Friends,
?
I have a gold colored VHF Range 2 Quantar on my bench.? I am using RVN5002 Version R14.10.00.? My Quantar is currently programmed for frequencies in the mid-150s.? After powerup the RX and TX VCOs are happy and the station appears to be green.? I did a quick test to see if it would be happy with a TX frequency of 146.895 MHz and a receive frequency of 146.295 MHz.?? With those frequencies, the TX and RX VCOs failed to lock which was disappointing but not much of a surprise.? I wrote the original commercial band code plug back to the unit and it is happy again.? I realize we really need the Range 1 VHF equipment, but that seems to be rather scarce.? The range? 2 equipment is readily available to me.? I have noted that may HAMS seem to be using the Range 2 units for pairs above 146 MHz.? Four of the five repeaters on our system are above 146 MHz, so I was hoping to use this.? Is it practical?? I have a fair amount of equipment including an HP8935 and a 8920 and a decent RF lab to work in.
?
Is it safe to assume all the VHF Quantars under $1000 on ebay are Range 2 units.? Most of the vendors either do not know or do not want to advertise what they actually have.? I could not find even one that claims to be VHF Range 1.
?
Thanks!
Jeff KC8VFN
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
President and CTO - Arcom Controllers
Makers of repeater controllers and accessories
Phone: (503) 678 6182
Authorized Dealers for Kenwood and Telewave.
We offer complete turn-key repeater packages!
"We don't just make 'em. We use 'em!"

On Mar 20, 2025, at 5:00?PM, Jeff Acree via groups.io <locustpointlight@...> wrote:

?

Friends,

?

I have a gold colored VHF Range 2 Quantar on my bench.? I am using RVN5002 Version R14.10.00.? My Quantar is currently programmed for frequencies in the mid-150s.? After powerup the RX and TX VCOs are happy and the station appears to be green.? I did a quick test to see if it would be happy with a TX frequency of 146.895 MHz and a receive frequency of 146.295 MHz.? ?With those frequencies, the TX and RX VCOs failed to lock which was disappointing but not much of a surprise.? I wrote the original commercial band code plug back to the unit and it is happy again.? I realize we really need the Range 1 VHF equipment, but that seems to be rather scarce.? The range? 2 equipment is readily available to me.? I have noted that may HAMS seem to be using the Range 2 units for pairs above 146 MHz.? Four of the five repeaters on our system are above 146 MHz, so I was hoping to use this.? Is it practical?? I have a fair amount of equipment including an HP8935 and a 8920 and a decent RF lab to work in.

?

Is it safe to assume all the VHF Quantars under $1000 on ebay are Range 2 units.? Most of the vendors either do not know or do not want to advertise what they actually have.? I could not find even one that claims to be VHF Range 1.

?

Thanks!

Jeff KC8VFN