check the web site associated with this mailing list? I suggest you go to www.repeater-builder.com, then to Motorola, then to Mitrek / MSR2000 and scroll down to the three different articles all of which describe exactly what you are looking to do. Mike WA6ILQ ---End Message---
[Repeater-Builder] Duplexers
Looking for factory alignment for the following Telwave TPRD 1554 Wacom WP655-R2 Ralph, W7HSG ---BeginMessage--- Check out COMTELCO antennas, they are on the web at www.comtelcoantennas.com I have many of them in service with 100% results. They are equal in gain and performance to other more expensive antennas. I recommend the ones with 1.5 inch tubes, not the smaller 1inch tube models. Lance - Original Message - From: Tony L. To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 10:22 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: antennas for gmrs repeater My first recommendation would be a RF Systems PD1151, but since you don't want to spend the money for a Station Master, how about a Hustler Newtronics G6-450-3?You should be able to pick one of these up for under $200. Reportedly, they stand up to the weather pretty well. The first choice PD1151 would run you about $650.--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Jed Barton [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hey guys, Any opinions on an antenna for a gmrs repeater? It won't be going on a 300 foot tower, but it will be on the top of a hospital. I would rather not get a station master, but something that could withstand a little weather. Any ideas on the biggest bang for the buck? Thanks, Jed ---End Message---
[Repeater-Builder] Japanese Transistors
Hi All Does anyone have a cross to Japanese SMT transistors or at least identification of type I have numbers on the circuit such as BR 35 BR 44 BR 51 BR 80 FR 45 FR 48 H 15 B 1642 Thanks Ralph, W7HSG
[Repeater-Builder] Singer FM10C (yes I know its old, but)
Hi All I have a Singer/Gertsch FM10C , sn 135 with a bad scope. The Oscope is Singer model ODM 1 Sn492 I have traced my problem, (noise on scope trace) to the Vertical Amp Board The board in my ODM 1 is a 5-003204-005 Revision D My manual has the diagram of a 4-003204-008 Revision A3 Therein lies my problem Does anyone have the schematic for the 3204-005 rev d that they can scan into an email. You can identify the board by the lack of intergrated circuits. the 008revA3 has2 IC's , 5 transistors and the 005revD has only transistors 8total. Thanks in advance Ralph, W7HSG ---BeginMessage--- At 11/2/2007 22:30, you wrote: Only if you're using a rig with a skewed S-meter (and today many are made that way). There are standards for proper S-meter calibration. No S-meter involved. A 3 dB increase in signal can make the difference between unreadable readable. Bob NO6B ---End Message---
[Repeater-Builder] Yaesu Charger
Looking for the schematic for a Yaesu /Vertex CD15A. Charger is used with the Yaesu/Vertex VX-7R I can't seem to find any information anywhere. Can anyone help Ralph, W7HSG ---BeginMessage--- On Fri, 2 Nov 2007, wb6ymh wrote: The 30 watt version is a better radio for repeater service since all solid state transmitters are very inefficient when run below their designed output. A 30 watt Mitrek running at 15 watts will probably last forever, but a 50 watt Mitrek running at 20 watts gets way too hot for my tastes. It would probably be ok with a fan, but I really didn't want a fan for numerous reasons. Well the radio is only specified to run a certain percentage in transmit anyway, but at this point, you can probably get a dump-truck load of Mitreks for the asking. That will give you enough radios to keep the repeater running until Doomsday. All you need is a few channel elements, and you can skip using lightning protection altogether. If a Mitrek falls in the forest, does it make a noise? -- Kris Kirby, KE4AHR [EMAIL PROTECTED]us But remember, with no superpowers comes no responsibility. --rly ---End Message---
[Repeater-Builder] Crystals Motorola etc
Hi All Looking for information on who makes crystals for channel elements. Micor's and Mitrek Yes, I know that International makes them but the price is high. I have had good luck putting crystals in old channel elements and changing the caps as necessary to achieve reasonable stability. Used to use CUMEX in El Paso but they seem to be gone Ralph, W7HSG ---BeginMessage--- On Fri, 2 Nov 2007, wb6ymh wrote: The 30 watt version is a better radio for repeater service since all solid state transmitters are very inefficient when run below their designed output. A 30 watt Mitrek running at 15 watts will probably last forever, but a 50 watt Mitrek running at 20 watts gets way too hot for my tastes. It would probably be ok with a fan, but I really didn't want a fan for numerous reasons. Well the radio is only specified to run a certain percentage in transmit anyway, but at this point, you can probably get a dump-truck load of Mitreks for the asking. That will give you enough radios to keep the repeater running until Doomsday. All you need is a few channel elements, and you can skip using lightning protection altogether. If a Mitrek falls in the forest, does it make a noise? -- Kris Kirby, KE4AHR [EMAIL PROTECTED]us But remember, with no superpowers comes no responsibility. --rly ---End Message---
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Crystals Motorola etc
Eric, Thanks for the reply Lab is not equal to testing lab but is OK. Cumex were cheap crystals and managed to compensate ok. Bomar which everyone seems to recommend makes much better crystals. I have a small oven and an ERI counter good to .1 hz at 440. I can cycle and adjust within reason. Ralph -- Original message -- From: Eric Lemmon [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ralph, Before you make a decision on your supplier, please read the following article: www.repeater-builder.com/tech-info/temperature-compensation.html Unless you have a testing laboratory equal to that found in a commercial crystal house, I suspect that your good luck is more likely blind luck, and does not justify putting new crystals in previously-compensated channel elements. I and many others believe that the $30 extra spent for a full compensation is money well spent. Otherwise, your crystal that you think is doing just fine may have deficiencies that you don't know about, and don't have the equipment to detect. I'm not just talking about rare cases here- a local 220 repeater was notorious for drifting rapidly off frequency during extended net operation and distorted audio. It was a converted Mastr II that the owner recrystaled himself. When confronted with the complaint that the frequency drifted, he was in denial because he said he bought the crystal from ICM! Once the crystal was sent back to ICM with the ICOM and fully compensated for $30, the repeater worked perfectly. Not only was the drifting problem solved, but the audio clarity was profoundly improved. It seems that the ICOM was originally compensated for a factory-made crystal that had different characteristics from the new crystal made by ICM. Since ICM was not given the ICOM in advance, ICM had no way to test or modify the ICOM to work properly with the new crystal. In my book, it makes sense to always get the full compensation of a new crystal to the ICOM or channel element. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2007 5:22 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Crystals Motorola etc Hi All Looking for information on who makes crystals for channel elements. Micor's and Mitrek Yes, I know that International makes them but the price is high. I have had good luck putting crystals in old channel elements and changing the caps as necessary to achieve reasonable stability. Used to use CUMEX in El Paso but they seem to be gone Ralph, W7HSG ---BeginMessage--- Ralph, Before you make a decision on your supplier, please read the following article: www.repeater-builder.com/tech-info/temperature-compensation.html Unless you have a testing laboratory equal to that found in a commercial crystal house, I suspect that your good luck is more likely blind luck, and does not justify putting new crystals in previously-compensated channel elements. I and many others believe that the $30 extra spent for a full compensation is money well spent. Otherwise, your crystal that you think is doing just fine may have deficiencies that you don't know about, and don't have the equipment to detect. I'm not just talking about rare cases here- a local 220 repeater was notorious for drifting rapidly off frequency during extended net operation and distorted audio. It was a converted Mastr II that the owner recrystaled himself. When confronted with the complaint that the frequency drifted, he was in denial because he said he bought the crystal from ICM! Once the crystal was sent back to ICM with the ICOM and fully compensated for $30, the repeater worked perfectly. Not only was the drifting problem solved, but the audio clarity was profoundly improved. It seems that the ICOM was originally compensated for a factory-made crystal that had different characteristics from the new crystal made by ICM. Since ICM was not given the ICOM in advance, ICM had no way to test or modify the ICOM to work properly with the new crystal. In my book, it makes sense to always get the full compensation of a new crystal to the ICOM or channel element. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]net Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2007 5:22 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Crystals Motorola etc Hi All Looking for information on who makes crystals for channel elements. Micor's and Mitrek Yes, I know that International makes them but the price is high. I have had good luck putting crystals in old channel elements and changing the caps as necessary to achieve reasonable stability. Used to use CUMEX in El Paso but they seem to be gone Ralph, W7HSG
[Repeater-Builder] Mitrek/Micor Station test.
Hi all Looking to procure the 12 pin male connector used for the meter socket for Mitreks My test box (Moto R1033A) uses an assembly labeled RTK 4042APR which consists of a 37pin connector, cable and 12 pin male connector. No part # is listed for the 12 Pin Male. All I need is the 12 Pin mitrek connector but beggars etc. Also could use the 5 Pin male connector used for Micors. I need to make a test box for my son N7XVF in Montana. Ralph W7HSG ---BeginMessage--- You're trying to move a 406-420 range station up into the 440-MHz range - quite a jump and often a challenge to move without serious modifications. You really want to find a 450-470 MHz range unit, to move down to the 440-450 range - it should tune right up. Save the 406-420 MHzstation for a420-430 MHz linking transceiver,or trade it to someone for a 450-470 range unit, since theyare nearly always available.The 406-420 ones are hard to find when youneed one for a link... -Original Message- From: georgiaskywarn Sent: Oct 20, 2007 8:16 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Micor Station Exciter Hi Folks,Have a problem with a Micor Station tonight. Have a Micor that was on409.600T / 407.275R . It was working great on those freq.s beforepulling the elements and sending them off to ICS. New elements (oldones were stolen in route!) with 444.600T / 449.600R in and ready togo. Receiver tuned fine. (slugs out awful far) Transmitter is alittle harder. I have gotten all the way down to the exciter output.(step 11 and 12) No go. Not sure if it is just too far down or what.The board is TLD5491A3. Is there any changes or mods need to be doneto make it happen on 444.600mhz?Thanks,Robertps Will be using a RC210 on this...any suggestions there would beappreciated :-) ---End Message---
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re service monitor repair
Thanks All for the information re IFR repair Ralph, W7HSG ---BeginMessage--- http://www.kgelectronics.com/ [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi All. Some one posted a address etc for a repair service in the mid west for IFR Products. Could you please post it again. I seem to have lost it in the 1's 0's of my computer. Ralph, W7HSG begin:vcard fn:Steve Bosshard n:Bosshard;Steve adr:;;503 B. South 25th. Street;Temple;Texas;76504;USA email;internet:[EMAIL PROTECTED] tel;work:254-773-1102 tel;fax:254-773-1174 tel;home:254-770-0111 tel;cell:254-624-4230 url:http://www.bosshardradio.com version:2.1 end:vcard ---End Message---
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re service monitor repair
Hi All. Some one posted a address etc for a repair service in the mid west for IFR Products. Could you please post it again. I seem to have lost it in the 1's 0's of my computer. Ralph, W7HSG ---BeginMessage--- http://www.rfimaging.com/sell.htm Have been pleased with my HP8921 - also have IFR 500 and COM120B, and CE6300. Steve NU5D skipp025 wrote: Hi Randy, Check out an HP-8920a service monitor if you have the time. The 002 option is a tracking generator built into the spectrum analyzer that has adjustable band-widths. The adjustable bandwidth tracking mode is pretty much a must have if you're serious about working on all types of duplexers and special combiner networks. ---End Message---
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Radio Test Set Motorola R1033A
Thanks Pete Ralph -- Original message -- From: rman [EMAIL PROTECTED] About halfway down the page. http://www.repeater-builder.com/motorola/test-sets/test-set-index.html Pete N9ZBQ ---BeginMessage--- About halfway down the page. http://www.repeater-builder.com/motorola/test-sets/test-set-index.html Pete N9ZBQ [EMAIL PROTECTED]net wrote: Hi all Looking for the cable that plugs into the R1033 test set with a Mitrek plug on it (looks like a 9 pin Min tube with 3 extra pins in the middle. Also could use the cable set for a Micor Also could use a book or copy of the schematic. Thanks All Ralph, W7HSG ---End Message---
[Repeater-Builder] Radio Test Set Motorola R1033A
Hi all Looking for the cable that plugs into the R1033 test set with a Mitrek plug on it (looks like a 9 pin Min tube with 3 extra pins in the middle. Also could use the cable set for a Micor Also could use a book or copy of the schematic. Thanks All Ralph, W7HSG
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Label makers
Hi Jack. Look for a Casio. I bought mine at one of the office stores. About $45. Makes great labels. Ralph, W7HSG -- Original message -- From: Jack Taylor [EMAIL PROTECTED] A little bit off-topic perhaps but perhaps not. What brand and model label makers are preferred by those that label their wiring? I would prefer something inexpensive as it wouldn't see much use once the cables and wiring is labeled. 73 de Jack - N7OO ---BeginMessage--- A little bit off-topic perhaps but perhaps not. What brand and model label makers are preferred by those that label their wiring? I would prefer something inexpensive as it wouldn't see much use once the cables and wiring is labeled. 73 de Jack - N7OO ---End Message---
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Multiple Emails
Yes -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anyone else getting multiple copies of the same email on any or all of their subscribed Yahoo Groups? I'm seeing as many as 10-12 exact duplicates showing one time stamp then the same exact email 6-8 times at a different time stamp. Randy ---BeginMessage--- Anyone else getting multiple copies of the same email on any or all of their subscribed Yahoo Groups? I'm seeing as many as 10-12 exact duplicates showing one time stamp then the same exact email 6-8 times at a different time stamp. Randy ---End Message---
Re: [Repeater-Builder] MSF5000 help? (hey, it's a repeater, right?)
Have you measured the vco currents. the book tells you the values Ralph, W7HSG -- Original message -- From: Ken Arck [EMAIL PROTECTED] Can anyone give me a hand with some preliminary questions regarding a UHF repeater (still waiting - after a week - for the owner of the MSF5000 group to approve me!)? Specifically 2 questions 1) The Batlabs programming cable info says pin 1 of the control (programming) jack is on the left as viewed from the front of the radio, whereas the RB webpage says pin 1 is on the right. Which is correct? 2) The MSF boots up without errors and both Rx Tx VCO LEDs light at the end. However, putting the unit into xmt (using the front panel switch) only produces a 100 ms (or so) flash of the associated PA LEDs and no RF out. No errors are shown on the 7 segment display. I figure I'd read the codeplug (I have an RIB and RSS) to see how it's programmed but for question one! Also, this unit has the accessory tray with the DTMF decoder/encoder option, as well as the wildcard option, if that makes any difference. (yes, I was even lucky enough to receive a full set of manuals for this exact radio). TIA Ken -- President and CTO - Arcom Communications Makers of the world famous RC210 Repeater Controller and accessories. http://www.arcomcontrollers.com/ Coming soon - the most advanced repeater controller EVER. Authorized Dealers for Kenwood and Telewave and we offer complete repeater packages! AH6LE/R - IRLP Node 3000 http://www.irlp.net ---BeginMessage--- Can anyone give me a hand with some preliminary questions regarding a UHF repeater (still waiting - after a week - for the owner of the MSF5000 group to approve me!)? Specifically 2 questions 1) The Batlabs programming cable info says pin 1 of the control (programming) jack is on the left as viewed from the front of the radio, whereas the RB webpage says pin 1 is on the right. Which is correct? 2) The MSF boots up without errors and both Rx Tx VCO LEDs light at the end. However, putting the unit into xmt (using the front panel switch) only produces a 100 ms (or so) flash of the associated PA LEDs and no RF out. No errors are shown on the 7 segment display. I figure I'd read the codeplug (I have an RIB and RSS) to see how it's programmed but for question one! Also, this unit has the accessory tray with the DTMF decoder/encoder option, as well as the wildcard option, if that makes any difference. (yes, I was even lucky enough to receive a full set of manuals for this exact radio). TIA Ken -- President and CTO - Arcom Communications Makers of the world famous RC210 Repeater Controller and accessories. http://www.arcomcontrollers.com/ Coming soon - the most advanced repeater controller EVER. Authorized Dealers for Kenwood and Telewave and we offer complete repeater packages! AH6LE/R - IRLP Node 3000 http://www.irlp.net ---End Message---
Re: [Repeater-Builder] UHS mastr II preamp
Hi All We have been using Chip Angles Pre amps for years. Our system has 20-30 in use on Mountains throughout NM, AZ and CA. They work great in high intermod areas. we use a pass cavity in front of the Pre amp to narrow the crude that a good duplexer still leaves. The extra cavity also provides great lightning protection. Ralph, W7HSG -- Original message -- From: Nate Duehr [EMAIL PROTECTED] On 3/4/07, Dan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Anyone have a recommendation for a preamp for the Mastr II UHF repeater? I have used the stock UHS board in the past but have had 2 of these now fail due to the tuning slug becoming brittle with age and cracking/breaking. I now have 2 dead ones on my bench and a kinda deaf repeater. Any help? or should I just buy another UHS board and hope for the best. There was just a similar question on the MASTR II list -- was that you? Many of us are dual-subscribed... Anyway... our club has been using Advanced Receiver Research (ARR) pre-amps on the VHF and UHF MASTR II's for years... but many folks here have said so many nice things about Chip Angle's products from AngleLinear, that we're tempted to try one on a new repeater, or do some comparison on an old repeater... Nate WY0X ---BeginMessage--- On 3/4/07, Dan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Anyone have a recommendation for a preamp for the Mastr II UHF repeater? I have used the stock UHS board in the past but have had 2 of these now fail due to the tuning slug becoming brittle with age and cracking/breaking. I now have 2 dead ones on my bench and a kinda deaf repeater. Any help? or should I just buy another UHS board and hope for the best. There was just a similar question on the MASTR II list -- was that you? Many of us are dual-subscribed... Anyway... our club has been using Advanced Receiver Research (ARR) pre-amps on the VHF and UHF MASTR II's for years... but many folks here have said so many nice things about Chip Angle's products from AngleLinear, that we're tempted to try one on a new repeater, or do some comparison on an old repeater... Nate WY0X ---End Message---
Re: [Repeater-Builder] GE
Does anyone on the list know anything about GE TMX8712 I am told that it is a 800 mhz unit. Will it convert to the 902-928 band Thanks in advance. Ralph, W7HSG ---BeginMessage--- I am building a 440 portable repeater out of a pair of GM300 radios and a Harris Alpha mobile duplexer. I believe that I tuned the duplexer properly and it notches the xmit signal by about 55db on the receive side. Using my signal generator as a source, it takes about 10db more signal to key the contoller with the transmitter on than with it off. I am wondering if this is normal or if I have more work to do. Thanks in advance for your input. Jeff W2UA ---End Message---
