How to convert GR1225 to rackmount?

Post by **HumHead** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 12:33 pm

I have a GR1225 that is currently in the desktop cabinet. I want to squezze it into a rack, but I can't spare the full 7 spaces to just throw the thing on a rackshelf. I would love to extract the guts from the case and just mount them on a 2U shelf with a fan.

I have seen R1225s with a detacable control head like this one (photo from an eBay auction): http://i12.ebayimg.com/01/i/04/b3/09/e0_1_b.JPG

Does anyone know the specifics to convert a desktop to a stand-alone like this? I know I could just order the RKR1225 kit, but that's a little more cash than I was looking to drop, and cosmetics just don't matter on this one.

Thanks!

kf4sqb · Post by **kf4sqb** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:41 pm

Hell, Hum, if cosemetics don't matter, just take the guts out of the case, and custom fabricate whatever type of shelving/mounts you need on a standard rack-mount tray. I should think that you should be able to make it 'shorter' by maybe re-positioning some parts that are normally 'over/under' as 'side by side'. If I had it in my hands, I'm pretty certain I could do what you want in a matter of a couple of hours, but I wouldn't even know where to tell you to begin if I tried to give you 'instructions' on how to do it yourself. I'm not familiar with the insides of a GR1225. Isn't it basicly just a 'modded' M1225 (or a pair of them?), power supply, controller, and duplexer, all mounted in a cabinet?

Post by **HumHead** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:52 pm

Well, mounting the transciever, power supply, etc side by side on a rack shelf is the basic plan.

The problem I'm having is that the controls are basically integrated into the front panel of the GR1225 case, which is rather unwieldy. I believe that the unit will run without the "dashboard" attached, but I would still to have easy access to the channel buttons and display so that we can easily use this as an emergency spare for our co-located operations repeater.

Post by **wavetar** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 2:46 am

Try emailing Will...he's posted several times about how he runs the GR1225 without the front panel. It's just a matter of one or maybe two jumpers.

Todd

KB2ZTX · Post by **KB2ZTX** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 4:56 am

You can order just the front panel and cable. I don't thik its that expensive to do. I'll double check the price. we have done this on numerous repeaters.

kf4sqb · Post by **kf4sqb** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 1:49 pm

What's the big deal about the front panel? Make a panel any size/configuration you want, and cut it out to accept the nessassary buttons, displays, controls, etc. Sorry, but I guess I've done so much 'if you don't like the way it works, built it differently' myself, it's just second nature to me. A drill, a few drillbits, a Dremel, maybe a sheet metal nibbler, and a pair of pliers, and I can work miracles with sheet metal.

Zaputil · Post by **Zaputil** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 7:26 pm

I was at a tower site a few weeks ago- I saw what looked like a GR1225 transceiver with an old GM300 control head on it. I don't know if that is truly what it was or not. Might be worth looking into....

Good luck!

SZ

Will · Post by **Will** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 10:14 pm

You do not need the "dash board". Just jumper the A+ and SW A+ on the radio front connector and there you go.

I also made up a programming/test cable that plugs into the R1225 Radio and gives you earphone RX audio, mic jack and programming/service access.

Here is how some of our Maxtrac/Radius' are mounted, power supply and duplexer are on the back of the pannel.

http://www.c-cor.org/images/rptrrk.jpg

Post by **HumHead** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 9:39 am

After searching a bit on MOL, I found:

Item Number. HLN9514A

R1225 RETROFIT CONTROL HEAD

Does anyone think that might be the beast I'm looking for? I'm perfecctly happy to move the boards from the current desktop housing.

Thanks!

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 11:45 am

The wall mount GR500 housing uses a "control head" simmular to the GM series radios. It is mounted on a bracket to the slot that is the width of the radio chassis. There is two flex cables from the head to the radio, one for the display board and the other for the vloume control/mic jack board.

The circuit boards are the same, different housing.

Post by **wavetar** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 12:44 pm

HumHead wrote:After searching a bit on MOL, I found:

Item Number. HLN9514A

R1225 RETROFIT CONTROL HEAD

Does anyone think that might be the beast I'm looking for? I'm perfecctly happy to move the boards from the current desktop housing.

Thanks!

I have two R1225 control head kits in my office at work. If these are the same thing, they come with the boards & flex cables. I can double-check the part numbers next week.

Todd