So, Chris, I gather, the newer units can work without a ST as well? (with the mods, of course). Newer is better for me :) -- - Regards, Karl Shoemaker To contact me, please visit SRG's web site at? for the current email address. Chris Baldwin
Karl,
Correct. Those are the GE comparators. These are the newer units that are black in color and have updated cards with LEDs on them. The older units are gray in color and have cards with incandescent lamps on them.
I personally wouldn't pay more than about $150-200 for one of them.
Chris
--
Chris Baldwin, CETSr. (KF6AJM)
Trustee - MetroNET Cal. Intertie (KB3PX)
|
At one time, they were made of plastic.
I've seen several of the plastic ones that came installed in
manufactured buildings.
Jim W7RY
On 11/24/2022 6:23 PM, John Huggins
wrote:
I saw the?note from Dan about port entry techniques in
another thread.? Do I recall correctly these used to be made
from copper?? R56 doesn't seem to suggest aluminum for this
purpose, but it's been a while since my last read.
So if Tessco makes these entry port devices?of aluminum,
what can you all suggest for grounding?this panel to the site
grounding system... or does this simply?float leaving the task
of cable grounding?to other devices?
John
On Thu, Nov 24, 2022 at
12:31 PM Dan Woodie < kc8zum@...>
wrote:
Below is a 2-port 4"
entry port I used at my repeater site.? Use a masonry hole
saw to cut the holes then mount and seal this plate.? Get
cushions appropriate for the cable size and number of cables
used.? Below are some examples.
--
Thanks and 73, Jim W7RY
|
Where we haven't had room to install a cable port entry we have used a waterproof Cable Gland. See the below link for photo of what they look like.
They can be mounted on a small square piece of aluminum plate stock. You end up with sort of a mini cable port entry that is waterproof (and rodent/insect proof too).
They come in metal and plastic. We have used the metal ones.
<>
Joe
|
Re: 2022 Update - Favorite hardware/SIM option for data/telemetry?
Hello Matt, thanks for that very informative post. I help maintain a multi site UHF repeater network which is mostly linked via RF but some sites are AllStar. The hardware and Olivia service you describe may be just the thing for a couple of locations that need a connection but I haven't found a "cheap ham" way of making it happen. Till now :)
Thanks!
|
Re: any motorola cabinet keys for sale?
On my old radio key ring I have a C2160.
I don't recall what it fits.
Hello Group,
I have a "2131" key. Could not find it on the list. As I recall, it was with some hamfest treasures forty years ago. Motorola??
73 de Tim
AE7TH
|
I saw the?note from Dan about port entry techniques in another thread.? Do I recall correctly these used to be made from copper?? R56 doesn't seem to suggest aluminum for this purpose, but it's been a while since my last read.
So if Tessco makes these entry port devices?of aluminum, what can you all suggest for grounding?this panel to the site grounding system... or does this simply?float leaving the task of cable grounding?to other devices?
John
On Thu, Nov 24, 2022 at 12:31 PM Dan Woodie < kc8zum@...> wrote: Below is a 2-port 4" entry port I used at my repeater site.? Use a masonry hole saw to cut the holes then mount and seal this plate.? Get cushions appropriate for the cable size and number of cables used.? Below are some examples.
|
BLACK FRIDAY SIMPLEX NODE / REPEATER SALE
Hi Everyone! I am doing a Black Friday through Cyber Monday sale of AllStar Link / EchoLink Repeaters, Simplex Nodes, and APRS I-GATES at .
The sale ranges up to 30% off and includes
- VHF Repeaters /Simplex Nodes
- UHF Repeaters / Simplex Nodes
- VHF APRS I-GATE/DIGI
Please visit to access all of the deals. It opens tomorrow morning at 7AM Central Time, and will remain open until Cyber Monday at midnight or until I run out of inventory.
(Raspberry pi inventory is short due to chip shortage)
Demo of the simplex node:
Happy Thanksgiving,
Skyler W0SKY
|
Re: any motorola cabinet keys for sale?
The 2131 is a Chicago Lock key code.
Motorola is not the only user of Chicago Locks.
So this could be for another user of Chicago Lock.
73
Glenn
WB4UIV
On 11/24/2022 12:26 PM, Chris Boone
wrote:
I've never heard of a 2131 but I do have a 2253 if
I recall correctly. It was a rare bird and only opened up
certain Motorola cabinets.. The 2553 was the more common one for
the older upright jobs. I wouldn't be surprised if there was
some other offbeat versions out there
On Thu, Nov 24, 2022, 10:24 AM
TIM HARDY < w7trh@...>
wrote:
Hello Group,
I have a "2131" key. Could not find it on the list. As I
recall, it was with some hamfest treasures forty years ago.
Motorola??
73 de Tim
AE7TH
> On 11/24/2022 8:06 AM K8TB <k8tb@...>
wrote:
>
>?
> Folks,
>
> You know when a website has dotted all the dots, when
they have an
> article, (needed), that explains just keys.
>
>? ??? ??? This is simply put, awesome!
>
> To all of you, even though I've been in this hobby for 55
years, and put
> my first repeater on the air at the age of 18 (over five
decades ago), I
> have learned so much from the folks on this site, and
from the repeater
> builder web site. Yes, we should be thankful for our
families, jobs and
> homes, but having a group like this gives me just that
much more
> knowledge to help out my local amateur radio community.
>
> This is a wonderful group of people, and I thank you you
all.
>
> Tom Bosscher K8TB
>
>
>
>
> On 11/23/2022 10:56 PM, Kevin Custer wrote:
> >
> > Corrected the last entry - and here's everything
you'd want to know
> > about radio locks and keys:
> >
> >
> >
> > Kevin W3KKC
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Glenn Little ARRL Technical Specialist QCWA LM 28417
Amateur Callsign: WB4UIV wb4uiv@... AMSAT LM 2178
QTH: Goose Creek, SC USA (EM92xx) USSVI, FRA, NRA-LM ARRL TAPR
"It is not the class of license that the Amateur holds but the class
of the Amateur that holds the license"
|
FS: MTR2000 Repeater Interface PC Board
I have 2 unpopulated PC boards from Sierra Radio used to interface with a MTR2000.? The connectors are not soldered to the board yet.
I don't have a schematic or parts list available for the PC board.? Sierra Radio should be able to supply this?
$29.00 including Priority Mail shipping.
|
These are 100% totally overboard for a home.
Use a 2" pvc conduit sleeve (or large enough to pass your current
and future needs) through the wall of you home.
73, Jim W7RY
On 11/24/2022 11:31 AM, Dan Woodie
wrote:
Don't ever use that garbage.? Buy proper entry port, cushions, and
boots.? They are readily available from Tessco.? Below is a 2-port
4" entry port I used at my repeater site.? Use a masonry hole saw
to cut the holes then mount and seal this plate.? Get cushions
appropriate for the cable size and number of cables used.? Below
are some examples.? Remember you should have a ground kit on each
cable outside of this port bonded to your EGB and a PolyPhaser on
the inside bonded to your MBB/MGB - so installing this should be
as easy as pushing 1 ft of cable through the port, installing the
cushion and boot, tightening it up, and connecting the coax to the
PolyPhaser.? Make sure you leave the provided rubber port covers
on any unused entry ports.? Whatever you do, DO NOT do the hack
thing and try to turn a port cover into a boot/cushion.? I have
seen this too many times when idiots take a utility knife and just
cut a hole - then they may try to seal it with Butyl which dries
out and falls off over time.? None of this stuff is that expensive
- just buy the right parts.
Dan Woodie, CETsr
KC8ZUM
--
Thanks and 73, Jim W7RY
|
In my opinion...
NO!
That's what calking is for.
These things have horrible return loss figures.
73, Jim W7RY
On 11/24/2022 10:38 AM, Lewis Horn
wrote:
Is it better to use a bulkhead like this to run cable through
concrete block or run a tube with heliax? ?We are in an area where
we have small critter problems like lizards and mice.
Thanks and Happy turkey day!!!!
KD6YTS?
--
Thanks and 73, Jim W7RY
|
Re: any motorola cabinet keys for sale?
sp? Southern Pacific?
That's what comes to mind to this old RR tech. Did you mean 'special'?
73, Nate, N0NB
--
"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true."
Web:
Projects:
GPG fingerprint: 82D6 4F6B 0E67 CD41 F689 BBA6 FB2C 5130 D55A 8819
|
Re: any motorola cabinet keys for sale?
A lot of tower companies are banning cabinets altogether to keep people from "sneaking" in more radios.? Some radios
actually depended on the cabinet to limit oscillator leakage.? A certain tower co. did an inspection after buying out
another and found radios not listed and won lawsuit for thousands in back rent and kicked out all associated with the
group.? Make sure you have paper.
Occasionally, mot would use a different key for some big sp customer.? Note that Chicago Lock made locks for many
customers and uses.
Back in the day, the on-call kit had 2 ea 1 foot diameter key rings with many smaller key rings on them, along with 2 big
10 inch thick binders with sp instructions codes combos and key #s.? Way too much to keep track of.? Imagine going
through all of them to try to access a failed radio.
|
Hello Lewis,
Do not use those "connectors" on anything above HF if at all.? They are a waste of good money!? We purchased an assortment of the various lengths.? Ran them through the RF lab and found them to be so bad we tossed them in the junk.? We cut one of the short ones up and found a spring connecting the two center pins!?
If it's not Amphenol, Kings, etc. I don't use it!? Save your radio finals, use good connectors.? I also do not use UHF connectors on anything if I can help it.? Too lossy, poor connection, etc.? I use N or better at home.
A PVC rain tight box outside with a PVC pipe through the wall to another PVC pull box inside with Poly-phasers as others have suggested is highly recommended.? Ground rods outside with each cable grounded to as others have recommended is the way to go especially since you live in Florida where lightning is the heaviest in the world!?? You can also put the Poly-phasers in the outside pull box on a copper busbar and eliminate the inside box.? Just bring in a heavy ground line too and ground all your equipment to it.? A short busbar with a dozen or so holes works great.? All depends on the size of your station and the number of antennas.
DX engineering has everything you need.? Their PCV boxes, ground bars, lightning arrestors, etc are of high quality and have reasonable prices.? If you know someone with a commercial account with Tessco or Hutton better yet.
Do it right, do it once.? Not to mention protect your equipment and house from lightning as much as possible!? And if it looks good, the XYL may not mind it too!
73, Shanon KA8SPW
On Thu, Nov 24, 2022 at 11:38 AM Lewis Horn < hornl@...> wrote: Is it better to use a bulkhead like this to run cable through concrete block or run a tube with heliax?? We are in an area where we have small critter problems like lizards and mice.
Thanks and Happy turkey day!!!!
|
When in the cell industry, the cell sites used the large hole bulkhead entry points for the coax and GPS cables.? One of the ports at one cell site did not have the boot on it and I had the <redacted> scared out of me when I opened the building's door and a bird flew into my face.?
After that, to keep the critters out, a 'critter proof' expanding foam (bought at Granger, but i've seen it at the big box home improvement stores as well) was squirted into the bulkhead "pipe" after the cables were installed, and then the boot placed over that. The foam wasn't too bad to remove if the cable needed to be changed.
Eric WB6TIX
|
Well, I feel silly. I only looked at the pic of the eBay listing and ASSumed those were UHF bulkheads. After I sent the email I went to close the eBay browser window and saw they say they are type N, not UHF. I've never seen, let alone measured, an extended-length type N bulkhead like that; lacking any data I'd stay away from them. I'm quite certain that none of the well-known and reputable manufacturers make extended-length type N bulkheads.
--- Jeff WN3A
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf
Of Jeff DePolo WN3A
Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2022 12:42 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [repeater-builder] Bulkheads
Is it better to use a bulkhead like this to run cable through concrete block or run a tube with heliax?
You didn't say what the intended use was (HF rig, VHF/UHF rig, repeater,
???), but generally speaking, you do NOT want to use any kind of extended-
length UHF bulkhead feedthrough like that. The impedance of any "UHF"
device is quite a ways off 50 ohms, typically in the 30-40 ohm range
depending on dielectric. A 4-inch bulkhead would effectively be a 35 ohm Q-
section on 440 - your 50 ohm antenna would become a 25 ohm load (2:1
VSWR) as seen by your radio.
Again, I don't know all of the details of your installation, but my first instinct
whenever running cables through a wall is to use a Microflect port...
--- Jeff WN3A
--
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
www.avast.com
|
Is it better to use a bulkhead like this to run cable through concrete block or run a tube with heliax? You didn't say what the intended use was (HF rig, VHF/UHF rig, repeater, ???), but generally speaking, you do NOT want to use any kind of extended-length UHF bulkhead feedthrough like that. The impedance of any "UHF" device is quite a ways off 50 ohms, typically in the 30-40 ohm range depending on dielectric. A 4-inch bulkhead would effectively be a 35 ohm Q-section on 440 - your 50 ohm antenna would become a 25 ohm load (2:1 VSWR) as seen by your radio. Again, I don't know all of the details of your installation, but my first instinct whenever running cables through a wall is to use a Microflect port... --- Jeff WN3A -- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. www.avast.com
|
Don't ever use that garbage.? Buy proper entry port, cushions, and boots.? They are readily available from Tessco.? Below is a 2-port 4" entry port I used at my repeater site.? Use a masonry hole saw to cut the holes then mount and seal this plate.? Get cushions appropriate for the cable size and number of cables used.? Below are some examples.? Remember you should have a ground kit on each cable outside of this port bonded to your EGB and a PolyPhaser on the inside bonded to your MBB/MGB - so installing this should be as easy as pushing 1 ft of cable through the port, installing the cushion and boot, tightening it up, and connecting the coax to the PolyPhaser.? Make sure you leave the provided rubber port covers on any unused entry ports.? Whatever you do, DO NOT do the hack thing and try to turn a port cover into a boot/cushion.? I have seen this too many times when idiots take a utility knife and just cut a hole - then they may try to seal it with Butyl which dries out and falls off over time.? None of this stuff is that expensive - just buy the right parts.
Dan Woodie, CETsr
KC8ZUM
|
Lewis,
You can cut a hole in the concrete (I assume you are talking about the foundation)? then install ABS pipe, which is rugged.
If the wife objects on the color, and you want to use the white PVC use the heavy thickness of schedule 40 or 80.? A third choice is the "gray stuff" electrical pipe, again use the heavy thickness type.
I've done all three type and settled on the later, because of it's neutral color.? My wife does not care on the color.
Next, seal the (little) space between the pipe's outer surface and the concrete walls (hole).? When you have installed all the lines you can seal it with foam (cheap) way or the correct way are "donuts" around the lines.
There's a lot of slang around the amateur community.? "Heliax" is just a brand of hard-line so be aware there are other ones out there.?? Full copper jacket is all well and fine, but sounds like a little overkill for your station at home???
Unless you are concerned about coupling from one line to another.?? With that thought in mind how many line runs are you planning?
As with any install, plan ahead for expansion. It's like a hard drive, if you think you need a 100GB, get a 200. ?
If you are following R-56 standards and want surge protection you can install protectors, called SPDs (surge protection device) and there are different brands out there.? ?
The line would come into the house/shop and within a few inches install the SPDs. Also, they need to be grounded to something well.? Don't rely on water pipes and such.??
Lighting protection is the process of "managing" a million volts down to a few kilovolts; something you can work with.? You want all the equipment to rise and fall at the same potential.? This is speaking in a few microseconds.
There are other points to ground from the tower, but it's in the manual.
That's the short story; the R-56 manual is huge and could take you a year to understand however it's the world standard on this subject.
I hope that helps.
--
-
Regards, Karl Shoemaker
To contact me, please visit SRG's web site at?
for the current email address.
|
Re: any motorola cabinet keys for sale?
I've never heard of a 2131 but I do have a 2253 if I recall correctly. It was a rare bird and only opened up certain Motorola cabinets.. The 2553 was the more common one for the older upright jobs. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some other offbeat versions out there
On Thu, Nov 24, 2022, 10:24 AM TIM HARDY < w7trh@...> wrote: Hello Group,
I have a "2131" key. Could not find it on the list. As I recall, it was with some hamfest treasures forty years ago. Motorola??
73 de Tim
AE7TH
> On 11/24/2022 8:06 AM K8TB <k8tb@...> wrote:
>
>?
> Folks,
>
> You know when a website has dotted all the dots, when they have an
> article, (needed), that explains just keys.
>
>? ??? ??? This is simply put, awesome!
>
> To all of you, even though I've been in this hobby for 55 years, and put
> my first repeater on the air at the age of 18 (over five decades ago), I
> have learned so much from the folks on this site, and from the repeater
> builder web site. Yes, we should be thankful for our families, jobs and
> homes, but having a group like this gives me just that much more
> knowledge to help out my local amateur radio community.
>
> This is a wonderful group of people, and I thank you you all.
>
> Tom Bosscher K8TB
>
>
>
>
> On 11/23/2022 10:56 PM, Kevin Custer wrote:
> >
> > Corrected the last entry - and here's everything you'd want to know
> > about radio locks and keys:
> >
> >
> >
> > Kevin W3KKC
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
|
Karl Shoemaker
Chris Boone WB5ITT