Maratrac For Base Station PL ???

Post by **vcaruso** » Tue Nov 20, 2001 9:05 am

We need to set up a temporary high power wire line controlled base station. We have used the Maratrac (one mode programmed)in the past for this application with great success but always with a control head set up at the site. I would like to try using the radio only this time but am concerned that without the control head the radio will be in monitor mode all the time. Is there a jumper I can make on the CH cable connector to close the PL?

Vince

aaron_tech · Post by **aaron_tech** » Tue Nov 20, 2001 9:22 am

How are you using the maratrac. Are you using a phone interface. If you are why cant you use a tone remote adapter and go through the mic jack on the control head at the site. This would allow you to put a ground on the mic input to keep the radio from going in to monitor. I have used tone remote adapters to key radios through the mic jack instead of the acc plug in very unique situations. If you send me more detail on your paticular setup I might be able to better help you.

Aaron

Post by **vcaruso** » Tue Nov 20, 2001 12:13 pm

We are using a tone remote adapter, but I would really like to get away without having to install a control head at that site. I am planning on making my mic and audio connections through the ch cable connector via an old cut off ch cable.

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Nov 20, 2001 3:33 pm

We used to do this with Motrac's, Motran's, Micors and Mocom 70's.
We just wired the appropiate resistors to control the volume and squelch and the power leads on a small cable/connector going into the radio's control head plug. Also going directly in and out of the radio's connector is the mic audio, PL hang-up and receive audio to/from the remote adapter. This was usally made up from a dammaged control cable's connector.

Post by **vcaruso** » Tue Nov 20, 2001 3:46 pm

Will,

Thats exactly what I need to do, but I need to know which lead is the PL hang up for the maratrac.

Vince

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Nov 20, 2001 4:20 pm

Vince,
I can not tell which one is the PL hang-up as I do not have the "road map" for the Maratrac radios.
The PL pin on a Motrac/Mocom70/Mitrek is pin 16 to pin 6, or 1 shield ground, for hang-up.

I would love to get a cable/head diagram for the Maratrac, as I want to "play" with one! Then I would be able to help out more on the base station connections for you.

Post by **vcaruso** » Tue Nov 20, 2001 4:24 pm

Thanks, I believe there is a diagram on the Maratrac page here on batlabs.

Will · Post by **Will** » Wed Nov 21, 2001 3:31 pm

The information on BatLabs does not show which pin does the mic hang-up. There is a refferance to the PL hang-up pins on the calmshell control head wich corresponds to the same pins used by the hang-up switch box on a Miterk control head. If one had a road map of the Maratrac head it should be easy to figure it out.
There was also the refferance to programing a radio without the head/cable and using the inside mic jack to provide a test mic connection. I wonder if the connections on the test/programing jack are the same as the Maxar/Radius radios. If so there should be a PL hang-up on pin 3 and pin 4 is ground, try putting a RJ45 (8pin modular)jumper plug in the jack with pins 3 and 4 jumpered.

Post by **vcaruso** » Wed Nov 21, 2001 3:53 pm

I know for certain that you cant just plug in a Maxtrac Mic & go on the Maratrac, but for some reason it works on the M400???

TheMotorolaMan · Post by **TheMotorolaMan** » Wed Nov 21, 2001 4:54 pm

Vince,

The Maratrac uses serial data for switch inputs except Power, PTT, and Emergency.
The programming jack - pin 3 is also the Emergency Switch input.
The clamshell control head uses a MC4021 8-bit shift register.
This communicates with the micro in the radio using serial clock, data in, and display enable lines.

TMM

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Nov 22, 2001 12:22 pm

Thanks to MotorolaMan for that information.
I would look in the radio for a point that could be used to enable the "PL" and put a switch on that for testing and servicing.
But not having the service manual, road map(s), puts me at a severe disadvantage.
There should allways be a way to "skin the cat".

TheMotorolaMan · Post by **TheMotorolaMan** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 8:04 am

Will,
The best I can tell there is no discrete Hook (HUB) line on the Maratrac.
On the logic board there is a line labeled Hook, but when you trace it thru the interconnect board to the control head, it connects to the Emergency Switch.
For Vince's question, where he wants to be able to place the radio in PL without an control head.
You have to duplicate the circuit used to read the switches, and in his case the HUB switch.
TMM