Are Quantar Modules Plug n Play?
Friends,
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I have a Quantar that has VHF R2 modules.? I would like to try a VHF R1 Module in it.? Seems unlikely, but is it as simple as powering down and swapping the modules?
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Thanks!
Jeff KC8VFN
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Re: another RSS question...
On Mon, Mar 17, 2025 at 02:23 PM, dsay2001 wrote:
Hi Folks.
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Has anyone used RSS in a virtual machine?
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I've got RSS 3.03.03, running in a 32bit WinXP under Oracle VirtualBox, inside Win10. I can read the station, it gets to 100% and then hangs, just the hourglass.
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I can read all of the Service data.
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I understand there may be issues when writing to the station, but I'll cross that proverbial bridge when I get there...
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Thanks.
Don W7OXR
An acquaintance has a few GM300s as control receivers on his repeaters (MTR and Quantar). ?
He used to haul around a Toughbook for radio programming and a Toshiba laptop that
booted into MS-DOS just for the GM300s.
Now he has DOSbox-X on his Toughbook and uses it to run the GM300 RSS.
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It works well.
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Re: Motorola R100 eeproms or lack of them
Pinari,
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I'm going back decades here, but this is what I remember:
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As others have pointed out, the R100 repeater is based on European mobiles that have much in common with (but are not identical to) the Motorola Maxtrac line.? Hardware is different for analog PL and digital PL, so check what you've got carefully.? As I recall they can be converted back and forth if you are strong technically.? Melted down PAs are fairly common on these, but as I recall, the PA from a UHF Maxtrac mobile fits just fine.
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They are programmed with a DOS program and a special cable, not the normal RIB.? Early versions of the programming software had to read a valid EEPROM before allowing reprogramming, but later software versions could start with a blank or corrupt EEPROM.? The software also has to be hacked to allow 440 ham band frequencies, but I've probably still got it around here - likely on a 3.5 inch floppy disk.? I'll see if I can find it and the schematic for the cable.? If I have it, I'll send you a PM.
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Good luck here - Kurt
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Re: Manual Channel Selection on a Quantar Station
Or you can buy the Northcomm plug in controller and select up to 15 channels remotely via DTMF. https://northcommtechnologies.com/collections/quantar-external-control-module/products/quantar-external-control-module
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Re: Manual Channel Selection on a Quantar Station
Wire a 16ch BCD switch to inputs 1 through 4 on the 50 pin and I forget if the switch grounds them or if you pull them high but I can check if needed. Then you need some wildcard instructions to tell the station to switch to a particular channel when the inputs change state. Then program the station with different channels and you can change frequencies or change power levels, PL tones or anything you can dream up. You can select up to 15 channels.
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Manual Channel Selection on a Quantar Station
Channel selection on my MSF5000 station is easily accomplished from the from panel, but that does not seem to be the case on a Quantar.? How is it done?
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Thanks!
Jeff KC8VFN
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Re: Motorola Quantar 5MHz Reference Ultra High Stability Oscillator CLN1477A
Hi Chris,
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I was thinking about buying one, but it isn't' clear to me now that there would any value added for a VHF station (which is all I have).? It seems like the Quantar instructions manual I have is rather vague on most things so I'm still not sure.? I do have a GPSDO in my repeater lab.? And I have a small rubidium standard I can carry about with me.? Recommendations welcome.
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Thanks!
Jeff
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Re: Recommended coax and retailer
Have you tried some of the local ham radio swap meets? There is often lengths of LDF4-50A with connectors for sale cheap.?
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Re: Mtr2000 blinking red then solid red
Did you save the original codeplug? If so, I would start with reloading that.
So after the fiasco with the blue mad cable which never worked for me btw, had a chance to program the mtr2000. It’s an uhf station 40 watt and it was originally all green when I first got it. Read the file and saved it. Now when I program it goes into a boot loop of sort and then eventually goes red.? just nice have I managed to get all green but lost it. The error log says I have an error but new to this platform I am unsure.   
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Re: Motorola R100 eeproms or lack of them
The boards are from the German made MC Micro series. ?
They are, in fact, mobile radios repurposed to be a repeater, whether you’ve seen one, or not. ?
I hope that helps,
Will
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On Mar 21, 2025, at 9:05?PM, Mike via groups.io <prcradio@...> wrote:
? I had a couple of R-100 repeaters and they appear to have specific designed tx and rx boards and not from any mobile I've seen. The repeater is also programmed by software and not EEPROMS, I have the software somewhere and maybe even a programming cable but its been a good 30yrs since I've worked on one.?
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Re: Motorola Quantar 5MHz Reference Ultra High Stability Oscillator CLN1477A
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On Fri, Mar 21, 2025 at 8:22?PM Jeff Acree via <locustpointlight= [email protected]> wrote: Are the subject modules of any value for HAM use on VHF Analog Quantar repeaters?
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Re: Recommended coax and retailer
I've been very satisfied in my dealings with Davis RF.
Dan, W1CDT
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Re: Motorola R100 eeproms or lack of them
Sadly, WA1MIK is a silent key so I doubt the “make-cp” program is available. ? The data in the eeproms on the R100 is very, very susceptible to being corrupted if using too fast of a DOS computer and 30 years ago if you hosed one up the only way to get the station back on the air was to purchase a blank (preformatted) eeprom from Motorola in order to reprogram the radio.? The R100 requires (1) eeprom for transmit data and (1) eeprom for receive data and each eeprom must be initialize with a unique data string that is different depending on if the radio is a PL or DPL model.? I am assuming that is what the make-cp program does. ? Somewhere in my archives I made a copy of the “blank” eeproms that I had to order from Motorola for a customer many years ago but doubt I could find them now. ? Andy / NC4AB ? ? ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Pienari via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2025 4:07 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [repeater-builder] Motorola R100 eeproms or lack of them? I have examined the radio and it appears that the original (codeplug) eeprom has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced with a 24C01 or 24C02 serial eeprom chip. WA1MIK has made a program that can write eeprom data to the M100 radio but apparently the program is not publicly available anywhere?.
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Re: Motorola R100 eeproms or lack of them
Hi.
I have examined the radio and it appears that the original (codeplug) eeprom has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced with a 24C01 or 24C02 serial eeprom chip.
WA1MIK has made a program that can write eeprom data to the M100 radio but apparently the program is not publicly available anywhere?.
https://www.repeater-builder.com/motorola/r100/r100-eeprom.html
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Recommended coax and retailer
Hi,
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As I continue the work on my local VHF repeater, I'm looking for some hardline for a 50' run. Right now, I'm looking at LDF4-50A from ABR. Does anyone have any experience with them or have any other recommended retailers??
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Best,
Sepehr N6IRN
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Re: Motorola Quantar 5MHz Reference Ultra High Stability Oscillator CLN1477A
900 Quantars require one (though Mike's correct, a generic GPSDO is cheaper and achieves the same thing)
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Re: Motorola R100 eeproms or lack of them
Actually, I've veen running an R100 repeater as an Allstar node continuously for over 15 years...of course, it's turned down to less than 1w and I disabled the internal PS a decade ago. Also, it's a good job I haven't needed to reprogram it in all that time because I expect I'd be SOL. If someone ever finds that standalone program to make codeplugs, I'd be interested, too...
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Bob
KK6RQ
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Sorry, I haven't assigned one yet.?
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Mtr2000 blinking red then solid red
So after the fiasco with the blue mad cable which never worked for me btw, had a chance to program the mtr2000. It’s an uhf station 40 watt and it was originally all green when I first got it. Read the file and saved it. Now when I program it goes into a boot loop of sort and then eventually goes red.? just nice have I managed to get all green but lost it. The error log says I have an error but new to this platform I am unsure.   
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Re: Motorola R100 eeproms or lack of them
My R-100 experience wasn't a good one either, a local ham brought me one that blew a fuse while operating in his garage.
I found a fuse blown figured it was the electrolytics that failed so ordered new ones and installed them.
After more smoke, I discovered the bridge rectifier was shorted.? A LOW duty design for sure!
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Chris Boone WB5ITT
Andy Brinkley
Brandon DX