Hi Bob-
Ok- I re-rigged my test setup now understanding a little more.
Put together a "T" cable so I could feed the service monitor with the VCO still connected to the station.
When it first booted up the TX locked and the output of the TX VCO was 441.975. A few minutes in when it unlocked the VCO dropped to roughly 429.750 ( I can't resolve exactly using the SA function)
On the RX side, I see the RX VCO running in the neighborhood of 435.975, so we could be very close to the margin of error for -10.7.
Just watching the TX VCO it will occasionally jump back to 441.975 for brief moments.
So- with this "better but not ideal" test data I assume I need to start looking at the steering line?
Thanks!?
Tom
W9SRV
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Re: Rack Panel SWR Bridge
Bird 43 panel Mount, Bird 4521, Bird 4522 or Bird 4526
Radiodan.com is a potential source
On 2/18/2021 7:08 PM, Gary HENDRICKSON
via groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Mike,
If you can find a ratty
looking Bird, remove the pickup and the meter from the case,
and mount them on a blank 19" panel.? That would look real
professional!
Gary? W3DTN
On Thursday, February 18, 2021, 06:46:04 PM EST, Mike
Fahmie via groups.io <wa6zty@...>
wrote:
Looking for recommendation's for a 19"
panel mounted 150 MHz SWR bridge.
-Mike-
WA6ZTY
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Re: Rack Panel SWR Bridge
Look at the Bird 4522, 4521, or 4526
They are often available on ebay and other surplus suppliers.
Roger, N5QS
On 2/18/2021 6:08 PM, Gary HENDRICKSON
via groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Mike,
If you can find a ratty
looking Bird, remove the pickup and the meter from the case,
and mount them on a blank 19" panel.? That would look real
professional!
Gary? W3DTN
On Thursday, February 18, 2021, 06:46:04 PM EST, Mike
Fahmie via groups.io <wa6zty@...>
wrote:
Looking for recommendation's for a 19"
panel mounted 150 MHz SWR bridge.
-Mike-
WA6ZTY
|
Re: Rack Panel SWR Bridge
Mike,
If you can find a ratty looking Bird, remove the pickup and the meter from the case, and mount them on a blank 19" panel.? That would look real professional!
Gary? W3DTN
On Thursday, February 18, 2021, 06:46:04 PM EST, Mike Fahmie via groups.io <wa6zty@...> wrote:
Looking for recommendation's for a 19" panel mounted 150 MHz SWR bridge.
-Mike- WA6ZTY
|
Looking for recommendation's for a 19" panel mounted 150 MHz SWR bridge.
-Mike- WA6ZTY
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Re: Krystaly Rocks for MSR2000
I have to agree with Bob and Kevin. My past experience with Bomar has been awful.
With respect to Quartslab, maybe crystals for GE are less expensive than for Motorola. The quote I received for the Motorola elements was almost twice what Skipp paid for his GE elements. That or else business is booming and the price is rising in response to increased demand.
73 and aloha, Eric KH6CQ
On Thursday, February 18, 2021, 9:05:56 AM HST, Kevin Custer <kuggie@...> wrote:
On 2/18/2021 1:46 PM, Bob Dengler wrote:
>
> Bomar crystals are junk:
Yea buddy.? They sure as hell can't make a crystal for a FM channel
element - GE or Motorola.? Their "Engineer" David Miskov is a joke.
Scott and I have spent thousands of dollars with Bomar years ago before
the people that really knew how to build them retired.? All of their
stuff in the last 5 years is junk - period.
Kevin
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Re: Krystaly Rocks for MSR2000
On 2/18/2021 1:46 PM, Bob Dengler wrote:
Bomar crystals are junk:
Yea buddy.? They sure as hell can't make a crystal for a FM channel element - GE or Motorola.? Their "Engineer" David Miskov is a joke. Scott and I have spent thousands of dollars with Bomar years ago before the people that really knew how to build them retired.? All of their stuff in the last 5 years is junk - period. Kevin
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Re: Krystaly Rocks for MSR2000
At 2/18/2021 10:11 AM, you wrote: Sounds like a Krystaly is crystal manufacture not familar with making crystals for radios, like ones for other applications like filters. They are asking for the details of the crystal cut. 2-wy radio crystal manufs know what to make from model of the radio. And at $67 is high price. $67 is QuartSLab, not Krystaly. Krystaly is less than half that price. Try Bomar in NJ, 800-526-3935. The now charge $50/xtal. Bomar crystals are junk: have had several of their crystals fail over the past 3 years. in 40+ years I've never seen such incompetence from a crystal manufacturer. Bob NO6B
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Re: Krystaly Rocks for MSR2000
At 2/17/2021 02:06 PM, you wrote: Bob,
Were the ones you ordered for Motorola gear? No, they're TX xtals for G.E. MVPs. Bob NO6B
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Re: Krystaly Rocks for MSR2000
Sounds like a Krystaly is crystal manufacture not familar with making crystals for radios, like ones for other applications like filters.? They are asking for the details of the crystal cut.? 2-wy radio crystal manufs know what to make from model of the radio.?? And at $67 is high price.
Try Bomar in NJ, 800-526-3935.? The now charge $50/xtal.?
All you tell them is you need xtal fo MSR2000 or channel element numbers, the actual freq, 147.39, 442.65 rcv or xmt, and give them ship to address and credit card.? Bomar no longer temp comp ch elements, just make the crystal to spec of Motorola.? Bomar does make an excellent 2-way radio xtal.
73, ron, n9ee/r
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Re: Just a little "off topic "
As usual, I wasn't clear enough..
What I am looking for is a ONE BOX solution, TNC and Radio, in an easily
deployable unit, that runs 5 to 10 watts at around 160 Mhz.
The easy way would be a Raspberry Pi and a telemetry transceiver from
Maxon or Ritron OR ?
Don, K8ZGW What data interface? RS232? Ethernet/IP? Something else? Try GE/MDS, Maxon, Tekk, and CalAmp (formerly DataRadio) for starters. Search for SCADA radio and I'm sure you'll find quite a few others. Motorola VRM650/850 also comes to mind, which is basically an MCS2000 with different front panel and built-in modem, but I'm not sure if they made them for highband? --- Jeff WN3A -- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
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I would expect around +10dBm. You should be able to directly connect the VCO output through some sort of TEE connection to your SM and punch in the frequency, until of course it unlocks and goes elsewhere. That's one of the reasons I like a freq counter so much more than a Motorola SM: you can just connect a signal to it and see what freq it's on without knowing ahead of time.
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Good morning Bob!
For reference I am using a Motorola R-2670 service monitor, it was calibrated a few years ago. I know it should go once a year but that's not in the budget. It's pretty darn spot on frequency wise at the moment, I image the error we are seeing here is the methodology I am using with it, operator error. I used the RF scan function to find the carrier of the VCO, perhaps it's landing on a harmonic or spur? I should probably use the SA function and set the Fc to the programmed channel and take a look that way. Do you know how much output level I should be seeing from the VCO?
As far as the RX- that side has always locked and it receives wonderully on the programmed frequency.
Thanks!
Tom
W9SRV
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Well, the TX VCO must operate at the TX frequency. You stated above that the repeater is programmed to TX on 441.975 MHz yet your equipment claims the VCO output was 443.71 MHz. Something's vastly wrong there as it's almost 2 MHz higher than it's supposed to be. If those numbers are correct, it's too high and the steering line is trying to bring it down by being close to zero. Since the synthesizer can't get the VCO where it needs to go, it turns off the TX VCO LOCK LED.
The RX VCO must operate at either 10.7 MHz higher or lower than the RX frequency (I would guess lower). You stated above that the repeater isprogrammed to RX on 446.975 MHz and your equipment claims the VCO output was 437.23, which is almost 10 MHz lower. That difference might be the accuracy of your equipment. If the RX VCO LOCK LED is still lit up, does the station still receive the input signal on the correct frequency? If so, then we can say your equipment's accuracy isn't quite up to the task.
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Re: Just a little "off topic "
You might want to check out Ritron products. You can definitely get a proper radio from them in that power and frequency range. as far as a TNC? Kantronics would be a good bet. You need more specifics, baud rate protocal etc.
--
?The Real RFI-EMI-GUY
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Re: Just a little "off topic "
Does anybody have experience using the Motorola Data Radios like the VRM? I have never used the internal modem on them, but maybe they would work for your situation?
Ok here¡¯s a few places to look:
The alinco dr-135 with internal tnc has been mentioned. It¡¯s a good start
What you are looking for being an integrated package the place to look is aprs tracker hardware. Look at the following vendors offerings many will function as a full ax.25 tnc and have internal part 90 or part 95 radios both synthesized and rock bound internally:
If you have any questions or if none of these quite fit, call Scott at argent data and he should be able to set you up with something workable.?
Eric Af6ep?
Sent using SMTP. On Feb 17, 2021, at 9:08 AM, Eric Grabowski via <ejgrabowski=[email protected]> wrote:
?
Don,
This might fit your requirements. It would just need a mod to make it transmit out of the ham band.
On Wednesday, February 17, 2021, 6:56:37 AM HST, donritchie < donritchie@...> wrote:
As usual, I wasn't clear enough..
What I am looking for is a ONE BOX solution, TNC and Radio, in an easily
deployable unit, that runs 5 to 10 watts at around 160 Mhz.
The easy way would be a Raspberry Pi and a telemetry transceiver from
Maxon or Ritron OR ?
Don, K8ZGW
On 2/16/2021 17:53, Bob Dengler wrote:
> At 2/16/2021 02:40 PM, you wrote:
>> Does anyone make a commercially available product, that is relatively
>> inexpensive, packet radio node?
> Like this?
>
> <>
>
> Bob NO6B
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Hi Bob-
Ok, I'm diving into new territory in troubleshooting here and approaching the edge of my comfort zone, but I will do my best to keep up and learn. Please forgive my ignorance, I appreciate your patience!
I did clean the obvious spots caps leaked out, there was litte to no damage that I can tell. I still have the cap on the interconnect board to tackle, but I don't know that is bad either.
I Put the VCO's in their correct positions. fired up the station, all working, peaked up each VCO to 38uA (I know you said it wasnt super critical, but I wanted a good starting point).
Checked the output of both VCO's on the service monitor. I should probably mention, the station is programmed for 441.975 TX and 446.975 RX.
I dont have a frequency counter available and the counter in the analyzer only goes to 500kHz, so I just used the scan function on the monitor, hope that is a valid way to test.
When working and everything is locked: The TX VCO has a +2.5dBm output on 443.71
The RX VCO has a +2.5dBm output on 437.23
Waited until the TX lock went out (easy to hear the carrier on my local Icom drops when it loses lock), again took about 10 minutes. I can seem to make it happen faster if I key the station a few times.
When it lost its lock I didnt change anything, I just looked at the TX VCO output into the service monitor again, and it was still +2.5dBm on 443.71, no change.
So...I guessing that probably means the VCO is ok? I'm still familirizing myself with how the MSF works, is the next step to look into the steering lines? Or other suggestions?
Thanks! Tom W9SRV
On Wednesday, February 17, 2021, 11:29:42 AM CST, Bob M. <wa1mik@...> wrote:
The two caps under the shield are in the RX IF circuit and probably aren't worth the effort. The leaking caps definitely needed to be replaced. Did you thoroughly clean the board of all signs of leakage on both sides? It doesn't take much, but 5-10 minutes sure seems like a heat-related issue.
The fact that the meter reading goes real low means the VCO is running at too low a frequency and usually needs the tuning core to be turned clockwise. But since it does this with both VCOs, your problem sure seems to be on the Uniboard. One of those filter/connector assemblies is used primarily for the TX synthesizer; another one serves mainly the RX synthesizer.
Can you connect a freq counter to the output of the TX VCO and see what it's doing when it fails? That may help diagnose the problem.
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Re: Krystaly Rocks for MSR2000
tnx Bob for the update jerry VE3EXT
On Wed, 17 Feb 2021 at 16:57, Bob Dengler < no6b@...> wrote: At 2/17/2021 01:31 PM, you wrote:
>I recall recently that someone here was going to place an order with them and let us know their luck??
>Is that person reading this please??
Yes I am reading this.? No I haven't received the crystals yet.? They did ship a couple of days ago, so should have them soon.? Will let you know how they work.
Bob NO6B
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Re: Krystaly Rocks for MSR2000
Bob,
Were the ones you ordered for Motorola gear?
On Wednesday, February 17, 2021, 11:57:40 AM HST, Bob Dengler <no6b@...> wrote:
At 2/17/2021 01:31 PM, you wrote:
>I recall recently that someone here was going to place an order with them and let us know their luck??
>Is that person reading this please??
Yes I am reading this.? No I haven't received the crystals yet.? They did ship a couple of days ago, so should have them soon.? Will let you know how they work.
Bob NO6B
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Re: Krystaly Rocks for MSR2000
At 2/17/2021 01:31 PM, you wrote: I recall recently that someone here was going to place an order with them and let us know their luck??
Is that person reading this please?? Yes I am reading this. No I haven't received the crystals yet. They did ship a couple of days ago, so should have them soon. Will let you know how they work. Bob NO6B
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Kevin Custer
Bob M.
RFI-EMI-GUY