Linking ASTRO-only Quantars

[Twisted_Pear]

I'm brainstorming future projects from an amateur perspective and would like to know my options. I would like to link, over long distance, two or more Quantars operating strictly in ASTRO CAI mode. My understanding is that the only way to do this is via ASTRO modem daughter boards. Considering this how would you link more than one? It doesn't sound like a setup you can daisy-chain.

On a similar note, to support linking in-cabinet, such as cross-banding, it's a simple issue of connecting one V.24 equipped station with another equally equipped Quantar, and away you go. Correct?

Search results only give info for those with a larger budget than what would be available in this situation, so any advice is appreciated.

[mr.syntrx]

I'm brainstorming future projects from an amateur perspective and would like to know my options. I would like to link, over long distance, two or more Quantars operating strictly in ASTRO CAI mode. My understanding is that the only way to do this is via ASTRO modem daughter boards. Considering this how would you link more than one? It doesn't sound like a setup you can daisy-chain.

Through an AstroTAC voter.

[515]

Yep, you've pretty much got it right. The Astro modems are the most straightforward way to link to Quantars that aren't at the same site. V.24 cards are about half the cost of Astro modems, and allow linking two Quantars within 50 feet of each other. An Astro-TAC can link multiple Quantars, and/or allow a DIU to connect to more than one Quantar, but it is an expensive way to go since all the voting capabilities are built in, whether you need them or not.

The V.24 connections are 9.6 kbps full-duplex synchronous data, meaning there's a clock signal that needs to go across the link with the data. I was hoping some cheap 900 MHz license-free RS-232 modems could be used for linking a couple of Quantars at different sites, but I haven't found any that can deal with synchronous data.

Although the V.24 card provides two V.24 ports on the front of the Quantar, it seems you can't do much with the second port.

[mr.syntrx]

Although the V.24 card provides two V.24 ports on the front of the Quantar, it seems you can't do much with the second port.

A lot of COTS leased line modems will play nicely with the V.24 ports, particularly in countries where the ASTRO modem isn't locally type approved for PSTN connection. That might be a cheaper alternative to the real thing.

[Twisted_Pear]

I figured it would require an ASTRO-Tac. Thanks guys.

Maybe the Tait radios are more suited to linking multiple APCO-25 sites? If I remember correctly you can link them without any complicated hardware and use typical backhaul equipment.

[mr.syntrx]

You only need Ethernet backhaul for Tait stations.

[/\/\y 2 cents]

Folks,

You can always go from v.24 or v.35 to IP using PackeTUBE. Then they can be linked anywhere on the planet using Broadband or private LAN/WAN.

Steve