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Re: Connecting Yaesu DR2X Repeater to Raspberry Pi/Allstar?

 

On Mon, Oct 31, 2022 at 03:25 PM, Kevin Custer wrote:
The SC-50 and CT-30 are discontinued because the encoder/decoder IC in no longer available.
Well, a year ago I codgered up substitution an Arduino Nano ($5) for the CTCSS encoder the DR2X requires if in the remote mode.

I have the "script" you down load to the Aurduino and it outputs a PL tone.? I'd have to do some digging to find my notes but If anyone is interested it's pretty simple. The output pin of the Arduino simply needs a capacitor coupled to a potientiometer then the wiper capacitively coupled to the to the CTCSS input pin and set the level.. The sine wave resulting doen't look bad at all..
Re: Windows 7 config

 

I can't answer myself, but I know you will need to be more specific. What radio? What software?

On 11/1/2022 9:27 AM, SCOTT READ wrote:
What do I need to do in the motorola programming software and Windows 7 to config the RIM-Maxtrac wit work with Winlink or Vara FM.
_._,_._,_
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Groups.io Links:
Re: Quintron Corporation / Glenayre 70cm pager transmitter & Power Supply. Need info.

 

I may be wrong here, but I recall a lot of problems on Mt. Wilson, and other sites, to broadcast 940 MHz STL's as well as VHF radios from Quintron paging transmitters.? As I recall, it was when drive was removed from them that they would oscillate in the final stage.? The cure was to remove the amplifier's voltage when they were supposed to be off rather than leaving the amplifiers powered up and simply removing drive.

Burt, K6OQK
Windows 7 config

 

What do I need to do in the motorola programming software and Windows 7 to config the RIM-Maxtrac wit work with Winlink or Vara FM.
CSI-32

 

Are there any CSI-32 controller folks on here??? I have the manual but the factory reset is not working.
--
-
Regards, Karl Shoemaker
To contact me, please visit SRG's web site at?
for the current email address.
Quintron Corporation / Glenayre 70cm pager transmitter & Power Supply. Need info.

 

Hi folks, I have a 45w and a 90w 70cm? transmitter and power supply and need manual or any info. See pics.
Google showed install and setup manual for much later (Jan 93) VHF advanced version, but I think too different. QT-4500 series QT-6506 series.
I am only using the last stages of RF section being driven with a? CDM750. It's got a huge fan cooled heat sink to support 100% duty paging service. Running at about 80w and 75 watts out of the duplexer should stay cool.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
Frank N6CES

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Re: VHF MTR2000 Poor Receive Performance

 

That's great news!
On Monday, October 31, 2022, 04:53:56 PM CDT, Jared Smudde <computerwhiz02@...> wrote:


Cavity 1: -23DB Return Loss at Pass Frequency, 0.4DB IL at Pass Frequency, -30DB IL/Notch at Reject Frequency
Cavity 2 (middle cavity): -30DB Return Loss at Pass Frequency, 0.4DB IL at Pass Frequency, -30DB IL/Notch At Reject Frequency
Cavity 3 (closest to antenna port): -29DB Return Loss at Pass Frequency, 0.4DB IL at Pass Frequency, -29DB IL/Notch at Reject Frequency

So I found an old post on the group and found I do indeed have the high split harness. My harness is roughly 12.5 inches center to center of the Tee connectors. So I took 3 Amphenol tees and found some 14 inch RG400 jumpers and cabled it up and got 1.6DB of IL and was getting well over 105DB notch. No weird behavior like I was getting earlier with the high insertion loss and only 2 of the notch screws working. Look like I need a new harness and I should be good to go?

Re: VHF MTR2000 Poor Receive Performance

 

Re: VHF MTR2000 Poor Receive Performance

 

Cavity 1: -23DB Return Loss at Pass Frequency, 0.4DB IL at Pass Frequency, -30DB IL/Notch at Reject Frequency
Cavity 2 (middle cavity): -30DB Return Loss at Pass Frequency, 0.4DB IL at Pass Frequency, -30DB IL/Notch At Reject Frequency
Cavity 3 (closest to antenna port): -29DB Return Loss at Pass Frequency, 0.4DB IL at Pass Frequency, -29DB IL/Notch at Reject Frequency

So I found an old post on the group and found I do indeed have the high split harness. My harness is roughly 12.5 inches center to center of the Tee connectors. So I took 3 Amphenol tees and found some 14 inch RG400 jumpers and cabled it up and got 1.6DB of IL and was getting well over 105DB notch. No weird behavior like I was getting earlier with the high insertion loss and only 2 of the notch screws working. Look like I need a new harness and I should be good to go?
Re: Connecting Yaesu DR2X Repeater to Raspberry Pi/Allstar?

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

On 10/31/2022 10:32 AM, Chris Smart wrote:

Someone asked me yesterday how to connect an Allstar node to a yaesu DR2X repeater, and mentioned they would like something plug-and-play. Is the best option?

That page mentions the DR1X. Will it work as well with the 2X?

?

Do we also need

?

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

?

73,

Chris



"Best" is subjective.?

The problem with that solution currently is some of the required products are unavailable.? The SC-50 and CT-30 are discontinued because the encoder/decoder IC in no longer available.

Many folks are using "just" a RA-DR1X interface by itself with good results since the issues that MABEL corrected are no longer an issue with more recent firmware.

Kevin W3KKC
Re: UHF Cans?

 

On 2022-10-31 3:10 p.m., Jeff DePolo WN3A wrote:
Looks small enough to be UHF. I can verify when I get home tonight.
That would be great! Thanks Jeff.

Tedd, VE3TJD
Re: UHF Cans?

 

Jeff, I've attached a picture of the loop. From the connector
to the end of the loop is 1.25" and about 1/2" wide.
Looks small enough to be UHF. I can verify when I get home tonight.

--- Jeff WN3A



--
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
www.avast.com
Re: VHF MTR2000 Poor Receive Performance

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

No, this doesn¡¯t sound right at all.? There is either something very wrong with one or more of the cavities, the harness, or test equipment.

?

Do this as a sanity check.

?

Take the three cavities on the receive side and disconnect them from the harness. ?Confirm (using the VNA S11, tee, and a quality load) that each has maximum return loss at the desired pass frequency; adjust the pass tuning if necessary.? Then set the notch (S21) to the transmit frequency using the trimmer cap (do not re-adjust pass).? Write down the return loss, insertion loss at pass freq, and insertion loss at reject freq for each of the three.? Report back those nine values.

?

THEN, using three standard tees and two reasonable lengths of quality coax, connect those three cavities together (i.e. do not use the original harness).? Report back what the insertion loss and return loss are at the pass frequency (don¡¯t care about the notch depth since we know the cables aren¡¯t going to be optimum length).

?

Is there any indication that the harness is not original?? A pic is worth a thousand words.

?

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? --- Jeff WN3A

?

?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Jared Smudde
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2022 11:42 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [repeater-builder] VHF MTR2000 Poor Receive Performance

?

I went ahead and tried to work on the receive/high pass side. All 3 cavities were already at their best return loss from when I was working on it the other day. So I went ahead and tuned the notches to a 600KHz split and rotated the loops to get 0.4DB IL per cavity and adjusted the notches back to 600KHz and got 31DB out of the notches. When I called the receive side together, I had almost 7db of insertion loss at the receiver frequency and the notch was way off of where it should have been. Using the notch screws on the 2 cavities closest to the antenna port, I was able to adjust the notch to where it belongs and was getting 90db of notch. However, when I adjusted the 3rd notch screw on the cavity where the receiver connects, all that did was adjust the insertion loss on the pass. I adjusted it to 1.45db of IL and 90db of notch.

Is that right though? I would have expected the 3rd notch screw to also adjust the notch and not the insertion loss on the pass.


Virus-free.
Re: Somewhat OT... imaging a hard drive...

 

You can do the same thing with version 7.?? ebay item 144675644126


On Mon, Oct 31, 2022 at 2:25 PM M M <wa6ilq@...> wrote:
Andy WJ9J wrote:
> For the OP, what was the issue with using Ghost 8 anyway?? It can boot into DOS and backup to any CD / DVD or flash.


Nothing - except that I can't find a copy of Ghost 8.

Jim Aspinwall wrote:

?

>? Just made up two legacy dual-boot DOS and XP laptops for a regional radio shop to keep up service for legacy rigs.?

Which laptop did you use?

I've been using two CF-series Toughbooks for radio programming just because they have a hardware serial port.?

Solves a lot of USB to serial issues.?? I have a CF-27 (288mhz) that boots to MS-DOS (or Win98SE), and a CF30 with 32 bit Win7,
There's a CF29 on the shelf to back up the CF-30.

> Then ask me about USB-RS-232 adapters...

I've had friends that don't have hardware serial ports switch to Mark Dunkle's FTDI cables...
that one step solved a LOT of their radio programming issues.? ()

And for USB debugging situations I pull out a serial adapter with an FTDI chip and individual LEDs for TX and RX ...
Something like this:?

Mike WA6ILQ
Re: Somewhat OT... imaging a hard drive...

 

Andy WJ9J wrote:
> For the OP, what was the issue with using Ghost 8 anyway?? It can boot into DOS and backup to any CD / DVD or flash.


Nothing - except that I can't find a copy of Ghost 8.

Jim Aspinwall wrote:

?

>? Just made up two legacy dual-boot DOS and XP laptops for a regional radio shop to keep up service for legacy rigs.?

Which laptop did you use?

I've been using two CF-series Toughbooks for radio programming just because they have a hardware serial port.?

Solves a lot of USB to serial issues.?? I have a CF-27 (288mhz) that boots to MS-DOS (or Win98SE), and a CF30 with 32 bit Win7,
There's a CF29 on the shelf to back up the CF-30.

> Then ask me about USB-RS-232 adapters...

I've had friends that don't have hardware serial ports switch to Mark Dunkle's FTDI cables...
that one step solved a LOT of their radio programming issues.? ()

And for USB debugging situations I pull out a serial adapter with an FTDI chip and individual LEDs for TX and RX ...
Something like this:? https://www.ebay.com/itm/394119149646

Mike WA6ILQ
Re: Connecting Yaesu DR2X Repeater to Raspberry Pi/Allstar?

Chris Smart
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Thanks Dean.

?

?

?

?

73,

Chris

?

?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dean Martinson
Sent: October 31, 2022 1:56 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [repeater-builder] Connecting Yaesu DR2X Repeater to Raspberry Pi/Allstar?

?

Masters Communication

RA 42

Cable is also on his site as where to get it.

I have done 3 of these.

?

?

Dean

K9QB?

?

On Mon, Oct 31, 2022, 9:32 AM Chris Smart <ve3rwj@...> wrote:

Someone asked me yesterday how to connect an Allstar node to a yaesu DR2X repeater, and mentioned they would like something plug-and-play. Is the best option?

That page mentions the DR1X. Will it work as well with the 2X?

?

Do we also need

?

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

?

73,

Chris

?

?
Re: Connecting Yaesu DR2X Repeater to Raspberry Pi/Allstar?

 

Masters Communication
RA 42
Cable is also on his site as where to get it.
I have done 3 of these.


Dean
K9QB?

On Mon, Oct 31, 2022, 9:32 AM Chris Smart <ve3rwj@...> wrote:

Someone asked me yesterday how to connect an Allstar node to a yaesu DR2X repeater, and mentioned they would like something plug-and-play. Is the best option?

That page mentions the DR1X. Will it work as well with the 2X?

?

Do we also need

?

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

?

73,

Chris

?

?
Re: VHF MTR2000 Poor Receive Performance

 

Would a signal generator set to the notch frequency (maybe set to +10dBm output) and a sensitive receiver tuned to the notch frequency provide a "final fine tuning" capability for the entire cavity network??

?At the notch frequency, the impedances presented to the receiver and signal generator is an "I don't want to calculate it" value,? so 6dB attenuators (more if one can make it work) at the signal generator output and receiver input would probably be a good idea.

Eric

_._,_._,_
Re: VHF MTR2000 Poor Receive Performance

 

Yes, if those are the factory supplied cables (and Tees) and the desired frequency is within the factory specified range then something else is likely the issue. But if, as is common on this group, he's trying to use a set of cavities made for public service down in the ham band then the cables are probably incorrect.

I haven't been paying 100% attention to everything said in this thread. I was generally trying to share some of my own understanding and experience, when making a set of cables for a set of used cavities which did not come with them, with those who might want it. If anything I said was incorrect please illuminate us all.
On Monday, October 31, 2022, 11:29:11 AM CDT, Teton Amateur Radio Repeater Association (TARRA) <tarra@...> wrote:


Sounds to me like you don't know what you are talking about with this
duplexer. Leave the cables alone. This duplexer is designed for the
cables to be used for the full frequency range specified for this duplexer.

Mick - W7CAT

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bradley Andrews via groups.io"
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2022 10:12:44 AM
Subject: Re: [repeater-builder] VHF MTR2000 Poor Receive Performance

>
> Sounds to me like your inter-cavity cables aren't close enough to the
right length.
>
> You probably already know this but I'll state it for those who might
not:
> The reason the cable length is pretty critical for proper performance
is the impedance transformation property of a 1/4 wavelength line. OK
that's the general statement but here's the detail:
>
> If you look at an individual cavity on a VNA, you'll see the expected
50 ohm sweet spot at the pass frequency. The RF flowing in the 50 ohm
cable passes through with no reflection. But at the notch frequency, it
will be very close to a perfect short or a perfect open. (Which it is
depends on the design of the notch mechanism on the cavity and whether
the notch is above or below the pass freq.)
>
> For the sake of our example, let's assume that your cavity exhibits a
short at the notch freq.
>
> That 1/4 wave cable between cavities transforms that short so that at
the other cavity it looks like almost an open circuit. But the other
cavity is also presenting a short-circuit impedance - being driven by
the open circuit impedance at the cable. So the mismatch is about as
perfect as you can get (or you can also say, the match is about as
imperfect as you can get) and very, very little energy gets transferred.
That's why a set of cavities with the correct cable lengths shows a
greater notch depth than the sum of the individual cavities. Those
additional mismatches contribute significantly to the notch depth.
>
> Back to your case: The approx. 90 dB notch depth you're measuring is
only the sum of the cavities' individual notches. You're not benefitting
from the cable mismatches.
>
> As many have alluded to, unfortunately it's not as easy as just
cutting a set of 1/4 wave cables. There is a certain small but
significant amount of 'effective length' in the coupling loop, whose
effective amount varies with the coupling set and the notch spacing. So
your cables are going to be shorter than 1/4 wave from connector to
connector - the rest of the 1/4 wave is 'absorbed' in the coupling loop.
>
> If you're very clever you could probably measure the reactances at
the notches with your VNA then calculate how short to cut your cables.
That will give you some idea what ballpark you're in. I've tried to do
that and either I wasn't quite clever enough or Murphy was having his
fun that day (probably both) and I still had to resort to 'empirical'
methods to find the optimum cable length.
>
> I sure learned a lot though!
>
> 73
> Brad KB9BPF
> On Monday, October 31, 2022, 10:42:22 AM CDT, Jared Smudde wrote:
>
> I went ahead and tried to work on the receive/high pass side. All 3
cavities were already at their best return loss from when I was working
on it the other day. So I went ahead and tuned the notches to a 600KHz
split and rotated the loops to get 0.4DB IL per cavity and adjusted the
notches back to 600KHz and got 31DB out of the notches. When I called
the receive side together, I had almost 7db of insertion loss at the
receiver frequency and the notch was way off of where it should have
been. Using the notch screws on the 2 cavities closest to the antenna
port, I was able to adjust the notch to where it belongs and was getting
90db of notch. However, when I adjusted the 3rd notch screw on the
cavity where the receiver connects, all that did was adjust the
insertion loss on the pass. I adjusted it to 1.45db of IL and 90db of
notch.
>
> Is that right though? I would have expected the 3rd notch screw to
also adjust the notch and not the insertion loss on the pass.
>
>
>
>
>
>
--
Untitled Document
Re: VHF MTR2000 Poor Receive Performance

 

Good point, Eric.

When I was messing around with cavities I found best results when I cranked the VNA's source power up all the way. I don't remember but I think it went to something like +10 or +15 dBm. I think default was around 0 dBm so that gave me an extra 10 - 15 dB of measurement range.

73
Brad
On Monday, October 31, 2022, 11:25:01 AM CDT, Eric <vzwengr@...> wrote:


Is a notch depth greater than 90bB exceeding the capabilities of the test equipment?

Eric
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