Using two M120s as a repeater

[Max]

I have two M120s. They are both two channel radios. The model numbers are M34GMC20A3AA and M44GMC20C3AA. Can these be used together as a repeater either with a RICK or the non-RICK interface cable described on Batlabs? It refers to 8 and 16 channel radios only. Thanks

[Monty]

Hi:

If you get a hold of [ Will ] here on the forum, he makes
a simple repeater interface that will work on all series
of that radio.

He has been around more often, but do not get discouraged
as sometimes he is a little tough to reach.

===========================================

OR, if you wish to stay with the Factory R*I*C*K your
radios ARE compatable with Basic ( uni-directional ), Basic
( bi-directional ) and i50R

I have a few of the R*I*C*K's Brand New in the Box
with all the cables if you are interested which has all
the features but is more expensive than Wills.

Please Don;t Quote me since I do not know for
sure, but I think his is around 100.00 ~ 125.00.

The SM50, SM120, and M130's were not designed for the GR Series

Monty

[Crimestopper]

You can go Will's Route simple and easy to hook up, or you can use a RICK type of controller.....anyone will work...please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks
Crimestopper

[Will]

Some M120's do not allow you to configure the Accy (16 pin) jack.
I maybe need to look into this problem to find a alternate connection in the Accy jack.

Some info here:
http://www.webimaging.com/echocomm/


Will
Four star General,
BatTeam West

[kcbooboo]

The only signal that you need the accessory jack for, is the COR signal. Everything else can be done via the front panel MIC jack, for Radiuses and MaxTracs.

If you're willing to dig into the logic board and add a resistor and an NPN transistor, you can create your own COR signal and bring that out to the MIC jack via one of the two spare (unused) pins. You can then do everything with the five signals available at that connector: Mike audio in, headphone audio out, PTT in, COR out, and MONITOR/HANGUP in.

If you want to set up a real, legal, repeater, you'll need some form of identification and probably some timeout timers. Commercial (ham) repeater controllers can be obtained for $80 and up, depending on the features. I've had good luck with the CAT-200 controller ($199) on these radios.

Bob M.

[Max]

Thanks for all those that had input to my question,but i'm still a little confused....can these radios be hooked up for repeater operation,or do i have to do mod's to the logic board ?

Max

[kcbooboo]

IF you have the 16-pin ACC jack on the rear AND the firmware and RSS will let you program one pin as a COR signal, then you do NOT have to make any mods to the logic board. You can get all the signals you need to make two of these radios into a repeater, albeit a simple one, by using the MIC and ACC jacks.

My way involves adding two components to the logic board that duplicates the parts already in place on those boards that provide the COR signal. But since not all boards can do this, particularly 5-pin ACC jack logic boards, I chose to just add the two parts myself and wire them up to a spare pin on the MIC jack. Now I only need an 8-pin RJ-45 connector to the front of the radio, and don't have to do any special programming for a COR pin. This is just the way I chose to go.

You will still want/need some timers for hang-time and transmitter timeout, plus some means of identification to make a legal stand-alone repeater. The RICK interface does not provide all of this functionality, but it will allow you to use two radios and get a repeater out of them.

Bob M.

[Quarterwave]

If you are just making an in-band repeater, you only need 3 wires between the two 16 pin connectors to do it. I have a portable repeater 2 M120's running a cable I made. Audio is fine and it has never failed to work. No RSS programming would be necessary as the pin functions are already there.
You can actually do cross band with addition of 2 more lines. This of course will provide no hang time, not that it would matter unless you are a Kerchunker.