I am needing some help hooking up a pac to a maratrac. I am a member in the local rescue squad that has all the neccesary hardware but doesn't know how to hook it up. He is looking to make it go vhf-vhf. Thanks for your help in advance.
Dennis
Maratrac to PAC-RT
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I wouldn't recommend going VHF-VHF, but if that's all he can do then so be it.
You need the right cable to go between the Maratrac and the PAC. Then you need to modify the Maratrac to feed the PAC. By the way, after the mod the XMIT red lite on the control head will not work, even when using it as a normal mobile.
You need a manual, and go to this page in Batlabs:
http://www.batlabs.com/maratrac.html
Hope this helps. I used to have a spare cable, but I haven't seen it in a while. If you need it, I will look for it. I never got around to modding my Maratrac for PAC usage.
Jack
You need the right cable to go between the Maratrac and the PAC. Then you need to modify the Maratrac to feed the PAC. By the way, after the mod the XMIT red lite on the control head will not work, even when using it as a normal mobile.
You need a manual, and go to this page in Batlabs:
http://www.batlabs.com/maratrac.html
Hope this helps. I used to have a spare cable, but I haven't seen it in a while. If you need it, I will look for it. I never got around to modding my Maratrac for PAC usage.
Jack
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Thanks for the info. I knew I should have looked there first. I believe he has all of the cables and I will pass that other info on to him. My next question is on programming because I know he is going to ask. What does he have to do in order for it to work once all of the mods are done? Thanks again.
Dennis
Dennis
Programming the Maratrac is normal. All operations (except for the red XMIT lite) will work normally for the Maratrac.
When he turns on the PAC, it will repeat what the Maratrac hears, and he will hear "interrupted" audio. The interruptions are for the PAC to look to see if the hand-held is transmitting so it can switch the Maratrac to transmit.
The Maratrac does not have any fancy programming like the Spectras do for the VRS systems.
Jack
When he turns on the PAC, it will repeat what the Maratrac hears, and he will hear "interrupted" audio. The interruptions are for the PAC to look to see if the hand-held is transmitting so it can switch the Maratrac to transmit.
The Maratrac does not have any fancy programming like the Spectras do for the VRS systems.
Jack
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Back up the truck.
The handheld has to be the same freq as the PAC - not the Maratrac. The whole idea is to receive from the handheld and transmit from the Maratrac. If the Maratrac is transmitting on the same freq. as the handheld, the PAC will never hear the handheld as soon as the Maratrac keys up.
One of the reasons why you don't normally have the PAC in the same freq. band as the main radio.
And yes, the PAC needs a separate antenna.
Jack
The handheld has to be the same freq as the PAC - not the Maratrac. The whole idea is to receive from the handheld and transmit from the Maratrac. If the Maratrac is transmitting on the same freq. as the handheld, the PAC will never hear the handheld as soon as the Maratrac keys up.
One of the reasons why you don't normally have the PAC in the same freq. band as the main radio.
And yes, the PAC needs a separate antenna.
Jack
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Keep the truck going backwards
I currently have two PAC-RTs working VHF-VHF. I would recommend, for best results, you ensure that the PAC frequency is WELL far and away from the Maratrac frequency. I would strongly recommend at least a 4-5 meg spread, if possible, and moving the antennae as far apart as possible.
The rigs I have going now are PAC + 45 Watt Spectra. PAC is on 152.300, and the Spectra uses 155.490. I also have a PAC + 110 Watt Spectra, PAC is on 154.920, Spectra is on 156.240. Keeping the antennae apart helps. The low power Spectra/PAC uses a 1/4 wave antenna, and atrunk lip mount, opposite of the radio antenna. The high power radio is using a BNC "rubber duck" style portable antenna that is mounted through the back deck of the car.
Just suggestions, and what I have made work. Feel free to comment.
The rigs I have going now are PAC + 45 Watt Spectra. PAC is on 152.300, and the Spectra uses 155.490. I also have a PAC + 110 Watt Spectra, PAC is on 154.920, Spectra is on 156.240. Keeping the antennae apart helps. The low power Spectra/PAC uses a 1/4 wave antenna, and atrunk lip mount, opposite of the radio antenna. The high power radio is using a BNC "rubber duck" style portable antenna that is mounted through the back deck of the car.
Just suggestions, and what I have made work. Feel free to comment.
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Jonathan KC8RYW
- Posts: 1747
- Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2001 4:00 pm
Re: Keep the truck going backwards
???BPD109 wrote:The rigs I have going now are PAC + 45 Watt Spectra. PAC is on 152.300, and the Spectra uses 155.490. I also have a PAC + 110 Watt Spectra, PAC is on 154.920, Spectra is on 156.240. Keeping the antennae apart helps. The low power Spectra/PAC uses a 1/4 wave antenna, and atrunk lip mount, opposite of the radio antenna. The high power radio is using a BNC "rubber duck" style portable antenna that is mounted through the back deck of the car.
Let me see if I read this right -- you are running a 110w Spectra into a rubber duck antenna?
73 DE KC8RYW
Random Motorola Part Number:
SYN1894B - V3m Sprint-branded Battery Cover
Random Motorola Part Number:
SYN1894B - V3m Sprint-branded Battery Cover
Ummm... I was involved in the install that BPD109 is referring to... he was, umm... lets say, a little out of it when he made that post... It's actually setup so that the 110W Spectra is on a 5/8 wave VHF Antenna on an L-Bracket on the trunk, and the PAC is on the rubber duck on the rear deck... That should make a little better sense! 
OOOPS
See what happens when I am left in public, unsupervised.
Yes, the Spectra is using a 5/8 wave antenna, mounted on an L bracket on the passenger side of the car. The PAC-RT is using a rubber duck antenna, mounted in the car, on the rear deck.
It works for its purpose, as it's not often used, however it has come in very handy when it's been needed.
Sorry for the confusion...I try to horde that to myself so it cannot contaminate the rest of the world.
Yes, the Spectra is using a 5/8 wave antenna, mounted on an L bracket on the passenger side of the car. The PAC-RT is using a rubber duck antenna, mounted in the car, on the rear deck.
It works for its purpose, as it's not often used, however it has come in very handy when it's been needed.
Sorry for the confusion...I try to horde that to myself so it cannot contaminate the rest of the world.
You can only buy so many bags of lime before people begin asking questions...