Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: icom f221 radios

2008-02-25 Thread Jed Barton

Hey Skip,
shoot me your number, would love to chat with you about some radio  
stuff.

On Feb 25, 2008, at 2:28 PM, skipp025 wrote:


Hi Jed,

Of course I'm going to say yes... regarding Kenwood Radios
doing what you wantever you might want to try.

You can make a repeater out of almost any two radios regardless
of brands... it's just a measure of how creative you want to
be.

If we're talking only the 2 Meter Band here... Kenwood makes a
really impressive radio, the TM-271a. I'm a Kenwood Business
Radio Dealer so sad for me that I don't sell that model... :-(
I still own a few 271a radios and use them all the time... 60
watts output and I haven't been able to kill it even in constant
service. I have made more than one repeater and link packages
out of the TM-271a.

If you're talking non amateur applications Kenwood makes a
really fine line of commerical radios of which I do sell. I've
made repeaters and links out of almost every model kenwood mobile
going back some years and even a lot of portables (hand-helds).
Many Kenwoood Commerical Radios give you the option to purchase a
flying pig-tail lead wire kit (under $20 typical) bringing out
to a jack/plug the various desired functions you might want to
use.

Some of the newer Kenwood Radios have the multi function jack
right on the back of the radio chassis. For commercial work I
need the type acceptance radios for operation outside the
amateur band(s).

Regardless of where you buy a Kenwood Radio... as time allows I
will try to help folks with information, parts and service. Heck
we even try to help with pretty much any brand radio you might
have around. And of course there is the magic of the Repeater
Builder Group here as an A-#1 resource.

You need a laugh...
I'm still making Links and Repeaters out of old Midland Syntech
Radios so you can see we're also into a measure of self abuse.
Darn Syntech Radios last forever and I haven't yet been able to
kill the PA in full power repeater operation.

Depending on your budget, you can buy new and used radios off
ebay, me and a bunch of other group members who sell equipment
full and part time.
Don't forget to ask Kevin and Scott if their converted
commercial radios will work for your application. And don't
forget they sell conversion kits if you want to "roll your own".

The bottom has fallen out of the land mobile (two-way) radio
industry and we're seeing major surplus equipment dumping on
ebay and at flea markets. Just pick a radio you can easily
deal with and go for it. Asking around the group helps out
quite a bit... I really like the GE MVP, Master II and Mitrek
mobile radios and they pop up on Ebay and used markets all the
time.

Programmable radio wise... many of the used Kenwood Mobiles
Radios make great price "sleeper deals". I've made repeaters
out of older tk-840 radios and other tk-series models. In some
cases it's just add the flying cable lead and wire it up to
your desired repeater controller of choice. The same goes for
many other radio brands/models.

Just don't buy a used car from anyone on this group and
you'll be just fine. :-)

cheers,
skipp

IWCE is almost here...

> Jed Barton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Hey Skipp, can i do the same with the Kenwoods?
> Do they make ecent link radios?
> On Feb 25, 2008, at 12:02 PM, skipp025 wrote:
>
> >
> > Hi Jed,
> >
> > One might assume any newer generation of radio should be able to
> > operate digital coded squelch "DCS" (aka "DPL").
> >
> > I wouldn't know about any discriminator audio availability from
> > that radio... I myself sell one of "the other brands" (Kenwood).
> >
> > Don't expect the radio to output full power 24/7. As with many
> > mobile radios the heatsink will get warm/hot and with a bit of
> > luck the power protection circuit will then greatly reduce or
> > even cut off the rf output power.
> >
> > So for many repeater applications... it's more than prudent to
> > run them on the low power setting and or place a fan/blower on
> > the heat sink and hope it stays cool in lock to talk operation.
> >
> > Depending on the mass of the heatsink and the air movement past...
> > it's quite possible to pull off a fair amount of full power
> > operation before the protection circuit throws out the reduce
> > power anchor.
> >
> > cheers,
> > skipp
> >
> > > Jed Barton  wrote:
> > >
> > > Hey guys, alright i need some input here.
> > > Thinking very seriously of getting few icom f221s and using  
them as

> > > repeaters. My concern is with the audio quality.
> > > Can these things do direct FM?
> > > Also, is there a way of getting descriminator audio out of  
them on

> > the
> > > connecter?
> > > Having these capabilities would be fantastic.
> > > I know some of the older Icoms were phase modulated, but  
wonder if

> > > these can do direct FM.
> > > Thanks,
> > > Jed
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>







Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: icom f221 radios

2008-02-25 Thread Jed Barton

Hey Skip, can i do the same with the kenwoods?
Do they make ecent link radios?
On Feb 25, 2008, at 12:02 PM, skipp025 wrote:



Hi Jed,

One might assume any newer generation of radio should be able to
operate digital coded squelch "DCS" (aka "DPL").

I wouldn't know about any discriminator audio availability from
that radio... I myself sell one of "the other brands" (Kenwood).

Don't expect the radio to output full power 24/7. As with many
mobile radios the heatsink will get warm/hot and with a bit of
luck the power protection circuit will then greatly reduce or
even cut off the rf output power.

So for many repeater applications... it's more than prudent to
run them on the low power setting and or place a fan/blower on
the heat sink and hope it stays cool in lock to talk operation.

Depending on the mass of the heatsink and the air movement past...
it's quite possible to pull off a fair amount of full power
operation before the protection circuit throws out the reduce
power anchor.

cheers,
skipp

> Jed Barton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Hey guys, alright i need some input here.
> Thinking very seriously of getting few icom f221s and using them as
> repeaters. My concern is with the audio quality.
> Can these things do direct FM?
> Also, is there a way of getting descriminator audio out of them on  
the

> connecter?
> Having these capabilities would be fantastic.
> I know some of the older Icoms were phase modulated, but wonder if
> these can do direct FM.
> Thanks,
> Jed
>







Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: icom f221 radios

2008-02-25 Thread Cort Buffington
On the topic, I'm looking for good mobiles to make repeaters from. I  
like Motorola a lot, but programming software is expensive and so are  
the radios. With that said, I'd like to have access to on the back of  
the radio to:


RX audio at a reasonable level (not speaker) (muted by COS _OR_ PL)
Carrier detect (COS/COR/Noise Squelch)
PL detect
TX audio at a reasonable level (not an un-amplified mic level input)
PTT
PL strip (turn the PL on/off at will)

Cost $250 range
Programming software < $arm+leg

In any event, I'd use the transmitter as an exciter in the 1-5w range,  
so expect that heat should be a problem in that range of output.


So I've taken this discussion WAY far to the other side of the F221  
perhaps, but I think this is kind of a universal need for many of us.  
My main reason for this is that I'm looking at making a system with  
multiple remote receivers. I'd like one radio building block that  
could perform any of the functions from repeater main receiver or  
exciter, to remote receiver, link transmitter, link receiver, etc. If  
I could find one cost-effective radio to use this way, It would make  
life really easy (I know, life's not fair, but we could get a break  
every now and again?).


73 DE N0MJS


On Feb 25, 2008, at 11:02 AM, skipp025 wrote:



Hi Jed,

One might assume any newer generation of radio should be able to
operate digital coded squelch "DCS" (aka "DPL").

I wouldn't know about any discriminator audio availability from
that radio... I myself sell one of "the other brands" (Kenwood).

Don't expect the radio to output full power 24/7. As with many
mobile radios the heatsink will get warm/hot and with a bit of
luck the power protection circuit will then greatly reduce or
even cut off the rf output power.

So for many repeater applications... it's more than prudent to
run them on the low power setting and or place a fan/blower on
the heat sink and hope it stays cool in lock to talk operation.

Depending on the mass of the heatsink and the air movement past...
it's quite possible to pull off a fair amount of full power
operation before the protection circuit throws out the reduce
power anchor.

cheers,
skipp

> Jed Barton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Hey guys, alright i need some input here.
> Thinking very seriously of getting few icom f221s and using them as
> repeaters. My concern is with the audio quality.
> Can these things do direct FM?
> Also, is there a way of getting descriminator audio out of them on  
the

> connecter?
> Having these capabilities would be fantastic.
> I know some of the older Icoms were phase modulated, but wonder if
> these can do direct FM.
> Thanks,
> Jed
>





--
Cort Buffington
H: +1-785-838-3034
M: +1-785-865-7206