MDC-1200???
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MDC-1200???
Well, i am only posting this again because my original post was indeed moved where it recieved no responses so if anyone has any ideas please respond. i have a fire dispatch which uses MDC-1200 to alert all fire sirens, turn on lights, and open garage doors throughout the town. problem is we have a siren which can make two different sounds, wail and fast wail. the astro spectra radio we have only accepts one mdc code, and we need a radio that accepts 2. one for wail, and one for fast wail. all the radio needs to do is trip 2 different relays, does motorola make such a radio? any other companies make a radio like this?
I have no idea how this is working but I can make some guesses :
Your dispatch is sending the Call Alert MDC1200 code (0x3589 DEST 0x830D SRC) and the radios are set to operate the siren on Call Alert.
As far as I know, there is only the Call Alert code which can be programmed to operate Sirens/Headlights on receipt. (I think only the mobiles have this capability, not handhelds).
There is an Emergency Alert code but that is supposed to be sent by mobiles to dispatchers so I don't think that any radios would have alternative programmable behaviour for that case.
I'm afraid that it is probable that nobody has anything to meet your requirements. You could talk to Cimarron (http://www.cimtechcorp.com), they might have some way of plugging a decoder card into radio (they work with Kenwoods for example) and allowing codes to operate output pins.
Your dispatch is sending the Call Alert MDC1200 code (0x3589 DEST 0x830D SRC) and the radios are set to operate the siren on Call Alert.
As far as I know, there is only the Call Alert code which can be programmed to operate Sirens/Headlights on receipt. (I think only the mobiles have this capability, not handhelds).
There is an Emergency Alert code but that is supposed to be sent by mobiles to dispatchers so I don't think that any radios would have alternative programmable behaviour for that case.
I'm afraid that it is probable that nobody has anything to meet your requirements. You could talk to Cimarron (http://www.cimtechcorp.com), they might have some way of plugging a decoder card into radio (they work with Kenwoods for example) and allowing codes to operate output pins.
You would use the Lights/horn option. The inital use was to throw a relay in the car and if you got a MDC call or page, it would beep the horn or flash the lights etc. That's the orgin of the H/L button on the Spectra's, etc. I think it was even available since the X9000 and Maratracs.
Lowband radio. The original and non-complicated wide area interoperable communications system
well, as Pj stated, all it does is throw a realy, which trips a dry contact n the siren box. thus setting the siren off on its initial timing cycle whatever its set up for. other departments around us are using the 2 mobile radio set-up, i thought it was typically pointless to have 2 mobiles to talk on in the same room, anyone know of a cheap but good mdc-1200 capable mobile, ex. maybe the mcs 2000?
thanks for your input so far.
thanks for your input so far.
Do you have any of the manuals for the Astro Spectra? I have never played with the options, but in theory, you may be able to accomplish this by adding a 2nd MDC system into the radio with a different ID (possible with the same id with different options...i'll have to play).
The problem with the 2nd (or 3rd etc) systems is that the radio would have to be in scan, and you *may* miss the data packet. The ASTRO spectra doesn't have a fast scan speed as the X9000/Spectra radios.
I think it can be done, just need to play with some options in CPS and see what I can come up with.
Worse case, you could pick up a cheap 16 pin maxtrac or two and use them (looking at $50-$100 each).
The problem with the 2nd (or 3rd etc) systems is that the radio would have to be in scan, and you *may* miss the data packet. The ASTRO spectra doesn't have a fast scan speed as the X9000/Spectra radios.
I think it can be done, just need to play with some options in CPS and see what I can come up with.
Worse case, you could pick up a cheap 16 pin maxtrac or two and use them (looking at $50-$100 each).
Lowband radio. The original and non-complicated wide area interoperable communications system
Pj, will it allow the astro spectra to trip two different relays?
ex.
mdc code #1, trips relay #1 sets siren off on wail
mdc code #2, trips relay #2, sets siren off on fast wail?
we always leave our astro spectra on channel 1 main dispatch, which is the channel the mdc codes come over on, and we leave the radio off of scan, thus its always on channel 1 to recieve its ID code.
let me know what you come up with.
thanks
ex.
mdc code #1, trips relay #1 sets siren off on wail
mdc code #2, trips relay #2, sets siren off on fast wail?
we always leave our astro spectra on channel 1 main dispatch, which is the channel the mdc codes come over on, and we leave the radio off of scan, thus its always on channel 1 to recieve its ID code.
let me know what you come up with.
thanks
Yes I know of sum mdc1200 options like mute- unmute , selective call, call alert, radio check, radio kill, ptt id, in fact I use a spectra with a system 9000 siren, and I have programmed the H/L button for a hi-lo sound, anyway can anybody explain ware on the radio side I would connect the relay, an how it works,