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I have been dealing with people including Yaesu USA's manager - John Kruk on Yaesu [email protected]. I keep running into erroneous statements and well, my diatribe is attached as it? covers advances,? setbacks and future direction. Here is my diatribe and will bring everyone up to date. I bought the VERTEX's back from the Dead.. I am but one person. I will be needing some testers to shake things down. I am not going to play integrating these new repeaters at the VFW. Just driving from Mulvane is over 1/2 hour each way.? Plus there are times I can work on the repeaters when the VFW is closed.

Here is my diatribe:

On Thu, Nov 5, 2020 at 04:23 PM, John Kruk wrote:

1. The DR-2X is not designed to take DTMF codes via Fusion mode for control.-

That statement is contrary to the DR2X/DR-2XE Operating manual Page 26:
11. Remote Controls
??? Setting the remote control?
Remote control of the DR-2X/DR-2XE repeater can be performed in either C4FM digital mode or analog FM mode.

Yes, The person you're wondering about it, indeed me. I have been set back by Eye area Surgery, because of resulting Ramsey-Hunt.syndrome a manifestation of Shingles/ Chicken pox as a kid. Fortunately I did not loose my hearing. Surgery was complicated because I have 13 screws in my face around the eye socket and cheek from an aluminum? ladder collapsing under me years ago.? Additional nasal surgery is required but I'm holding off.? I'm not fine with a chisel hammered up my nose.
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Unlike east and west coast, our only source for electronic parts to build anything is a Radio Shack. Last visit I was looking for 6.8uf and 2.2uf to build a low pass filter to inject a clean PL tone into the DR2X using a Arduino nano to? produce the PL tone. They did not have them except at 450VDC. Any time parts are needed, it means mail order.. Mouser-Digikey-Newark and at least $8.95 shipping and a wait.

Since we 1st contacted Yaesu Sales and inquired if the DR2X could be used on ALLSTAR, Prior to club? purchase we were told:
1. NO PROBLEM.
2. It's done all the time.
3. We can tell you how it's done.

The reality is- ? Our requests for that information rendered a type written 2 page overview. NO schematic, No Parts List, No specific point to point wiring and when calling Yaesu Tech Support- the answer is- We can't support any NON-Yaesu accessories attached to our products.
We have 2 VERTEX VRX7000 repeaters running DMK URIx using a RJ45 connectors to DB25. 4 active wires, plus grounds. Then USB to a Raspberry Pi2 and operating just great. The reason for their replacement is VERTEX was bought by MOTOROLA and my opinion, killed it 2-3 years ago to eliminate competition. Our last repair required jumpering burned traces on the controller card.and substitution parts. A Resurrection- as End of life is pretty final. ?

The interface- integration is a work in Progress. Because not a single? component was specified, nor any wiring diagram exists.
Anything documented in Internet-Land like the MABEL is a Kluge, and I see why. They made it work by, for instance having to sample RF output. Say what???
Their Kluge keeps the Analog/Analog or Digital/Digital switching based on input working correctly. It works because, it's a work around.

In our case- in Fly over country Kansas and? During SKYWARN weather events we want everyone to be able to talk to everyone. So our intent is to AMS(Auto mode Selection) the receiver and used Fixed ANALOG transmit.? No one monitors a frequency with digital traffic on it and an analog only radio. Our mission is to serve all..Poor or rich, veteran or not..We have area hams that only own a $25 HT and rely on using our club HF station for DXing. We have hams that only are on the air during weather events. and cannot justify a $400 digital radio.?

Our 1st integration attempt, using a CT-175 cable and a DINAH, it worked fine, but after a few days we found the DR2X locked up. No touch screen response. The Display indicated Auto receive. The Fixed Transmit jumped from Analog to Digital.. Only a Factory reset restores it.? We repeated with adding grounds and ferrites, same outcome.
Since the repeater was down and a 20 mile trek to see what's wrong with limited access times. As dialing in would not solve the frozen DR2X.. We pulled it, reverted to the VERTEX as we have only 1 pair of duplexers on site.? I have in the past month acquired a Cellwave 6 cavity UHF duplexer at my own cost, so I can further experiment at my ranch on another frequency. I received the assignment 442.00-447.00 and just re-tuned the duplexers. Next I need to make DR2X to Duplexer cables double shielded.? Time away from integration DR2X to ALLSTAR. Yet required to advance.

The current W?VFW repeaters- VHF is on Blind hams Network and used by many in the area. Our mission is to aid Veterans, Military, Families and the general public- We have a number of visually impaired hams who are members of the VFW. One runs a nation wide Net? on blind hams Saturdays and has a facebook page. Our VP is a Vietnam Vet, who lost his vision in Katrina. These people are important to me. Our UHF repeater is on K-link - Kansas Link - State wide ALLSTAR system for weather spotting- SKYWARN as well as non-emergency nets. Rumor has it, Kansas gets bad weather once in a while. 2 years ago we had over a million acres of Prairie burn in wild fires. Lost thousands of cattle, Civil Air patrol actually used that network we are part of in remote areas.? Plus our K-link machine is HT range to the National Weather Service ICT-NWS at the airport. So we can't very well retire those VERTEX workhorses till we debug, burn in and integrate the DR2X's...
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Outstanding issues:
1.Compete a test site to independently test all aspects of our DR2X "upgrade-integration"? prior to deployment using? my assigned frequency 442.00-447.00
2. Finish the DR2X to DMK- URIx interface.. 15 pins one side 25 pins plus all the other.Necessary Components? in between
??? a. Try pin 8 instead of pin 9- on audio TT decoding and general operation. As just suggested.
??? b. If audio level changes are unsatisfactory between Digital/ analog, build an AGC circuit. I see it on my scope, but unknown in actual operation.
??? c. complete and adjust the level ARDUNIO Nano PL encoder for proper deviation for Analog TX. Since in remote, the DR2x looses PL..
3. Test DR2X with both DMK-URIx and without to see if we still have a Lockup- with switch from TX Fixed Analog to Digital. Do we have a DR2X problem?
4. After? testing & Finalizing integration. Fully document finalized hardware.
??? a. So others do not have to re-invent the wheel.
??? b. the purpose of Amateur radio is to share advancements.
??? c. provide Schematic.
??? d. Provide parts list - perhaps design an interface board instead of a perf board and hand wiring.?

At this point, given other obligations, and dumping such other projects such as rain gutters on the barn. digging a hole for Rohn25 50 foot HF tower - with tribander and G9 on top for VHF/UHF, Hauling probably 4-6 tons of additional gravel to mitigate erosion caused by cattle entering the corral and their shelter,? abandoning my erecting a Vbeam or loop for 160 meters. Prepping my tractor for winter. plus repairing a slow leak on the 5 foot tractor tire. There are some projects I will draw the line on- ARRL November Sweepstakes phone, the only contest I work besides FD.?
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Disappointing is the YAESU design regarding analog and Digital interoperability.? whether Analog or Digital, whether wires-X or repeater operation. the selection of Digital or Analog the the audio derived should have as close as possible? characteristics such that the average ear cannot make the distinction. But apparently it doesn't.

Food for thought
A feature (AMS) the competition does not offer is not a feature if it doesn't work right. Just saying- I'm wondering, as I have not dwelled with other Digital modes, But does D-star, or DMR systems change audio characteristics when the mode changes? Or are they locked because of exactly that?? Is the true solution to lock down the Fusion repeater in Analog as that is the only commonality all 2meter/ 70 centemeter FM users have.. in order to achieve "OPEN TO ALL"

Conclusion
I've beaten this to death. any further comments, advances, failures, and hopefully successes can only happen some time down the line. Given my time configuring a DR2X operational at my ranch on 442.00-447.00, then add ALLSTAR as I've outlined and those that helped thus far..

I want to thank everyone with every comment and suggestion. Someday we may even have a BBQ at my ranch with hamburgers I've bottle fed.

I will keep in touch, perhaps in a month.. I should be able to get the virgin DR2X on the air at my ranch this weekend. -let it play a week, Since I have only 1 Comet G9 at the top of my VHF tower at 55 feet, I need to find an alternative for my FTM 2750D home station. It's one of those - you can park your car in my garage if you clean out the garage first- things.
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