W4HKL

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Digital Voice Links

Beginning to delve into the realm of the digital voice modes.

Below are my links of interest... so that I can find them again when I actually have the time to work on it!

DV Applications and Ham Radio

DV MEGA3000, DV MEGA home page

Repeater Builder USB-RIM

Repeater Builder USB-RIM Lite

RIM-RC210/RLC: Schematic

Special Limited Time Price - $50

This version is customized to be plug-and-play with the ARCOM RC-210 repeater controller. It is also compatable with RLC controllers from Audio Test Solutions (Formerly Link Communictaions). Simply plug the module onto an unused controller port, configure the controller and AllStar config files, and you are ready to explore the world of AllStar linking.

**Specific connection instructions will be available soon.**

RIM-Maxtrac-RM: Schematic

Special Limited Time Price - $60

This product is VERY similar to the RIM-Maxtrac. The RM stands for Repeater Maker. The RM adds a second 16 pin module to connect to a second receive only radio. This allows for one radio to be the receiver and the other to be the transmitter in a repeater type setup. The RM version does NOT support channel steering.

All of the new Lite version products still inclue the missing pulse detector circuitry to avoid stuck PTT lines. By default, the heartbeat and PTT outputs are configured to allow the missing pulse detector to automatically disable the PTT line in the event of a stuck PTT due to USB PC communications failure.

All of these new boards offer an optional serial EEPROM that can be used to store radio/repeater settings.*

Courteous and friendly customer service. While product documentation is currently being written, the user's manuals for these products will follow in the same lines as the rest of the RB products in being straight forward and thorough.

* Software implementation dependant

Steve, W4HKL

Thursday, July 07, 2016

Creating a Dual Boot Windows 7 / MS-DOS 7.1 System

Programming the older radios that absolutely need DOS AND a true serial port can be a real pain in the ass. Although DosBox is wonderful and can work with the USB to serial adapters much of the time, sometimes you just can't go that route. After spending the better part of two days (!) going thru the motions using GRUB, PLOP, various bootable media, I thankfully ran across the following article which is working for me. Perhaps it will help you, too.

TweakhomePC : Install Dual-Boot of MS-DOS 7.10 (FAT32) on Windows 7 computer (Win7 installed first)

Many thanks to TweakhomePC for ending my misery!

Steve, W4HKL

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Updates

Middlesboro -

443.950 is off the air until I can replace the antenna. It appears to have slowly degraded over the past 2 years. The desense issue has now been eliminated up to the jumper or the repeater antenna. Info gleaned from the web would indicate that the Diamond 718 antennas can't handle the mountaintop locations for - of all reasons - heavy moisture condensation at altitude. Go figure.

Caryville -

I have decided to go ahead and coordinate the 444.675 (+ offset, 100.0 Tone) Seems like much ado over nothing considering it's low profile and lack of coverage, but I might as well.

It is IRLP connected and is parked on the East Coast Reflector 9050 mostly during the day. At night, it may end up on either the 9109 Alaska Channel or 9070 Alaska Reflector. Or on 9050. Feel free to use it.
73 disconnects while simply inputting the IRLP node or reflector number will connect.
Just be sure to wait 30=45 seconds before transmitting when you first arrive so as not to inadvertently interrupt a QSO. If you connect up with something just disconnect after you are through.

Allstar Node 41538 is running on 146.460 (100.0 Tone.) I am planning to mount the antenna about 20 feet higher and go with a higher gain antenna - but not too high a gain - we are in the mountains, after all. This node may or may not be connected to an IRLP bridge, another Allstar or Echolink node, or simply idle. *70 will give you the node status. If it is in repeat mode, you're set. If not, *73 will disconnect all. *3XXXX (xxxx=allstar node number) will connect you to the node number you input. If you want to use Echolink, shoot me an email. It's a bit more tricky.

Future plans -

Once 950 is back on and working, I will connect it to the Allstar Linking Network. Why...? Because we can!!!

Steve
W4HKL

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Duplexer Info for the 03/24/2014 East Coast Repeater Net

This is supplementary info for the East Coast Repeater Net on 03/24/2015.

Steve Smith, W4HKL

Topic: Duplexers

Below are some pictures of duplexers.

VHF?

UHF? 900 Mhz?

A set of low power duplexers.

Homebrew duplexers made from old fire extinguishers!

Links

Wikipedia : Duplexer

Repeater Builder: Antenna Systems

6 Meter Homebrew Duplexers Link 1; Link 2

Repeater Builder - Desense Testing using an Iso-Tee

Oil Can 2 Meter Duplexers!

Homebrew 2 Meter Duplexer

(Detailed interior diagram of a duplexer)

Tuning duplexer with antenna analyzer

PDFs

WA2YSJ (CQ Magazine) Basic Duplexer info

South East Iowa Technical Society duplexer info

(Includes diagram of duplexer interior)

Youtube

Youtube video explaining basic repeater operation

Tuning a set of duplexers

I hope this collection on information assists anyone looking to further their understanding of duplexers.