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Date

Re: Hamtronics, and diverging....

 

I was going to purchase some Hamtronics equipment, then I saw what you wrote
about it.

What is your opinion on the equipment? Are there negative write ups
that you
can point me to so I can read about the stuff?
I use a Hamtronics R-220 receiver here on my 224.66Mhz repeater and it
works OK. But, just OK, nothing special. You also have to remember that
it is located here at my house and does not have to compete with much other
interference or overload.

I bought my R-220 used about 10 years ago. At that time, 220 equipment was
hard to come by and some of the commercial 220 conversions were not
developed yet (or, not publicized as we can now do on the Internet). My
choice now would be to convert a commercial piece of gear. Or, buy one
already converted if you are weak at heart to delve into the circuitry. If
you do decide to do the conversion and are new at it, I suggest you buy two
radios. One to use for spare parts in the future. They are usually not
very expensive.

About the only place I feel Hamtronics has a place is possibly on 222Mhz.
And, that's only if you don't want to do some of the semi-difficult mods to
a piece of commercial gear. You will have a "fair" repeater that will work
OK at your house. Anything more than those expectations and you will
probably be disappointed.

I have a lot of other Hamtronics stuff laying around here. But, it's old
controller stuff. Before the days of cheap microprocessor controllers,
Hamtronics was the easiest way to go to build controllers, phone patches,
etc. But. those days are long gone. I don't for see a long future for
Hamtronics, unfortunately.

73, Joe K1IKE


Re: A Challenge.. / and another with a Mitrek

Joe Orrico WB6HRO
 

--
One more quick thing on a Mitrek. I have one on 440 I duplexed that is
deaf as a stump until the TX comes up. Then, the sensitivity is great!
As soon as the tail drops, it goes back to being deaf. Here's the
kicker: it ONLY does it when connected to the duplexer. It works
flawless if I connect the RX to an IFR to test the sensitivity. Deaf in
this case is 'you have to find the right spot to key it with the HT
on-site!' Sooo... any ideas out there???

Joe M.

Sounds the the diode that must be removed to keep the voltage on the rx is
not correct, would suspect that rx voltage is not right during normal rx
function. We have been using about 10 Mitreks for link radios on our 220
system.

Joe WB6HRO


Re: Repeater-builder: Why?

Theodore M Leonard
 

Hi Chuk

As you can see from the date,I am behind in my e-mail but I agree.
best 73 Ted

Chukgleasn@... wrote:

From: Chukgleasn@...

I swear, after all the time and grief various people put into repeaters,
between the kerchunkers, the noise bursts, the lids, the fights for space,
the audio troubles, the attempts to run things on a shoestring instead of real
money, the neat gizmos to hang off the repeater and controller, voters, links,
programming controllers, phone patches, having to move for various reasons,
co-channel machines and users, (both legit and of the "I'm gonna put a
repeater on this pair, go ahead and try and stop me" kind who know better, but
don't care to be a good neighbor), the space they take up in your
basement/garage/whatever, ....

I figured out today why we do this thing called repeaters.

It's so we can always have something to play with.

Now, granted, right now I'm physically tired out after caffeine -induced
insomnia, so it sounds like sour grapes. But tomorrow, it'll be :

"The reason we do this thing called repeaters is so that we can always have
something to play with!! Yeah!!! Life is great!!!!"

Chuk Gleason
KB4MDZ

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Re: A Challenge..

Joe Orrico WB6HRO
 

From: Chukgleasn@...

OK, everyone, where are the real RF Hackers?


Here's the challenge:

Develop some new ways to build 220MHz repeaters.

Well Chuk there are several things that don't make alot of sense. First if I
can buy a G.E. Master II or MVP for $20-30 and mod it for 220, my only
challenge is to build a 10 - 15 watt PA. I have used the 220 brick from RF
Parts and didn't use a circuit board, just a solder type terminal strip and
UT-141 hardline to and from the terminal strip. So with the brick and the
xtals you have about $100 in it.

Newer radios cost alot more and where is the gain in perfromance?

My 2 cents worth anyway. We have about 6 220 MVP's at high density sites in
the L.A. Basin.

de Joe Orrico WB6HRO


Re: A Challenge.. / and another with a Mitrek

mch
 

Chukgleasn@... wrote:

How about some newer equipment? Say, Mitrek VHF.
What's the next newer GE model?
I believe that would be the Delta, Delta-S, then Delta-SX (those are
respectively crystal controlled, synthesized and wideband synthesized
units) The -S would obviously be a better choice than the -SX for
repeater use. BUT, if I recall correctly, virtually anything after the
Micor/M-II era is rated at a poor duty cycle. (Except for the continuous
duty repeaters, of course, that are still >$1K)

As far as non-repeater use, I saw (@ Dayton a few years ago) someone
with a 220 MHz GE MPA or MPD - I forget which. Anyway, I asked him how
hard it was to convert, and he said a conversion would be very
difficult. I mentioned that he seemed to have done it, and was told that
it was produced that way from scratch. It seems he had the fortune of
working at Lynchburg. (GE HQ if you don't know that) The radio was a
prototype of a model that 'never would make production'. Lucky duck...

Now, as for the comment about using newer /\/\ and GE/EGE radios for
synthesized remote bases, I've heard a lot of people saying how it could
be done with Syntors and such, but nobody seems to have the time to do
it. :(( A Rangr or Maxtrac or Maratrac would make a kick-butt remote
base! 8] All it takes is someone to capture and analyze a programming
dump to the radio. The stored files (at least for the GEs) are simple
hex conversions. If the dump is a pure dump of the file, that should be
easy. /\/\ on the other hand has to confirm the model, S/N or what have
you before dumping the data. We need a unit like the one GLB made that
synthesized Micors - only processor based. It's probably infringing on
some copyright, I suppose... (sigh)

One more quick thing on a Mitrek. I have one on 440 I duplexed that is
deaf as a stump until the TX comes up. Then, the sensitivity is great!
As soon as the tail drops, it goes back to being deaf. Here's the
kicker: it ONLY does it when connected to the duplexer. It works
flawless if I connect the RX to an IFR to test the sensitivity. Deaf in
this case is 'you have to find the right spot to key it with the HT
on-site!' Sooo... any ideas out there???

Joe M.


New GE & Motorola lists

Kevin K. Custer W3KKC
 

Since the email reflectors at QTH.net do not allow Html and
attachments, I started a new email list for each. Some of you are
already subscribed......thanks.

For the Hardcore Motorola enthusiast, Go to


For the Hardcore GE or Ericsson enthusiast, Go to


Kevin


Re: Hamtronics, and diverging....

Kevin K. Custer W3KKC
 

Chukgleasn@... wrote:

From: Chukgleasn@...

This was posted to me privately, and I thought after I started my reply I
would send it on to the list......
-=============================
Hello:

I was going to purchase some Hamtronics equipment, then I saw what you wrote
about it.

What is your opinion on the equipment? Are there negative write ups that you
can point me to so I can read about the stuff?

I have not heard much negative about the equipment, but then I might have not
talked to the right people.

Thank You
D.L. Hogdon
======================================

Well, I've never had the joy of doing anything Hamtronics. Looked at them
longingly before I got into the professional two-way field, as a cheap way to
put up a repeater. Lots of people in the listserver or other places will
laugh at them tho. One in particular is Chris Boone, WB5ITT. He'll recommend
a converted two-way radio in a heartbeat. Then again, he's been doing this
stuff since, it seems, Christ was a corporal...

I also don't know how far back the onelist archives go - if they're
significant size, you might look in there. Otherwise, email Chris - he posts
to the various reflectors often enough.

I guess now that I've been thinking about it while writing this reply, I might
sum it up like this: 1) Hamtronics equipment probably costs as much as or
more than 'salvaged' two-way. And salvaged two-way you have to find a place
to salvage from and get service literature, etc. A job in itself, that
Hamtronics, et al. lets you take care of by just opening your wallet to them.
You do get the satisfaction of building it yourself.
2) The designs are probably a little long in the tooth - on the old side, not
much in the way of new or uniqueness. On the other hand, that might mean
stable< ; why mess with a thing that works?
3) Any number of other reasons that people on the list might post. Hey! How
about FAQ re. buy/build decisions, etc.?
For my unsolicited opinion on Hamtronics,
Go here

Kevin


Re: A Challenge..

Kevin K. Custer W3KKC
 

Jon Pearl W4ABC wrote:


The radio was expensive and probably over built for the times. Long ago
when the Japanese started kicking our collective asses, Motorolover had to
make some tough decisions. The answer came in the form of radios like the
Mitrek and beyond.

Makes a good remote base or linking radio, but there are so many other
designs (READ Micor) out there more suitable for repeater service, why
bother with looking for something different for the sake of something
different?

Jon Pearl
W4ABC
I have to agree with Jon,
When Motorola designed and built the Micor, they employed the best engineers
that money could buy. This radio was developed as a part of Motorola's
commitment to Americas Space Program. Money was not an object. I have peckered
around with a lot of equipment, both older and new. The Micor line will either
hold it's own or simply blow away the newer technology. I had recently had a
chance to do some work on a newer Motorola MSF line repeater, their newer
synthesized stuff. The Micor's specs, (over 30 years older in technology) simply
blows away the receiver sensitivity. Why? The Micor was intended to work on a
very narrow band from where it is tuned. Performance drops rapidly from this
tuned point. In today's world where we require one radio to tune from DC to
light, there is certainly a need for synthesized, processor tuned radios, but
for a repeater where the frequency don't qsy often, the old slug tuned rigs
cannot be beat. They are more sensitive, more selective, less susceptible to
intermod, the squelch works better, I could go on and on.

Lets face it, there has not really been any technology advances that make a 2
meter or 220 radio receive any better today than 20 years ago. The development
in GaAs fet's only show performance enhancements from about 400 megs and above.

Since the Micor and Mastr II radios are plentiful on the used market, we are now
able to get first class radio technology for little to nothing. Just because
this technology is old... it is not outdated.

Kevin


Re: A Challenge..

Jon Pearl W4ABC
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Chukgleasn@... <Chukgleasn@...>
To: Repeater-builder@... <Repeater-builder@...>;
Repeaters@... <Repeaters@...>
Date: Sunday, March 21, 1999 6:06 PM
Subject: [Repeater-builder] A Challenge..


From: Chukgleasn@...

OK, everyone, where are the real RF Hackers?


Here's the challenge:

Develop some new ways to build 220MHz repeaters.

Here's why:

Everyone has the GE ExecII and Micor VHF mobile mods all over the net. Can
hardly get away from them. And I know there are strong opinions about
Hamtronics, Spectrum, etc. Won't say which way they're strong, just that
they're strong opinions. Besides, the Micor VHF PA, in words similar to
what's written in the mod files, sucks wind at 220 and you have to run a
Toshiba power module. Just the module is about $60.00 American from RF
Parts,
then the PC board is $15. (I know, I'm starting to sound like the ham who
gets 7/8 inch hardline at 5% of cost then gripes about paying full price
for
the connectors! Guilty as charged!!!)

How about some newer equipment? Say, Mitrek VHF.
How about it?


The Mitrek has no "pork shop" (circulator);is a single board design; has
fewer components. The "Micor" may well have been Motorolover's last
"hurrah."

The radio was expensive and probably over built for the times. Long ago
when the Japanese started kicking our collective asses, Motorolover had to
make some tough decisions. The answer came in the form of radios like the
Mitrek and beyond.

Makes a good remote base or linking radio, but there are so many other
designs (READ Micor) out there more suitable for repeater service, why
bother with looking for something different for the sake of something
different?

Later radios, Prom and RSS programmable's are neat, but the added expense
involved for the sake of building up a single channel repeater can't be
justified in my mind.

Now if you had plans for a frequency/PL agile remote base, then something of
this flavor, might just be your cup of tea.

Jon Pearl
W4ABC

_________________________________________________________
"The people will not understand the importance of the Second Amendment
until it is too late." -- Thomas Jefferson




What's the next newer GE
model? Come on, guys, let's get with it!!

Anybody who comes up with an easy, elegant, way to do this with 'newer'
equipment (how about hacking Motherola Maxtracs?) will win the praise and
accolades of the other members of this list. For at least 35 minutes,
until
someone posts " I woulda done it this way with a Fahrvergnugen F16 mobile,
this way....(Ya big dummy!!!! Why didn't ya think of that!!!!) : ) )"

Chuk Gleason
kb4mdz


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Re: Hamtronics, and diverging....

 

This was posted to me privately, and I thought after I started my reply I
would send it on to the list......
-=============================
Hello:

I was going to purchase some Hamtronics equipment, then I saw what you wrote
about it.

What is your opinion on the equipment? Are there negative write ups that you
can point me to so I can read about the stuff?

I have not heard much negative about the equipment, but then I might have not
talked to the right people.

Thank You
D.L. Hogdon
======================================

Well, I've never had the joy of doing anything Hamtronics. Looked at them
longingly before I got into the professional two-way field, as a cheap way to
put up a repeater. Lots of people in the listserver or other places will
laugh at them tho. One in particular is Chris Boone, WB5ITT. He'll recommend
a converted two-way radio in a heartbeat. Then again, he's been doing this
stuff since, it seems, Christ was a corporal...

I also don't know how far back the onelist archives go - if they're
significant size, you might look in there. Otherwise, email Chris - he posts
to the various reflectors often enough.

I guess now that I've been thinking about it while writing this reply, I might
sum it up like this: 1) Hamtronics equipment probably costs as much as or
more than 'salvaged' two-way. And salvaged two-way you have to find a place
to salvage from and get service literature, etc. A job in itself, that
Hamtronics, et al. lets you take care of by just opening your wallet to them.
You do get the satisfaction of building it yourself.
2) The designs are probably a little long in the tooth - on the old side, not
much in the way of new or uniqueness. On the other hand, that might mean
stable< ; why mess with a thing that works?
3) Any number of other reasons that people on the list might post. Hey! How
about FAQ re. buy/build decisions, etc.?

I don't want to start flame wars; this is similar to anybody's fascination
with Chevy/Ford/Dodge/etc. Some just comes down to personal preference; "De
gustibus nil est disputandum" (apologies to all Latin-language lovers for the
spelling!) "There is no arguing about taste"

Everybody put some thought into it. Everytime a new person comes on with a
question about "How do I .." and "Which is better, General Eccentric or
Motherola or ...?" this has to be done again. Me, I'd offer more opinions,
but I'm still just a young pup.....

Chuk Gleason


A Challenge..

 

OK, everyone, where are the real RF Hackers?


Here's the challenge:

Develop some new ways to build 220MHz repeaters.

Here's why:

Everyone has the GE ExecII and Micor VHF mobile mods all over the net. Can
hardly get away from them. And I know there are strong opinions about
Hamtronics, Spectrum, etc. Won't say which way they're strong, just that
they're strong opinions. Besides, the Micor VHF PA, in words similar to
what's written in the mod files, sucks wind at 220 and you have to run a
Toshiba power module. Just the module is about $60.00 American from RF Parts,
then the PC board is $15. (I know, I'm starting to sound like the ham who
gets 7/8 inch hardline at 5% of cost then gripes about paying full price for
the connectors! Guilty as charged!!!)

How about some newer equipment? Say, Mitrek VHF. What's the next newer GE
model? Come on, guys, let's get with it!!

Anybody who comes up with an easy, elegant, way to do this with 'newer'
equipment (how about hacking Motherola Maxtracs?) will win the praise and
accolades of the other members of this list. For at least 35 minutes, until
someone posts " I woulda done it this way with a Fahrvergnugen F16 mobile,
this way....(Ya big dummy!!!! Why didn't ya think of that!!!!) : ) )"

Chuk Gleason
kb4mdz


Fw: 2M/70CM Repeater

"Tony Lelieveld" <[email protected]
 

-----Original Message-----
From: KA9SWI@... <KA9SWI@...>
To: Repeater-builder@... <Repeater-builder@...>
Date: March 18, 1999 13:53
Subject: [Repeater-builder] 2M/70CM Repeater


From: KA9SWI@...

I am putting up a 440 repeater with the 2M (147.300 Brown Co., Indiana)
repeater >that is already in operation. The 440mc machine will use the same
antenna that is >going up soon (a GP-9). What is the best way to come off
the hardline to get to both >sets of cavities? I was thinking of a 3/4 wave
section of coax out of a "T" connector to >each cavity set. If this is used
how critical is the length? HELLLLLLP!!!!!

-------------------
Peter

We have a UHF repeater and a VHF packet station on the same dual band
antenna. At the bottom of the antenna feedline we have a Sinclair
"diplexer". This is the same kind as is sold by "Comet" , "MFJ" etc. for
combining a two meter and 70 cm. mobile rig into one antenna. The VHF
output goes directly to the 2 Mtr. Packet radio, which is a no nonsense
standard "Alinco" radio, and the UHF output goes directly to the UHF
repeater duplexer antenna input.

It has been on the air like this for at least 4 years and no extra
filtering is needed in our case. There is one more two Mtr repeater and
three commercial VHF repeaters on the same tower. This filter should cost
you no more then about $40.00 and is worth the investment. If you try to do
it with a "T" connector etc. I think you are asking for trouble. The
diplexer is doing a good job of separating the 2 bands.

Tony...Ve3DWI

KA9SWI@...
Peter J. Lenges
7658 Hummingbird Dr.
Nineveh, In.46164

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Re: service literature

"&#92;"BT&#92;" a.k.a kc0edo"
 

Howdy,
The manual that you seek, for the mobile UHF Micors runs $99 from Motorola,
more than I paid for the 3 radios of this type to retune into repeaters.
And no, I do not have access to a free copier and frankly these documents
are very difficult with schematic diagrams and so on...

'SHOW ME THE MONEY'
(hehhehe)
-BT a.k.a KC0EDO
list-owner of micor@...

-----Original Message-----
From: bionoid@... <bionoid@...>
To: Repeater-builder@... <Repeater-builder@...>
Date: Thursday, March 18, 1999 5:24 PM
Subject: [Repeater-builder] service literature


From: bionoid@...

Hello, I am really cheap and hoping someone has prints and service
literature on the web for the Micor uhf
Elmer KB3WG

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Re: 2M/70CM Repeater

Brent DeSalvo KF4TNP
 

well for what it is worth i am now using the diamond due to it has a removable
cover on the back and allows repair if needed like on the center conductors of
the N or SO-239 connectors thanks to the cover i did not have to purchase a new
diplexer just fixed to solder joints and it is like new

Brent KF4TNP

w7ntf@... wrote:

From: w7ntf@...

I use the Larsen diplexor. It's a heavy duty model that can take up to 200w.
Plus it is a sealed unit. I have not had any problems with desense. Good luck
with it. 73, Gary

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Re: 2M/70CM Repeater

Pete Lenges
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin K. Custer W3KKC <kuggie@...>
To: Repeater-builder@... <Repeater-builder@...>
Date: Thursday, March 18, 1999 6:37 PM
Subject: [Repeater-builder] Re: 2M/70CM Repeater


From: "Kevin K. Custer W3KKC" <kuggie@...>



KA9SWI@... wrote:

From: KA9SWI@...

I am putting up a 440 repeater with the 2M (147.300 Brown Co
., Indiana) repeater that is already in operation. The 440mc machine
will use the same antenna that is going up soon (a GP-9). What is the
best way to come off the hardline to get to both sets of cavities?
I was thinking of a 3/4 wave section of coax out of a "T" connector to
each cavity set. If this is used how critical is the length?
HELLLLLLP!!!!!

KA9SWI@...
Peter J. Lenges
7658 Hummingbird Dr.
Nineveh, In.46164
Peter,

Get a Comet or Diamond dual band mobile duplexer (diplexer) they will work
fine for this.
I have a few repeaters that use dual and tri band antennas. Some are
configured with one port as a repeater and one port simplex, some are two
repeaters and a digi, some are all ports going to repeaters.

Just get one with enough power handling capability.

Kevin


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Do they make a duplexor that will handle 100 watts?


Re: 2M/70CM Repeater

Kevin K. Custer W3KKC
 

KA9SWI@... wrote:

From: KA9SWI@...

I am putting up a 440 repeater with the 2M (147.300 Brown Co
., Indiana) repeater that is already in operation. The 440mc machine
will use the same antenna that is going up soon (a GP-9). What is the
best way to come off the hardline to get to both sets of cavities?
I was thinking of a 3/4 wave section of coax out of a "T" connector to
each cavity set. If this is used how critical is the length? HELLLLLLP!!!!!

KA9SWI@...
Peter J. Lenges
7658 Hummingbird Dr.
Nineveh, In.46164
Peter,

Get a Comet or Diamond dual band mobile duplexer (diplexer) they will work fine for this.
I have a few repeaters that use dual and tri band antennas. Some are configured with one port as a repeater and one port simplex, some are two repeaters and a digi, some are all ports going to repeaters.

Just get one with enough power handling capability.

Kevin


service literature

 

Hello, I am really cheap and hoping someone has prints and service literature on the web for the Micor uhf
Elmer KB3WG


Re: 2M/70CM Repeater

Pete Dulac
 

I'll tell what we are doing at one of our sites... depending on your power
output. We are using an actual COMET Tri-Plexer for our 2Meter /
220packet / 440link repeater site. And never have any desense or problems
with them getting into each other. Maybe that'll work for ya ??


Pete Dulac, KC4WWU 147.285mhz.
C.C.A.R.S. President PL 118.8hz ( 2B )

Camden County Sherrif's Dept. / Search & Rescue #1724

ICQ # - 69763

My Homepage:

C.C.A.R.S. Homepage:

Cinema 6 Homepage:


Re: 2M/70CM Repeater

 

I use the Larsen diplexor. It's a heavy duty model that can take up to 200w.
Plus it is a sealed unit. I have not had any problems with desense. Good luck
with it. 73, Gary


2M/70CM Repeater

 

I am putting up a 440 repeater with the 2M (147.300 Brown Co., Indiana) repeater that is already in operation. The 440mc machine will use the same antenna that is going up soon (a GP-9). What is the best way to come off the hardline to get to both sets of cavities? I was thinking of a 3/4 wave section of coax out of a "T" connector to each cavity set. If this is used how critical is the length? HELLLLLLP!!!!!

KA9SWI@...
Peter J. Lenges
7658 Hummingbird Dr.
Nineveh, In.46164