Batboard

Can a UHF conventional Quantar repeater be programmed for mode slaved operations, or must it be dedicated to either IMBE or Analog in the RSS for any particular channel pair, and it requires an RSS re-program to change any particular Quantar repeater channel to Analog (as opposed to IMBE)?

For instance, with appropriate RSS programming for a particular Quantar repeater channel pair, will the Quantar repeat legacy analog FM radios in analog, but if an IMBE radio keys up (and the IMBE radio is actually transmitting in the digital voice mode), then the Quantar will detect the digital input, and automatically start repeating in IMBE mode (and then switch back to repeating in analog FM, if and as soon as, an analog FM radio subsequently keys up)?

Larry

you can set it 3 ways

plane jane analog
imbe only
or both

Mike

This dual-mode (analog/P25) operation in a Quantar can be done using the channel scan function. Two channels are entered, with the same TX/RX frequency pair, but one is set to use analog, and the other is digital. It works very well. It will also quickly change modes if a mobile keys up in the opposite mode while the Quantar is still transmitting the hang time.

I don't think all Quantars have the channel scan function, though. And this may not be the only way to do this...

Hope this helps,

515

Channel Scan on a Quantar is a VERY expensive (and very unusual) option that I otherwise have no use for.

Using Channel Scan to provide mode switching (Analog, IMBE or Both) seems like a Rube Goldberg type of brute force approach.

Does anyone know FOR SURE if a Quantar has a legitimate way in the RSS to program the Quantar to automatically mode switch?

The two answers to my post are totally different---one says Yes, automatic mode switching is a normal function (Analog, IMBE or both). The other response suggests a sort of Ham radio, informal way to force it (not very desirable for commercial operations) by setting up Channel Scan, etc.

Does anyone actually know for sure if it is a normal RSS functioanlity to be able to program the Quantar to real time mode switch to Analog or IMBE based on the input mode of the last inputed siganl?

Thanks,

Larry

All you need to do is configure it as mixed-mode, just like a regular radio. just keep in mind whenever you enable digital that a DIU is required to operate it remotely, which im sure you know.
--Mike--

The analog scan option - C457 is $100 and the Astro Scan option (which includes analog scan capability) - X403AA is $300. This is not what I would call very expensive. However - it really is not necessary for this issue (mixed mode operation)

That brings us to the use of the term "mode". "Mode" means different things in various contexts. In Astro terms "mixed mode" refers to exactly what you are looking for - transparent operation - digitally or analog as required. In radio terms "mode" means what we used to call "channel" - an operator selected or preprogrammed set of operational characteristics including frequency, squelch type, time out timer, etc.

After years of getting us used to the term "mode", Motorola calls it "channel" in the Quantar. In each channel you set up the modulation type(s) that will be available. The choices are analog, Astro, Astro CAI, and 12 KBPS secure(depending on station configuration). For "mixed mode" operation you can select analog and any one of the digital modes - based on the station type.

Then for each channel you choose an access code table. This table is where you enter the squelch type and code as well as the digital squelch type / network ID.

Once this is set up, the station will pass (we are talking about a repeater here) either of the two modulation types transparently. It doesn't "switch modes" in the context that modes are known in mobiles and portables (or even in MSF5000 terms) - it just accepts either modulation type (assuming the signal qualifies by matching the access code table).

The only way to have the station use more than one "channel" would be to use wireline control or channel scan.

Larry - you should just buy a Quantar and start playing with it! Too bad the $6000 trade in discount offer has expired! I am having a lot of fun with the one I got off ebay!

One issue you brought up in another post: how do you know if you are in range? I don't have an answer yet, but because of this I don't think the APCO digital will ever catch on with hams - you can't kerchunk a digital repeater!!!

Xmo, now I'm a bit confused. Each channel in a Quantar must specifiy that it is either analog or digital. I don't see how you can tell one channel that it is BOTH. So, how does it know to repeat 2 different channels, especially with no channel scan?

BTW, what was the deal on a $6k trade in? I asked my salesman about this today after reading your post, and he said he knows of no such program, but if it is his error out of ignorance, he will set things right (by giving me $6k in credit).

Thanks for the tip off,

Larry

P.S. So what is the story on the eBay repeater?

I can virtually guarantee the Quantars can be set up to accept either analog or digital on a single frequency, just like an Astro field radio. All the Quantar repeaters in our SmartZone system are set that way, they can process any analog or digital traffic, whichever the current subscriber is using at the moment. All radio traffic, whether it be digital 4-level modulation (C4FM), or regular analog, follow the same receive path in the Quantar (or any Astro radio, for that matter). It gets converted to a digital data stream for processing, then is transmitted out in the same format it was received (analog or C4FM). I have notes on that sort of thing, but not in front of me. Unfortunately, my RSS experience with Quantars is limited to a couple of conventional analog only models, I was not involved with the SmartZone infrastructure set-up, so I cannot tell you the steps required to make it so.

Todd

Larry,

I think you may be getting confused by the DIU programming. In the DIU you must specify the transmission type. In fact, for wireline control that is the only place you can specify it. If you use tone remote control of the Quantar - analog operation is all you can have. If you set the Quantar as digital capable and remote capable (wireline board present) the remote control type has to be Astro - which means a DIU.

In the Quantar RSS - on each channel - your choices are as I described. For your intended operation the field will say: "ANALOG/ASTRO CAI" and the REPEATER operation will be transparent.

The $6000 deal was a sales incentive that ended Q3-2002. You could get that discount for trading in an MSF, Micor, or competitive station. I may still have that at work & I can post it tomorrow. There are no plans for an incentive this quarter, but if sales are slow - who knows how soon they might bring it back?

I got the Quantar off ebay a few months back. It came from a dealer, not an individual. - (Bro-Comm Canada) It is a VHF unit and has an EPIC-II station control board. It had a Motorola staging type label on it showing frequencies and connect tone - so it was used in a 6809 trunking type system.

We tested it on analog, Astro CAI and even 12k secure - it does it all! It may have been modified after it was removed from trunking service since it didn't have a wireline board in it, but I had an extra wireline board so that wasn't a problem.

Thanks, Xmo, and Yes, if possible, I'd love to see that incentive discount on the Quantar so I can feel that much worse (I'm a glutton for punishment---that's why I'm on the Atkins diet).

I saw an Intent-To-Cancel on the DIU3000. Do you think this is the end of the line for analog control stations to/from an ASTRO Quantar, or is Motorola coming out wih a new DIU unit (if so, I sure hope it will be a little less than the $10,000 required for the DIU3000).

Looks to me like a updated DIU3000 could easily fit on a single (small) board, with a few custom LSIs and DSP chips, as opposed to the muriad of multiple PC cards, with rather dated components. Give me a break---can you believe they still get $1300 for an old 9600 baud modem (Oh, Yeah---I forgot--- it is an ASTRO modem!)?

Larry

The only intent to cancel that I am aware of pertains to DIU3000 with the VSELP configuration which will be cancelled as of June 30, 2003.

Don't look for a new product here - Motorola is just aligning their products with their commitment to APCO CAI - no more Astro - now everthing will be Astro25.

Going forward the DIU will be primarily a conventional system component since the SZ6 platform does the vocoding in software in the MGEG (Motorola Gold Elite Gateway)

BTW - there is a price increase coming - they wanted to make it effective immediately, but I think there are too many contractual commitments that require at least 30 days notice of price increases. No word on how much, but buy now and save.

Xmo, what are you hearing about a Quantar replacement? I'm hearing 3Q2003. Use Private Mail, if that's better.

Thanks,

Larry

Quantar replacement? I don't think so. You are probably hearing about the STR3000 which is a new base station product for use in the flagship SZ-6 simulcast systems.

As far as I know STR3000 is digital only. At this time Motorola is still proposing both all digital SZ-6 systems and mixed mode systems. Until recently mixed mode was the SZ-3 platform. Since they can't get the IMP ZC box anymore, they now have a new SZ-4 platform. Either way, SZ-3 and SZ-4 use Quantar stations whether single site, multi-site, or simulcast.

Regarding the trade in offer - I have the document as a .PDF file, but I don't have any way to cut text out of a .PDF and paste it here.

It tells the sales person to put down a line item: C635BG @ -$6000.00 on the station order. It also has instructions as to how to return the traded in unit.