Batboard

I just bought a Dictaphone digital dispatch recorder off of E-Bay. My hope is that when this arrives, I want to be able to put it in the corner of my office and replace the phone recording system (cassettes, etc.) that I currently use when necessary.

If I rack mount this, a time lapse VCR, a camera switcher and and a VHF Mid-power Spectra (I have a rack mount with two spots for two spectras cut out already) in a communications rack, along with a rack mounted power supply for the radios (like an Astron) or similar, am I going to have to worry about any interference from the Spectra into the recorder or the time lapse VCR if it gets transmitted on? It will be there 99.9% of the time as a monitor/scanner but occasionally it might get transmitted on for special projects.

I'm hoping to consolidate space as it's a somewhat small office and there's no where else to put the equipment because I'm the only one with access and knowledge on its use/operation, etc.

Anyone know much about the Dictaphone equipment? This came from a dispatch center previously and I see there's a DB style plug in the back (from the pics) that I imagine interfaces into the phone line, etc. No interface or manuals included... E-Mail me direct at [email protected] and I can get you the model # if you think you can help me out.

Aside from that, would it be just better to put the spectra in the opposite corner of the office, say 8 feet away from the other equipment? Like I said, I would like to consolidate space as much as possible. It would look a lot better in one area in a rack.

I thought about mounting all of this under my desk (it's a pretty big desk) but I want to see the LCD on the dictaphone to make sure it's working and use the playback as necessary.

The Spectra will be primarly a monitor so as long as I can hear it, I don't need to see it to know it's working, etc. I can change modes on it as necessary to TX but that's pretty uncommon.

Any suggestions?

Blaze.

Whats the exact model number of the DP
If you put a ground bar on your rack and ground everything to it you shouldn't have much trouble.
Using decent RF cable will also help reduce the interference.

Bruce:

The model that I won is a Dictaphone Model 51200-ORO.

Please contact me direct if you can help. My e-mail address is:

[email protected]

Also, is the ground bar you are talking about, just a simplified central grounding point for all of the equipment? Is it rack mounted as well or just a central buss point?

I was thinking about finding a cabinet (on wheels) that stands four or five feet tall (maybe add the monitor for the cameras in it on a rack mount along with the rest of this equipment. Although not my favorite way to mount things (it will be a metal cabinet), if I were to put a mag mount VHF 1/4 wave on the top of the cabinet, will I have to worry then about any interference issues? Is it a "just try and see" idea or anything anticipated?

I only need to be able to transmit simplex a 1/8 of a mile (simplex) and out to some repeaters a few more miles away in extreme situations.

Am I playing with fire by trying to do this in addition to proper set up inside of the cabinet? I've found some nice cabinets on E-Bay that have glass fronts, on wheels and would look fine in the office.

Thanks.

Blaze.