Hi
Freshly converted to amateur use MSF5000 UHF worked through many issues as a first time repeater builder.
With the DMP and speaker enabled the audio is received on the speaker appropriate to programmed tones etc... (if no PL on test transmitter, no audio from speaker) but it does not key the transmitter. This may have been used as a Telephone/wire only input in it's commercial days. Does this sound familiar?
Thanks for any help getting the received audio to the transmitter.
Jay
MSF5000 Transmitter help
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Re: MSF5000 Transmitter help
Is it a CLB (EPROM) or CXB (RSS-programmable) station?
Is it programmed for repeater operation, or base station operation?
If it was connected to a voting comparator or configured as a base station in it's previous life, and those settings are still programmed into it, it'll never repeat.
Is it programmed for repeater operation, or base station operation?
If it was connected to a voting comparator or configured as a base station in it's previous life, and those settings are still programmed into it, it'll never repeat.
Re: MSF5000 Transmitter help
It is CXB and I have been assured that it is programmed correctly... (!?!?!)
Is there something that I can check if there is a bad setting for this symptom without immediate access to RSS?
(More than the fact that it is not working!)
Thank you.
Is there something that I can check if there is a bad setting for this symptom without immediate access to RSS?
(More than the fact that it is not working!)
Thank you.
Re: MSF5000 Transmitter help
After sharing your reply locally here, I have confirmed with the volunteer programmer of ours - that It in fact was programmed for voting and was NOT shut off! Learned a bunch from chasing the wings here. The RSS setup is coming my way within the next few days or weeks and I will share the findings! Thanks d119
Re: MSF5000 Transmitter help
Not a problem. I run a couple of amateur band MSF 5000's over here (one with voting), and have been through damn near every setting and possible configuration of them just to play.
If you get stuck or need help, you can let me know and I'll give you my e-mail address. You can then send me the codeplug file for the station along with what you want the station to do, and I'll program it for you. You can then load the codeplug file back into the station and watch it play, and then look through the file to see what I did.
Hopefully you can figure it out on your own, however.
Keep in mind there are "default" codeplugs that should be located in the root directory of the RSS. "CONV.DEF" is the default file for a conventional repeater. You can load it, which gives you factory baseline settings, and then make your modifications from there.
Keep in touch - we're here to help!
If you get stuck or need help, you can let me know and I'll give you my e-mail address. You can then send me the codeplug file for the station along with what you want the station to do, and I'll program it for you. You can then load the codeplug file back into the station and watch it play, and then look through the file to see what I did.
Hopefully you can figure it out on your own, however.
Keep in mind there are "default" codeplugs that should be located in the root directory of the RSS. "CONV.DEF" is the default file for a conventional repeater. You can load it, which gives you factory baseline settings, and then make your modifications from there.
Keep in touch - we're here to help!
Re: MSF5000 Transmitter help
I would really like to have you on standby for sure. It does not look too difficult of software to figure out. Please email my username @arrl.net? I would really appreciate it. I will do the best new-guy play-by-play here.
We have another MSF5k that was in operation for about 1 hour. The existing -short lived had issues going in.... 200w UHF with a failed PA. That PA was removed and I believe simply over-ridden. I think the exciter drove the remaining PA into failure. It is at the repeater site and will be retrieved when this one gets installed. I will need to start a new thread on that one! Initially, it would pass audio into the TX but if you were beyond about .5 miles away, the audio would not pass- but I could key and hear it for about 40 miles! Then it stopped...... I have not physically looked at this one at all yet and it was set up in a hurry.
We have another MSF5k that was in operation for about 1 hour. The existing -short lived had issues going in.... 200w UHF with a failed PA. That PA was removed and I believe simply over-ridden. I think the exciter drove the remaining PA into failure. It is at the repeater site and will be retrieved when this one gets installed. I will need to start a new thread on that one! Initially, it would pass audio into the TX but if you were beyond about .5 miles away, the audio would not pass- but I could key and hear it for about 40 miles! Then it stopped...... I have not physically looked at this one at all yet and it was set up in a hurry.
Re: MSF5000 Transmitter help
I have the Cables, I have a computer, I have a high-tech signal generator/service monitor.... I do not have the RIB! Ordered one from eBay.
Here in New England was going to enjoy getting snowed in working on the MS5k..... Not this storm...
Since I have the computer that was used and the codeplug saved, it looks like the missing piece is simply the keying priority missing an 'R'?
Looking at the options now on what else to set. Any on-line examples for a ham setup specific to the MS5k?
Here in New England was going to enjoy getting snowed in working on the MS5k..... Not this storm...
Since I have the computer that was used and the codeplug saved, it looks like the missing piece is simply the keying priority missing an 'R'?
Looking at the options now on what else to set. Any on-line examples for a ham setup specific to the MS5k?
Re: MSF5000 Transmitter help
Repeater builder site has what your looking for there's quite a large section on MSF's
Doug
Doug
May the Schwarz be with you.
Re: MSF5000 Transmitter help
Specifically, there are two settings within the MSF 5000 RSS that allows you to define the station as a repeater OR base station, full duplex OR half duplex.w1uj wrote:I have the Cables, I have a computer, I have a high-tech signal generator/service monitor.... I do not have the RIB! Ordered one from eBay.
Here in New England was going to enjoy getting snowed in working on the MS5k..... Not this storm...
Since I have the computer that was used and the codeplug saved, it looks like the missing piece is simply the keying priority missing an 'R'?
Looking at the options now on what else to set. Any on-line examples for a ham setup specific to the MS5k?
Obviously you want the station set for REPEATER and FULL DUPLEX.
Beyond that, your receiver/repeater/hold-in qualifiers in the mode screen should be set for "SC" for everything, which is carrier AND PL.
I usually set PTT priority for "LWR", which is Local (local microphone/front panel), Wireline, and Repeater. But I use voting comparators, so unless you have tone/DC remote equipment connected to the L1/L2 connections on the side of the station, you can set it for "LR", which is Local, Repeater. This gives the station's front panel & local microphone priority over everything else.
Re: MSF5000 Transmitter help
It Is alive!
Received the RIB today!
-The CW ID Does not have the TX PL
-The time from a received signal until the repeater keys seems long.
What would be the best way to interface this with EchoLink/IRLP? There must be an existing topic?
Thank You!
Received the RIB today!
-The CW ID Does not have the TX PL
-The time from a received signal until the repeater keys seems long.
What would be the best way to interface this with EchoLink/IRLP? There must be an existing topic?
Thank You!
Re: MSF5000 Transmitter help
This repeater is up and running! Working OK, but the hilly CT terrain has proven many dead spots that we need to work on.
The time for the PA to key after it receives a signal is still near 2 seconds, but usable.
I have the original MSF5k high-power version back in the shop and here is the problem= One of the PA's failed and was disconnected.
The Repeater works, but the output power just keeps climbing until it stops TXing.
Is there a way to tell the repeater that it is now a 100w model? Or simply disable one of the amplifiers?
I would rather not put another PA back in (power consumption...etc) I believe the alarm is 2-7
The keying after receiving the PL input is almost instant on this one so I may use this program for the new one, or go through the settings.
Thanks for any help.
The time for the PA to key after it receives a signal is still near 2 seconds, but usable.
I have the original MSF5k high-power version back in the shop and here is the problem= One of the PA's failed and was disconnected.
The Repeater works, but the output power just keeps climbing until it stops TXing.
Is there a way to tell the repeater that it is now a 100w model? Or simply disable one of the amplifiers?
I would rather not put another PA back in (power consumption...etc) I believe the alarm is 2-7
The keying after receiving the PL input is almost instant on this one so I may use this program for the new one, or go through the settings.
Thanks for any help.
Re: MSF5000 Transmitter help
There is a place in the RSS I want to say it's under your channel information, they have a key up delay for the PA. Default is around .39 seconds. They have this delay built in if your running it in a base station configuration to give the antenna relay a chance to switch over to the TX side. In a repeater mode you can set it much lower than the default and not have any problems.
With regards to the TX power it almost sounds like they have by passed the circulator in the amp. The circulator circuit has voltage lines on it to detect forward/reflected power if its sees a high reflected power the station is supoose to lower its exciter power. When all is right with the world MSF's are usually rock solid output
Doug
With regards to the TX power it almost sounds like they have by passed the circulator in the amp. The circulator circuit has voltage lines on it to detect forward/reflected power if its sees a high reflected power the station is supoose to lower its exciter power. When all is right with the world MSF's are usually rock solid output
Doug
May the Schwarz be with you.
Re: MSF5000 Transmitter help
Thanks Doug!
The problem I have is this;
I have a 2x PA UHF MSF-5000.
One of the PAs and it's power supply is completely removed from the rack before I had it.
The single PA works well, with the PO pot all of the way CCW and if you watch a wattmeter while TX, the PO starts 'normal' and keeps increasing until the protection... etc kicks off the PA. I think the PO >100w. If I look at the exciter power, it closes in on 15w.
If there was a way to disable the MSF5k from looking for the second PA, that would be great.
j.
The problem I have is this;
I have a 2x PA UHF MSF-5000.
One of the PAs and it's power supply is completely removed from the rack before I had it.
The single PA works well, with the PO pot all of the way CCW and if you watch a wattmeter while TX, the PO starts 'normal' and keeps increasing until the protection... etc kicks off the PA. I think the PO >100w. If I look at the exciter power, it closes in on 15w.
If there was a way to disable the MSF5k from looking for the second PA, that would be great.
j.
Re: MSF5000 Transmitter help
Out of curiosity is there a white molex connector on the the left side of the station about 4 inches below the amp? The reason for me asking is in some of the 250 watt stations I've seen the circulator was installed in the high power amp and the driver amp was straight through with no circulator. Its feed back voltages came from the high power amp. I'm wondering if the driver amp that you are using is that style
Doug
Do you have a part number on the amp that your using? It may help to identify what style it is
Doug
Do you have a part number on the amp that your using? It may help to identify what style it is
May the Schwarz be with you.
Re: MSF5000 Transmitter help
Sorry for the delay.
There are 2 small white molex connectors. One is for each of the PA's that this originally had. There is only one PA now, the second one, and it's power supply is MIA.
The part number is;
C84CXB7106BT
And it is missing an amplifier!
The symptoms are the IPA driving and driving until the IPA and PA fails. I believe the output power was close to 150w before the cutout. This lit up the Low Power Duplexer like a flair.
If this was put on site- could have been bad.
I found a somewhat obscure posting about limiting the control voltage to the IPA to cut back on the IPA drive and PA output. I placed a ~5k potentiometer in series with the brown wire feeding the IPA board, I mounted the pot to the metal cover. It works great! The PA failure tones are there, but everything seems to work at low drive.
The 2nd of these units I have is in service with the delayed (~3 seconds) transmitter keyup once it receives a qualifying signal on the input. The .DEF file was forwarded to d119 for analysis!
UJay
There are 2 small white molex connectors. One is for each of the PA's that this originally had. There is only one PA now, the second one, and it's power supply is MIA.
The part number is;
C84CXB7106BT
And it is missing an amplifier!
The symptoms are the IPA driving and driving until the IPA and PA fails. I believe the output power was close to 150w before the cutout. This lit up the Low Power Duplexer like a flair.
If this was put on site- could have been bad.
I found a somewhat obscure posting about limiting the control voltage to the IPA to cut back on the IPA drive and PA output. I placed a ~5k potentiometer in series with the brown wire feeding the IPA board, I mounted the pot to the metal cover. It works great! The PA failure tones are there, but everything seems to work at low drive.
The 2nd of these units I have is in service with the delayed (~3 seconds) transmitter keyup once it receives a qualifying signal on the input. The .DEF file was forwarded to d119 for analysis!
UJay