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Our Club has a Kendecom 223 repeater we'd like evaluated and repaired as necessary. Who's the go-to guy anymore?
?
Also, it has always been my understanding that these were quality repeaters. Maybe this is just for the Mark IV receivers? I've read both good and bad about Kendecom. Would we be throwing good $$ after bad?
?
Kevin, are you still building 223 repeaters on the Micor chassis?
?
Dino - KX6D?
|
On 3/3/2025 11:52 PM, Dino Darling wrote: Our Club has a Kendecom 223 repeater we'd like evaluated and repaired as necessary. Who's the go-to guy anymore?
Also, it has always been my understanding that these were quality repeaters. Maybe this is just for the Mark IV receivers? I've read both good and bad about Kendecom. Would we be throwing good $$ after bad?
Kevin, are you still building 223 repeaters on the Micor chassis?
Dino - KX6D Scott N3XCC may be willing to build a whole repeater.? I think Scott still has 222 MHz PA's (25W modules and control boards). If not - I could probably be persuaded to build a 222 receiver and exciter. If you get the right crystals made (KLOVE?) it will work. Kevin W3KKC
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I have a 220 repeater that I will sell complete without duplexes has a 15 W PA and a RC 100 controller, etc., with audio delay board and CTCSS
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Show quoted text
On Mar 4, 2025, at 7:33?AM, Kevin Custer via groups.io <kuggie@...> wrote:
?On 3/3/2025 11:52 PM, Dino Darling wrote:
Our Club has a Kendecom 223 repeater we'd like evaluated and repaired as necessary. Who's the go-to guy anymore?
Also, it has always been my understanding that these were quality repeaters. Maybe this is just for the Mark IV receivers? I've read both good and bad about Kendecom. Would we be throwing good $$ after bad?
Kevin, are you still building 223 repeaters on the Micor chassis?
Dino - KX6D Scott N3XCC may be willing to build a whole repeater. I think Scott still has 222 MHz PA's (25W modules and control boards).
If not - I could probably be persuaded to build a 222 receiver and exciter.
If you get the right crystals made (KLOVE?) it will work.
Kevin W3KKC
|
We had one about 20yrs ago.? Loved ti. Excellent audio. Replaced with Kenwood TKR750. Never looked back. Never had an issue with the Kenwoods.Now the TKRs aren't made anymore, geez.
Good Luck and 73 dave wa3gin
Our Club has a Kendecom 223 repeater we'd like evaluated and repaired as necessary. Who's the go-to guy anymore?
?
Also, it has always been my understanding that these were quality repeaters. Maybe this is just for the Mark IV receivers? I've read both good and bad about Kendecom. Would we be throwing good $$ after bad?
?
Kevin, are you still building 223 repeaters on the Micor chassis?
?
Dino - KX6D?
|
Dino, do you have the controller and duplexer? I have several repeaters I’ve made based on GE radios for 220, the challenge is crystals so depending on the frequency you intend on using we may have ones that could work. There are other options also available.
I have made repeaters for several clubs and I have my own repeaters around SoCal. If you need help there are several of us in 220SMA who have worked with clubs and trustee’s to get there repeaters back online.
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On Mar 4, 2025, at 05:54, Dave Jordan via groups.io <wa3gin@...> wrote:
?
This Message is From an External Sender
This message came from outside your organization.
We had one about 20yrs ago.? Loved ti. Excellent audio. Replaced with Kenwood TKR750. Never looked back. Never had an issue with the Kenwoods.Now the TKRs aren't made anymore, geez.
Good Luck and 73
dave
wa3gin
Our Club has a Kendecom 223 repeater we'd like evaluated and repaired as necessary. Who's the go-to guy anymore?
?
Also, it has always been my understanding that these were quality repeaters. Maybe this is just for the Mark IV receivers? I've read both good and bad about Kendecom. Would we be throwing good $$ after bad?
?
Kevin, are you still building 223 repeaters on the Micor chassis?
?
Dino - KX6D?
WARNING: Do not click links or attachments unless you recognize
the sender and know the email is safe.
|
What model is the repeater??
I have a 220 repeater that I will sell complete without duplexes has a 15 W PA and a RC 100 controller, etc., with audio delay board and CTCSS
> On Mar 4, 2025, at 7:33?AM, Kevin Custer via <kuggie=[email protected]> wrote:
>
> ?On 3/3/2025 11:52 PM, Dino Darling wrote:
>> Our Club has a Kendecom 223 repeater we'd like evaluated and repaired as necessary. Who's the go-to guy anymore?
>> Also, it has always been my understanding that these were quality repeaters. Maybe this is just for the Mark IV receivers? I've read both good and bad about Kendecom. Would we be throwing good $$ after bad?
>> Kevin, are you still building 223 repeaters on the Micor chassis?
>> Dino - KX6D
>
> Scott N3XCC may be willing to build a whole repeater.? I think Scott still has 222 MHz PA's (25W modules and control boards).
>
> If not - I could probably be persuaded to build a 222 receiver and exciter.
>
> If you get the right crystals made (KLOVE?) it will work.
>
> Kevin W3KKC
>
>
>
>
>
|
At 3/4/2025 05:53 AM, you wrote:
We had one about 20yrs
ago.?? Loved ti. Excellent audio.
In my 40+ years of working with repeaters this is the first time I've
ever heard anyone say Kendecom repeaters have "excellent
audio".? Perhaps when compared to DMR or YSF, yes.
Bob NO6B
|
In 2025 micors are still great performers but limits those with knowledge about them to diagnostic and repair.
?
The recent trends are motorola cdm 1550ls 200mhz units and amplifier if needed.??
?
Another option is tyt9000 mobiles.
?
Keeping things plug and play seems to be today's trend .
?
?
N3ssl?
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Dino, If you get the right crystals made (KLOVE?) it will work. Like Kevin said, the hardest part of building a repeater from crystal controlled radios is getting crystals cut for the frequency in question. Scott N3XCC may be willing to build a whole repeater. It's been awhile, but like riding a bike, I'm sure it would come back to me pretty easily. ;) I think Scott still has 222 MHz PA's (25W modules and control boards). Boards, yes. Modules, NO. I sold all of the 220 (M57774) modules I had around here. We'd need to buy one from RF parts. (either a M57774 or SAV-15) I'm pretty sure I have some donor VHF radios left around here. The paint on the aluminum castings may be kinda rough after years of non-climate controlled storage. Did I say it's been a LONG time since I've done any radio conversions. ;) Scott Scott Zimmerman Amateur Radio Call N3XCC 474 Barnett Road Boswell, PA 15531 On 3/4/2025 7:33 AM, Kevin Custer wrote: On 3/3/2025 11:52 PM, Dino Darling wrote:
Our Club has a Kendecom 223 repeater we'd like evaluated and repaired as necessary. Who's the go-to guy anymore?
Also, it has always been my understanding that these were quality repeaters. Maybe this is just for the Mark IV receivers? I've read both good and bad about Kendecom. Would we be throwing good $$ after bad?
Kevin, are you still building 223 repeaters on the Micor chassis?
Dino - KX6D Scott N3XCC may be willing to build a whole repeater.? I think Scott still has 222 MHz PA's (25W modules and control boards).
If not - I could probably be persuaded to build a 222 receiver and exciter.
If you get the right crystals made (KLOVE?) it will work.
Kevin W3KKC
|
I believe Hy-q international here in Australia may still cut crystals, will be contacting them myself for a couple of projects,exchange rate may be an issue, be ut they always made a quality product
|
Instead of crystals you might consider a GPSDO like this one. A friend recently used a single output version on his 2m repeater receiver which I think is a Kendecom and its working great and really on frequency. The dual output version will handle a separate transmitter and receiver. I believe he just adjusted levels and plugged into the crystal socket.?
?
https://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=107&products_id=399
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KLOVE quality has been great from what I've heard from buyers...ICM type..
As for M57774 bricks I have 2 or three at the house...I may pull a couple of 13509s apart and build it like N5DNG, SK, did ..inverted aluminum chassis which held the TX and RX in Bud AL boxes and had feed thru caps for all wiring IO...it did have two RS blue plug in proto boards behind the RX box we put COS, etc on one and the audio gating, etc on another..the vertical pots held the boards apart ..at the bottom was a CW diode matrix board (K2 ??? can't remember the call) and the back of the chassis had all audio and signaling brought out to phono plugs all numbered and the numbers matched labeling on the cover that screwed down to enclose it all...
wish we would have done it commercially for sale...the Midland meter, volume and squelch plus spkr and mic jack were on the front..a toggle switch allowed S meter or TX power out reading...only two or 3 RU tall...of course now I could eliminate the internal controller, etc and hook it to an external one for more versatility..wish I still had it or a photo of it...looked and worked better than the VHF Engineering 220 that I bought from another group..the rcvr had been upgraded to a Spectrum SCR100...never did like the squelch circuit in that model...the SCR200 was a big improvement...and I have one or two of them lying around?
Chris WB5ITT? Trustee W5APX? WRXZ789 Vice Chairman and Frequency Coordinator SBE 134 SETX and SW La
Dino,
?> If you get the right crystals made (KLOVE?) it will work.
Like Kevin said, the hardest part of building a repeater from crystal controlled radios is getting crystals cut for the
frequency in question.
?> Scott N3XCC may be willing to build a whole repeater.
It's been awhile, but like riding a bike, I'm sure it would come back to me pretty easily. ;)
?> I think Scott still has 222 MHz PA's (25W modules and control boards).
Boards, yes. Modules, NO. I sold all of the 220 (M57774) modules I had around here. We'd need to buy one from RF parts.
(either a M57774 or SAV-15)
I'm pretty sure I have some donor VHF radios left around here. The paint on the aluminum castings may be kinda rough after
years of non-climate controlled storage. Did I say it's been a LONG time since I've done any radio conversions. ;)
Scott
Scott Zimmerman
Amateur Radio Call N3XCC
474 Barnett Road
Boswell, PA 15531
On 3/4/2025 7:33 AM, Kevin Custer wrote:
> On 3/3/2025 11:52 PM, Dino Darling wrote:
>> Our Club has a Kendecom 223 repeater we'd like evaluated and repaired as necessary. Who's the go-to guy anymore?
>> Also, it has always been my understanding that these were quality repeaters. Maybe this is just for the Mark IV receivers?
>> I've read both good and bad about Kendecom. Would we be throwing good $$ after bad?
>> Kevin, are you still building 223 repeaters on the Micor chassis?
>> Dino - KX6D
>
> Scott N3XCC may be willing to build a whole repeater.? I think Scott still has 222 MHz PA's (25W modules and control boards).
>
> If not - I could probably be persuaded to build a 222 receiver and exciter.
>
> If you get the right crystals made (KLOVE?) it will work.
>
> Kevin W3KKC
>
>
>
>
>
|
Just to throw my 2 cents in.
I’ve built a few 220 repeaters over the past few years. I may get banned for saying this (lol)
The TYT 9000’s make a pretty good setup. Modification is required. On the receiver I tapped right into the discriminator. And fed that to a Motorola micor squelch board. Audio sounds fantastic. For transmitter you can feed directly into the modulator
if you wanted. On all my 9000’s vhf and uhf I have out at sites I run them all on high power with a fan on top. 4+ years going strong. I do understand crystals are getting harder to find. Bomar is $50 each 2 order minimum.
This may not be a cup of tea for everybody, but for those that want to get a 220 repeater up it’s an affordable way to do it and it sounds just like a micor would.
WZ5TX
David “Tyler” Bufkin
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
KLOVE quality has been great from what I've heard from buyers...ICM type..
As for M57774 bricks I have 2 or three at the house...I may pull a couple of 13509s apart and build it like N5DNG, SK, did ..inverted aluminum chassis which held the TX and RX in Bud AL boxes and had feed thru caps for all wiring IO...it did
have two RS blue plug in proto boards behind the RX box we put COS, etc on one and the audio gating, etc on another..the vertical pots held the boards apart ..at the bottom was a CW diode matrix board (K2 ??? can't remember the call) and the back of the chassis
had all audio and signaling brought out to phono plugs all numbered and the numbers matched labeling on the cover that screwed down to enclose it all...
wish we would have done it commercially for sale...the Midland meter, volume and squelch plus spkr and mic jack were on the front..a toggle switch allowed S meter or TX power out reading...only two or 3 RU tall...of course now I could eliminate
the internal controller, etc and hook it to an external one for more versatility..wish I still had it or a photo of it...looked and worked better than the VHF Engineering 220 that I bought from another group..the rcvr had been upgraded to a Spectrum SCR100...never
did like the squelch circuit in that model...the SCR200 was a big improvement...and I have one or two of them lying around?
Chris WB5ITT?
Trustee W5APX?
WRXZ789
Vice Chairman and Frequency Coordinator SBE 134 SETX and SW La
Dino,
?> If you get the right crystals made (KLOVE?) it will work.
Like Kevin said, the hardest part of building a repeater from crystal controlled radios is getting crystals cut for the
frequency in question.
?> Scott N3XCC may be willing to build a whole repeater.
It's been awhile, but like riding a bike, I'm sure it would come back to me pretty easily. ;)
?> I think Scott still has 222 MHz PA's (25W modules and control boards).
Boards, yes. Modules, NO. I sold all of the 220 (M57774) modules I had around here. We'd need to buy one from RF parts.
(either a M57774 or SAV-15)
I'm pretty sure I have some donor VHF radios left around here. The paint on the aluminum castings may be kinda rough after
years of non-climate controlled storage. Did I say it's been a LONG time since I've done any radio conversions. ;)
Scott
Scott Zimmerman
Amateur Radio Call N3XCC
474 Barnett Road
Boswell, PA 15531
On 3/4/2025 7:33 AM, Kevin Custer wrote:
> On 3/3/2025 11:52 PM, Dino Darling wrote:
>> Our Club has a Kendecom 223 repeater we'd like evaluated and repaired as necessary. Who's the go-to guy anymore?
>> Also, it has always been my understanding that these were quality repeaters. Maybe this is just for the Mark IV receivers?
>> I've read both good and bad about Kendecom. Would we be throwing good $$ after bad?
>> Kevin, are you still building 223 repeaters on the Micor chassis?
>> Dino - KX6D
>
> Scott N3XCC may be willing to build a whole repeater.? I think Scott still has 222 MHz PA's (25W modules and control boards).
>
> If not - I could probably be persuaded to build a 222 receiver and exciter.
>
> If you get the right crystals made (KLOVE?) it will work.
>
> Kevin W3KKC
>
>
>
>
>
|
Tyler,
You should consider doing a write-up of how exactly you do the
modifications to gain access to the discriminator and modulator.?
A good article would show the bandwidth available, how flat the
audio is over X frequency and whether or not any processing is
left in place.
Please do tell...
Thanks,
Kevin
On 3/4/2025 5:49 PM, Tyler- WZ5TX via groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Just to throw my 2 cents in.
I’ve built a few 220 repeaters over the past few
years. I may get banned for saying this (lol)
The TYT 9000’s make a pretty good setup.
Modification is required. On the receiver I tapped right into
the discriminator. And fed that to a Motorola micor squelch
board. Audio sounds fantastic. For transmitter you can feed
directly into the modulator if you wanted. On all my 9000’s
vhf and uhf I have out at sites I run them all on high power
with a fan on top. 4+ years going strong. I do understand
crystals are getting harder to find. Bomar is $50 each 2 order
minimum.
This may not be a cup of tea for everybody, but
for those that want to get a 220 repeater up it’s an
affordable way to do it and it sounds just like a micor would.
WZ5TX
David “Tyler” Bufkin
|
Kevin, great idea. I will certainly work on that and provide that hopefully in the near future.
WZ5TX
David “Tyler” Bufkin
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Tyler,
You should consider doing a write-up of how exactly you do the modifications to gain access to the discriminator and modulator.? A good article would show the bandwidth available, how flat the audio is over X frequency and whether or not any processing is left
in place.
Please do tell...
Thanks,
Kevin
On 3/4/2025 5:49 PM, Tyler- WZ5TX via groups.io wrote:
Just to throw my 2 cents in.
I’ve built a few 220 repeaters over the past few years. I may get banned for saying this (lol)
The TYT 9000’s make a pretty good setup. Modification is required. On the receiver I tapped right into the discriminator. And fed that to a Motorola micor squelch board. Audio sounds fantastic. For transmitter you can feed directly into the modulator
if you wanted. On all my 9000’s vhf and uhf I have out at sites I run them all on high power with a fan on top. 4+ years going strong. I do understand crystals are getting harder to find. Bomar is $50 each 2 order minimum.
This may not be a cup of tea for everybody, but for those that want to get a 220 repeater up it’s an affordable way to do it and it sounds just like a micor would.
WZ5TX
David “Tyler” Bufkin
|
Tyler,
I want to second what Kevin says.?? Show it on a schematic and on the board the points you are using for discrimator and the modulator.?? Thanks!
Andy Zorca
Just to throw my 2 cents in.
I’ve built a few 220 repeaters over the past few years. I may get banned for saying this (lol)
The TYT 9000’s make a pretty good setup. Modification is required. On the receiver I tapped right into the discriminator. And fed that to a Motorola micor squelch board. Audio sounds fantastic. For transmitter you can feed directly into the modulator
if you wanted. On all my 9000’s vhf and uhf I have out at sites I run them all on high power with a fan on top. 4+ years going strong. I do understand crystals are getting harder to find. Bomar is $50 each 2 order minimum.
This may not be a cup of tea for everybody, but for those that want to get a 220 repeater up it’s an affordable way to do it and it sounds just like a micor would.
WZ5TX
David “Tyler” Bufkin
KLOVE quality has been great from what I've heard from buyers...ICM type..
As for M57774 bricks I have 2 or three at the house...I may pull a couple of 13509s apart and build it like N5DNG, SK, did ..inverted aluminum chassis which held the TX and RX in Bud AL boxes and had feed thru caps for all wiring IO...it did
have two RS blue plug in proto boards behind the RX box we put COS, etc on one and the audio gating, etc on another..the vertical pots held the boards apart ..at the bottom was a CW diode matrix board (K2 ??? can't remember the call) and the back of the chassis
had all audio and signaling brought out to phono plugs all numbered and the numbers matched labeling on the cover that screwed down to enclose it all...
wish we would have done it commercially for sale...the Midland meter, volume and squelch plus spkr and mic jack were on the front..a toggle switch allowed S meter or TX power out reading...only two or 3 RU tall...of course now I could eliminate
the internal controller, etc and hook it to an external one for more versatility..wish I still had it or a photo of it...looked and worked better than the VHF Engineering 220 that I bought from another group..the rcvr had been upgraded to a Spectrum SCR100...never
did like the squelch circuit in that model...the SCR200 was a big improvement...and I have one or two of them lying around?
Chris WB5ITT?
Trustee W5APX?
WRXZ789
Vice Chairman and Frequency Coordinator SBE 134 SETX and SW La
Dino,
?> If you get the right crystals made (KLOVE?) it will work.
Like Kevin said, the hardest part of building a repeater from crystal controlled radios is getting crystals cut for the
frequency in question.
?> Scott N3XCC may be willing to build a whole repeater.
It's been awhile, but like riding a bike, I'm sure it would come back to me pretty easily. ;)
?> I think Scott still has 222 MHz PA's (25W modules and control boards).
Boards, yes. Modules, NO. I sold all of the 220 (M57774) modules I had around here. We'd need to buy one from RF parts.
(either a M57774 or SAV-15)
I'm pretty sure I have some donor VHF radios left around here. The paint on the aluminum castings may be kinda rough after
years of non-climate controlled storage. Did I say it's been a LONG time since I've done any radio conversions. ;)
Scott
Scott Zimmerman
Amateur Radio Call N3XCC
474 Barnett Road
Boswell, PA 15531
On 3/4/2025 7:33 AM, Kevin Custer wrote:
> On 3/3/2025 11:52 PM, Dino Darling wrote:
>> Our Club has a Kendecom 223 repeater we'd like evaluated and repaired as necessary. Who's the go-to guy anymore?
>> Also, it has always been my understanding that these were quality repeaters. Maybe this is just for the Mark IV receivers?
>> I've read both good and bad about Kendecom. Would we be throwing good $$ after bad?
>> Kevin, are you still building 223 repeaters on the Micor chassis?
>> Dino - KX6D
>
> Scott N3XCC may be willing to build a whole repeater.? I think Scott still has 222 MHz PA's (25W modules and control boards).
>
> If not - I could probably be persuaded to build a 222 receiver and exciter.
>
> If you get the right crystals made (KLOVE?) it will work.
>
> Kevin W3KKC
>
>
>
>
>
|
On 3/4/2025 2:36 PM, Mike via groups.io wrote: Instead of crystals you might consider a GPSDO like this one. A friend recently used a single output version on his 2m repeater receiver which I think is a Kendecom and its working great and really on frequency. The dual output version will handle a separate transmitter and receiver. I believe he just adjusted levels and plugged into the crystal socket.
+11dBm output is no stingy signal at 12.6 mW into 50 ohms. ? It's too bad these can't be directly FM modulated, because you could likely avoid the multiplier sections of a common crystal exciter / transmitter and feed the latter amplifier stages or build some other IPA to drive the PA.? Doing so would result in better phase noise specifications because the noise wouldn't be multiplied along with the frequency. The specification show that these oscillators are as spectrally pure as a crystal oscillator - within a dB.? So - even if you have to use a phase modulator / multiplier exciter to actually have FM (PM), it's no worse than a crystal where spectral purity is concerned, it's much more frequency stable, and it can be 'programmed' to any reasonable frequency with tiny granularity that achieves a carrier frequency out to one cycle increments. Neat stuff. Kevin
|
Kevin Custer
Dave Jordan
Hudson, John@CalOES
Chris Boone WB5ITT