DC Remotes

[jalf]

I would like to use a DC remote to connect a vhf radio to a point of dispatch located ~50' away. I have seen a home brew version of the interconect board adn was wondering if anyone has a schematic or if there is a board/kit available to build one. I would also need to know how this would hook into the radio.

Thanks

Joe

[n1pfc]

as far as connecting it into the radio, what kind of radio is it?

If is supports a handset (CDM, MCS, etc) you can actually connect it directly to the mic jack on the radio and not even worry about using the options jack on the rear. This is how the CPI remote adapters work.

Kurt

[/\/\y 2 cents]

Jalf

If you have the internet or a private LAN of 33.6kbps or higher you can also use that to connect the points. It as a HECK of a lot cheaper than wiring copper circuits. Plus it gives you the luxury of beign able to talk/listen to your radios from any PC on earth. If you want one of our little Virtual Base Station boards let me know or go to http://www.criticalrf.com

Steve

[440roadrunner]

If you have the internet or a private LAN of 33.6kbps or higher you can also use that to connect the points. It as a HECK of a lot cheaper than wiring copper circuits. Plus it gives you the luxury of beign able to talk/listen to your radios from any PC on earth.

Uh, aren't we talking abut FIFTY FEET here?

[/\/\y 2 cents]

Yes but then you have to put 50 feet of new cable in. That takes time and $$ for an installer if you want to do a PROFESSIONAL job. Why not use the 50 + feet of cat 5 ethernet that is already run that the computers are TX/RXing packet data over. Just plug it into yourt base station, click connect and go to any computer and click connect. What you are not realizing is the cables have already been run. You have been conditioned to think like a radio person of the last 50 years, not the next 50. Even it if it 50 feet you will find if you have a LAN (wired or wireless) the cable you need is already there. Just load the software and plug in the radio.

Steve

[440roadrunner]

You have been conditioned to think like a radio person of the last 50 years, not the next 50

You have assumed two things, here, at least one of which is incorrect.


One has to do with what you think is the way I think.

You ALSO have assumed that there is CAT5 cable in place. Well, maybe there is, and maybe there isn't.

However, if there IS either CAT5, or at least common 'ol house telco cables, you should be able to run the DC control pair right over that existing cabling.

Don't forget, that unless a CAT5 LAN cable is doubled up for telco or a secondary LAN circuit, there's two spare pairs in there.

[/\/\y 2 cents]

This is true

[Birken Vogt]

Also I got to put mine in here...radio men do not like using anything that is not under their control...who knows how that computer network is set up, and if it is reliable.

I always say, there is nothing as reliable as a copper loop....

Birken

[jalf]

Looks like I need to give you guys more information.

I’m trying to set up four workstations in a County Command Post vehicle. We had considered placing one VHF radio/ power supply in each workstation. After considering this further, we wanted to reduce the clutter in the workstations and move the radios to an area where they were out of site and I could vent the heat generated from the electronics outside and reduce the load on the undersized AC. My thought was to use a CPI remote at each workstation and connect the radios via a copper wire pair. The radios and power supplies would be tucked away in a closet with a fresh air intake and a vented exhaust to keep things from burning up. My question is how do I hook up the remote to the radio without having to buy an expensive remote control adaptor? I was hoping for a simple cost effective solution. Money for the project has died up & I need to stretch the dollar as for as I can. The primary radio we will be using is a M/A Com M7100 VHF. The other three radios will be Motorola max trac or M1225. Thanks for all your help

Joe

[Birken Vogt]

I don't know too much about the radios in question but it seems like the most logical way to do it would be simply with an extended control head cable and dual heads if the radio allows it. We did something like this over 200ft in a fire house one time.

Birken

[RKG]

You're on the right track using four parallelled remotes to a single mobile radio mounted elsewhere than in the computer room.

Compared to the cost of the remotes, the remote adapter card for the radio is reasonable. Your best bet might well be a CDM mobile, as CPI makes a nice remote and adapter that will enable a number of advanced features.

Buy why DC? Done right, DC is nice, but there are very few folks who support DC any longer, and it is much harder to get advance features on a DC remote, since you basically have only six different current values. Likewise, DC remote current generators can drift and require realignment from time to time. Finally, you have to be more careful parallelling DC remotes than tone remotes.

[jackhackett]

A few things are still a bit unclear..

I get the impression that each work station will operate a seperate radio, is this correct?

Will you need to be able to change channels on the radios remotely, or will they be single channel only?

[jwb8734]

Jalf - http://www.tessco.com/ is a good source to but the DC remote terminations to the radio. The Remote they are talking about is going for $155.76 from them hte model is CPI Comm. MR100.

There are other options with non Moto radios like Dual Head or Multi-band readios to 1 head. It may be a bit cheaper than MOTO. But now you have options.

Maybe another reason why he is picking DC remotes is cost. I do notice there is a considerable price difference in DC and Tone remotes.