Batboard

I need help. I'm trying to set up a digital quantar for an SO that has analog radios, as well as a few new digital radios that they are going to install. I need to set up the quantar repeater so that both can use it. One of our old techs that now works for the DPS said they wound up programming a 2nd channel in the repeater that was on one of their main channel's splinter frequencies, then set the Quantar to scan. The new digital mobiles were programmed with this extra "splinter" channel, so that when they wanted to go digital they could go to that channel, but would still have the old analog channel as well, to talk to the older mobiles. Does any of this make sense, and is it possible? The other thing I'm wondering about it is, is it legal?

run it in mixed mode, with the analog radios set for PL decode

By mixed, do you mean Analog/Astro CAI?

yeah,

on the quantar the analog users will take priority, but it will work just fine..

no need for second channels or licenses...

You can easily set the Quantar for mixed mode repeat operation. If it hears an analog signal, it will repeat in analog. If it hears a digital signal, it will repeat in digital. Of course only one mode can be used at a time...

I would avoid using a second frequency for digital, for both legal and technical reasons. If you use channel scan, there will be a more noticible key up delay for both analog and digital users.

If the repeater is to have wireline control, say for a dispatcher, that would complicate things. If you want the wireline connected dispatcher to transmit or receive digital transmissions, you will need a DIU.

I recommend all analog mobiles be programmed with CTCSS/DCS receive so they don't hear the rumble and buzz of the digital users. You will need to train them not to transmit when they see the busy light and hear no audio, or they will interfere with the digital users.

If you are using Motorola digital radios, I recommend programming the digital channels as "Mixed-Mode" receive. If you want the digital radios to hear analog transmissions, program in the correct CTCSS/DCS. If you don't want the digital radios to hear the analog traffic, leave the channel "Mixed Mode" RX, but program in a wrong CTCSS/DCS value. This way, the busy light will light when an analog user is using the repeater. If you program a Motorola radio as ASTRO receive, you will not get a busy light when an analog signal is present.

515 wrote:
If you are using Motorola digital radios, I recommend programming the digital channels as "Mixed-Mode" receive. If you want the digital radios to hear analog transmissions, program in the correct CTCSS/DCS. If you don't want the digital radios to hear the analog traffic, leave the channel "Mixed Mode" RX, but program in a wrong CTCSS/DCS value. This way, the busy light will light when an analog user is using the repeater. If you program a Motorola radio as ASTRO receive, you will not get a busy light when an analog signal is present.

Good tip!

Todd

Busy Channel Lock Out (BCLO) is also an option I would imagine. If the user tried to key over another user, they get the Dufus Bonk.

Thanks people!

As for the legal part of your question, DPS licensed Splinter channels of their current main frequencies, so yes you would have to get licensing for them. As for DPS they are set and done. Who's the tech if you don't mind me asking.
Mike

Your Astro (Digital) PL / DPL equivalent is known a the NAC and it's a three digit code, example: 788.

Dan

If the repeater is to have wireline control, say for a dispatcher, that would complicate things. If you want the wireline connected dispatcher to transmit or receive digital transmissions, you will need a DIU.


Ok, How would this effect the situation? Quantar set to mixed mode and hooking up, either a 2 wire or a 4 wire tone remote to it. We would only be concerned at this point with the tone remote "hearing" analog traffic.

I was under the impression it would work as I stated above, however I was recently told that if we set the quantar in mixed mode, that a tone remote hooked up would rx nothing, and a DIU? would be needed.

Am I conveying this right? I figured before I start a new post asking this, I'd ask in this thread since the quote I snipped above was somewhat along those lines.

Thanks

Tone remote control and mixed mode operation are mutually exclusive.

You can have one or the other - not both.

If you set the Quantar for mixed mode [or straight P25] AND you want remote control - the remote control must use 'Astro signalling' which means you must have a DIU.

Your DIU can be located at the console end or at the Quantar end.

See these threads:

http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.php?t=10250

http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.php?t=12375

Referring to the DIU, Are tehre different models, or?

ANyone have a manual for the DIU so I can check it out?

Thanks!

I think we have some semantics issues here that are causing several misunderstandings. For instance:

1. 515 wrote: "If the repeater is to have wireline control, say for a dispatcher, that would complicate things. If you want the wireline connected dispatcher to transmit or receive digital transmissions, you will need a DIU."

The DIU3000 can routinely be programmed so that when the dispatcher answers a call, the DIU will AUTOMATICALLY send the dispatcher's response out either as old legacy analog FM, or digital P25 IMBE, based on the last/current incoming mode. The only issue might be that if the dispatcher makes an announcement, he/she would need to choose FM or IMBE, so that listeners would want to be scanning FM and IMBE so they would not miss a call.

2. xmo said: "Tone remote control and mixed mode operation are mutually exclusive.”

I'm not quite sure what xmo meant here because ANY standard Tone Remote Control console (that is Motorola compatible) works just fine with a Quantar via wireline remote control, so long as you have a DIU interfaced with the TRC console. The analog tone remote control tones are automatically converted in real time by the DIU3000 into digital ASTRO signaling. When you uplift from analog FM to IMBE (including mixed mode), you continue to use your same old analog tone remote console, and your same analog 3002 Private Line. The DIU3000 does all of the necessary conversions on a real time, fully automatic basis.

As I've previously posted here in the past, if you have a Quantar and you really want to make it rock with wireline and/or microwave remote control (e.g., mixed mode ops, encryption, remote phone patch, IVD data with the RNC3000, etc.), you must have a DIU3000. A Quantar without a DIU3000 is not unlike a nice turbine helicopter without any kerosene---can't do much with it.

larry