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Wiring for classic COM port and
Hi, I was considering acquiring GPD Micro PC for portable use with TX500. I wonder if it will be possible to make proper wiring between the transceiver andRS232 and TRRS ports. The Headset TRRS connector is described in the wiring diagrams, but pure RS232 is not. There is not +3,3 output on the connector pin out, additionally I'm not sure how happy transceiver will be with levels provided by notebook. Did any of you managed to arrange similar setup, or knows if it sill be possible? |
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Re: MARS mod on TX500
Apparently someone wanted to send an anonymous email me and call me a misogynist f$#k for saying "helping the boys out"
Let's be clear, to me saying "helping the boys out" is universal to me, women are not excluded..... To the person who anon emailed me, just talk to me, no need for swearing and assuming things....especially considering I am for equal rights and feminism |
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Re: MARS mod on TX500
Other than that my only real gripes about the radio is not being able to listen to some other broadcasts with USB or LSB option selectable, it would be nice if there was a way to change that in the menu. Some entities don't follow the HAM tradition of using LSB on the lower bands, sometimes I find a non ham frequency using USB near the 30 meter and 80 meter segments like some military folks for example.?
Still a pretty dang sweet radio though? |
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Re: MARS mod on TX500
Good info. Yeah I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a point sending it in for a +/- 1Mhz mod that voids your warranty and that is hard on the radio on top of it. I don¡¯t want to fry it either. Maybe I just accept that this radio won¡¯t ever be open. To be honest, while it bothers me somewhat, it doesn¡®t affect my operation in the slightest. I¡¯d probably even let go of the idea if they could at least get the digital operation side of it up to speed. It¡¯s still lagging and that does actually affect my operation. Thankfully it¡¯s just a firmware matter.?That¡¯s a different thread though.??Man I really love this radio but the diamond still needs some polishing.? |
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Re: MARS mod on TX500
Thanks for the tip, I was looking into getting a G90, it looks like a fun radio, potentially the 891 as well. I just hate the idea of the TX500 frying just because I'm listening to an HF broadcast, go to the bathroom and my kid keys the mic and fries my radio, lol
I did speak with HRO yesterday while I was there, they did mention they would keep it under warranty which is pretty sweet!? |
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Re: MARS mod on TX500
Gary Priest (K8JOK)
About a year ago, I spoke with John who provides the U.S. service on these. He explained the TX-500 uses bandpass filters and deviating too far from the ham bands results in transmitting ¡°into¡± the filter rather than ¡°thru¡± the filter. This can damage the filter and the finals. I¡¯m not as smart as I¡¯d like to be on radio design, but I believe most radios use simpler low-pass filters for harmonic suppression rather than full up bandpass filters. An array of switchable low-pass filters are easy to control for full frequency coverage. With bandpass filtering you would need to design the filters for overlapping coverage. It seems Lab599 didn¡¯t do that with this rig. |
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Re: MARS mod on TX500
Understandable. I have modded my 7300, 891 and G90. The G90 is painfully easy to do, really. They¡¯ve even painted an arrow on the board to show which resistor to remove. No nearby neighbors you can damage, nothing. It¡¯s super easy to access. It¡¯s 5 min thing. The 7300 is a little more involved since the resistors are tiny and more cramped but still relatively easy. The 891 is probably the trickiest one since you don¡¯t actually remove anything but bridge two resistors so you have to add some solder. Warranty voided in all, of course. You can always opt for the MARS mod service on purchase at HRO, usually around 50 bucks but the 705 for instance cost closer to 100 bucks to mod. With that professional mod you KEEP your warranty so it might be worth it.? I should add that testing all the off ham freq¡¯s requires you to use a dummy load to stay legal. Owning an opened up radio and even listening to any freq is legal. The reason why I want my radios open is not because of MARS. I just want a fully capable radio. I¡¯m licensed to know what freqs to legally use and when. I don¡¯t need to be patronized and do not accept a dumbed down radio. Imagine they sold us cars that are capped at 60mph. It can be expected from a drivers license holder to know the law. Why can¡¯t that be the same with radios? ? |
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Re: MARS mod on TX500
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A note to all regarding the MARS mod, it is a violation of FCC rules for someone not authorized?to operate on MARS freqs to own a radio so modified.? For that matter, it is also a violation to sell a MARS modified radio to someone not authorized to operate
on MARS freqs.? Just be aware of what you are doing and who you are.? If you don't have a MARS ATO (Authorization to Operate), then you are not authorized?to be on a MARS freq or own a radio so modified.??
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of k9ney via groups.io <k9ney@...>
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2023 12:51 PM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Lab599] MARS mod on TX500 ?
[Edited Message Follows] Oh you mean opening up freqs could possibly be a software only matter? That would be great but also a first: All three HF radios I¡¯ve modded so far were a soldering job. Two needed a resistor removed and one needed bridging. Interested to hear what the mod entails with this radio.EDIT: I might add that my hardware modded radios cover ~1-50 Mhz seamlessly without turning into toast. Not sure why this radio would have a HAM band +/-1Mhz restriction. Maybe that¡¯s the limits when modding by software only? Maybe a hardware mod is not possible with this radio? |
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Re: MARS mod on TX500
I think the MARs mod is hardware based, which is why we probably have to send it in for 30 bucks plus shipping. It would be nice if it was a software update.?
Which radios did you mod to get the full HF coverage? I was looking for something that is mobile to modify to do the MARs stuff eventually. As much as I love the TX500, I don't want it to melt down on me if I accidentally key the mic on the wrong frequency? |
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Re: MARS mod on TX500
Oh you mean opening up freqs could possibly be a software only matter? That would be great but also a first: All three HF radios I¡¯ve modded so far were a soldering job. Two needed a resistor removed and one needed bridging. Interested to hear what the mod entails with this radio.
EDIT: I might add that my hardware modded radios cover ~1-50 Mhz seamlessly without turning into toast. Not sure why this radio would have a HAM band +/-1Mhz restriction. Maybe that¡¯s the limits when modding by software only? Maybe a hardware mod is not possible with this radio? |
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Re: MARS mod on TX500
Beats me on why it would fry the radio, just repeating what the Rep told me and thought I would share that with you guys, I had that convo with he Rep yesterday.?
I've heard about the CB thing, it was in one of the firmware updates right? Would be nice if we could do the same for MARs in future firmware but I guess that might require a physical modification? I would hope that if a MARs mod was done that they would include a firmware update that limits transmitting to the 1 MHZ + or - to prevent screwing up the radio.? I'm rather new to HF, in fact i just got my license updated a few weeks ago and picked up this sweet radio as my first HF radio. Ive always wanted to do MARs stuff as a former service member wanting to help the boys out whenever I can. I usually just screw with motorola portable radios, even then only on the software level. A lot of this stuff is beyond my pay grade |
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Re: MARS mod on TX500
From what I remember in the conversation yesterday with the rep, I think when you unlock the MARs capability, it might be removing some of the parameters to transmit in ranges where damage to the radio may happen if you go too far into the deep end. The rep said anything beyond 1 MHZ up or down of any of the HAM bands can cause damage to the radio, so maybe that's partially the reason why the warranty gets voided??
As far as factory trained tech, I couldn't tell you other than it's an approved service shop for 599 lab I really don't see why they can't just have a firmware update that limits the transmit within the 1 MHZ + or - of the HAM band to prevent such damage to begin with.? |
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Re: MARS mod on TX500
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There are only two branches of MARS, Army and Air Force.? The rest shut down years ago.??
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Randy K7RAN <k7ran@...>
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2023 5:20 AM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Lab599] MARS mod on TX500 ?
Which branch of MARS is most active nowadays? Army MARS? Navy MARS? Air Force MARS? Seabee MARS? I didn¡¯t realize there were still so many active MARS volunteers these days.
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Re: MARS mod on TX500
Sorry for all the posts guys. I was doing it through outlook and it was putting links to my business etc. I deleted it.
anyway, here is what I posted:? Hey Johnny so I guess they are considering CB the ham Band because they have that opened up to us. And if they are doing the MARS Mode for customers then I think it would be safe to transmit on those frequencies.?
?
Also, I would think as long as your SWR is good, why would anything fry on a frequency your transmitting on?
?
Not being argumentative, just trying to figure this out so I don¡¯t fry my radio. |