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Re: Looking for an Xcat
Thanks to all who replied to my post. I sort of figured that they were not being made anymore, but I did stir some good conversation. Sorry, but my SMD abilities are lacking, however, if someone does decide to build some boards, please put my name on the list of "I'll take one".
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73 for now,
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Mike, WA9FDO_at_arrl_dot_net |
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Re: Looking for an Xcat
Hey Brad,
?Good to see you are still monitoring. I'm sure you realize I've been pacing the floor over those X-Cats....lol
Time/life/priority stuff here as well...play when I can. Retired doesnt mean plenty more time to play, more like plenty of time to do stuff you didnt get to while still working the salt mines.
Anyway, as I said then, no hurry, those X's arent going anywhere and I figured I'd hear from you when the stars align ("Age of Aquarius' playing in my head...Ahhh the 60's...lol) and you could get back to it....no let down, no worries. As we talked then, between loss of sight in one eye and cataracts in the other SMT vision is out of the question any more. I'd take you up on the offer if I knew someone that could do the assy. Remember that 10 year old OG DDS kit I told you about?....still in it's parts bag...lol |
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Re: Looking for an Xcat
You're right, Stan. Time-life priority stuff, like what took Lee N7LD out of the business. I've been deep into some projects at work and when I get home I don't have much brain-space or energy for more electronics projects. Not to mention that there's only about one square foot of open space on my bench right now. It's a horizontal surface - What else need I say :) I've got parts including a handful of PCBs and would be willing to put what's necessary in an anti-stat bag if you care to assemble your own. I think around $80 would cover my costs and shipping but I'd have to double-check before making any promises. No other support or warranty of any kind included except my assurance that I have assembled them and made them work. Except for one which I in which soldered the processor to the PCB 90 degrees off and ruined everything trying to fix it. It takes extraordinary attention to detail, a very steady hand, good eyes, and appropriate soldering equipment to assemble because it's all SMD. Most hams will lack proficiency, I think. If anyone feels brave I'll accommodate them. 73, Brad KB9BPF PS to Stan: I am sorry I've let you down. PS to all: Here is a copy of the info file I posted in the file area of the group: Xcat PCB layout by Brad KB9BPF: Notes 26SEP22 - I am NOT interested in building Xcats. These resources are for those who are interested in DIY. - I used free ExpressPCB Classic software to create these files. It is available at https://www.expresspcb.com/ - I've found ExpressPCB to be extremely easy to learn and use. - Boards are ordered through the ExpressPCB software using an internet connection. - If I have spare PCBs I would be willing to sell them. Contact me if interested. - If I have spare parts I would be willing to sell them. Contact me if interested. - I can program PICs. Contact me if interested. Anything I sell will be as close to my cost as possible. I would like to defray some of the modest costs I incurred developing and debugging. I do not make any guarantees or provide any warranties. - You must judge for yourself whether or not these resources meet your specifications or standards. - You must judge for yourself whether or not your skills and tools are adequate to the task of assembling these very small surface mount devices. - Any parts I provide will be new, or NOS, from a reputable source, usually Digikey or Mouser. All sales will be final - no refunds or returns. Contact: Brad Andrews KB9BPF kb9bpf - at - A R R L - dot - NET On Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 07:04:42 PM CDT, swguest via groups.io <swguest@...> wrote: OOPS. Should have selected reply to group......? ? Greetings Mike, ? Welcome to the group.? Skip Hansen, the group owner and co-developer of the X-Cat has make all info for a "roll your own" available to the public in the files section. ?There is/was a guy on here by the name of Brad Andrews that picked up the mantle and made a (proto?) batch, that I presumed he did sell at/near cost. I had asked for 2 ea as well, and he ended up with some time/life/priority things to address and hasnt been back in touch. That was about 1 1/2 years ago.....I have not followed up nor do I know if he will be pursuing the project any further. His contact info is here in the group. I have at least 2 more (4 total) I could press into service as well.....I guess I need to drop him a line and see what's up. ? At any rate, the info is in the files section should you be so inclined. IIRC, Brad also posted the PCB specific files to order the PCB(s). ? Good Hunting. sw |
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Re: Looking for an Xcat
开云体育I had no idea the info to build your own was in the files section. This is fantastic news!
WZ5TX
David “Tyler” Bufkin
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of swguest via groups.io <swguest@...>
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 7:04:39 PM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [xcat] Looking for an Xcat ?
OOPS. Should have selected reply to group......?
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Greetings Mike,
? Welcome to the group.? Skip Hansen, the group owner and co-developer of the X-Cat has make all info for a "roll your own" available to the public in the files section. ?There is/was a guy on here by the name of Brad Andrews that picked up the mantle and made a (proto?) batch, that I presumed he did sell at/near cost. I had asked for 2 ea as well, and he ended up with some time/life/priority things to address and hasnt been back in touch. That was about 1 1/2 years ago.....I have not followed up nor do I know if he will be pursuing the project any further. His contact info is here in the group. I have at least 2 more (4 total) I could press into service as well.....I guess I need to drop him a line and see what's up. ? At any rate, the info is in the files section should you be so inclined. IIRC, Brad also posted the PCB specific files to order the PCB(s). ? Good Hunting. sw |
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Re: Looking for an Xcat
OOPS. Should have selected reply to group......?
?
Greetings Mike, ? Welcome to the group.? Skip Hansen, the group owner and co-developer of the X-Cat has make all info for a "roll your own" available to the public in the files section. ?There is/was a guy on here by the name of Brad Andrews that picked up the mantle and made a (proto?) batch, that I presumed he did sell at/near cost. I had asked for 2 ea as well, and he ended up with some time/life/priority things to address and hasnt been back in touch. That was about 1 1/2 years ago.....I have not followed up nor do I know if he will be pursuing the project any further. His contact info is here in the group. I have at least 2 more (4 total) I could press into service as well.....I guess I need to drop him a line and see what's up. ? At any rate, the info is in the files section should you be so inclined. IIRC, Brad also posted the PCB specific files to order the PCB(s). ? Good Hunting. sw |
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Looking for an Xcat
Greetings all,
I was given a VHF SyntorX. It has some ham channels programmed in it, but none usable in the Indy area. Are the Xcat boards and software still available? If so, how do I acquire one? If not, are there any used ones floating around? Thanks in advance for any info.
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73,
Mike, WA9FDO
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Re: Looking for a VHF Syntor X...
I also have a few Syntor X VHF.? Some are complete sets ready for a mobile install.? Mike, if you are?interested, you can email me directly. KD1OM at arrl On Sun, Aug 25, 2024 at 8:42?AM Jim Conrad via <jjc=[email protected]> wrote:
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Re: Looking for a VHF Syntor X...
Hi Jim,
No need for licensing the IP as the Xcat is now open source. Thanks for asking however! The code is posted on github and is GPL. Firmware: Windows control program: Bootloader: The PCB design was done by K7KAJ using (if I remember correctly) a DOS based version of Eagle and it has been lost to the mists of time. Brad KB9BPF recreated the PCB a couple of years using ExpressPCB. The design files are in the files area of this group (/g/xcat/files). Good luck with your project! 73's Skip WB6YMH On Sun, Aug 25, 2024 at 5:42?AM Jim Conrad via groups.io <jjc@...> wrote:
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Re: Looking for a VHF Syntor X...
Hi,
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I have a couple stacks of Syntor X (~40) - different bands but don't have a count handy. Willing to part with a few if someone is interested in a few. I do have a question for the XCat Developer/IP Owner .. Any XCats available or are you willing to license the IP to further develop it. I'm a Ham and we have a group working on APRS and some over data modes on VHF and UHF I'm interested in getting my stack of Syntor X's operational in that project Thanks, Jim - N4WFP At 07:09 PM 8/12/2024, M M wrote: ...or maybe two... |
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Re: Recycling Syntor X PA
开云体育The TX may have a delayed PTT logic that needs to be eliminated.
I worked on a Metrocom data system for People Mover in Miami decades
ago. There was a capacitor for PL reverse burst (Micors!!)?
that needed to be removed or the one train that it hadn't had it
removed, would collide/interfere with the next one in polling
sequence. Fixed it by listening on the air for distorted data. On 8/19/2023 11:07 PM, Dennis Boone
wrote:
> Securenet versions are signalling at 12 kbps 2 level FM so it would > seem the radios should be good for 9600 backet if you go past the > audio chain and follow Securenet paths and jumpering. Modulation Comp > will be a must. I did use the Securenet pins for audio when I tried it. It's possible I screwed up the jumpering. Or perhaps the modulation used by Securenet works better than the usual ham 9600 stuff. Turnaround time for Securenet isn't as critical as packet. Around here, the usual settings are faster than the Syntor X can do. OP's application may or may not care about any of this. De -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida JLeikhim@... 407-982-0446 |
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Re: Recycling Syntor X PA
Securenet versions are signalling at 12 kbps 2 level FM so it would> seem the radios should be good for 9600 backet if you go past the > audio chain and follow Securenet paths and jumpering. Modulation Comp > will be a must. I did use the Securenet pins for audio when I tried it. It's possible I screwed up the jumpering. Or perhaps the modulation used by Securenet works better than the usual ham 9600 stuff. Turnaround time for Securenet isn't as critical as packet. Around here, the usual settings are faster than the Syntor X can do. OP's application may or may not care about any of this. De |
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Re: Recycling Syntor X PA
I have several 110W Syntor X lying around. It is probably no longer> my interest to get them working by the means that XCat or Piexx > offered... But the RF frontend still holds promise with SDR > applications. Has anyone documented the signaling for the RX LNA, TX > PA, T/R switch, and feedback monitoring? Would love to hook them all > up to an Arduino (or similar) GPIO header. The internal control setup in an X isn't all that complex. But note that those subsystems are scattered across multiple boards. The radio isn't up to 9600 baud packet signalling, and the turnaround time isn't all that quick. If those things don't counterindicate your proposed application, then the Moto manuals (try repeaterbuilder.com) and onfreq.com have the information you'd need. De |
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Recycling Syntor X PA
I have several 110W Syntor X lying around. It is probably no longer my interest to get them working by the means that XCat or Piexx offered... But the RF frontend still holds promise with SDR applications. Has anyone documented the signaling for the RX LNA, TX PA, T/R switch, and feedback monitoring? Would love to hook them all up to an Arduino (or similar) GPIO header.?
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Re: Anyone have a copy of the windows executable xcat.exe?
Glad I could help. 73 Brad On Friday, June 9, 2023 at 11:40:59 AM CDT, <kd6gdb@...> wrote: That was exactly what I am looking for. Thank you. On Fri, Jun 9, 2023 at 9:27?AM Bradley Andrews via <kb9bpf=[email protected]> wrote:
-- Pursuant to U.S. Code, title 47, Chapter 5, Sub chapter II, ?227, "Any and all non solicited commercial E-mail sent to this address is subject to a download and archival fee of $500.00 U.S.". E-mailing denotes acceptance of these terms. |
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Re: Anyone have a copy of the windows executable xcat.exe?
That was exactly what I am looking for. Thank you. On Fri, Jun 9, 2023 at 9:27?AM Bradley Andrews via <kb9bpf=[email protected]> wrote:
-- Pursuant to U.S. Code, title 47, Chapter 5, Sub chapter II, ?227, "Any and all non solicited commercial E-mail sent to this address is subject to a download and archival fee of $500.00 U.S.". E-mailing denotes acceptance of these terms. |
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Re: Anyone have a copy of the windows executable xcat.exe?
Is this what you want? It's right in the file section of the group. /g/xcat/files/XCat%20files/xcat_pc-0.25.zip 73 Brad On Friday, June 9, 2023 at 11:20:58 AM CDT, <kd6gdb@...> wrote: Anyone have a copy of the windows executable xcat.exe? My only copy was stolen with my notebook computer during a home burglary a few years ago. Jeff KD6GDB -- Pursuant to U.S. Code, title 47, Chapter 5, Sub chapter II, ?227, "Any and all non solicited commercial E-mail sent to this address is subject to a download and archival fee of $500.00 U.S.". E-mailing denotes acceptance of these terms. |
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