Batboard

I have a customer about to replace the trusty old 6809 controller on an analog smartnet system with the MTC3600 mixed-mode controller. After purchasing 4 new quantars in the process, he will have 19 channels running on quantars and the mtc-3600. Apparently this will then be capable of use with digital radios and we can start phasing them in.
Here's the problem...
The same customer has a back-up trunking system located at a different site, with 6809 controller and 15 MSF repeaters. We have SystemWatch running and if it detects a problem with the primary site we "inhibit" trunking on the primary and "enable" trunking on the backup. Works great.
Is there any way to utilize this backup system once some digital subscriber units have been purchased? If we replace the 6809 controller on the backup site, and the backup comes up, will digital subscriber units know to switch to analog mode?

"...will digital subscriber units know to switch to analog mode?"
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No.

The subscriber unit programming sets the modulation type for each talkgroup on a per talkgroup basis. That is one reason why system administrators need a trust relationship with whoever programs the field units - the mobile & portable programming must match the infrastructure.

In your case - the digital talkgroups should be entered into the backup controller as disabled [even though it only knows analog]

When the system is in backup mode and a user tries to access one of these talkgroups - they will be rejected - better that than have them transmitting but going nowhere.

ok, then is it possible that by adding some Rat Shack relays and a spool of thread I can convince a MTC3600 controller to work with MSF repeaters?

transistor747 wrote:ok, then is it possible that by adding some Rat Shack relays and a spool of thread I can convince a MTC3600 controller to work with MSF repeaters?

Probably, since the MTC3600 works with MTR2000 repeaters no problem...but I have never looked into it. Could it be as simple as plugging the MTR2000 cable onto a MSF5000?? Works for the 6809...

Todd

transistor747 wrote:ok, then is it possible that by adding some Rat Shack relays and a spool of thread I can convince a MTC3600 controller to work with MSF repeaters?

keeping in mind that MSFs wont pass astro...

Your customer will be extremely disappointed if the Quantar stations are not also FlashPort upgraded to support ASTRO Trunked operation. You're not ever going to pass ASTRO through an analog-only Quantar just by upgrading to a newer controller.