Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-12-04 Thread Joe Cody
HI Coy
Please send your email addy.off list.

Joe /KE4WDP
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
- Original Message -
From: ac0y5 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 9:05 PM
Subject: Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]


 Hi Joe,
 Yep, I know I worked on the entire GE line when the entire line came
 out MASTRII, EXECII, MVP and MASTR PE HT. The MASTR EXECII is
 similar to the MVP or vice versa.
 73
 Coy



 --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Jim [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  Joe Cody wrote:
   Hi Coy.
   I have a master2 exec.converted to a repeater.
 
  Just FYI-Mastr II and Exec II are two different radios. Which do
 you have?
 
  --
  Jim
 
  
  The higher you are, the harder it is to pump.
  -Cleveland Mayor Jane Cambell, after the big black-out of 2003







 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/






 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 




Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-12-04 Thread ac0y5
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Joe Cody [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
wrote:
 HI Coy
 Please send your email addy.off list.
 
 Joe /KE4WDP
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 - Original Message -
 From: ac0y5 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
 Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 9:05 PM
 Subject: Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 
VHF Manual]]
 
 
  Hi Joe,
  Yep, I know I worked on the entire GE line when the entire line 
came
  out MASTRII, EXECII, MVP and MASTR PE HT. The MASTR EXECII is
  similar to the MVP or vice versa.
  73
  Coy
 
 
 
  --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Jim [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
   Joe Cody wrote:
Hi Coy.
I have a master2 exec.converted to a repeater.
  
   Just FYI-Mastr II and Exec II are two different radios. Which 
do
  you have?
  
   --
   Jim
  
   
   The higher you are, the harder it is to pump.
   -Cleveland Mayor Jane Cambell, after the big black-out of 2003
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to 
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 
 





 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 




Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-12-03 Thread Jim
Joe Cody wrote:
 Hi Coy.
 I have a master2 exec.converted to a repeater.

Just FYI-Mastr II and Exec II are two different radios. Which do you have?

-- 
Jim


The higher you are, the harder it is to pump.
-Cleveland Mayor Jane Cambell, after the big black-out of 2003




 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 




Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-12-03 Thread Joe Cody
EXEC.2

Joe /KE4WDP
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
- Original Message -
From: Jim [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]


 Joe Cody wrote:
  Hi Coy.
  I have a master2 exec.converted to a repeater.

 Just FYI-Mastr II and Exec II are two different radios. Which do you have?

 --
 Jim

 
 The higher you are, the harder it is to pump.
 -Cleveland Mayor Jane Cambell, after the big black-out of 2003






 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/






 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 




Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-12-03 Thread ac0y5
Hi Joe, 
Yep, I know I worked on the entire GE line when the entire line came 
out MASTRII, EXECII, MVP and MASTR PE HT. The MASTR EXECII is 
similar to the MVP or vice versa.
73
Coy



--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Jim [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Joe Cody wrote:
  Hi Coy.
  I have a master2 exec.converted to a repeater.
 
 Just FYI-Mastr II and Exec II are two different radios. Which do 
you have?
 
 -- 
 Jim
 
 
 The higher you are, the harder it is to pump.
 -Cleveland Mayor Jane Cambell, after the big black-out of 2003





 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 




Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-30 Thread ac0y5
Okay,
How much, tell me all about the machine.
73
AC0Y




--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Joe Cody [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
wrote:
 Hi Coy.
 I have a master2 exec.converted to a repeater.
 It is tuned to 146.385/146.985.
 I recently changed frequencies and got new
 repeaters so this one is excess.
 will sell cheap or trade for 2m/220/440 mobil/handy
 I am in Winter Haven(about 40 miles east of you)
 
 Joe /KE4WDP
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 - Original Message -
 From: ac0y5 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
 Sent: Friday, November 28, 2003 11:55 AM
 Subject: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 
VHF
 Manual]]
 
 
  Thanks for the input Tony.
  The primary reason that I'm going to try the Spectrum is It's 
what I
  can afford now and It's something I havn't ran into before. If 
this
  one gives as much trouble as indicated by thoes of you who have
  owned them then I'll do something different. But for now it 
sounds
  like a challange and it's real cheep -$0.00-. I unexpectedly came
  into two 2 meter pairs at the same time. Here in Central Florida
  getting a pair is like finding hens teeth so the first pair got 
the
  MASTRII and the second pair will get the Spectrum until I get 
tired
  of tweeking it or until I get a replacment, another MASTRII. I 
can
  only afford a little at a time.
  73 Tony and Thanks
  AC0Y
 
 
  --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Tony King - W4ZT
  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
   First let me start out by saying that I currently have an 
SCR1000
  in
   service on 2 meters but the Mastr II is cooking on the bench 
and
  will
   replace the Spectrum as soon as I finish the box to move the 
CAT-
  1000 into.
  
   At 08:43 PM 11/26/2003, ac0y5 wrote:
   It seems a lot of the complaints are from oscillator drift and
   tuning drift. I have a few questions Does anyone know if the 
main
   problem resides in the exciter, or the power amp?
  
   I have replaced the PA in this SCR1000 because the old one
  failed.  This is
   a 75 watt model which has the power control board (which gives 
you
  high/low
   power switching). The manual tells you that you MUST re-align 
the
  exciter
   to make it work properly on the reduced voltage.  I always 
found
  it to be a
   bit unstable so it always stayed on high power. If you tune the
  PA, you'll
   find some instability there also. I don't know the answer to 
the
  question
   of bad components or bad design. I'd rather stick with what 
I've
  got
   personal experience with.
  
   As for oscillator drift, the SCR1000 was available with a 
crystal
  oven but
   mine didn't come that way. It's lived its entire life in the 
house
  where
   there have been no extremes of heat and cold.  Yet, it would 
still
  move
   around some. I did place a small light bulb (in series with a
  resistor)
   right in the oscillator portion of the exciter board and it 
seemed
  to
   become more stable.
  
   My plan would
   eliminate all problems related to the oscillator because the 
Tx
  and
   Rx will be generated from a pair of Numerically Controlled
   Oscillators well filtered. I have already designed the entire
   circuit. Now, if Anyone knows where the problem may lay then I
  will
   be able to take care of the problem an external PA that I 
have or
  an
   exciter that I can buy cheaply. The power supply should be 
okay
  
   I had problems with the power supply.  In the 75 watt model the
  power
   resistors which are mounted on terminal strips between the
  transformer and
   the large heat sink on the back get so hot that they will melt
  their leads
   right out of the solder. That compounds the problem and led to
  erosion of a
   resistor lead and supply failure. The entire supply is horribly
   inefficient, generating more heat than the entire unit 
consumed in
  its
   electronics.  I finally removed the transformer, the resistors 
and
  the
   large heat sink with the pass transistors and powered the unit
  externally.
  
   and
   it has been stated that the receiver is quite sensitive. If
   necessary I can add a 5 or 7 pole helical resonator to the 
front
  end.
  
   It's sensitive if you can get it tuned without desensitization.
  That's the
   biggest problem with the receiver.  It isn't as sharp as
  commercial
   receivers like the Mastr II or Micor so don't expect that kind 
of
  performance.
  
From your many other posts it would appear you have 
considerable
  repeater
   experience which makes me wonder why you would want to take 
this
  on.  It's
   not a joy to work on.  The controller is junk (I replaced it 
with
  a CAT1000
   over a decade ago). It's just old technology that doesn't come
  close to the
   old technology you find built by GE and Motorola. If you must
  redesign the
   oscillators, replace the exciter and PA, redesign/modify the
  receiver, come
   up with a controller, perhaps replace the power supply, hope 
the
  switches
   aren't intermittent (like some

Re: [RE: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]]

2003-11-30 Thread ac0y5
Gee John You're Real close to being right this time.
73
AC0Y


--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, JOHN MACKEY [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
wrote:
 WOW!!  Coy said he went with the spectrum because of money.  Now 
this
 offer of a straight trade is one he can't pass up due to the money 
issue!!
 
 Kevin King [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  If money is your limiting factor. I will trade you a mastr II 
mobile for
 the
  spectrum. Just so I can keep it off the air. I have been the 
recipient of
  interference from one of those at a site I use to manage.
  
  Kevin
  
  -Original Message-
  From: ac0y5 [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
  Sent: Friday, November 28, 2003 11:56 AM
  To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
  Subject: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 
VHF
  Manual]]
  
  
  Thanks for the input Tony.
  The primary reason that I'm going to try the Spectrum is It's 
what I
  can afford now and It's something I havn't ran into before. If 
this
  one gives as much trouble as indicated by thoes of you who have
  owned them then I'll do something different. But for now it 
sounds
  like a challange and it's real cheep -$0.00-. I unexpectedly came
  into two 2 meter pairs at the same time. Here in Central Florida
  getting a pair is like finding hens teeth so the first pair got 
the
  MASTRII and the second pair will get the Spectrum until I get 
tired
  of tweeking it or until I get a replacment, another MASTRII. I 
can
  only afford a little at a time.
  73 Tony and Thanks
  AC0Y
  
  
  --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Tony King - W4ZT
  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
   First let me start out by saying that I currently have an 
SCR1000
  in
   service on 2 meters but the Mastr II is cooking on the bench 
and
  will
   replace the Spectrum as soon as I finish the box to move the 
CAT-
  1000 into.
  
   At 08:43 PM 11/26/2003, ac0y5 wrote:
   It seems a lot of the complaints are from oscillator drift and
   tuning drift. I have a few questions Does anyone know if the 
main
   problem resides in the exciter, or the power amp?
  
   I have replaced the PA in this SCR1000 because the old one
  failed.  This is
   a 75 watt model which has the power control board (which gives 
you
  high/low
   power switching). The manual tells you that you MUST re-align 
the
  exciter
   to make it work properly on the reduced voltage.  I always 
found
  it to be a
   bit unstable so it always stayed on high power. If you tune the
  PA, you'll
   find some instability there also. I don't know the answer to 
the
  question
   of bad components or bad design. I'd rather stick with what 
I've
  got
   personal experience with.
  
   As for oscillator drift, the SCR1000 was available with a 
crystal
  oven but
   mine didn't come that way. It's lived its entire life in the 
house
  where
   there have been no extremes of heat and cold.  Yet, it would 
still
  move
   around some. I did place a small light bulb (in series with a
  resistor)
   right in the oscillator portion of the exciter board and it 
seemed
  to
   become more stable.
  
   My plan would
   eliminate all problems related to the oscillator because the 
Tx
  and
   Rx will be generated from a pair of Numerically Controlled
   Oscillators well filtered. I have already designed the entire
   circuit. Now, if Anyone knows where the problem may lay then I
  will
   be able to take care of the problem an external PA that I 
have or
  an
   exciter that I can buy cheaply. The power supply should be 
okay
  
   I had problems with the power supply.  In the 75 watt model the
  power
   resistors which are mounted on terminal strips between the
  transformer and
   the large heat sink on the back get so hot that they will melt
  their leads
   right out of the solder. That compounds the problem and led to
  erosion of a
   resistor lead and supply failure. The entire supply is horribly
   inefficient, generating more heat than the entire unit 
consumed in
  its
   electronics.  I finally removed the transformer, the resistors 
and
  the
   large heat sink with the pass transistors and powered the unit
  externally.
  
   and
   it has been stated that the receiver is quite sensitive. If
   necessary I can add a 5 or 7 pole helical resonator to the 
front
  end.
  
   It's sensitive if you can get it tuned without desensitization.
  That's the
   biggest problem with the receiver.  It isn't as sharp as
  commercial
   receivers like the Mastr II or Micor so don't expect that kind 
of
  performance.
  
From your many other posts it would appear you have 
considerable
  repeater
   experience which makes me wonder why you would want to take 
this
  on.  It's
   not a joy to work on.  The controller is junk (I replaced it 
with
  a CAT1000
   over a decade ago). It's just old technology that doesn't come
  close to the
   old technology you find built by GE and Motorola. If you must
  redesign the
   oscillators, replace the exciter and PA, redesign

RE: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-30 Thread Kevin King
When ever you want. I was just trying to help. I have extra and could let it
go to get you running.

-Original Message-
From: ac0y5 [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2003 9:29 PM
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF
Manual]]


Gee Kevin, That sounds like a great deal! I would like to take you
up on that deal! I would like to play with this good looking
machine for a while. How long do I have to take you up on your
offer? I love to do Failure Analysis.
73
AC0Y



--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Kevin King [EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
 If money is your limiting factor. I will trade you a mastr II
mobile for the
 spectrum. Just so I can keep it off the air. I have been the
recipient of
 interference from one of those at a site I use to manage.

 Kevin

 -Original Message-
 From: ac0y5 [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 Sent: Friday, November 28, 2003 11:56 AM
 To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
 Subject: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000
VHF
 Manual]]


 Thanks for the input Tony.
 The primary reason that I'm going to try the Spectrum is It's what
I
 can afford now and It's something I havn't ran into before. If this
 one gives as much trouble as indicated by thoes of you who have
 owned them then I'll do something different. But for now it sounds
 like a challange and it's real cheep -$0.00-. I unexpectedly came
 into two 2 meter pairs at the same time. Here in Central Florida
 getting a pair is like finding hens teeth so the first pair got the
 MASTRII and the second pair will get the Spectrum until I get tired
 of tweeking it or until I get a replacment, another MASTRII. I can
 only afford a little at a time.
 73 Tony and Thanks
 AC0Y


 --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Tony King - W4ZT
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  First let me start out by saying that I currently have an SCR1000
 in
  service on 2 meters but the Mastr II is cooking on the bench and
 will
  replace the Spectrum as soon as I finish the box to move the CAT-
 1000 into.
 
  At 08:43 PM 11/26/2003, ac0y5 wrote:
  It seems a lot of the complaints are from oscillator drift and
  tuning drift. I have a few questions Does anyone know if the
main
  problem resides in the exciter, or the power amp?
 
  I have replaced the PA in this SCR1000 because the old one
 failed.  This is
  a 75 watt model which has the power control board (which gives
you
 high/low
  power switching). The manual tells you that you MUST re-align the
 exciter
  to make it work properly on the reduced voltage.  I always found
 it to be a
  bit unstable so it always stayed on high power. If you tune the
 PA, you'll
  find some instability there also. I don't know the answer to the
 question
  of bad components or bad design. I'd rather stick with what I've
 got
  personal experience with.
 
  As for oscillator drift, the SCR1000 was available with a crystal
 oven but
  mine didn't come that way. It's lived its entire life in the
house
 where
  there have been no extremes of heat and cold.  Yet, it would
still
 move
  around some. I did place a small light bulb (in series with a
 resistor)
  right in the oscillator portion of the exciter board and it
seemed
 to
  become more stable.
 
  My plan would
  eliminate all problems related to the oscillator because the Tx
 and
  Rx will be generated from a pair of Numerically Controlled
  Oscillators well filtered. I have already designed the entire
  circuit. Now, if Anyone knows where the problem may lay then I
 will
  be able to take care of the problem an external PA that I have
or
 an
  exciter that I can buy cheaply. The power supply should be okay
 
  I had problems with the power supply.  In the 75 watt model the
 power
  resistors which are mounted on terminal strips between the
 transformer and
  the large heat sink on the back get so hot that they will melt
 their leads
  right out of the solder. That compounds the problem and led to
 erosion of a
  resistor lead and supply failure. The entire supply is horribly
  inefficient, generating more heat than the entire unit consumed
in
 its
  electronics.  I finally removed the transformer, the resistors
and
 the
  large heat sink with the pass transistors and powered the unit
 externally.
 
  and
  it has been stated that the receiver is quite sensitive. If
  necessary I can add a 5 or 7 pole helical resonator to the front
 end.
 
  It's sensitive if you can get it tuned without desensitization.
 That's the
  biggest problem with the receiver.  It isn't as sharp as
 commercial
  receivers like the Mastr II or Micor so don't expect that kind of
 performance.
 
   From your many other posts it would appear you have considerable
 repeater
  experience which makes me wonder why you would want to take this
 on.  It's
  not a joy to work on.  The controller is junk (I replaced it with
 a CAT1000
  over a decade ago). It's just old technology that doesn't

Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-30 Thread ac0y5
Sounds like a great deal Kevin! Where are you located? In Georgia? 
Where is Ackworth? will email you off board.
73
AC0Y
--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Kevin King [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
wrote:
 When ever you want. I was just trying to help. I have extra and 
could let it
 go to get you running.
 
 -Original Message-
 From: ac0y5 [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2003 9:29 PM
 To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
 Subject: Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF
 Manual]]
 
 
 Gee Kevin, That sounds like a great deal! I would like to take you
 up on that deal! I would like to play with this good looking
 machine for a while. How long do I have to take you up on your
 offer? I love to do Failure Analysis.
 73
 AC0Y
 
 
 
 --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Kevin King [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:
  If money is your limiting factor. I will trade you a mastr II
 mobile for the
  spectrum. Just so I can keep it off the air. I have been the
 recipient of
  interference from one of those at a site I use to manage.
 
  Kevin
 
  -Original Message-
  From: ac0y5 [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
  Sent: Friday, November 28, 2003 11:56 AM
  To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
  Subject: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000
 VHF
  Manual]]
 
 
  Thanks for the input Tony.
  The primary reason that I'm going to try the Spectrum is It's 
what
 I
  can afford now and It's something I havn't ran into before. If 
this
  one gives as much trouble as indicated by thoes of you who have
  owned them then I'll do something different. But for now it 
sounds
  like a challange and it's real cheep -$0.00-. I unexpectedly came
  into two 2 meter pairs at the same time. Here in Central Florida
  getting a pair is like finding hens teeth so the first pair got 
the
  MASTRII and the second pair will get the Spectrum until I get 
tired
  of tweeking it or until I get a replacment, another MASTRII. I 
can
  only afford a little at a time.
  73 Tony and Thanks
  AC0Y
 
 
  --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Tony King - W4ZT
  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
   First let me start out by saying that I currently have an 
SCR1000
  in
   service on 2 meters but the Mastr II is cooking on the bench 
and
  will
   replace the Spectrum as soon as I finish the box to move the 
CAT-
  1000 into.
  
   At 08:43 PM 11/26/2003, ac0y5 wrote:
   It seems a lot of the complaints are from oscillator drift and
   tuning drift. I have a few questions Does anyone know if the
 main
   problem resides in the exciter, or the power amp?
  
   I have replaced the PA in this SCR1000 because the old one
  failed.  This is
   a 75 watt model which has the power control board (which gives
 you
  high/low
   power switching). The manual tells you that you MUST re-align 
the
  exciter
   to make it work properly on the reduced voltage.  I always 
found
  it to be a
   bit unstable so it always stayed on high power. If you tune the
  PA, you'll
   find some instability there also. I don't know the answer to 
the
  question
   of bad components or bad design. I'd rather stick with what 
I've
  got
   personal experience with.
  
   As for oscillator drift, the SCR1000 was available with a 
crystal
  oven but
   mine didn't come that way. It's lived its entire life in the
 house
  where
   there have been no extremes of heat and cold.  Yet, it would
 still
  move
   around some. I did place a small light bulb (in series with a
  resistor)
   right in the oscillator portion of the exciter board and it
 seemed
  to
   become more stable.
  
   My plan would
   eliminate all problems related to the oscillator because the 
Tx
  and
   Rx will be generated from a pair of Numerically Controlled
   Oscillators well filtered. I have already designed the entire
   circuit. Now, if Anyone knows where the problem may lay then I
  will
   be able to take care of the problem an external PA that I have
 or
  an
   exciter that I can buy cheaply. The power supply should be 
okay
  
   I had problems with the power supply.  In the 75 watt model the
  power
   resistors which are mounted on terminal strips between the
  transformer and
   the large heat sink on the back get so hot that they will melt
  their leads
   right out of the solder. That compounds the problem and led to
  erosion of a
   resistor lead and supply failure. The entire supply is horribly
   inefficient, generating more heat than the entire unit consumed
 in
  its
   electronics.  I finally removed the transformer, the resistors
 and
  the
   large heat sink with the pass transistors and powered the unit
  externally.
  
   and
   it has been stated that the receiver is quite sensitive. If
   necessary I can add a 5 or 7 pole helical resonator to the 
front
  end.
  
   It's sensitive if you can get it tuned without desensitization.
  That's the
   biggest problem with the receiver.  It isn't as sharp as
  commercial
   receivers like

RE: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-29 Thread Kevin King
If money is your limiting factor. I will trade you a mastr II mobile for the
spectrum. Just so I can keep it off the air. I have been the recipient of
interference from one of those at a site I use to manage.

Kevin

-Original Message-
From: ac0y5 [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, November 28, 2003 11:56 AM
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF
Manual]]


Thanks for the input Tony.
The primary reason that I'm going to try the Spectrum is It's what I
can afford now and It's something I havn't ran into before. If this
one gives as much trouble as indicated by thoes of you who have
owned them then I'll do something different. But for now it sounds
like a challange and it's real cheep -$0.00-. I unexpectedly came
into two 2 meter pairs at the same time. Here in Central Florida
getting a pair is like finding hens teeth so the first pair got the
MASTRII and the second pair will get the Spectrum until I get tired
of tweeking it or until I get a replacment, another MASTRII. I can
only afford a little at a time.
73 Tony and Thanks
AC0Y


--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Tony King - W4ZT
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 First let me start out by saying that I currently have an SCR1000
in
 service on 2 meters but the Mastr II is cooking on the bench and
will
 replace the Spectrum as soon as I finish the box to move the CAT-
1000 into.

 At 08:43 PM 11/26/2003, ac0y5 wrote:
 It seems a lot of the complaints are from oscillator drift and
 tuning drift. I have a few questions Does anyone know if the main
 problem resides in the exciter, or the power amp?

 I have replaced the PA in this SCR1000 because the old one
failed.  This is
 a 75 watt model which has the power control board (which gives you
high/low
 power switching). The manual tells you that you MUST re-align the
exciter
 to make it work properly on the reduced voltage.  I always found
it to be a
 bit unstable so it always stayed on high power. If you tune the
PA, you'll
 find some instability there also. I don't know the answer to the
question
 of bad components or bad design. I'd rather stick with what I've
got
 personal experience with.

 As for oscillator drift, the SCR1000 was available with a crystal
oven but
 mine didn't come that way. It's lived its entire life in the house
where
 there have been no extremes of heat and cold.  Yet, it would still
move
 around some. I did place a small light bulb (in series with a
resistor)
 right in the oscillator portion of the exciter board and it seemed
to
 become more stable.

 My plan would
 eliminate all problems related to the oscillator because the Tx
and
 Rx will be generated from a pair of Numerically Controlled
 Oscillators well filtered. I have already designed the entire
 circuit. Now, if Anyone knows where the problem may lay then I
will
 be able to take care of the problem an external PA that I have or
an
 exciter that I can buy cheaply. The power supply should be okay

 I had problems with the power supply.  In the 75 watt model the
power
 resistors which are mounted on terminal strips between the
transformer and
 the large heat sink on the back get so hot that they will melt
their leads
 right out of the solder. That compounds the problem and led to
erosion of a
 resistor lead and supply failure. The entire supply is horribly
 inefficient, generating more heat than the entire unit consumed in
its
 electronics.  I finally removed the transformer, the resistors and
the
 large heat sink with the pass transistors and powered the unit
externally.

 and
 it has been stated that the receiver is quite sensitive. If
 necessary I can add a 5 or 7 pole helical resonator to the front
end.

 It's sensitive if you can get it tuned without desensitization.
That's the
 biggest problem with the receiver.  It isn't as sharp as
commercial
 receivers like the Mastr II or Micor so don't expect that kind of
performance.

  From your many other posts it would appear you have considerable
repeater
 experience which makes me wonder why you would want to take this
on.  It's
 not a joy to work on.  The controller is junk (I replaced it with
a CAT1000
 over a decade ago). It's just old technology that doesn't come
close to the
 old technology you find built by GE and Motorola. If you must
redesign the
 oscillators, replace the exciter and PA, redesign/modify the
receiver, come
 up with a controller, perhaps replace the power supply, hope the
switches
 aren't intermittent (like some of mine), replace the meters (the
originals
 were useless), toss the local microphone and get something better,
what's
 left? It WAS a pretty box. I just spent the evening drilling a
front panel
 for my new VHF controller box which will contain the CAT1000, some
 interface stuff, a TS64, 4-LEDs, a volume control, a squelch
control,
 enable/disable and simulate switches for COR, CTCSS and PTT, a
speaker, a
 fuse, and on/off switch, and two test jacks to access the speaker

Re: [RE: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]]

2003-11-29 Thread JOHN MACKEY
WOW!!  Coy said he went with the spectrum because of money.  Now this
offer of a straight trade is one he can't pass up due to the money issue!!

Kevin King [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 If money is your limiting factor. I will trade you a mastr II mobile for
the
 spectrum. Just so I can keep it off the air. I have been the recipient of
 interference from one of those at a site I use to manage.
 
 Kevin
 
 -Original Message-
 From: ac0y5 [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 Sent: Friday, November 28, 2003 11:56 AM
 To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
 Subject: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF
 Manual]]
 
 
 Thanks for the input Tony.
 The primary reason that I'm going to try the Spectrum is It's what I
 can afford now and It's something I havn't ran into before. If this
 one gives as much trouble as indicated by thoes of you who have
 owned them then I'll do something different. But for now it sounds
 like a challange and it's real cheep -$0.00-. I unexpectedly came
 into two 2 meter pairs at the same time. Here in Central Florida
 getting a pair is like finding hens teeth so the first pair got the
 MASTRII and the second pair will get the Spectrum until I get tired
 of tweeking it or until I get a replacment, another MASTRII. I can
 only afford a little at a time.
 73 Tony and Thanks
 AC0Y
 
 
 --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Tony King - W4ZT
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  First let me start out by saying that I currently have an SCR1000
 in
  service on 2 meters but the Mastr II is cooking on the bench and
 will
  replace the Spectrum as soon as I finish the box to move the CAT-
 1000 into.
 
  At 08:43 PM 11/26/2003, ac0y5 wrote:
  It seems a lot of the complaints are from oscillator drift and
  tuning drift. I have a few questions Does anyone know if the main
  problem resides in the exciter, or the power amp?
 
  I have replaced the PA in this SCR1000 because the old one
 failed.  This is
  a 75 watt model which has the power control board (which gives you
 high/low
  power switching). The manual tells you that you MUST re-align the
 exciter
  to make it work properly on the reduced voltage.  I always found
 it to be a
  bit unstable so it always stayed on high power. If you tune the
 PA, you'll
  find some instability there also. I don't know the answer to the
 question
  of bad components or bad design. I'd rather stick with what I've
 got
  personal experience with.
 
  As for oscillator drift, the SCR1000 was available with a crystal
 oven but
  mine didn't come that way. It's lived its entire life in the house
 where
  there have been no extremes of heat and cold.  Yet, it would still
 move
  around some. I did place a small light bulb (in series with a
 resistor)
  right in the oscillator portion of the exciter board and it seemed
 to
  become more stable.
 
  My plan would
  eliminate all problems related to the oscillator because the Tx
 and
  Rx will be generated from a pair of Numerically Controlled
  Oscillators well filtered. I have already designed the entire
  circuit. Now, if Anyone knows where the problem may lay then I
 will
  be able to take care of the problem an external PA that I have or
 an
  exciter that I can buy cheaply. The power supply should be okay
 
  I had problems with the power supply.  In the 75 watt model the
 power
  resistors which are mounted on terminal strips between the
 transformer and
  the large heat sink on the back get so hot that they will melt
 their leads
  right out of the solder. That compounds the problem and led to
 erosion of a
  resistor lead and supply failure. The entire supply is horribly
  inefficient, generating more heat than the entire unit consumed in
 its
  electronics.  I finally removed the transformer, the resistors and
 the
  large heat sink with the pass transistors and powered the unit
 externally.
 
  and
  it has been stated that the receiver is quite sensitive. If
  necessary I can add a 5 or 7 pole helical resonator to the front
 end.
 
  It's sensitive if you can get it tuned without desensitization.
 That's the
  biggest problem with the receiver.  It isn't as sharp as
 commercial
  receivers like the Mastr II or Micor so don't expect that kind of
 performance.
 
   From your many other posts it would appear you have considerable
 repeater
  experience which makes me wonder why you would want to take this
 on.  It's
  not a joy to work on.  The controller is junk (I replaced it with
 a CAT1000
  over a decade ago). It's just old technology that doesn't come
 close to the
  old technology you find built by GE and Motorola. If you must
 redesign the
  oscillators, replace the exciter and PA, redesign/modify the
 receiver, come
  up with a controller, perhaps replace the power supply, hope the
 switches
  aren't intermittent (like some of mine), replace the meters (the
 originals
  were useless), toss the local microphone and get something better,
 what's
  left? It WAS a pretty box. I just spent

Re: [RE: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]]

2003-11-29 Thread albemarle7
Wow !!  Kevin, I got two of those Spectrum repeaters sitting on the shelf.  
Could I turn them into two Mastr II ?   I admit, the front panel is impressive, 
very pretty. The metering would be usefull also. I wanted to someday use the 
front panel and put a decent Rx  Tx unit on the chassis with a small 
controller under neath.  Sure would look good. Just too many irons in the fire.
Gary  K2UQ



 

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Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-28 Thread Lee Williams
FS-GE MastrII 110 watt cont. duty VHF Base/Repeater in 4 foot cabinet with
GE 30 amp power supply crystalled up on 146.04/.64, no duplexer or
controller. e-mail for pricing [EMAIL PROTECTED]

- Original Message - 
From: ac0y5 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, November 28, 2003 11:55 AM
Subject: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF
Manual]]


: Thanks for the input Tony.
: The primary reason that I'm going to try the Spectrum is It's what I
: can afford now and It's something I havn't ran into before. If this
: one gives as much trouble as indicated by thoes of you who have
: owned them then I'll do something different. But for now it sounds
: like a challange and it's real cheep -$0.00-. I unexpectedly came
: into two 2 meter pairs at the same time. Here in Central Florida
: getting a pair is like finding hens teeth so the first pair got the
: MASTRII and the second pair will get the Spectrum until I get tired
: of tweeking it or until I get a replacment, another MASTRII. I can
: only afford a little at a time.
: 73 Tony and Thanks
: AC0Y





 

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[Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-26 Thread ac0y5
It seems a lot of the complaints are from oscillator drift and 
tuning drift. I have a few questions Does anyone know if the main 
problem resides in the exciter, or the power amp? My plan would 
eliminate all problems related to the oscillator because the Tx and 
Rx will be generated from a pair of Numerically Controlled 
Oscillators well filtered. I have already designed the entire 
circuit. Now, if Anyone knows where the problem may lay then I will 
be able to take care of the problem an external PA that I have or an 
exciter that I can buy cheaply. The power supply should be okay and 
it has been stated that the receiver is quite sensitive. If 
necessary I can add a 5 or 7 pole helical resonator to the front end.

73
AC0Y   




--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, JOHN MACKEY [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
wrote:
 The Siouxland Amateur Radio Association in Sioux City, Iowa bought 
a used
 Spectrum repeater on 2 meters about 3 years ago for something like 
$1100,
 (with duplexer) fully operational.  I attended a meeting of the 
repeater
 managers in Sioux City about 2 weeks ago  they were saying they 
wish they had
 never bought it.  (I tried to tell them not to buy it but they 
ignored me!!)





 

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Re: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-26 Thread mch
I think much of the problem is in the
tuning caps on both the exciter and PA.

Joe M.

ac0y5 wrote:
 
 It seems a lot of the complaints are from oscillator drift and
 tuning drift. I have a few questions Does anyone know if the main
 problem resides in the exciter, or the power amp? My plan would
 eliminate all problems related to the oscillator because the Tx and
 Rx will be generated from a pair of Numerically Controlled
 Oscillators well filtered. I have already designed the entire
 circuit. Now, if Anyone knows where the problem may lay then I will
 be able to take care of the problem an external PA that I have or an
 exciter that I can buy cheaply. The power supply should be okay and
 it has been stated that the receiver is quite sensitive. If
 necessary I can add a 5 or 7 pole helical resonator to the front end.
 
 73
 AC0Y
 
 --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, JOHN MACKEY [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:
  The Siouxland Amateur Radio Association in Sioux City, Iowa bought
 a used
  Spectrum repeater on 2 meters about 3 years ago for something like
 $1100,
  (with duplexer) fully operational.  I attended a meeting of the
 repeater
  managers in Sioux City about 2 weeks ago  they were saying they
 wish they had
  never bought it.  (I tried to tell them not to buy it but they
 ignored me!!)
 
 
 
 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/



 

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Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-26 Thread Lee Williams
I think its a combination of inferior components and poor design. The
receiver is quite sensitive,but not very selective and overloads easily. You
would be better off dropping some GE or /\/\ boards in it.
73,Lee

- Original Message - 
From: ac0y5 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 8:43 PM
Subject: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF
Manual]]


: It seems a lot of the complaints are from oscillator drift and
: tuning drift. I have a few questions Does anyone know if the main
: problem resides in the exciter, or the power amp? My plan would
: eliminate all problems related to the oscillator because the Tx and
: Rx will be generated from a pair of Numerically Controlled
: Oscillators well filtered. I have already designed the entire
: circuit. Now, if Anyone knows where the problem may lay then I will
: be able to take care of the problem an external PA that I have or an
: exciter that I can buy cheaply. The power supply should be okay and
: it has been stated that the receiver is quite sensitive. If
: necessary I can add a 5 or 7 pole helical resonator to the front end.
:
: 73
: AC0Y
:
:
:
:
: --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, JOHN MACKEY [EMAIL PROTECTED]
: wrote:
:  The Siouxland Amateur Radio Association in Sioux City, Iowa bought
: a used
:  Spectrum repeater on 2 meters about 3 years ago for something like
: $1100,
:  (with duplexer) fully operational.  I attended a meeting of the
: repeater
:  managers in Sioux City about 2 weeks ago  they were saying they
: wish they had
:  never bought it.  (I tried to tell them not to buy it but they
: ignored me!!)
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
: Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
:
:
:





 

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Re: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-25 Thread Neil McKie

  Yup, the UHF Mastr-Pro transmitter will do that if you don't do 
 the maintenance on it properly.  

  I have worked on a few of those transmitters over the years. 

  Neil McKie - WA6KLA 


ac0y5 wrote:
 
 --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Jeff DePolo WN3A
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I'm not knocking Spectrum - I'm just relating experience. I
   have yet
to see one that stayed clean over the long haul. Any that
   aren't clean
surely can't meet the type acceptance they once had.
  
   Well said, very well said.
 
  Humor:
 
  I have a Spectrum repeater on the air.
 
  Oh really?  What frequency is it on?
 
  All of them.
 
 NOW THAT'S FUNNY.LAO.  I had a couple UHF GE MASTR PRO BASE
 STATIONS that did that ONCE for about 3 or 4 minutes, till I checked
 the output with the spectrum analyzer after tune up. It had 60 watts
 out and looked like a Christmas Tree.
 73 ALL
 




 

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Re: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-25 Thread Neil McKie

  Don't forget to place the drain bucket under the grid leak resistor. 

  Neil 


Virden Clark Beckman wrote:
 
 If you service the mastr-pro final be certain to clean the tube 
 socket and covers well as these areas are good for collecting dusty 
 swarf and can make some spurs as well as sparks inside the cage, as 
 with any tube gear be sure the drain resistors are working properly 
 before inserting any metal tools into the cage. 
 
 ac0y5 wrote:
 
  --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Jeff DePolo WN3A
  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 I'm not knocking Spectrum - I'm just relating experience. I
have yet
 to see one that stayed clean over the long haul. Any that
aren't clean
 surely can't meet the type acceptance they once had.
   
Well said, very well said.
  
   Humor:
  
   I have a Spectrum repeater on the air.
  
   Oh really?  What frequency is it on?
  
   All of them.
 
  NOW THAT'S FUNNY.LAO.  I had a couple UHF GE MASTR PRO BASE
  STATIONS that did that ONCE for about 3 or 4 minutes, till I checked
  the output with the spectrum analyzer after tune up. It had 60 watts
  out and looked like a Christmas Tree.
  73 ALL
 
 
 
  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 
 --
 73...Clark Beckman N8PZD
 
 Pursuant to U.S. Code, title 47, Chapter 5, Subchapter II, ß227,
 Any and all nonsolicited commercial E-mail sent to this address
 is subject to a download and archival fee of $500.00 U.S..
 E-mailing denotes acceptance of these terms.
 
 
 
 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/



 

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Re: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-25 Thread Vincent McKever
What size drain bucket?  Maby 5000 Moos?

- Original Message - 
From: Neil McKie [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2003 6:19 AM
Subject: Re: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF
Manual]]



   Don't forget to place the drain bucket under the grid leak resistor.

   Neil


 Virden Clark Beckman wrote:
 
  If you service the mastr-pro final be certain to clean the tube
  socket and covers well as these areas are good for collecting dusty
  swarf and can make some spurs as well as sparks inside the cage, as
  with any tube gear be sure the drain resistors are working properly
  before inserting any metal tools into the cage.
 
  ac0y5 wrote:
  
   --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Jeff DePolo WN3A
   [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  I'm not knocking Spectrum - I'm just relating experience. I
 have yet
  to see one that stayed clean over the long haul. Any that
 aren't clean
  surely can't meet the type acceptance they once had.

 Well said, very well said.
   
Humor:
   
I have a Spectrum repeater on the air.
   
Oh really?  What frequency is it on?
   
All of them.
  
   NOW THAT'S FUNNY.LAO.  I had a couple UHF GE MASTR PRO BASE
   STATIONS that did that ONCE for about 3 or 4 minutes, till I checked
   the output with the spectrum analyzer after tune up. It had 60 watts
   out and looked like a Christmas Tree.
   73 ALL
  
  
  
   Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 
  --
  73...Clark Beckman N8PZD
 
  Pursuant to U.S. Code, title 47, Chapter 5, Subchapter II, ß227,
  Any and all nonsolicited commercial E-mail sent to this address
  is subject to a download and archival fee of $500.00 U.S..
  E-mailing denotes acceptance of these terms.
 
 
 
  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/





 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/






 

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Re: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-25 Thread Neil McKie

  If you sincerely believe it is large enough. 

Vincent McKever wrote:
 
 What size drain bucket?  Maby 5000 Moos?
 
 - Original Message -
 From: Neil McKie [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
 Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2003 6:19 AM
 Subject: Re: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF
 Manual]]
 
 
Don't forget to place the drain bucket under the grid leak resistor.
 
Neil
 
 
  Virden Clark Beckman wrote:
  
   If you service the mastr-pro final be certain to clean the tube
   socket and covers well as these areas are good for collecting dusty
   swarf and can make some spurs as well as sparks inside the cage, as
   with any tube gear be sure the drain resistors are working properly
   before inserting any metal tools into the cage.
  
   ac0y5 wrote:
   
--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Jeff DePolo WN3A
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
   I'm not knocking Spectrum - I'm just relating experience. I
  have yet
   to see one that stayed clean over the long haul. Any that
  aren't clean
   surely can't meet the type acceptance they once had.
 
  Well said, very well said.

 Humor:

 I have a Spectrum repeater on the air.

 Oh really?  What frequency is it on?

 All of them.
   
NOW THAT'S FUNNY.LAO.  I had a couple UHF GE MASTR PRO BASE
STATIONS that did that ONCE for about 3 or 4 minutes, till I checked
the output with the spectrum analyzer after tune up. It had 60 watts
out and looked like a Christmas Tree.
73 ALL
   
   
   
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
 http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
  
   --
   73...Clark Beckman N8PZD
  
   Pursuant to U.S. Code, title 47, Chapter 5, Subchapter II, ß227,
   Any and all nonsolicited commercial E-mail sent to this address
   is subject to a download and archival fee of $500.00 U.S..
   E-mailing denotes acceptance of these terms.
  
  
  
   Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
 http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 
 
 
 
 
  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 
 
 
 
 
 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/



 

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Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-25 Thread ac0y5
No Sir Fred, just needed a little tweaking on the adjustment. We 
always cleaned the rings before replacment.
73
Coy

--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Fred Flowers 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Was the grid ring dirty?
 
 Fred
 
 - Original Message -
 From: ac0y5
 Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 9:22 PM
 To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
 Subject: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 
VHF Manual]]
 
 --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Jeff DePolo WN3A  
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I'm not knocking Spectrum - I'm just relating experience. I
   have yet
to see one that stayed clean over the long haul. Any that
   aren't clean
surely can't meet the type acceptance they once had.
  
   Well said, very well said.
   
  Humor:
   
  I have a Spectrum repeater on the air.
   
  Oh really?  What frequency is it on?
   
  All of them.
 
 NOW THAT'S FUNNY.LAO.  I had a couple UHF GE MASTR PRO BASE  
 STATIONS that did that ONCE for about 3 or 4 minutes, till I 
checked  
 the output with the spectrum analyzer after tune up. It had 60 
watts  
 out and looked like a Christmas Tree.
 73 ALL  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/





 

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Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]

2003-11-25 Thread ac0y5
I never said that it needs tweaking or any other hands on measures. 
I just said it should be checked once a month with a SA off air. (I 
added off air this time.)
73

--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, mch [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 I have repeaters that have been on the air over 20 years and have 
never
 needed alignment. This goes double with duplexers - if it's still 
doing
 its job, there is no need to tinker with it. I'm using duplexers 
that
 are over 30 years old and have never been touched. About 15 years 
ago, I
 tried running them up to 400W with a very hot receiver - no 
desense. Why
 should I tweak them? All I might end up doing is making them 
worse. I
 surely can't make them any better.
 
 I agree, it's not just Spectrum that has the broad TX problem, but 
they
 all will have the problem if they are of the same design. 
Conversely, a
 Motorola or GE will never have that problem unless the OEM LPF was
 circumvented by the builder. I've never had that problem with 
Spectrum -
 all my problems involved TXs going spurious.
 
 What about sites that are not accessible for months? How do you 
look at
 those monthly? You need to use a reliable repeater to start with. 
Then,
 you won't need to babysit the repeater. And IMHO, a monthly 
checkup IS
 babysitting the repeater - something that should never be needed.
 
 Joe M.
 
 ac0y5 wrote:
  
  Well said Kevin, but not JUST Spectrum machines. All repeater
  owners should look at their machines at the very least monthly 
on a
  SA as well as have local monitoring equipment.





 

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Re: [[[Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]]]

2003-11-25 Thread JOHN MACKEY
If you had a couple UHF Mastr Pro transmitters that were dirty, I can
guarantee it was NOT tuned and/or maintained correctly.

ac0y5 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Yep it was done CORRECTLY!!
 
 
 --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, JOHN MACKEY [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 wrote:
  That can be true, since the UHF Mastr Pro transmitter is a little 
 picky about
  it's tuning. If you are unfamilar with that transmitter or don't 
 follow the
  tuning procedure CORRECTLY, it can be a dirty transmitter.  Of 
 course, any
  transmitter can have that statement said.
  
  ac0y5 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
   NOW THAT'S FUNNY.LAO.  I had a couple UHF GE MASTR PRO BASE 
   STATIONS that did that ONCE for about 3 or 4 minutes, till I 
 checked 
   the output with the spectrum analyzer after tune up. It had 60 
 watts 
   out and looked like a Christmas Tree.





 

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Re: [[[Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]]]

2003-11-25 Thread Ken Arck
At 09:59 PM 11/25/2003 -0600, you wrote:

Of  course, any transmitter can have that statement said.

---Wasn't that VHF Engineering's motto? :-)

Ken

--
President and CTO - Arcom Communications
Makers of state-of-the-art repeater controllers
and accessories.
http://www.ah6le.net/arcom/index.html
Our new Repeater Audio Delay (RAD) board is now shipping! 
Compatible with many controllers!
AH6LE/R - IRLP Node 3000
http://www.irlp.net



 

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Re: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-25 Thread JOHN MACKEY
The Siouxland Amateur Radio Association in Sioux City, Iowa bought a used
Spectrum repeater on 2 meters about 3 years ago for something like $1100,
(with duplexer) fully operational.  I attended a meeting of the repeater
managers in Sioux City about 2 weeks ago  they were saying they wish they had
never bought it.  (I tried to tell them not to buy it but they ignored me!!)





 

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Re: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-24 Thread JOHN MACKEY
Hmm, perahps you are right.  These are the answers
I propose for those questions.

mch [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 On the contrary. I think we will be answering a lot of questions...
 What duplexer gives me the most off-freq rejection?

The dupleser with the most off-freq rejection will be the one NOT 
connected to the Spectrum transmitter.


 What can I do to reduce TX noise

Replace the spectrum transmitter with a different manufacturer.

 
 Does anyone have a spectrum analyzer for sale?

Yes, but with all the gas money you are losing on repeat trips to the
transmitter site, along with buying the best cables, duplexer, etc for the
package you probably won't be able to afford the analyzer.

 I'm not knocking Spectrum - I'm just relating experience. I have
 yet to see one that stayed clean over the long haul. Any that
 aren't clean surely can't meet the type acceptance they once had.

Well said, very well said.





 

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RE: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-24 Thread Jeff DePolo WN3A
  I'm not knocking Spectrum - I'm just relating experience. I
 have yet
  to see one that stayed clean over the long haul. Any that
 aren't clean
  surely can't meet the type acceptance they once had.

 Well said, very well said.

Humor:

I have a Spectrum repeater on the air.

Oh really?  What frequency is it on?

All of them.






 

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Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]

2003-11-24 Thread ac0y5
--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, JOHN MACKEY [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
wrote:
 wow, after all the warnings you still did it  decided to put a 
spectrum on
 the air!!!
 
 Just because something is type accepted does not mean it is 
quality.
 
 Good luck, you'll need it.  I guess you won't need any more advice 
from us!!

OH NO MR MACKEY, That's where you are WRONG AGAIN !! I unlike other 
some people ALWAYS have questions, and I'll ask them. The perfect 
radio presents NO challange there for no chance for a learning 
experiance. Oh I put a line in my post for you...  Or if there is 
someone that would like to contribute to the cause contact me off 
board.  If you would like to contribute a, SAY, Motorola or GE, you 
can contact me off board. Otherwise I must use what I can get at a 
price that I can afford. First, YOU or anyone else has NEVER been 
interfered with by one of MY repeaters. I DO NOT PUT UP TRASH !!! IF 
it's not right, it does not go into service by me period. You did 
not learn from my other posts that I WILL NOT PUT UP CRAP NOR DO I 
HAVE A N Y TOLORANCE FOR ANY ONE THAT DOES, PERIOD. I beleave if it 
is crap in needs to be taken off the air. That is exactly what I 
told the trustee of our clubs repeater. I spent many hours making 
shure that it was one of the best sounding machines in town and may 
be THE best.
73
ALL








 
 ac0y5 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  After all the wornings from the group, and the offer of a great 
ham 
  and a very good friend, I have decided to put a SCR1000 on the 
air 
  as a repeater on 146.700Mhz. I need a manual for this animal and 
  seeing as how no one else wants to use one there must be several 
  manuals available. Seeing as how these animals must have been 
TYPE 
  ACCEPTED for commertial use they must meet some minimal spectral 
  requirements. Or if there is someone that would like to 
contribute 
  to the cause contact me off board. 
  Thanks and 73
  AC0Y 
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
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http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
  
  
 





 

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Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]

2003-11-24 Thread ac0y5
--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, mch [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 JOHN MACKEY wrote:
  
  I guess you won't need any more advice from us!!
 
 On the contrary. I think we will be answering a lot of questions...
 
 What duplexer gives me the most off-freq rejection?
 
 What can I do to reduce TX noise
 
 Does anyone have a spectrum analyzer for sale?
 
 Etc.
 
  ac0y5 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
   Seeing as how these animals must have been TYPE
   ACCEPTED for commertial use they must meet some minimal 
spectral
   requirements.
 
 Well, at least ONE (the one submitted for acceptance) met some 
standards
 at the time it was submitted. Of course, I don't know of any 
standards
 for follow-up testing for when components break down. So, yes, at 
least
 one met some kind of standards at one point.
 
 I'm not knocking Spectrum - I'm just relating experience. I have
 yet to see one that stayed clean over the long haul. Any that
 aren't clean surely can't meet the type acceptance they once had.
 I've been interfered with from several 'type accepted' 
transmitters.
 
 This is one thing that Motorola always used to brag about when
 submitting bids. While Motorola specs are 'guaranteed minimum 
specs',
YEP, I've heard that from many a Motorola salesman. But experance, 
has told me that motorola will over SPEC a base transmitter for the 
sale. SPEC ON DEMAND

 many others are 'typical specs'. There IS a difference. With one, 
all
 units meet the specs, with the other, half the units do - HALF 
DON'T!
 
Joe, I don't mind taking your comments, I read a little concern. 
Please read my response to MR MACKEYs post.


73 ALL



 Joe M.





 

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Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]

2003-11-24 Thread ac0y5
--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Kevin Custer [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
wrote:
 ac0y5 wrote:
 
  I WILL NOT PUT UP CRAP NOR DO I HAVE A N Y TOLORANCE FOR ANY ONE 
THAT DOES, PERIOD. I beleave if it is crap in needs to be taken off 
the air. That is exactly what I told the trustee of our clubs 
repeater. I spent many hours making shure that it as one of the best 
sounding machines in town and may be THE best.
 73
 ALL
 
 
 Sometimes the best sounding repeaters are the ones that need to be 
 looked at more closely.  Over occupied bandwidth issues can result 
in 
 excellent sounding audio, but at the expense of needed filtering 
to keep 
 things clean an be a good neighbor, especially in a 15 Kc channel 
 spacing world.
 
 We had a Spectrum once, it was absolutely the best sounding 
repeater 
 around by far, but at the expense of precious AF filtering ahead 
of the 
 modulator.  After the charge pump capacitors became dry in the ACC 
 controller we were using and the 15 Kc audio that resulted on the 
B- 
 rail created a 15 Kc spur, we seriously looked into the audio 
chain of 
 the Spectrum Exciter.  We were surprised that the Low Pass 
filtering 
 section was essentially non existent.  This filter was an option 
that 
 was never installed in most ham repeaters delivered from 
Spectrum from 
 the factory.
 
 Spectrum,  at least they named them properly.
 
 Just be damn certain you look at it with a SA and continue to do 
so on a 
 very regular basis.

Well said Kevin, but not JUST Spectrum machines. All repeater 
owners should look at their machines at the very least monthly on a 
SA as well as have local monitoring equipment. That is why I'm not 
crazy about NEW HAMS buying and or owning repeaters with out  some 
experiance and knowlege.
73 to ALL 



 
 Kevin Custer





 

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Re: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-24 Thread JOHN MACKEY


mch [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 ac0y5 wrote:
  Otherwise I must use what I can get at a price that I can afford.
 
 I don't know what you paid (perhaps nothing?), but you can buy a
 Motorola or GE for a couple hundred bucks down to next to nothing.
 If I were to consider my time, I would save more money spending a couple
 hundred bucks now. Yes, I would take a Spectrum. I could use the rack
 for mounting a controller or something.

The spectrum RF gear does work EXCELLENT as a door stop!!

 
 But the main problem I've had with Spectrum is that it can be 'right'
 when you put it on, but a few weeks later, the tuning changes on its own
 and it's no longer 'right'!

I've also seen this with spectrum equipment.


 I eagerly anticipate your views on Spectrum in a year. :-))

Yes, that will be interesting.





 

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Re: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-24 Thread JOHN MACKEY


Kevin Custer [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Sometimes the best sounding repeaters are the ones that need to be 
 looked at more closely.  Over occupied bandwidth issues can result in 
 excellent sounding audio, but at the expense of needed filtering to 
SNIP

Very very true.





 

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Re: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-24 Thread JOHN MACKEY
ac0y5 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 OH NO MR MACKEY, That's where you are WRONG AGAIN !! I unlike other 

When was I wrong the FIRST time?

 some people ALWAYS have questions, and I'll ask them. The perfect 
 radio presents NO challange there for no chance for a learning 
 experiance. Oh I put a line in my post for you...  Or if there is 
 someone that would like to contribute to the cause contact me off 
 board.  If you would like to contribute a, SAY, Motorola or GE, you 
 can contact me off board. Otherwise I must use what I can get at a 
 price that I can afford. First, YOU or anyone else has NEVER been 

You can easily find a a Motorola or GE at most hamfests and on ebay.
Example on this web link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=3059774381category=4674


 interfered with by one of MY repeaters. I DO NOT PUT UP TRASH !!! IF 
 it's not right, it does not go into service by me period. You did 

We'll see what happens AFTER you put up your Spectrum

SNIP
 shure that it was one of the best sounding machines in town and may 

Please be sure to read what Kevin told you about the best sounding
machines





 

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Re: [Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]]

2003-11-24 Thread Mike WA6ILQ
At 11:03 PM 11/24/03 -0600, you wrote:

mch [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

  ac0y5 wrote:
   Otherwise I must use what I can get at a price that I can afford.
 
  I don't know what you paid (perhaps nothing?), but you can buy a
  Motorola or GE for a couple hundred bucks down to next to nothing.
  If I were to consider my time, I would save more money spending a couple
  hundred bucks now. Yes, I would take a Spectrum. I could use the rack
  for mounting a controller or something.

The spectrum RF gear does work EXCELLENT as a door stop!!

  But the main problem I've had with Spectrum is that it can be 'right'
  when you put it on, but a few weeks later, the tuning changes on its own
  and it's no longer 'right'!

I've also seen this with spectrum equipment.

  I eagerly anticipate your views on Spectrum in a year. :-))

Yes, that will be interesting.

Let me tell you about a certain high-band Spectrum...

Many years ago the W6TRW ham radio club at TRW in Los
Angeles had a Spectrum that was factory ordered in the low
end of the 145mhz range...

Mind you this group had some high powered RF types as
members guys that designed RF links for spy satellites...
I worked there in the 1986-87-88 time frame For a feeling
of the environment there read the book The Falcon and the
Snowman sometime... it all happened there.

The Spectrum SCR-1000 RX was quite sensitive once you
got past the tendency to desense (use the best duplexer
you can afford), and the TX was OKexcept...

We had it feeding a isolator, a pass cavity, a PD 6-can pass-
reject duplexer, 30-40 feet of 7/8 feedline and a 22' Stationmaster.

The equipment was installed in the utility room of the penthouse of a
12 story office building, with the antenna on a 10 foot tower section
mounted to the roof of the adjacent elevator equipment room.

There was one other radio there, a 60w GE Mastr-II UHF repeater used
by the company rent-a-cops (the radio was complete with a 4-channel
GE voter, with three aux receivers in outlying buildings - this was a
10-12 building campus spread across 4 city blocks).

There is still to this day another 3 story government office building across
the street that hosts a number of city, county, state and federal agencies
and on the roof is a forest of antennas...

Despite the skill of the RF engineers at TRW, and at least one, maybe two
return trips to Spectrum, over a period of time the Spectrum caused the
W6TRW folk to get to know the radio techs from the LAPD, the LAFD,
the LA county radio shop, the FBI, the FAA (at LAX, a few miles away), the
Navy, the Air Force, the Secret Service, and at least one alphabet soup
agency that officially doesn't exist... (one of the customers for the spy 
satellites)
all of which used the radio spectrum in the 136-150 or 160-172mhz range
or somewhere in the 225-420mhz range

Each time the interference complaints stopped the day the Spectrum
went off the air.  Each time it was turned back on after being fixed it
was clean for a while (anything from a week to 4 months) then a phone
call arrived from a different agency...

It was replaced with a factory built 136-150mhz 90w Mastr-II that was
set up by WA6DPB's commercial 2-way shop. The day it went up on
the building the temptation to drop the Spectrum off the side was there
but the ham club would have had to pay for the cracked concrete 12
stories below.  Aside from resetting the frequency about 6 months after
it went up (after the crystals aged a little) the GE radio has needed zero
attention in over 12 years.

Please tune your new toy with a spectrum analyzer, then think three
times about putting it on an antenna, and if you value your amateur
license don't put it on a hill.

Mike WA6ILQ





 

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Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]

2003-11-23 Thread JOHN MACKEY
wow, after all the warnings you still did it  decided to put a spectrum on
the air!!!

Just because something is type accepted does not mean it is quality.

Good luck, you'll need it.  I guess you won't need any more advice from us!!

ac0y5 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 After all the wornings from the group, and the offer of a great ham 
 and a very good friend, I have decided to put a SCR1000 on the air 
 as a repeater on 146.700Mhz. I need a manual for this animal and 
 seeing as how no one else wants to use one there must be several 
 manuals available. Seeing as how these animals must have been TYPE 
 ACCEPTED for commertial use they must meet some minimal spectral 
 requirements. Or if there is someone that would like to contribute 
 to the cause contact me off board. 
 Thanks and 73
 AC0Y 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
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Re: [[Repeater-Builder] Spectrum Communication SCR1000 VHF Manual]

2003-11-23 Thread mch
JOHN MACKEY wrote:
 
 I guess you won't need any more advice from us!!

On the contrary. I think we will be answering a lot of questions...

What duplexer gives me the most off-freq rejection?

What can I do to reduce TX noise

Does anyone have a spectrum analyzer for sale?

Etc.

 ac0y5 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  Seeing as how these animals must have been TYPE
  ACCEPTED for commertial use they must meet some minimal spectral
  requirements.

Well, at least ONE (the one submitted for acceptance) met some standards
at the time it was submitted. Of course, I don't know of any standards
for follow-up testing for when components break down. So, yes, at least
one met some kind of standards at one point.

I'm not knocking Spectrum - I'm just relating experience. I have
yet to see one that stayed clean over the long haul. Any that
aren't clean surely can't meet the type acceptance they once had.
I've been interfered with from several 'type accepted' transmitters.

This is one thing that Motorola always used to brag about when
submitting bids. While Motorola specs are 'guaranteed minimum specs',
many others are 'typical specs'. There IS a difference. With one, all
units meet the specs, with the other, half the units do - HALF DON'T!

Joe M.



 

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