Folks,
I have a Quantar repeater that I have setup and would like to extend my coverage. I was reading the past post on voting systems (generated by alot of folks like KD6KML). They all pointed to the Spectra TAC Voting System or newer items.
I will admit, as old I am in the radio business, I am very new to voting systems. I know the theory but I am in need for some suggestions as how I can extend my Quantar's RX coverage. This would be for Ham or MARS use, so I can't afford to spend thousands of $.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
MARS
Making a Voting System with a Quantar
Moderator: Queue Moderator
Voter
The main difficulty in voting is linking the RX sites to the voter and the voter to the TX site if necessary. The Spectra TAC comparator will produce tone remote command to key up the station. Configure the Quantar for "fallback in cabinet repeat". This will allow the station to act as a normal repeater should the voter fail.
Linking the RX to the comparator requires microwave, phone lines, or RF link. RF is easiest for ham, use 900 or 420. For MARS, I don't know what channels might be available for linking. This might be a problem.
I am in Navy MARS and we have been told that all new repeaters must be narrowband. so, any new system won't do us any good since most members use modified ham equipment for repeater use that is wideband. Existing equipment can be replaced with wideband equipment, but new freqs must be narrow.
PM with any questions as I don't come around here so much anymore. I have email notification.
Josh
EDIT...
Alex and I posted at the same time. Digital requires Astro-tac and I have no experiance there. However, I have installed a Quantar on an existing Spectra Tac system, with it replaceing a MSR2000. Doing things fore the manual didn't work properly and we had to play with it a lot. The docs that came with the cards for the MSR2k to make it work with the voter were also incorrect and the station would not work. I could get a printout of the codeplug data for how we made the Quantar work properly.
Linking the RX to the comparator requires microwave, phone lines, or RF link. RF is easiest for ham, use 900 or 420. For MARS, I don't know what channels might be available for linking. This might be a problem.
I am in Navy MARS and we have been told that all new repeaters must be narrowband. so, any new system won't do us any good since most members use modified ham equipment for repeater use that is wideband. Existing equipment can be replaced with wideband equipment, but new freqs must be narrow.
PM with any questions as I don't come around here so much anymore. I have email notification.
Josh
EDIT...
Alex and I posted at the same time. Digital requires Astro-tac and I have no experiance there. However, I have installed a Quantar on an existing Spectra Tac system, with it replaceing a MSR2000. Doing things fore the manual didn't work properly and we had to play with it a lot. The docs that came with the cards for the MSR2k to make it work with the voter were also incorrect and the station would not work. I could get a printout of the codeplug data for how we made the Quantar work properly.
As some above have said, the biggest headache is "signal transport" from your remote reciever(s).
Phone or microwave is easiest. Buy up some old SPECTRA TAC remote receivers, re-xtal them to your RX and feed the received info (either an incoming signal or the status tone) down the line to your voter (say a used Spectra Tac Voter). Voter "chooses" the best signal.
For locations that you don't have microwave or phone lines, use a receiver connected to a link transmitter. On the other end of the link use a receiver with your favorite tone encoder to insert status tone whenever the link is NOT hearing the remote receiver. Feed that to the voter.
Use any combination of the above to fill your needs.
For new stuff, the JPS voter is excellent.
But for ham (on a budget) the used Spectra tac is pretty good stuff. There are a couple of voter systems kinda marketed to hams also, "Hall" voter I think is one.
Phone or microwave is easiest. Buy up some old SPECTRA TAC remote receivers, re-xtal them to your RX and feed the received info (either an incoming signal or the status tone) down the line to your voter (say a used Spectra Tac Voter). Voter "chooses" the best signal.
For locations that you don't have microwave or phone lines, use a receiver connected to a link transmitter. On the other end of the link use a receiver with your favorite tone encoder to insert status tone whenever the link is NOT hearing the remote receiver. Feed that to the voter.
Use any combination of the above to fill your needs.
For new stuff, the JPS voter is excellent.
But for ham (on a budget) the used Spectra tac is pretty good stuff. There are a couple of voter systems kinda marketed to hams also, "Hall" voter I think is one.